Letter 75
I am sure you are wanting to know what is going on here and to know it
from me too, not that there is any more certainty about events which
take place before the eyes of the whole world, if I write to you about
them, than if others either write or tell you of them: but that you may
see from my letters how I am taking events and what are my feelings and
my general state of existence.
On the 3rd of November the workmen were driven out of my building-ground
by armed assault: the porch of Catulus, which was being repaired on a
contract made by the consuls in accordance with a decree of
locatione reficiebatur et ad tectum paene pervenerat, Quinti fratris
domus primo fracta coniectu lapidum ex area nostra, deinde inflammata
iussu Clodi inspectante urbe coniectis ignibus, magna querela et gemitu
non dicam bonorum, qui nescio an nulli sint, sed plane hominum omnium.
Ille demens ruere, post hunc vero furorem nihil nisi caedem inimicorum
cogitare, vicatim ambire, servis aperte spem libertatis ostendere.
Etenim antea, cum iudicium nolebat, habebat ille quidem difficilem
manifestamque causam, sed tamen causam; poterat infitiari, poterat in
alios derivare, poterat etiam aliquid iure factum defendere; post has
ruinas, incendia, rapinas desertus a suis vix iam Decimum designatorem,
vix Gellium retinet, servorum consiliis utitur, videt, si omnes, quos
vult, palam occiderit, nihilo suam causam difficiliorem, quam adhuc sit,
in iudicio futuram. Itaque ante diem tertium Idus Novembres, cum Sacra
via descenderem, insecutus est me cum suis. Clamor, lapides, fustes,
gladii, haec improvisa omnia. Discessimus in vestibulum Tetti Damionis.
Qui erant mecum, facile operas aditu prohibuerunt. Ipse occidi potuit,
sed ego diaeta curare incipio, chirurgiae taedet. Ille omnium vocibus
cum se non ad iudicium, sed ad supplicium praesens trudi videret, omnes
Catilinas
the Senate, and had nearly got as high as the roof, was knocked down: my
brother Quintus’ house was first smashed by a discharge of stones from
my plot, and then set on fire under Clodius’ orders by firebrands hurled
before the eyes of the whole city, amidst the groans and growls—I will
not say of the loyal party, which seems to have vanished out of
existence—but simply of every human creature. He was rushing about in a
frenzy, thinking of nothing but the slaughter of his enemies after this
mad freak, and canvassing the city quarter by quarter, openly promising
liberation to slaves. Before this, when he was trying to shirk his
trial, he had a case hard indeed to support and obviously wrongful, but
still it was a case: he could deny things, he could put the blame on
others, he could even plead that he had the right on his side in some
respects. But after this wreckage, arson and pillage, his own supporters
have left him in the lurch and he hardly has a hold now even on Decimus
the marshal, or Gellius: he has to take slaves into his confidence and
sees, that if he openly commits all the murders he wishes to commit, his
case before the court will not be one whit worse than it is now. So, on
the 11th of November, as I was going down the Sacred Way, he followed me
with his gang. There were shouts, stones, clubs, swords, all without a
moment’s warning. We stepped aside into Tettius Damio’s hall: and those
who were with me easily prevented his roughs from entering. He might
have been killed himself: but I have got tired of surgery and am
beginning a regime cure. He realized that there was a universal outcry
not for his prosecution but for his execution, and has since behaved in
such a way that a Catiline looks ultraconservative
Acidinos postea reddidit. Nam Milonis domum, eam quae est in Cermalo,
pr. Idus Novembr. expugnare et incendere ita conatus est, ut palam hora
quinta cum scutis homines eductis gladiis, alios cum accensis facibus
adduxerit. Ipse domum P. Sullae pro castris sibi ad eam impugnationem
sumpserat. Tum ex Anniana Milonis domo Q. Flaccus eduxit viros acris;
occidit homines ex omni latrocinio Clodiano notissimos, ipsum cupivit,
sed ille se in interiora aedium Sullae. Exin senatus postridie
Idus. Domi Clodius. Egregius Marcellinus, omnes acres. Metellus calumnia
dicendi tempus exemit adiuvante Appio, etiam hercule familiari tuo, de
cuius constantia virtute tuae verissimae litterae. Sestius furere. Ille
postea, si comitia sua non fierent, urbi minari. Milo, proposita
Marcellini sententia, quam ille de scripto ita dixerat, ut totam nostram
causam areae, incendiorum, periculi mei iudicio complecteretur eaque
omnia comitiis anteferret, proscripsit se per omnes dies comitiales de
caelo servaturum.
Contiones turbulentae Metelli, temerariae Appi, furiosissimae Publi.
Haec tamen summa, nisi Milo in campo obnuntiasset, comitia futura. Ante
diem XII Kal. Decembr. Milo ante mediam noctem cum magna manu in campum
venit. Clodius, cum haberet
beside him. For on the 12th of November he attempted to storm and burn
Milo’s house—the one on the Cermalus—openly bringing men with shields
and drawn swords and others with lighted torches to the spot at eleven
o’clock in the morning. His own headquarters during the assault were P.
