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join in the conspiracy。 He thus knew all the discourse which passed
betwixt them and the strangers； and lying in wait for them by night；
he took the Crotonian with his letters； the ambassadors of the
Allobroges acting secretly in concert with him。
By break of day； he summoned the senate into the temple of
Concord； where he read the letters and examined the informers。
Junius Silanus further stated that several persons had heard
Cethegus say that three consuls and four praetors were to be slain。
Piso； also； a person of consular dignity； testified other matters of
the like nature； and Caius Sulpicius； one of the praetors； being
sent to Cethegus's house； found there a quantity of darts and of
armour； and a still greater number of swords and daggers； all recently
whetted。 At length； the senate decreeing indemnity to the Crotonian
upon his confession of the whole matter； Lentulus was convicted；
abjured his office （for he was then praetor）； and put off his robe
edged with purple in the senate； changing it for another garment
more agreeable to his present circumstances。 He thereupon； with the
rest of his confederates present； was committed to the charge of the
praetors in free custody。
It being evening； and the common people in crowds expecting without；
Cicero went forth to them； and told them what was done； and then；
attended by them； went to the house of a friend and near neighbour；
for his own was taken up by the women who were celebrating； with
secret rites the feast of the goddess whom the Romans call the Good；
and the Greeks the Women's goddess。 For a sacrifice is annually
performed to her in the consul's house； either by his wife or
mother； in the presence of the vestal virgins。 And having got into his
friend's house privately； a few only being present； he began to
deliberate how he should treat these men。 The severest； and the only
punishment fit for such heinous crimes； he was somewhat shy and
fearful of inflicting； as well from the clemency of his nature； as
also lest he should be thought to exercise his authority too
insolently； and to treat too harshly men of the noblest birth and most
powerful friendships in the city； and yet； if he should use them
more mildly； he had a dreadful prospect of danger from them。 For there
was no likelihood； if they suffered less than death； they would be
reconciled； but rather； adding new rage to their former wickedness；
they would rush into every kind of audacity； while he himself； whose
character for courage already did not stand very high with the
multitude； would be thought guilty of the greatest cowardice and
want of manliness。
Whilst Cicero was doubting what course to take； a portent happened
to the women in their sacrificing。 For on the altar； where the fire
seemed wholly extinguished； a great and bright flame issued forth from
the ashes of the burnt wood； at which others were affrighted； but
the holy virgins called to Terentia； Cicero's wife； and bade her haste
to her husband； and command him to execute what he had resolved for
the good of his country； for the goddess had sent a great light to the
increase of his safety and glory。 Terentia； therefore； as she was
otherwise in her own nature neither tender…hearted nor timorous； but a
woman eager for distinction （who； as Cicero himself says； would rather
thrust herself into his public affairs； than communicate her
domestic matters to him）； told him these things； and excited him
against the conspirators。 So also did Quintus his brother； and Publius
Nigidius； one of his philosophical friends； whom he often made use
of in his greatest and most weighty affairs of state。
The next day； a debate arising in the senate about the punishment of
the men； Silanus； being the first who was asked his opinion； said it
was fit they should be all sent to the prison； and there suffer the
utmost penalty。 To him all consented in order till it came to Caius
Caesar； who was afterwards dictator。 He was then but a young man；
and only at the outset of his career； but had already directed his
hopes and policy to that course by which he afterwards changed the
Roman state into a monarchy。 Of this others foresaw nothing； but
Cicero had seen reason for strong suspicion； though without
obtaining any sufficient means of proof。 And there were some indeed
that said that he was very near being discovered； and only just
escaped him； others are of opinion that Cicero voluntarily
overlooked and neglected the evidence against him； for fear of his
friends and power； for it was very evident to everybody that if Caesar
was to be accused with the conspirators； they were more likely to be
saved with him； than he to be punished with them。
When； therefore； it came to Caesar's turn to give his opinion； he
stood up and proposed that the conspirators should not be put to
death； but their estates confiscated； and their persons confined in
such cities in Italy as Cicero should approve； there to be kept in
custody till Catiline was conquered。 To this sentence； as it was the
most moderate； and he that delivered it a most powerful speaker；
Cicero himself gave no small weight； for he stood up and； turning
the scale on either side； spoke in favour partly of the former； partly
of Caesar's sentence。 And all Cicero's friends； judging Caesar's
sentence most expedient for Cicero； because he would incur the less
blame if the conspirators were not put to death； chose rather the
latter； so that Silanus； also changing his mind； retracted his
opinion； and said he had not declared for capital； but only the utmost
punishment； which to a Roman senator is imprisonment。 The first man
who spoke Against Caesar's motion was Catulus Lutatius。 Cato followed；
and so vehemently urged in his speech the strong suspicion against
Caesar himself； and so filled the senate with anger and resolution；
that a decree was passed for the execution of the conspirators。 But
Caesar opposed the confiscation of their goods； not thinking it fair
that those who rejected the mildest part of his sentence should
avail themselves of the severest。 And when many insisted upon it； he
appealed to the tribunes； but they would do nothing； till Cicero
himself yielding； remitted that part of the sentence。
After this； Cicero went out with the senate to the conspirators；
they were not all together in one place； but the several praetors
had them； some one； some another； in custody。 And first he took
Lentulus from the Palatine； and brought him by the Sacred Street；
through the middle of the market…place； a circle of the most eminent
citizens encompassing and protecting him。 The people； affrighted at
what was doing； passed along in silence； especially the young men；
as if； with fear and trembling； they were undergoing a rite of
initiation into some ancient sacred mysteries of aristocratic power。
Thus passing from the market…place； and coming to the gaol； he
delivered Lentulus to the officer； and commanded him to execute him；
and after him Cethegus； and so all the rest in order； he brought and
delivered up to execution。 And when he saw many of the conspirators in
the market…place； still standing together in companies； ignorant of
what was done； and waiting for the night； supposing the men were still
alive and in a possibility of being rescued； he called out in a loud
voice； and said； 〃They did live；〃 for so the Romans； to avoid
inauspicious language； name those that are dead。
It was now evening； when he returned from the market…place to his
own house； the citizens no longer attending him with silence； nor in
order； but receiving him； as he passed； with acclamations and
applauses； and saluting him as the saviour and founder of his country。
A bright light shone through the streets from the lamps and torches
set up at the doors； and the women showed lights from the tops of
the houses； to honour Cicero； and to behold him returning home with
a splendid train of the most principal citizens； amongst whom were
many who had conducted great wars； celebrated triumphs； and added to
the possessions of the Roman empire； both by sea and land。 These； as
they passed along with him； acknowledged to one another； that though
the Roman people were indebted to several officers and commanders of
that age for riches； spoils； and power； yet to Cicero alone they
owed the safety and security of all these； for delivering them from so
great and imminent a danger。 For though it might seem no wonderful
thing to present the design； and punish the conspirators； yet to
defeat the greatest of all conspiracies with so little disturbance；
trouble； and commotion； was very extraordinary。 For the greater part
of those who had flocked in to Catil