stances of the oppofing Parties; from that we çan form a true Notion, how very low our Enemies are reduced. Here Regard to Virtue opposes Infenfibility of Shame, Purity Pollution, Integrity Injustice, Virtue Villainy, Refolution Rage, Dignity Defilement, Regularity Riot; on one side are ranged Equity, Temperance, Courage, Prudence, and every Virtue; on the other, Iniquity, Luxury, Cowardice, Rafhness, with every Vice; laftly, the Struggle lies between Wealth and Want, the Dignity and the Degeneracy of Reafon; the Force and the Frenzy of the Soul; between well-grounded Hope and widely extended Defpair. In fuch a Strife, in fuch a Struggle as this, even though the Zeal of Men were wanting, must not the Immortal Gods give such shining Virtues the Superiority over fo great, and fuch complicated Vices? SINCE fuch, O Romans! is our Situation, do you, as I have already advised, each of you, provide for your domeftic Security by Ward and Watching. I have taken Care, I have provided effectually, that the Peace of the City shall be kept without alarming you, and without Riot within the Walls: Your Planters and the Inhabitants of your municipal Cities, ad vised by me of Catiline's nocturnal Excurfion, will eafily defend their own Poffeffions and Cities. The Gladiators, his ftrongeft, and, as he though, his moft trufty Band, and indeed much honefter Men than fome Patricians I could name, shall be curbed by our Power. Quintus Metellus, whom, upon my foreseeing this Event, I had fent into Ancona and Lombardy, fhall either destroy the Traitor, or baffle all his Motions, and all his Meafures. As to other Matters, in what Manner these are to be regulated, to be conducted and executed, we are now to confult the Senate, whom you fee affembling. As for those who are left within this City, and left by Catiline for its Destruction, and your Confufion, though they are Enemies, yet ftill are they our natural Fellow-Citizens, and as fuch, will I give them my repeated Admonitions. If my Lenity has hitherto feemed in clinable to Weakness, it was with a View that this latent Corruption might be discharged. But now can I no longer forget that this is my native Soil, that to these I am Conful, THAT I MUST SPEND MY LIFE AMONG MY COUNTRYMEN, OR LAY IT DOWN FOR MY COUNTRY; the Gate is without a GuardTM, and upon the Road lies no Ambush, they who decline to depart, may do as they think fit; but among those who remain in the City, should any one create, should he attempt, should he fo much as feem to aim at the least Disturbance, and be discovered by me, he shall be fenfible, that within those Walls are vigilant Confuls, active Magiftrates, keen Swords, a brave Senate, and a Dungeon; that Scene in which our Ancestors thought proper to punish unnatural Guilt and avowed Rebellion. ROMANS, all this fhall be fo tranfacted, that the greatest Events shall be brought about without Disturbance; the most imminent Dangers averted without Alarm; and an inteftine, a domeftic War, more extensive, and more cruel, than the oldest now alive can remember, without my laying afide these peaceful Robes *, shall by me be conducted and quelled. All this, That is, though I have placed Guards to prevent the Attempts of the Conspirators, I have given no Orders to stop any fingle Perfon from going out. The Confuls, before their fetting out on any military Expedition, used to put off their Gowns, and put on their military Drefs, with great Ceremony and publick facrifices. Cicero tells them, his Scheme for the fuppreffing the Confpiracy, was fo well laid, that without changing his Gown, the Dress of Peace, he would quell all the Disturbance. this, O Romans! will I manage fo, that, if there is a Poffibility of avoiding it, not, a fingle Rebel fhall, within the Walls of this City, be punished for his Guilt. But if the Hand of avowed Infolence, if the Dangers of my fuffering Country fhall tear me from this Gentleness of Difpofition; yet fhall I fo order it beyond what is even to be hoped for in a Rebellion, so far fpread, and so artfully covered, that no worthy Man shall fall, and the Punishment of a few fhall place you above all Dread or Danger. THESE Things, O Romans! I promise you, not relying on my own Prudence, or human Policy, but repeated, infallible Intimations of the Immortal Gods. Their Protection gives me this Hope, and their Prefence inspires me with this Refolution. These Gods, I fay, no longer at a distance, as when attacked by a foreign and a remote Enemy, but here in their own Perfons, by their immediate Power and Providence, defend their own Temples, and the Habitations of Rome and you, my Countrymen, ought to put up your Prayers, your Vows and Supplications, that they will defend this City, which they have |