Sulla’s house. Then Q. Flaccus led forth a gallant band from Milo’s
family house and slew the most notorious of Clodius’ troop of ruffians.
He wanted to slay Clodius himself: but he was skulking in the recesses
of Sulla’s house. There followed a meeting of the Senate on the 14th:
Clodius stayed at home: Marcellinus behaved splendidly: and everybody
was enthusiastic. Metellus with the assistance of Appius and, mark you,
your great friend of whose constancy you sent me such a veracious
account, tried the ruse of talking the time away. Sestius was furious,
Clodius afterwards vowed vengeance on the city, if his election did not
take place. Marcellinus posted up his resolution which he had in writing
when he delivered it—it provided that my entire case should be included
in the trial, the attack on my building ground, the arson and the
assault on my person, and that all these should precede the election—and
Milo gave notice that he intended to watch the sky for omens on all the
election days.
Disorderly meetings were held by Metellus, wild meetings by Appius and
raging mad meetings by Publius. But the end of it all was that the
elections would have taken place, if Milo had not reported evil omens in
the Campus Martius. On the 19th of November Milo took up his position in
the Campus before midnight with a large force; while Clodius in spite of
fugitivorum delectas copias, in campum ire non est ausus. Milo permansit
ad meridiem mirifica hominum laetitia summa cum gloria. Contentio
fratrum trium turpis, fracta vis, contemptus furor. Metellus tamen
postulat, ut sibi postero die in foro obnuntietur; nihil esse, quod in
campum nocte veniretur; se hora prima in comitio fore. Itaque ante diem
XI Kal. in comitium Milo de nocte venit. Metellus cum prima luce furtim
in campum itineribus prope deviis currebat: adsequitur inter lucos
hominem Milo, obnuntiat. Ille se recepit magno et turpi Q. Flacci
convicio. Ante diem X Kal. nundinae. Contio biduo nulla.
Ante diem VIII Kal. haec ego scribebam hora noctis nona. Milo campum iam
tenebat. Marcellus candidatus ita stertebat, ut ego vicinus audirem.
Clodi vestibulum vacuum sane mihi nuntiabatur: pauci pannosi linea
lanterna. Meo consilio omnia illi fieri querebantur ignari quantum in
illo heroe esset animi, quantum etiam consilii. Miranda virtus est. Nova
quaedam divina mitto; sed haec summa est. Comitia fore non arbitror;
reum Publium, nisi ante occisus erit, fore a Milone puto; si se in turba
ei iam obtulerit, occisum iri ab ipso Milone video. Non dubitat
facere, prae se fert; casum illum nostrum non extimescit. Numquam enim
cuiusquam
his picked gangs of runaway slaves did not venture to show himself. Milo
to the huge delight of everybody and to his own great credit stayed
there till midday: and the three brethren’s struggle ended in disgrace,
their strength broken and their mad pride humbled. Metellus; however,
demands that the prohibition should be repeated in the forum on the next
day. There was no necessity, he said, for Milo to come to the Campus at
night; he would be in the Comitium at six in the morning. So on the 20th
Milo went to the Comitium in the early hours of the morning. At daybreak
Metellus came sneaking into the Campus by something like byepaths. Milo
catches the fellow up “between the groves” and serves his notice:
and he retired amid loud jeers and insults from Q. Flaccus. The 21st was
a market-day, and for two days there were no meetings.
It is now three o’clock on the morning of the 23rd as I am writing. Milo
has already taken possession of the Campus. Marcellus, the candidate, is
snoring loud enough for me to hear him next door. I have just had news
that Clodius’ hall is utterly deserted, save for a few rag and bob tails
with a canvas lantern. His side are complaining that I am at the bottom
of it all: but they little know the courage and wisdom of that hero. His
valour is marvellous. I can’t stop to mention some of his new strokes of
genius. But this is the upshot: I believe the elections will not be
held, and Milo will bring Publius before the bar, unless he kills him
first. If he gives him a chance in a riot, I can see Milo will kill him
with his own hands. He has got no scruples
invidi et perfidi consilio est usus, nec inerti nobili crediturus.
Nos animo dumtaxat vigemus, etiam magis, quam cum florebamus, re
familiari comminuti sumus. Quinti fratris tamen liberalitati pro
facultatibus nostris, ne omnino exhaustus essem, illo recusante
subsidiis amicorum respondemus. Quid consilii de omni nostro statu
capiamus, te absente nescimus. Quare adpropera.
