Catiline His Conspiracy Act 5. Scene 1

Petreius. [The Army.

IT is my Fortune and my Glory, Soldiers,
This day, to lead you on; the worthy Consul
Kept from the honour of it by Disease:
And I am proud to have so brave a Cause
To exercise your Arms in. We not now
Fight for how long, how broad, how great, and large
Th' extent, and bounds o' th' People of Rome shall be;
But to retain what our great Ancestors,
With all their Labours, Counsels, Arts, and Actions,
For us, were purchasing so many years.
The quarrel is not now of Fame or Tribute,
Or of wrongs done unto Confederates,
For which the Army of the People of Rome
Was wont to move: but for your own Republick,
For the rais'd Temples of th' immortal Gods,
For all your Fortunes, Altars, and your Fires,
For the dear Souls of your lov'd Wives and Children,
Your Parents Tombs, your Rites, Laws, Liberty,
And briefly, for the safety of the World:
Against such Men, as only by their Crimes
Are known; thrust out by Riot, Want, or Rashness.
One sort, Sylla's old Troops, left here in Fesulæ,
Who suddenly made rich in those dire Times,
Are since, by their unbounded vast expence,
Grown needy and poor; and have but left t' expect
From Catiline new Bills, and new Proscriptions.
These Men (they say) are Valiant; yet, I think 'em
Not worth your pause: For either their old Vertue
Is in their Sloth and Pleasures lost; or, if
It tarry with 'em, so ill match for yours,
As they are short in Number or in Cause.
The second sort are of those (City-beasts,
Rather than Citizens) who whilst they reach
After our Fortunes, have let fly their own;
These whelm'd in Wine, swell'd up with Meats, and weakned
With hourly whoredoms, never left the side
Of Catiline in Rome; nor here are loos'd
From his Embraces: such as (trust me) never
In riding or in using well their Arms,
VVatching, or other Military Labour,
Did exercise their Youth; but learn'd to Love,
Drink, Dance, and Sing, make Feasts, and be fine Gamsters:
And these will wish more hurt to you than they bring you.
The rest are a mixt kind, all sorts of Furies,
Adulterers, Dicers, Fencers, Out-laws, Thieves,
The Murderers of their Parents, all the Sink
And Plague of Italy met in one Torrent,
To take, to day, from us the Punishment,
Due to their mischiefs, for so many years.
And who in such a Cause, 'gainst such Fiends,
VVould not now wish himself all Arm and VVeapon?
To cut such Poysons from the Earth, and let
Their Blood out to be drawn away in Clouds,
And pour'd on some inhabitable Place,
Where the hot Sun and Slime breeds nought but Monsters?
Chiefly when this sure joy shall crown our side,
That the least Man that falls upon our Party
This day (as some must give their happy Names
To Fate, and that eternal Memory
Of the best Death, writ with it, for their Countrey)
Shall walk at pleasure in the Tents of rest;
And see far off, beneath him, all their Host
Tormented after Life: and Catiline there
Walking a wretched and less Ghost than he.
I'll urge no more: Move forward with your Eagles,
And trust the Senates and Romes Cause to Heaven.

Arm.
To thee, great Father Mars, and greater Jove.

Cæsar, Crassus.

I Ever look'd for this of Lentulus,
When Catiline was gone.

Cra.
I gave 'em lost,
Many days since.

Cæs.
But, wherefore did you bear
Their Letter to the Consul, that they sent you
To warn you from the City?

Cra.
Did I know
Whether he made it? It might come from him,
For ought I could assure me: if they meant
I should be safe among so many, they might
have come as well as writ.

Cæs.
There is no loss
In being secure. I have of late too ply'd him
Thick with Intelligences, but they have been
Of things he knew before.

Cra.
A little serves
To keep a Man upright on these State-bridges,
Although the Passage were more dangerous.
Let us now take the standing part.

Cæs.
We must,
And be as zealous for't, as Cato. Yet,
I would fain help these wretched Men.

Cra.
You cannot.
Who would save them, that have betrayd themselves?

Cicero, Quintus, Cato.

I will not be wrought to it, Brother Quintus.
There's no Mans private enmity shall make
Me violate the Dignity of another.
If there were Proof 'gainst Cæsar, or who ever,
To speak him guilty, I would so declare him.
But Quintus Catulus, and Piso both
Shall know, the Consul will not, for their grudge,
Have any Man accus'd or named falsly.

