This short story, published on the Sicilians, was written more or less fell when the first government of the One of Arcore.
"There he is! Is about to begin. "
"Will you lower your head? I do not see anything. "
"Silence."
"How long, Catiline, abusing our patience?".
"Well, yes it is a start as it should."
"You can say that again."
"Will you be silent?".
"But I do not see anything."
"But there's nothing to see."
"But like anything? What happens, What happens? ".
"He's talking about Cicero."
"Shhh."
"But Catiline? Where Catiline? ".
"Is there, in the fourth order."
"And what do do? What do do? ".
"He smiles."
smiled, in fact. And what was hiding behind that smile? Hypotheses:
1) contempt of the Senate;
2) contempt of danger;
3) after-effects of gallant adventure;
4) fear so strong disguised;
5) other.
But Sallust, who was biased, says that Catiline had at least one quality, and not the least: he was brave. Opt then, unless an objection to a combination of hypotheses 1) and 2). If we were to believe Cicero, person, moreover, to be taken lightly, we should keep on the assumption 3). If anything, wanting to keep up to Cicero, we should ask ourselves about the nature gallant adventure.
hypothesis formulated: adventure
3.1) vestal virgin (supposed);
3.2) relative of this case so as to configure incestuous;
3.3) young (male) desioso to fall in corruption;
3.4) male (not necessarily young ) already abundantly bearded and corrupt;
3.5) more.
Cicero, as mentioned, does not always text. On this occasion, less than in the other. In later avanzata (allora ne aveva 43 ed era quasi coetaneo di Catilina) ce lo immaginiamo seduto nella sala principale del circolo della caccia di Formia (dov'era andato a ripararsi in attesa che Ottaviano e Antonio - i giovinastri - capissero cosa fare da grandi) a conversare per giorni interi con magistrati di provincia.
«Console illustrissimo...».
«Amico mio, amico mio».
«Non si capisce più nulla, console».
«Ah!».
«è che manca, non so, il piglio...».
«Gli ideali! mio caro amico. Mancano gli ideali. Non si rispetta più la patria, le Leggi! Nulla!».
Profondi cenni di assenso.
«Ai miei tempi, caro mio, sì che sapevamo enforce the law and the dignity of the Senate. " Other
abundant deep nods.
"I've never told about that time in the Senate? (Yes that had they told, and many times as well. But we pretended nothing) When I got up in the freezing cold (it was also in November) and, eyeing Catiline, I told him ...».
"DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR ALL PLOTS NOW HAVE A NOTE?.
"I still do not see anything."
"Shhh."
"Who is it?".
"Everyone! are all there. I've never seen so many senators at once. "
"There's also Marcus Lepidus?.
"Wow! is there in the front row. And there are also Gaius Caesar (Julius Caesar the note), Quintus Metellus, Enrico Cuccia, Junius Silano, Giovanni Agnelli, Marcus Porcius Cato ...».
"What do they do? make that face? ".
"serious and severe."
'E' right, are senators. "
"Those were men, my friend. If I think of Marcus Porcius and comparison to these - rubbing the fingertips - young men. Giovini valid for charity. They fought, they attend the gym. But they are missing, you know? - Still rubbing of the fingers - that thickness, that temper. " Deep
nods.
Undoubtedly, the hardening of Cicero was good. His family were not professional politicians: it was a family Campagnola and he was the first who arrived in the Senate. "Oh wow - you said the senators - and we allow a novice to become console?. Preferred politicians born. But the senators in the end we stayed, and how.
A consulate of truce. Yeah, because they were to choose between lesser evils: either Catiline (one of them, but never see?) Or a specialist. Cicero chose. Who (already had to bully her) a little 'head is mounted. What's more, fate would have it, a few months later, was preparing the coniuratio Catilinae. Cicero succeeded in foiling and then lost the measure. Romulus began to be compared to (that of Remus), studded with Greek letters to his friends urging them to dial (in greek) history che narrasse le sue (di Cicero Ciceronis) gesta. E poi, mano a mano che gli anni passavano, si ritrovò sempre più spesso a dire «Ai miei tempi». Sino a che fu sgozzato dai seguaci di Antonio. E sapete perché? Perché s'era messo in testa di salvare, "come già aveva fatto" la Repubblica. Poveretto: non aveva capito un bel niente. Morto Cesare, con Ottaviano in crescita e Antonio rampante, ancora pensava, magari con qualche potente discorso, di restituire severità al Senato.
In questo caso, come detto, fu sgozzato, ma ai suoi tempi sì che ci riuscì. L'odiato Catilina era lì, una sentina di vizi, una cloaca di turpitudini, un abominio del genere umano. E che si permetteva pure di essere senatore. And to insult him by telling him "You are a tenant." A boor, in short, a parvenu.
Catiline, who really was he? They won their enemies, and his enemies then wrote him. We must restore a level playing field. Senator
Catiline, accuse him of being a pervert.
"I firmly reject these claims: they are items placed around the sole purpose of damaging my political work."
Already, his political work. We see those senatoroni there? The accused of not respecting the rules, making mulch of the Laws and the Senate.
"The truth is that this country is now in the hands of an oligarchy devoted exclusively to the sclerotic power games and maneuvers of the Palace".
But the suspect wanted to make a coup.
"It is they who dispossess the people of the right to turn the page."
Sure, Senator Catiline? Others see only a desperate action in its defense of its interests. It 's true or not that she is overburdened with debt and that (he also said Cicero) will be declared the next Idi boyfriend?
'Another vicious rumor. My activities and my possessions are are of high quality. "
But then, why all the young and indebted nobilotti, lovers of good living and entertainment, it's been with her? It is suspected that, deep down, you are all interested in one thing: to take power, to liquidate debts (and perhaps well as creditors) and continue to revel lifetime.
"False. The truth is that young people who follow me are the healthy part of the country. Youth open to new things, that does not tolerate the bonds and snares set by their old and discredited ruling class. We are the new hope and optimism for the future. "
Excuse me, Senator, but why should we believe? After all she has been accused of corruption and brought before the courts of the Republic.
"It was a circumscribed episode, amplified by the bad faith of my opponents." This
Catiline, in full respect of the level playing field.
"JUPITER AND YOU, KEEP CLEAR OF THIS MAN AND HIS SOLDIERS DAL TUO TEMPIO E DAGLI ALTRI DELL'URBE...».
«Sta finendo, sta finendo».
«E io non ho visto nulla.».
«Catilina è nervoso. Guarda guarda, sta gridando che lui non c'entra nulla. Sta insultando Cicerone».
«Ecco, adesso ha finito sul serio».
«E Catilina? Catilina?».
«Sta uscendo dall'aula. Proclama la sua innocenza».
«E gli altri?».
«Si stanno stringendo attorno a Cicerone».
«Ottimo discorso, Cicerone».
«Ti ringrazio, caro collega».
«Un eccellente richiamo ai principi».
«Il minimo, il minimo che potessi fare».
«Senza retorica, Cicero, I am sure that today the Republic is stronger, and that its institutions, thus reinforced, they will last for centuries. "
"Thank you, Gaius Caesar."
