4: _detester ac deprecer_: both these words mean “to seek to remove
anything from one, such as blame, &c., by calling the gods to witness
(_testari deos_) and by imploring (_precari_) their aid.” Note the
middle force of these deponents.
5: _quaeso_: conjugate this verb.
6: _loquatur_: see § 18.
7: _tune_: join with _exire patiere_.
8: _evoratorum servorum_: Catiline, however, refused the help of slaves
(Sallust, Cat. C., 56), though Lentulus urged him to use these.
9: _emissus--immissus_: paronomasia.
10: _hunc--duci_: what is the usual construction of _imperari_? H.
498, I. The infinitive with _imperare_ is always passive.
11: _mactari_: the official word of sacrifice, “to slay a victim.” It is
connected with old verb _magere_: probably “to strike:” cp. μάχη, hence
“to kill.”
§ 28.--
1: _tandem_: cp. note 1, § 1. Cicero shews that neither precedent, nor
laws, nor the judgment of future generations deter Catiline.
2: _At_: introduces the objection of an opponent: “Yes, but.” Cicero
refers here to the case of P. Scipio Nasica who headed the nobility
against Tib. Gracchus.
3: _an leges?_ Principally the _leges Valeriae_, and _leges Porciae_.
The former were proposed by (1) P. Valerius Poplicola 509 B.C. which
enacted that no Roman magistrate should put to death or flog a Roman
citizen if he had appealed to the people: (2) in 449 B.C. L. Valerius
Potitus enacted that no magistracy should be held with an exemption from
appeal: (3) in 300 B.C. M. Valerius Corvus brought in a bill sanctioning
the other laws on the subject of appeal. The _leges Porciae_ were
proposed by three of the _Porcii_, and exempted from stripes the persons
of Roman citizens, and imposed heavy fines on any one who should scourge
or kill a Roman citizen.
4: _rogatae sunt_: “have been passed.” The people at the _comitia_ were
_asked_ to pass a law by the presiding magistrate in the words
“_velitis, jubeatis, Quirites_.” Hence _rogare legem_, “to pass a bill.”
When the people voted _two_ ballots were usually given them, one marked
with the letters U R (i.e. _uti rogas_ or “yea”), and the other with A
(i.e. _antiquo, antiqua probo_, “I annul”).
5: _praeclaram gratiam_: “a fine return:” strongly ironical.
6: _hominem--cognitum_: i.e. _hominem novum_: the Romans applied the
term (_novus homo_) to the first of a family who had raised himself to a
consul office, _tam mature_: the _lex annalis_ enacted that no one could
obtain the _quaetorship_ till he was 31; the _aedileship_ till 37; the
_praetorship_ till 41; and the _consulship_ till 43. Cicero means that
he obtained these offices as soon as he was eligible to hold them.
7: _propter invidiam_: “because of too disquieting fear of
unpopularity.”
§ 29.--
1: _num--pertimescenda?_ “Is the ill-will arising from a strict and a
firm discharge of duty to be feared rather than that arising from
indolence and indifference.”