M. TULLI CICERONIS ŌRĀTIŌ IN CATILINAM PRIMA IN SENĀTU HABITA 1. Quo usque tandem abūtēre, Catilīna, patientiā nostrā? 1 quam diu etiam furor iste tuus nōs ēlūdet? quem ad finem sēsē effrēnāta iactābit audacia? Nihilne tē nocturnum praesidium Palāti, nihil urbis vigiliae, nihil timor populi, nihil con5 cursus bonōrum omnium, nihil hic mūnītissimus habendī TITLE.-M. Tulli Ciceronis: On the three names cf. A. 108; B. 373; H. 354, 3; H.-B. 678; on the gen. -i for -ii see A. 49, b; B. 25, 1; H. 83, 6; H.-B. 71, 2. Cicero is said to be derived from cicer, 'a small pea.' Decline the three names side by side. Oratio. nom., used absolutely in the title of books, etc. in Catilinam: 'against Catiline.' prima: there are four orations commonly called 'against Catiline.' in senatu: explain the circumstances under which this oration was delivered. See Introduction. Catiline's audacity in appearing in the senate, where his guilt was known, §§1, 2. 1. 1. tandem: 'I pray,' in interrogative and imperative sentences is the sign of intense feeling. abutere: 'use up.' 'exhaust' (not 'abuse,' 'misuse'); observe the quantity of penult and thus determine tense. Cf. also tense of eludet and iactabit in the two following questions. 2. etiam: 'still,' in temporal meaning. iste alone means 'that of yours' (A. 297, c; B. 87; H. 505; H.-B. 271); here it is strengthened by addition of tuus. 3. Nihilne: an emphatic nonne. Note the repetition (anaphora) of the same word nihil at the beginning of successive clauses instead of a connective. Nihil is adv. acc. (A. 390 d, note 2; B. 176, 3; H. 416, 2; H.-B. 387, III), and -ne, attached to the first nihil, is the question-mark for the whole sentence. 4. Palati: mons Palatinus. This hill was the original seat of Rome, and remained a point of great strategic importance, always promptly garrisoned when danger within the city was apprehended. On the brow of the hill toward the Via Sacra stood the temple of Jupiter Stator, where the senate was now assembled. Cicero had increased the guards for political effect. vigiliae: an abstract noun here with concrete meaning. 5. bonorum: 'loyal men;' the political sense of the word, including all persons in the speakers' party, and exclud |