Catilinaires Passage 10

hanc autem Cethego cum ceteris controversiam fuisse dixerunt quod Lentulo et aliis Saturnalibus caedem fieri atque urbem incendi placeret, Cethego nimium id longum videretur . ac ne longum sit, Quirites, tabellas proferri iussimus quae a quoque dicebantur datae. primo ostendimus Cethego: signum cognovit. nos linum incidimus; legimus. erat scriptum ipsius manu Allobrogum senatui et populo sese quae eorum legatis confirmasset facturum esse; orare ut item illi facerent quae sibi eorum legati recepissent . tum Cethegus, qui paulo ante aliquid tamen de gladiis ac sicis quae apud ipsum erant deprehensa respondisset dixissetque se semper bonorum ferramentorum studiosum fuisse, recitatis litteris debilitatus atque abiectus conscientia repente conticuit. introductus Statilius cognovit et signum et manum suam. recitatae sunt tabellae in eandem fere sententiam; confessus est. tum ostendi tabellas Lentulo et quaesivi cognosceretne signum. adnuit . est vero inquam notum quidem signum, imago avi tui, clarissimi viri, qui amavit unice patriam et civis suos; quae quidem te a tanto scelere etiam muta revocare debuit.

They said that Cethegus had disputed this point with the others: Lentulus and the rest wanted the slaughter and burning of the city to take place during the Saturnalia, but Cethegus thought that was too long a delay. To avoid prolonging matters, citizens, we ordered the tablets that were said to have been given by each man to be produced. First we showed one to Cethegus. He recognized his seal. We cut the cord and read it. Written in his own hand to the Senate and people of the Allobroges was a promise that he would do what he had confirmed to their envoys. He asked them likewise to do what their envoys had undertaken on their behalf. Cethegus had shortly before offered some explanation of the swords and daggers discovered at his house, saying that he had always been an enthusiast for good ironware. But after the letter was read, weakened and cast down by his conscience, he suddenly fell silent. Statilius was brought in and recognized both his seal and his handwriting. The tablets, containing almost the same message, were read. He confessed. Then I showed the tablets to Lentulus and asked whether he recognized the seal. He nodded. ‘It is indeed a familiar seal,’ I said, ‘the image of your grandfather, a most illustrious man who loved his country and fellow citizens above all. Even though mute, it ought to have recalled you from so great a crime.’

Ils dirent encore que Cethegus et les autres avaient eu ce différend : Lentulus et les autres voulaient que le massacre et l’incendie de la ville eussent lieu pendant les Saturnales, tandis que Cethegus trouvait ce délai trop long. Pour ne pas prolonger mon récit, Quirites, nous ordonnâmes que fussent produites les tablettes que chacun était accusé d’avoir remises. Nous montrâmes d’abord la sienne à Cethegus ; il reconnut son sceau. Nous coupâmes le fil et lûmes. Il avait écrit de sa propre main au Sénat et au peuple des Allobroges qu’il ferait ce qu’il avait promis à leurs députés, et les priait d’accomplir à leur tour ce que leurs députés avaient garanti. Alors Cethegus, qui peu auparavant avait encore donné quelque réponse au sujet des épées et des poignards trouvés chez lui, disant qu’il avait toujours aimé la bonne coutellerie, accablé par la lecture de la lettre et abattu par sa conscience, se tut soudain. Statilius, introduit à son tour, reconnut son sceau et son écriture. On lut les tablettes, dont le sens était à peu près le même ; il avoua. Je montrai alors les tablettes à Lentulus et lui demandai s’il reconnaissait le sceau. Il fit signe que oui. « C’est en effet, lui dis-je, un sceau bien connu : l’image de ton aïeul, homme très illustre, qui aima singulièrement sa patrie et ses concitoyens. Même muette, elle aurait dû te détourner d’un si grand crime. »