Qui.
Not falsly: but if any Circumstance,
By the Allobroges, or from Volturtius,
Would carry it.

Cic.
That shall not be sought by me.
If it reveal it self, I would not spare
You, Brother, if it pointed at you, trust me.

Cato.
Good Marcus Tullius (which is more than great)
Thou hadst thy Education with the Gods.

Cic.
Send Lentulus forth, and bring away the rest.
This Office I am sorry, Sir, to do you.

The Senate.

WHat may be happy still and fortunate,
To Rome, and to this Senate: Please you, Fathers,
To break these Letters, and to view them round.
If that be not found in them, which I fear,
I yet intreat at such a time as this,
My diligence be not contemn'd. Ha' you brought
The Weapons hither from Cethegus House?

Præ.
They are without.

Cic.
Be ready with Volturtius,
To bring him when the Senate calls; and see
None of the rest confer together. Fathers,
What do you read? Is it yet worth your care,
If not your fear, what you find practis'd there?

Cæs.
It hath a Face of horror!

Cra.
I am amaz'd!

Cato.
Loook there.

Syl.
Gods! Can such Men draw common Air?

Cic.
Although the greatness of the mischief, Fathers,
Hath often made my Faith small in this Senate,
Yet since my casting Catiline out (for now
I do not fear the envy of the Word,
Unless the Deed be rather to be fear'd,
That he went hence alive; when those I meant
Should follow him, did not) I have spent both days
And nights in watching what their fury and rage
Was bent on, that so staid against my thought:
And that I might but take 'em in that light,
Where when you met their Treason with your Eyes,
Your minds at length would think for your own safety.
And now 'tis done. There are their Hands and Seals.
Their Persons too are safe, thanks to the Gods.
Bring in Volturtius and the Allobroges.
These be the Men were trusted with their Letters.

Vol.
Fathers, believe me, I knew nothing: I
Was travelling for Gallia, and am sorry ——

Cic.
Quake not Volturtius, speak the truth, and hope
Well of this Senate, on the Consuls word.

Vol.
Then I knew all. But truly I was drawn in
But t'other day.

Cæs.
Say what thou know'st, and fear not.
Thou hast the Senates, Faith and Consuls word

[He answers with fear and interruptions.

To fortifie thee.

Vol.
I was sent with Letters —
And had a Message too — from Lentulus —

To Catiline — that he should use all Aids —
Servants, or others — and come with his Army,
As soon unto the City as he could —
For they were ready, and but staid for him —
To intercept those that should flee the Fire —
These Men (the Allobroges) did hear it too.

All.
Yes, Fathers, and they took an Oath to us,
Besides their Letters, that we should be free;
And urg'd us for some present aid of Horse.

Cic.
Nay, here be other Testimonies, Fathers,

[The Weapons and Arms are brought forth.

Cethegus Armoury.

Cra. What, not all these?

Cic.
Here's not the hundred Part. Call in the Fencer,
That we may know the Arms to all these Weapons.
Come my brave Sword-player, to what active use
Was all this Steel provided?

Cet.
Had you ask'd
In Sylla's days, it had been to cut Throats;
But now it was to look on only: I lov'd
To see good Blades, and feel their Edge, and Points,
To put a Helm upon a Block, and cleave it,
And now and then to stab an Armour through.

Cic.
Know you that Paper? That will stab you through.
Is it your hand? Hold, save the pieces. Traytor,
Hath thy guilt wak'd thy Fury?

Cet.
I did write
I know not what; nor care not: That Fool Lentulus
Did dictate, and I t'other Fool did sign it.

Cic.
Bring in Statilius: Does he know his hand too?
And Lentulus. Reach him that Letter.

Sta.
I Confess it all.

Cic.
Know you that seal yet, Publius?

Len.
Yes, it is mine.

Cic.
Whose Image is that on it?

Len.
My Grand-fathers.

Cic.
What, that renown'd good Man,
That did so only embrace his Countrey, and lov'd
His fellow Citizens! Was not his Picture,
Though mute, of Power to call thee from a Fact
So foul —

Len.
As what, impetuous Cicero?

