[ Sallust, Catilinae Coniuratio: XVI ]

Sed iuventutem, quam, ut supra diximus, illexerat, multis modis mala facinora edocebat. Ex illis testis signatoresque falsos commodare; fidem, fortunas, pericula vilia habere, post, ubi eorum famam atque pudorem attriverat, maiora alia imperabat.

As I mentioned earlier, he enticed the youth and he began to teach them a wide variety of criminal behaviour, recruiting from among their midst dishonest forgers and witnesses. He compelled them to regard their personal credibility, wealth or criminal prosecutions as inconsequential and, when he had destroyed their reputation and sense of shame, he demanded more outrages.

Si causa peccandi in praesens minus suppetebat, nihilo minus insontis sicuti sontis circumvenire, iugulare: scilicet, ne per otium torpescerent manus aut animus, gratuito potius malus atque crudelis erat. scilicet, ne per otium torpescerent manus aut animus, gratuito potius malus atque crudelis erat.

If in the current circumstances there was not sufficient reason for undertaking wrongful actions, nonetheless he assailed innocent men as if guilty and slaughtered them. In fact, he was more cruel and evil in his spontaneity, lest his band of men or their spirit becaome weak due to inactivity.

His amicis sociisque confisus Catilina, simul quod aes alienum per omnis terras ingens erat et quod plerique Sullani milites, largius suo usi, rapinarum et victoriae veteris memores civile bellum exoptabant, opprimundae rei publicae consilium cepit.

So Cataline, placing trust in his friends and associates, hatched a plan for taking over the Republic, both because great debt extended every where and because most of Sulla's soldiers had squandered their resources and now recalling their previous pillaging and victory were desirous for civil war.

In Italia nullus exercitus, Cn. Pompeius in extremis terris bellum gerebat; ipsi consulatum petenti magna spes, senatus nihil sane intentus: tutae tranquillaeque res omnes, sed ea prorsus opportuna Catilinae.

In Italy there was no army, Pompey was waging war in distant lands; So for Cataline there was a great hope in attaining the consulship, the Senate was not at all focused on any matter: everything was safe and secure, but this was precisely the right moment for Cataline.

[ Sallust, Catilinae Coniuratio: XVII ]

Igitur circiter Kalendas Iunias L. Caesare et C. Figulo consulibus primo singulos appellare, hortari alios, alios temptare; opes suas, inparatam rem publicam, magna praemia coniurationis docere. Ubi satis explorata sunt, quae voluit, in unum omnis convocat, quibus maxuma necessitudo et plurumum audaciae inerat.

Therefore around the Kalends of Iunius in the year when L.Caesar and C. Figulos were consuls, Cataline first began to solicit each one of his associates individually, exhorting some, bribing others; he informed them about his own resources, the unpreparedness of the Republic and the great rewards of the conspiracy. When he had fully discussed those matters he wanted to, he summoned into one place all those for whom their was the greatest motivation and the most audacity.

Eo convenere senatorii ordinis P. Lentulus Sura, P. Autronius, L. Cassius Longinus, C. Cethegus, P. et Ser. Sullae Ser. filii, L. Vargunteius, Q. Annius, M. Porcius Laeca, L. Bestia, Q. Curius; praeterea ex equestri ordine M. Fulvius Nobilior, L. Statilius, P. Gabinius Capito, C. Cornelius; ad hoc multi ex coloniis et municipiis domi nobiles.

Here met from the senatorial rank Publius Lentulus Sura, Publius Autronius, Lucius Cassius Longinus, Gaius Cethegus, Publius et Servius Sullae, the sons of Servius, Lucius Vargunteius, Quintus Annius, Marcus Porcius Laeca, Lucius Bestia and Quintus Curius. From the equestrian order there included Marcus Fulvius Nobilior, Lucius Statilius, Publius Gabinius Capito and Gaius Cornelius. In addition there were many local nobles from the colonies and municipalites.

Erant praeterea complures paulo occultius consili huiusce participes nobiles, quos magis dominationis spes hortabatur quam inopia aut alia necessitudo.

Besides these men there were many noblemen who were less recognized supporters of this conspiracy and for whom the expectation of power impelled them more than need or any other motivation.

Ceterum iuventus pleraque, sed maxume nobilium, Catilinae inceptis favebat; quibus in otio vel magnifice vel molliter vivere copia erat, incerta pro certis, bellum quam pacem malebant.

But a good number of the youth and most of the nobility favoured Cataline's undertakings; Although they had the means to live at rest in splendor and in calm, they prefered uncertainty to certainty, war over peace.

Fuere item ea tempestate, qui crederent M. Licinium Crassum non ignarum eius consili fuisse; quia Cn. Pompeius, invisus ipsi, magnum exercitum ductabat, cuiusvis opes voluisse contra illius potentiam crescere, simul confisum, si coniuratio valuisset, facile apud illos principem se fore.

Likewise at this time there were those who believed that Marcus Licinius Crassus was not ignorant of this plan; Because Gnaeus Pompey, a man detestable to Crassus, was in charge of a great army, they believed that Crassus wished to increase the power of anyone in opposition to the power of Pompeius, while at the same time Crassus was confident that, if the plan succeeded, he would easily become the first man among them.