Cato the Younger Section 5

τοῦ δὲ Κάτωνος προσελθόντος καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐπαινέσαντος, τὰ δὲ ἐπιρρώσαντος τὸν δῆμον, οἵ τε πολλοὶ παρετάξαντο παντὶ τρόπῳ καταλῦσαι τὸν Μέτελλον, ἥ τε σύγκλητος ἀθροισθεῖσα παρήγγειλεν ἀρχῆθεν βοηθεῖν τῷ Κάτωνι καὶ διαμάχεσθαι πρὸς τὸν νόμον, ὡς στάσιν ἐπεισάγοντα τῇ Ῥώμῃ καὶ πόλεμον ἐμφύλιον.

So, then, when these had dispersed, and when Cato had come forward with commendation and encouragement for the people, the majority of them stood prepared to put down Metellus by any and every means, and the senate in full session announced anew that it would assist Cato and fight to the end against the law, convinced that it would introduce sedition and civil war into Rome.

Ainsi, lorsque ceux-ci se furent dispersés et que Caton se fut avancé pour féliciter et encourager le peuple, la majorité se tint prête à abattre Métellus par tous les moyens possibles. Le sénat, réuni au complet, annonça de nouveau qu’il soutiendrait Caton et combattrait jusqu’au bout contre la loi, convaincu qu’elle introduirait à Rome la sédition et la guerre civile.