Cic.
As thou art, for I do not know what's fouler.
Look upon these. Do not these Faces argue
Thy guilt and impudence?

Len.
What are these to me?
I know 'em not.

All.
No, Publius? we were with you
At Brutus House.

Vol.
Last night.

Len.
What did you there?
Who sent for you?

All.
Your self did. We had Letters
From you, Cethegus, this Statilius here,
Gabinius Cimber, all but from Longinus,
Who would not write, because he was to come
Shortly in Person after us (he said)
To take the charge o' the Horse, which we should levy.

Cic.
And he is fled to Catiline I hear.

Len.
Spies? Spies?

All.
You told us too o' the Sybils Books,
And how you were to be a King this year,
The Twentieth from the burning of the Capitol,
That three Cornellii were to Raign in Rome,
Of which you were the last: and prais'd Cethegus,
And the great Spirits were with you in the Action.

Cet.
These are your honourable Ambassadors,
My Soveraign Lord.

Cat.
Peace, that too bold Cethegus.

All.
Besides Gabinius, your Agent nam'd
Autronius, Servius Sylla, Vargunteius,
And divers others.

Vol.
I had Letters from you
To Catiline, and a Message, which I have told
Unto the Senate truly word for word:
For which I hope they will be gracious to me.
I was drawn in by that same wicked Cimber,
And thought no hurt at all.

Cic.
Volturtius, peace.
Where is thy Visor or thy Voice now Lentulus?
Art thou confounded? Wherefore speak'st thou not?
Is all so clear, so plain, so manifest,
That both thy Eloquence and Impudence,
And thy ill Nature too, have left thee at once?
Take him aside. There's yet one more, Gabinius,
The Engineer of all. Shew him that Paper,
If he do know it?

Gab.
I know nothing.

Cic.
No?

Gab.
No. Neither will I know.

Cat.
Impudent Head!
Stick it into his Throat; were I the Consul,
Il'd make thee eat the mischief thou hast vented.

Gab.
Is there a Law for't, Cato?

Cat.
Dost thou ask
After a Law, that would'st have broke all Laws
Of Nature, Manhood, Conscience, and Religion?

Gab.
Yes I may ask for't.

Cat.
No, pernicions

Cimber.
Th' inquiring after good does not belong
Unto a wicked Person.

Gab.
I, but Cato
Does nothing but by Law.

Cra.
Take him aside.
There's Proof enough though he confess not.

Gab. Stay,
I will confess. All's true your Spies have told you,
Make much of 'em.

Cet.
Yes, and reward 'em well,
For fear you get no more such. See they do not
Dye in a Ditch, and stink now you ha' done with 'em;
Or beg o' the Bridges here in Rome, whose Arches
Their active industry hath sav'd.

Cic.
See Fathers
What Minds and Spirits these are, that being convicted
Of such a Treason, and by such a Cloud
Of Witnesses, dare yet retain their boldness?
What would their Rage have done, if they had conquer'd?
I thought when I had thrust out Catiline,
Neither the State nor I should need t' have fear'd
Lentulus sleep here, or Longinus fat,
Or this Cethegus rashness; it was he
I only watch'd, while he was in our Walls,
As one that had the Brain, the Hand, the Heart.
But now we find the contrary! Where was there
A People griev'd, or a State discontent,
Able to make or help a War 'gainst Rome,
But these, th' Allobroges, and those they found?
Whom had not the just Gods been pleas'd to make
More Friends unto our safety than their own,
As it then seem'd, neglecting these Mens offers,
Where had we been? or where the Commonwealth?
When their great Chief had been call'd home; this Man,
Their absolute King (whose noble Grand-father,
Arm'd in pursuit of the seditious Gracchus,
Took a brave wound for dear defence of that
Which he would spoil) had gather'd all his Aids
Of Ruffians, Slaves, and other Slaughter-men?
Given us up for murder to Cethegus?
The other rank of Citizens to Gabinius?
The City to be fir'd by Cassius?
And Italy, nay the World, to be laid wast
By cursed Catiline and his Complices?
Lay but the thought of it before you Fathers,
Think but with me you saw his glorious City,
The Light of all the Earth, Tower of all Nations,
Suddenly falling in one Flame. Imagine
You view'd your Countrey buried with the heaps
Of slaughter'd Citizens that had no Grave;
This Lentulus here, raigning, (as he dreamt)
And those his Purple Senate; Catiline come
With his fierce Army; and the cries of Matrons,
The flight of Children, and the rape of Virgins,
Shriekes of the living, with the dying Groans
On every side t' invade your Sense; until
The Blood of Rome were mixed with her Ashes!
This was the Spectacle these Fiends intended
To please their Malice.

