Catilinarian Orations Passage 8

atque interea statim admonitu Allobrogum C. G aium Sulpicium praetorem, fortem virum, misi qui ex aedibus Cethegi si quid telorum esset efferret; ex quibus ille maximum sicarum numerum et gladiorum extulit. introduxi Volturcium sine Gallis; fidem publicam iussu senatus dedi; hortatus sum ut ea quae sciret sine timore indicaret. tum ille dixit, cum vix se ex magno timore recreasset, a P. P ublio Lentulo se habere ad Catilinam mandata et litteras ut servorum praesidio uteretur, ut ad urbem quam primum cum exercitu accederet; id autem eo consilio ut, cum urbem ex omnibus partibus quem ad modum descriptum distributumque erat incendissent caedemque infinitam civium fecissent, praesto esset ille qui et fugientis exciperet et se cum his urbanis ducibus coniungeret.

Meanwhile, at the Allobroges’ immediate suggestion, I sent the praetor Gaius Sulpicius, a courageous man, to bring out any weapons found in Cethegus’s house. He carried out a very large number of daggers and swords. I brought Volturcius in without the Gauls, granted him the public guarantee of immunity by order of the Senate, and urged him to reveal without fear what he knew. Then, after barely recovering from his great fear, he said that he had instructions and a letter from Publius Lentulus to Catiline: Catiline should use the protection of slaves and approach the city with his army as soon as possible. The purpose was that, when they had set the city on fire in every quarter according to the plan and division made, and had carried out an unlimited slaughter of citizens, Catiline should be at hand both to intercept those who fled and to join himself with these leaders inside the city.

Entre-temps, sur l’indication des Allobroges, j’envoyai aussitôt le préteur C. Sulpicius, homme courageux, retirer de la maison de Cethegus toutes les armes qui pourraient s’y trouver. Il en rapporta une très grande quantité de poignards et d’épées. Je fis entrer Volturcius sans les Gaulois ; sur l’ordre du Sénat, je lui garantis la protection de l’État et l’exhortai à révéler sans crainte ce qu’il savait. Alors, à peine remis de sa grande frayeur, il déclara qu’il portait de P. Lentulus à Catilina des instructions et une lettre lui demandant d’employer le secours des esclaves et de s’approcher au plus vite de la ville avec son armée. Leur dessein était qu’après avoir incendié la ville de toutes parts, selon la répartition établie, et massacré une multitude innombrable de citoyens, Catilina fût là pour intercepter les fuyards et se joindre à ces chefs demeurés dans la ville.