How Dare Catiline

Cicero, an influential senator, a consul, and the target of a conspiracy. A consul is the highest elected position in the Roman Republic, with terms lasting one-year and two consuls being elected each term. On November 8th, 63 BC, Cicero confronts Catiline, a Roman politician with a greed for power, about his recent actions: conspiring the murder of Roman senators. This particular oration takes place in the Temple of Jupitor Stator, a temple founded by Romulus after a battle between Romulus and the Sabines. The temple was later destroyed during Nero's reign in the Great Fire of Rome.

Cicero starts off his oration expressing his fury against Catiline, in an introduction consisting of a plethora of rhetorical questions. "Nihilne te nocturnum praesidium Palati, nihil urbis vigiliae, nihil timor opuli nihil concursus bonorum omnium, nihil hic munitissimus habendi senatus locus, nihil horum ora vultus que moverunt?" In this quote, Cicero attacks Catiline's lack of awareness that his plans had long been foiled. More specifically, Cicero points out that there are now guards everywhere, that the Senate had gathered in a very defendable place, in the Temple of Jupitor Stator, and that they have known what he has been up to. In other words, Cicero meant that he and the other senators had already taken extra precautions to prevent his plans from happening.

In order to emphasize how low Catiline has sunk, Cicero says "Senatus haec intellegit, consul videt: hic tamen vivit. Vivit?". In other words, Cicero believes that Catiline should have been dead a long time ago, or should at least be sentenced to death for his actions. Essentially, Cicero turns the tables by suggesting the death of Catiline after Catiline plotted to kill Cicero.

In the third paragraph of his oration, Cicero relates Catiline's actions to other events in history. "An vero vir amplissimus, P. Scipio, pontifex maximus, Ti. gracchum mediocriter labefactantem statum rei publicae privatus interfect...". Such as when Publius Scipio, the Pontifex Maximus, killed T. Gracchus or how Caius Servilius Ahala killed Spurius Maelius. The Pontifex Maximus is the equivalent of the Pope, but held a lot more power since religion played a major role back then. Essentially, Cicero questions why they should tolerate Catiline's actions, and believes that something must be done about Catiline.