Cet.
I, and it would
Have been a brave one, Consul. But your Part
Had not then been so long as now it is:
I should have quite defeated your Oration,
And slit that fine rhetorical Pipe of yours
I' the first Scene.

Cat.
Insolent Monster!

Cic.
Fathers,
Is it your Pleasures they shall be committed
Unto some safe, but a free Custody,
Until the Senate can determine farther?

Sen.
It pleaseth well.

Cic.
Then Marcus Crassus,
Take you charge of Gabinius: send him home
Unto your House. You Cæsar, of Statilius.
Cethegus shall be sent to Cornificius:
And Lentulus to Publius Lentulus Spinther,
Who now is Ædile.

Cat.
It were best, the Prætors

Carried 'em to their Houses, and deliver'd 'em.

Cic.
Let it be so. Take 'em from hence.

Cæs.
But first
Let Lentulus put off his Prætorship.

Len.
I do resign it here unto the Senate.

Cæs.
So, now there's no Offence done to Religion.

Cat.
Cæsar, 'twas piously and timely urg'd.

Cic.
What do you decree to th' Allobroges,
That were the Lights to this Discovery?

Cra.
A free Grant from the State, of all their Suits.

Cæs.
And a Reward out of the Publick Treasure.

Cat.
I, and the Title of Honest Men, to crown 'em.

Cic.
What to Volturtius?

Cæs.
Life, and Favour's well.

Vol.
I ask no more.

Cat.
Yes, yes, some Mony, thou needst it:
'Twill keep thee honest; want made thee a Knave.

Syl.
Let Flaccus, and Pomtinius, the Prætors,
Have publick Thanks, and Quintus Fabius Sanga,
For their good Service.

Cra.
They deserve it all.

Cat.
But what do we decree unto the Consul,
Whose Vertue, Counsel, Watchfulness, and Wisdom
Hath freed the Commonwealth, and without Tumult,
Slaughter, or Blood, or scarce raising a Force,
Rescu'd us all out of the Jaws of Fate?

Cra.
VVe owe our Lives unto him, and our Fortunes.

Cæs.
Our VVives, our Children, Parents, and our Gods.

Syl.
VVe all are saved by his Fortitude.

Cat.
The Commonwealth owes him a Civick Garland.
He is the only Father of his Country.

Cæs.
Let there be Publick Prayer, to all the Gods,
Made in that Name, for him.

Cra.
And in these words:
For that he hath, by his Vigilance, preserv'd
Rome from the Flame, the Senate from the Sword,
And all her Citizens from Massacre.

Cic.
How are my Labours more than paid, grave Fathers,
In these great Titles, and decreed Honours!
Such as to me, first of the Civil Robe,
Of any Man since Rome was Rome, have hapned;
And from this frequent Senate; which more glads me,
That I now see yo' have sense of your own safety.
If those good days come no less grateful to us,
Wherein we are preserv'd from some great Danger,
Than those wherein w' are born, and brought to light,
Because the gladness of our Safety is certain,
But the condition of our Birth not so;
And that w' are sav'd with pleasure, but are born
Without the sense of Joy: Why should not then
This Day, to us, and all Posterity
Of ours, be had in equal Fame and Honour,
With that when Romulus first rear'd these Walls,
When so much more is saved, than he built?

Cæs.
It ought.

Cra.
Let it be added to our Fasti.

Cic.
What Tumult's that?

Fla.
Here's one Tarquinius taken,
Going to Catiline, and says he was sent
By Marcus Crassus, whom he names to be
Guilty of the Conspiracy.

Cic.
Some lying Varlet.
Take him away to Prison.

Cra.
Bring him in,
And let me see him.

Cic.
He is not worth it, Crassus.
Keep him up close, and hungry, till he tell
By whose pernicious Counsel he durst slander
So great and good a Citizen.

