§ 19.--
1: _Impetrare_: “to obtain its request:” i.e. _ut ex urbe exeas_.
2: _quid? quod_: see note 11, § 16.
3: _custodiam_: when a person of rank was suspected of any treasonable
act, he generally surrendered himself into the hands of some responsible
person, to be guarded until his guilt or innocence was established. This
was called _custodia libera._
4: _apud M’_: another reading is _ad M._ The person was Manius (not
Marcus) Lepidus who held the office of consulship with Volcatius Tullus
B.C. 68.
_domi meae_: would _domi_ with other adjectives be allowable?
5: _isdem parietibus_: here the idea of _means_ is combined with that of
place: H. 425, II., 1.1.
_qui--essem = quippe qui--essem_: “inasmuch as I was in great danger.”
_quod--contineremur_: when does _quod_ take the indicative and when the
subjunctive: H. 516, I., II.?
6: _sodalem_: “your boon companion:” distinguish _socius_ (root _sec_,
to follow, hence _sequor_), a follower: _consors_, a partner in lot:
_comes_, a companion on a journey: _sodalis_, a boon companion.
7: _virum optimum_: probably ironical: nothing is known of him, except
that he was weak and simple.
8: _videlicet_ and _scilicet_: “no doubt”: both introduce an explanation
with the difference, that the former generally indicates the true, the
latter, the wrong explanation, though sometimes, as in the present
passage, the meanings are reversed. Z. 345.
9: _ad vindicandum_: “in bringing you to punishment.”
_a vinculis_: the state prison which was used to detain prisoners, not
for penal imprisonment in opposition to (_custodia libera_) private
custody.
10: _qui_ = _quippe qui_: H., 517.
§ 20.--
1: _quae cum ita sint_: see note.
2: _emori_: another reading is _morari_, antithetical to _abire_.
3: _refer ad senatum_: “bring up (the matter scil. _rem_) before the
Senate.” --_referre_ is the technical term to express the laying of the
subject for debate before the Senate, which was done by the consul or
presiding magistrate: _deferre_, denotes the simple announcement of
anything: _placere_, is the usual term to express the decision of the
Senate. The aristocratic party had advised Catiline to go into exile,
preferring that he should take this course rather than that they should
have an open conflict with him.
4: _sibi--decreverit_: “shall decree by their vote.” The senators voted
“yea” or “nay” by saying _placet_ or _non placet_.
5: _abhorret--moribus_: “is inconsistent with my character.” The fact is
the Senate could not pass a sentence of exile.
6: _si--expectas_: “if it is this word (exile) you are waiting for.”
7: _patiuntur--tacent_: i.e., they suffer me to use this bold language
to you and still they raise no word on your behalf.
8: _quid--perspicis?_ “why do you wait for the sentence of these in
words, where will you perceive, though they are silent?”
§ 21.--
1: _huic_: “who is present.” P. Sestius Gallus was quaestor to the
consul Antonius who as _tribunus plebis_ in 57 B.C. was active for
Cicero’s recall from banishment. Cicero defended him in 56 B.C. in an
action _de vi_.
2: _vim--intulisset_: “would have laid violent hands on me:” a species
of hendiadys. Even his dignity as consul, and the sacred shrine of
Juppiter Stator would not have shielded him.
3: _quiescunt probant_: _patiuntur_, _decernunt_: _tacent_, _clamant_:
note these examples of _oxymoron_.
4: _cives_, scil. _idem faciunt_ i.e. _silentio probant_. The _equites_
formed the second or middle order of the Roman State.
5: _prosequantur_: those who went into voluntary exile were often
accompanied to the gates by their friends. An escort is promised
Catiline to express the delight in getting rid of him.