Latin / Greek Original
avere te certo scio cum scire quid hic agatur tum mea a me scire, non quo certiora sint ea quae in oculis omnium geruntur si a me scribantur quam cum ab aliis aut scribantur tibi aut nuntientur, sed ut perspicias ex meis litteris quo animo ea feram quae geruntur et qui sit hoc tempore aut mentis meae sensus aut omnino vitae status. [2] armatis hominibus ante diem tertium Nonas Novembris expulsi sunt fabri de area nostra, disturbata porticus Catuli quae ex senatus consulto consulum locatione reficiebatur et ad tectum paene pervenerat, Quinti fratris domus primo fracta coniectu lapidum ex area nostra, deinde inflammata iussu Clodi, inspectante urbe coniectis ignibus, magna querela et gemitu non dicam bonorum, qui nescio an nulli sint, sed plane hominum omnium. ille demens ruere, post hunc vero furorem nihil nisi caedem inimicorum cogitare, vicatim ambire, servis aperte spem libertatis ostendere. etenim antea cum iudicium tollebat, habebat ille quidem difficilem manifestamque causam sed tamen causam; poterat infitiari, poterat in alios derivare, poterat etiam aliquid iure factum defendere; post has ruinas, incendia, rapinas desertus a suis vix iam Decimum designatorem, vix Gellium retinet, servorum consiliis utitur, videt, si omnis quos vult palam occiderit, nihilo suam causam difficiliorem quam adhuc sit in iudicio futuram. itaque ante diem tertium Idus Novembris, cum sacra via descenderem, insecutus est me cum suis. clamor, lapides, fustes, gladii, haec improvisa omnia. discessimus in vestibulum Tetti Damionis. qui erant mecum facile operas aditu prohibuerunt. ipse occidi potuit, sed ego diaeta curare incipio, chirurgiae taedet. ille omnium vocibus cum se non ad iudicium sed ad supplicium praesens trudi videret, omnis Catilinas Acidinos postea reddidit. nam Milonis domum, eam quae (est in) Cermalo, pr. Idus Novembr. expugnare et incendere ita conatus est ut palam hora quinta cum scutis homines eductis gladiis, alios cum accensis facibus adduxerit. ipse domum P. Sullae pro castris sibi ad eam impugnationem sumpserat. tum ex Anniana Milonis domo Q. Flaccus eduxit viros acris; occidit homines ex omni latrocinio Clodiano notissimos, ipsum cupivit, sed ille se in interiora aedium Sullae. exin senatus postridie Idus. domi Clodius. Egregius Marcellinus, omnes acres. Metellus calumnia dicendi tempus exemit adiuvante Appio, etiam hercule familiari tuo, de cuius constantia virtute (tuae) verissimae litterae. Sestius furere. ille postea, si comitia sua non fierent, urbi minari. (Milo) proposita Marcellini sententia, quam ille de scripto ita dixerat ut totam nostram causam areae, incendiorum, periculi mei iudicio complecteretur eaque omnia comitiis anteferret, proscripsit se per omnis dies comitialis de caelo servaturum. [4] contiones turbulentae Metelli, temerariae Appi, furiosissimae Publi haec tamen summa, nisi Milo in campo obnuntiasset, comitia futura. ante diem xii Kal. Decembr. Milo ante mediam noctem cum, magna manu in campum venit. Clodius cum haberet fugitivorum delectas copias, in campum ire non est ausus. Milo permansit ad meridiem mirifica hominum laetitia summa cum gloria. contentio fratrum trium turpis, fracta vis, contemptus furor. Metellus tamen postulat ut sibi postero die in foro obnuntietur; nihil esse quod in campum nocte veniretur; se hora prima in comitio fore. itaque ante diem xi Kal. in comitium Milo de nocte venit. Metellus cum prima luce furtim in campum itineribus prope deviis currebat; adsequitur inter lucos hominem Milo, obnuntiat. ille se recepit magno et turpi Q. Flacci convicio. ante diem x Kal. nundinae. contio biduo nulla. ante diem viii Kal. haec ego scribebam hora noctis nona. Milo campum iam tenebat. Marcellus candidatus ita stertebat ut ego vicinus audirem. Clodi vestibulum vacuum sane mihi nuntiabatur, pauci pannosi, linea lanterna. meo consilio omnia illi fieri querebantur ignari quantum in illo heroe esset animi, quantum etiam consili. miranda virtus est. nova quaedam divina mitto; sed haec summa est. comitia fore non arbitror; reum Publium, nisi ante occisus erit, fore a Milone puto; si se in turba ei iam obtulerit, occisum iri ab ipso Milone video. non dubitat facere, prae se fert; casum illum nostrum non extimescit. numquam enim cuiusquam invidi et perfidi consilio est usurus nec inerti nobili crediturus. [6] nos animo dumtaxat vigemus etiam magis (quam) cum florebamus, re familiari comminuti sumus. Quinti fratris tamen liberalitati pro facultatibus nostris, ne omnino exhaustus essem, illo recusante subsidiis amicorum respondemus. quid consili de omni nostro statu capiamus te absente nescimus. qua re adpropera.