(Cra.
By yours,
I fear, 'twill prove.)

Syl.
Some o' the Traitors, sure,
To give their Action the more Credit, bid him
Name you, or any Man.

Cic.
I know my self,
By all the Tracts and Courses of this Business,
Crassus is noble, just, and loves his Country.

Fla.
Here is a Libel too, accusing Cæsar,
From Lucius Vectius, and confirm'd by Curius.

Cic.
Away with all, throw it out o' the Court.

Cæs.
A Trick on me too?

Cic.
It is some mens malice.
I said to Curius, I did not believe him.

Cæs.
Was not that Curius your Spy, that had
Reward decreed unto him the last Senate,
With Fulvia, upon your private Motion?

Cic.
Yes.

Cæs.
But he has not that Reward yet?

Cic.
No.
Let not this trouble you, Cæsar; none believes it.

Cæs.
It shall not, if that he have no Reward.
But if he have, sure I shall think my self
Very untimely and unsafely honest,
Where such as he is may have Pay t' accuse me.

Cic.
You shall have no wrong done you, noble Cæsar,
But all Contentment.

Cæs.
Consul, I am silent.

[The Army.

I Never yet knew, Soldiers, that in Fight
Words added Vertue unto valiant Men;
Or, that a General's Oration made
An Army fall or stand: But how much Prowess,
Habitual or natural, each Mans Breast
Was Owner of, so much in act it shew'd.
Whom neither Glory' or Danger can excite,
'Tis vain t' attempt with Speech; for the Minds fear
Keeps all brave Sounds from entring at that Ear.
I yet would warn you some few things, my Friends,
And give you Reason of my present Counsels.
You know, no less than I, what State, what Point
Our Affairs stand in; and you all have heard
What a calamitous Misery the Sloth
And Sleepiness of Lentulus hath pluck'd
Both on himself, and us; how, whilst our Aids
There, in the City look'd for, are defeated;
Our entrance into Gallia too is stopt:
Two Armies wait us; one from Rome, the other
From the Gaul-Provinces: And where we are,
(Although I most desire it) the great want
Of Corn and Victuals forbids longer stay.
So that of need we must remove; but whither,
The Sword must both direct, and cut the Passage.
I only therefore wish you, when you strike,
To have your Valours and your Souls about you,
And think you carry in your labouring Hands
The things you seek, Glory, and Liberty,
Your Country, which you want now, with the Fates,
That are to be instructed by our Swords.
If we can give the Blow, all will be safe to us.
We shall not want Provision, nor Supplies.
The Colonies and Free Towns will lie open;
Where, if we yield to fear, expect no Place,
Nor Friend, to shelter those whom their own Fortune,
And ill-us'd Arms have left without Protection.
You might have liv'd in Servitude, or Exile,
Or safe at Rome, depending on the Great ones;
But that you thought those things unfit for Men:
And, in that thought, you then were valiant.
For no Man ever yet chang'd Peace for War,
But he that meant to conquer. Hold that purpose.
There's more necessity you should be such,
In fighting for your selves, than they for others.
He's base that trusts his Feet, whose Hands are arm'd.
Me thinks I see Death and the Furies waiting
What we will do, and all the Heav'n at leisure
For the great Spectacle. Draw then your Swords;
And if our Destiny envy our Vertue
The Honour of the Day, yet let us care
To sell our selves at such a Price as may
Undo the World to buy us, and make Fate,
While she tempts ours, fear her own Estate.

The Senate.

SEn.
What means this hasty calling of the Senate?

Sen.
We shall know streight. Wait till the Consul speaks.

Pom.
Fathers Conscript, bethink you of your Safeties,
And what to do with these Conspirators:
Some of their Clients, their Freed-men, and Slaves,
'Gin to make Head: There is one of Lentulus Bawds
Runs up and down the Shops, through every Street,

With Money, to corrupt the poor Artificers,
And needy Tradesmen, to their aid. Cethegus
Hath sent too to his Servants, who are many,
Chosen, and exercis'd in bold Attemptings,
That forthwith they should arm themselves, and prove
His Rescue: All will be in instant Uproar,
If you prevent it not with present Counsels.
We have done what we can to meet the Fury,
And will do more. Be you good to your selves.

Cic.
What is your pleasure, Fathers, shall be done?
Syllanus, you are Consul next design'd;
Your Sentence of these Men.

Syl.
'Tis short, and this.
Since they have sought to blot the name of Rome
Out of the World, and raze this glorious Empire
With her own Hands, and Arms turn'd on her self,
I think it fit they die: And could my Breath
Now execute 'em, they should not enjoy
An Article of Time, or Eye of Light,
Longer, to poyson this our Common air.

Sen.
I think so too.

Sen.
And I.

Sen.
And I.

Sen.
And I.

Cic.
Your Sentence, Caius Cæsar.

Cæs.
Conscript Fathers,
In great Affairs, and doubtful, it behoves
Men that are ask'd their Sentence, to be free
From either Hate or Love, Anger or Pity:
For where the least of these do hinder, there
The Mind not easily discerns the Truth.
I speak this to you in the Name of Rome,
For whom you stand; and to the present Cause:
That this foul Fact of Lentulus, and the rest,
Weigh not more with you than your Dignity;
And you be more indulgent to your Passion,
Than to your Honour. If there could be found
A Pain or Punishment equal to their Crimes,
I would devise, and help: But if the greatness
Of what they ha' done, exceed all Mans Invention,
I think it fit to stay where our Laws do.
Poor petty States may alter, upon humour,
Where, if th' offend with anger, few do know it,
Because they are obscure; their Fame and Fortune
Is equal, and the same. But they that are
Head of the World, and live in that seen height,
All Mankind knows their Actions. So we see,
The greater Fortune hath the lesser Licence.
They must not favour, hate, and least be angry:
For what with others is call'd Anger, there
Is Cruelty and Pride. I know Syllanus,
Who spoke before me, a just, valiant Man,
A Lover of the State, and one that would not,
In such a Business, use or Grace or Hatred;
I know too, well, his Manners and Modesty:
Nor do I think his Sentence cruel, (for
'Gainst such Delinquents what can be too bloody?)
But that it is abhorring from our State:
Since to a Citizen of Rome, offending,
Our Laws give Exile, and not Death. Why then
Decrees he that? 'Twere vain to think, for fear;
When, by the diligence of so worthy a Consul,
All is made safe and certain. Is't for Punishment?
Why, Death's the end of Evils, and a Rest,
Rather than Torment: It dissolves all Griefs;
And beyond that, is neither Care nor Joy.
You hear, my Sentence would not have 'em die.
How then? set free, and increase Catiline's Army?
So will they, being but banish'd. No, Grave Fathers,
I judge 'em, first, to have their States confiscate;
Then, that their Persons remain Prisoners
I' the Free Towns, far off from Rome, and sever'd;
Where they might neither have Relation,
Hereafter, to the Senate, or the People.
Or, if they had, those Towns then to be mulcted,
As Enemies to the State, that had their Guard.

Sen.
'Tis good and honourable, Cæsar hath utter'd.

Cic.
Fathers, I see your Faces and your Eyes
All bent on me, to note, of these two Censures,
Which I incline to. Either of them are grave,
And answering the Dignity of the Speakers,
The greatness of th' Affair, and both severe.
One urgeth Death; and he may well remember
This State hath punish'd wicked Citizens so.
The other Bonds, and those perpetual, which
He thinks found out for the more singular Plague.
Decree which you shall please: You have a Consul,
Not readier to obey, than to defend
Whatever you shall act, for the Republick;
And meet with willing Shoulders any Burden,
Or any Fortune, with an even Face,
Though it were Death; which to a valiant Man
Can never happen foul, nor to a Consul
Be immature, or to a wise man wretched.

Syl.
Fathers, I spake but as I thought the Needs
O' th' Commonwealth requir'd.

Cat.
Excuse it not.

Cic.
Cato, speak your Sentence.

Cat.
This it is.
You here dispute on kinds of Punishment,
And stand consulting what you should decree
'Gainst those of whom you rather should beware:
This Mischief is not like those common Facts,
Which, when they are done, the Laws may prosecute.
But this, if you provide not ere it happen,
When it is hap'ned, will not wait your Judgment.
Good Caius Cæsar here hath very well,
And subtilly discours'd of Life and Death,
As if he thought those things a pretty Fable,
That are deliver'd us of Hell and Furies,
Or of the divers way that ill Men go
From good, to filthy, dark, and ugly Places.
And therefore he would have these live, and long too;
But far from Rome, and in the small Free Towns,
Lest here they might have Rescue: As if Men
Fit for such Acts were only in the City,
And not throughout all Italy; or, that Boldness
Could not do more, where it found least resistance?
'Tis a vain Counsel, if he think them dangerous:
Which if he do not, but that he alone,
In so great fear of all Men, stand unfrighted,
He gives me cause, and you, more to fear him.
I am plain, Fathers. Here you look about
One at another, doubting what to do;
With Faces, as you trusted to the Gods,
That still have sav'd you; and they can do't: But
They are not Wishings, or base womanish Prayers,
Can draw their Aids; but Vigilance, Counsel, Action;
Which they will be ashamed to forsake.
'Tis Sloth they hate, and Cowardise. Here you have
The Traitors in your Houses; yet you stand,
Fearing what to do with 'em: Let 'em loose,
And send 'em hence with Arms too, that your Mercy
May turn your Misery, as soon as't can.
O, but they are Great Men, and have offended
But through Ambition: We would spare their Honour.
I, if themselves had spar'd it, or their Fame,
Or Modesty, or either God, or Man:
Then I would spare 'em. But as things now stand,
Fathers, to spare these Men, were to commit
A greater Wickedness than you would revenge.
If there had been but time and Place for you
To have repair'd this Fault, you should have made it;
It should have been your Punishment, to have felt
Your tardy Error: but Necessity
Now bids me say, Let 'em not live an Hour,
If you mean Rome should live a Day. I have done.

Sen.
Cato hath spoken like an Oracle.

Cra.
Let it be so decreed.

Sen.
We are all fearful.

Syl.
And had been base, had not his Vertue rais'd us.

Sen.
Go forth, most worthy

Consul.
we'll assist you.

Cæs.
I am not yet chang'd in my Sentence, Fathers.

Cat.
No matter. What be those?

Sen.
Letters for Cæsar.

Cat.
From

Cat.
From whom? Let 'em be read in open Senate.
Fathers, they come from the Conspirators;
I crave to have 'em read, for the Republick.

Cæs.
Cato, read you it. 'Tis a Love-letter,
From your dear Sister, to me: though you hate me,
Do not discover it.

Cat.
Hold thee, Drunkard. Consul,
Go forth, and confidently.

Cæs.
You'll repent
This rashness, Cicero. Præ. Cæsar shall repent it.

Cic.
Hold, Friends.

Præ.
He's scarce a Friend unto the Publick.

Cic.
No violence. Cæsar, be safe. Lead on.
Where are the Publick Executioners?
Bid 'em wait on us. On to Spinther's House.
Bring Lentulus forth. Here, you, the sad Revengers
Of Capital Crimes against the Publick, take
This Man unto your Justice; strangle him.

Len.
Thou dost well, Consul. 'Twas a Cast at Dice,
In Fortune's Hand, not long since, that thy self
Should'st have heard these, or other words as fatal.

Cic.
Lead on to Quintus Cornificius House.
Bring forth Cethegus. Take him to the due
Death that he hath deserv'd, and let it be
Said, he was once.

Cet.
A Beast, or, what is worse,
A Slave, Cethegus. Let that be the Name
For all that's base, hereafter; that would let
This Worm pronounce on him, and not have trampled
His Body into — Ha! art thou not mov'd?

Cic.
Justice is never angty. Take him hence.

Cet.
O, the Whore Fortune, and her Bawds the Fates!
That put these Tricks on Men, whick knew the way
To Death by' a Sword. Strangle me, I may sleep;
I shall grow angry with the Gods else.

Cic.
Lead To Caius Cæsar, for Statilius.
Bring him, and rude Gabinius out. Here, take 'em
To your cold Hands, and let 'em feel Death from you.

Gab.
I thank you, you do me a pleasure.

Sta.
And me too.

Cat.
So, Marcus Tullius, thou maist now stand up,
And call it happy Rome, thou being Consul.
Great Parent of thy Country, go, and let
The old Men of the City, ere they die,
Kiss thee; the Matrons dwell about thy Neck;
The Youths and Maids lay up, 'gainst they are old,
What kind of Man thou wert, to tell their Nephews,
When, such a Year, they read, within our Fasti,
Thy Consulship. Who's this? Petreius?

Cic.
Welcome,
Welcome, renowned Soldier. VVhat's the News?
This Face can bring no ill with't unto Rome.
How does the worthy Consul, my Colleague?

Pet.
As well as Victory can make him, Sir.
He greets the Fathers, and to me hath trusted
The sad Relation of the Civil Strife;
For, in such VVar, the Conquest still is black.

Cic.
Shall we withdraw into the House of Concord?

Cat.
No, happy Consul: Here let all Ears take
The Benefit of this Tale. If he had Voice
To spread unto the Poles, and strike it through
The Center, to th' Antipodes, it would ask it.

Pet.
The Straits and Needs of Catiline being such,
As he must fight with one of the two Armies,
That then had neer enclos'd him; it pleas'd Fate
To make us th' Object of his desperate Choice,
VVherein the Danger almost poiz'd the Honour:
And as he riss', the Day grew black with him,
And Fate descended nearer to the Earth,
As if she meant to hide the name of things
Under her VVings, and make the VVorld her Quarry.

At this we rous'd, lest one small Minutes stay
Had left it to be inquir'd, what Rome was:
And (as we ought) arm'd in the confidence
Of our great Cause, in form of Battel stood:
VVhilst Catiline came on, not with the Face
Of any Man, but of a Publick Ruin:
His Count'nance was a Civil VVar it self;
And all his Host had standing in their Looks
The Paleness of the Death that was to come.
Yet cried they out like Vultures, and urg'd on,
As if they would precipitate our Fates.
Nor staid we longer for 'em: But himself
Struck the first Stroke; and with it fled a Life,
Which cut, it seem'd a narrow Neck of Land
Had broke between two mighty Seas, and either
Flow'd into other; for so did the Slaughter:
Aud whirl'd about, as when two violent Tides
Meet, and not yield. The Furies stood on Hills,
Circling the Place, and trembled to see Men
Do more than thcy; whilst Piety left the Field,
Griev'd for that Side, that in so bad a Cause
They knew not what a Crime their Valour was.
The Sun stood still, and was, behind the Cloud
The Battel made, seen sweating, to drive up
His frighted Horse, whom still the Noise drove backward.
And now had fierce Enyo, like a Flame,
Consum'd all it could reach, and then it self;
Had not the Fortune of the Commonwealth
Come, Pallas-like, to every Roman thought.
Which Catiline seeing, and that now his Troops
Cover'd that Earth they had fought on, with their Trunks,
Ambitious of great Fame, to crown his Ill,
Collected all his Fury, and ran in
(Arm'd with a Glory high as his Despair)
Into our Battel, like a Lybian Lion
Upon his Hunters, scornful of our Weapons,
Careless of Wounds, plucking down Lives about him,
Till he had circled in himself with Death:
Then fell he too, t' embrace it where it lay.
And as in that Rebellion 'gainst the Gods,
Minerva holding forth Medusa's Head,
One of the Gyant-Brethren felt himself
Grow Marble at the killing Sight, and now
Almost made Stone, began t' inquire, what Flint,
What Rock it was, that crept through all his Limbs,
And, ere he could think more, was that he fear'd;
So Catiline, at the sight of Rome in us,
Became his Tomb: Yet did his Look retain
Some of his Fierceness, and his Hands still mov'd,
As if he labour'd yet to grasp the State
With those Rebellious Parts.

Cat.
A brave bad Death!
Had this been honest now, and for his Country,
As 'twas against it, who had ere fallen greater?

Cic.
Honour'd Petreius, Rome, not I, must thank you.
How modestly has he spoken of himself!

Cat.
He did the more.

Cic.
Thanks to the immortal Gods,
Romans, I now am paid for all my Labours,
My VVatchings, and my Dangers. Here conclude
Your Praises, Triumphs, Honours, and Rewards,
Decreed to me: Only the Memory
Of this glad Day, if I may know it live
VVithin your Thoughts, shall much affect my Conscience,
VVhich I must always study before Fame.
Though both be good, the latter yet is worst,
And ever is ill got, without the first.

T H E E N D.