Catiline, His Conspiracy
Scene 4.3
THE SENATE.
W
Roome for the Consuls. Fathers, take your places.
Here, in the house of Iupiter, the STAYER, By edict from the Consull, Marcus Tullius, You are met, a frequent Senate. Heare him speake.
L
Which may be happy, and auspicious still To Rome, and hers. Honor'd and Conscript Fathers, If I were silent, and that all the dangers Threatning the State, and you, were yet so hid In night, or darkenesse, thicker in their breats, That are the blacke contriuers; so, that no Beame of the light could pierce them: Yet the voice Of Heau'n, this morning, hath spoke loud inough, To instruct you with a feeling of the horror; And wake you from a sleepe, as dead, as death.
I have, of late, spoke often in this Senate, Touching this argument, but still have wanted Either your eares, or faith: so incredible Their plots have seem'd, or I so vaine, to make These things for mine owne glory, and false greatnesse, As hath beene giuen out. But be it so: When they breake forth, and shall declare themselues, By their too foule effects, then, then, the enuy Of my iust cares will finde another name.
For me, I am but one: And this poore life, So lately aim'd at, not an houre yet since, They cannot with more eagernesse pursue, Then I with gladnesse would lay downe, and loose, To buy Romes peace, if that would purchase it.
But when I see, they would make it but the step To more, and greater; vnto yours, Romes, all:
I would with those preserue it, or then fall.
Q
Aye, aye, let you alone, cunning Artificer!
See, how his gorget peeres aboue his gowne; To tell the people, in what danger he was.
It was absurdly done of Vargunteius, To name himselfe, before he was got in.
P
It matters not, so they denie it all: And can but carry the lie constantly.
Will Catiline be here?
Q
I have sent for him.
P
And have you bid him to be confident?
Q
To that his owne necessity will prompt him.
P
Seeme to beleeue nothing at all, that Cicero Relates us.
Q
It will mad him.
P
O, and helpe
The other party. Who is that? His Brother?
What new intelligence has he brought him now?
Q
Some cautions from his Wife, how to behaue him.
L
Place some of them without, and some bring in.
Thanke their kinde loues. It is a comfort yet, That all depart not from their Countries cause.
Q
How now, what meanes this Muster? Consul, Antonius?
M
I do not know, aske my Colleague, he will tell you.
There is some reason in state, that I must yeeld to;
And I have promis'd him: Indeede he has bought it, With giuing me the Provuince.
L
I professe,
It grieues me. Fathers, that I am compell'd To draw these armes, and aides for your defence; And, more, against a Citizen of Rome, Borne here amongst you, a Patrician, A man, I must confesse, of no meane house, Nor no small vertue, if he had employ'd Those excellent gifts of Fortune, and of Nature, Vnto the good, not ruine of the State.
But being bred in his fathers needy fortunes, Brought up in his sisters prostitution, Confirm'd in ciuill slaughter, entring first The Common-wealth, with murder of the gentry; Since, both by study, and custome, conuersant With all licentiousnesse: what could be hop'd In such a field of riot, but a course Extreme pernicious? Though, I must protest, I found his mischiefs, sooner, with mine eyes, Then with my thought; and with these hands of mine Before they touch'd, at my suspicion.
Q
What are his mischiefs, Consul? you declame Against his manners, and corrupt your owne;
``No wise man should, for hate of guilty men,
``Loose his owne innocence.
L
The noble Cæsar
Speakes Godlike truth. But, when he heares, I can Conuince him, by his manners, of his mischiefs, He might be silent: And not cast away His sentences in vaine, where they scarse looke.
Toward his subiect.
N
Here he comes himselfe.
If he be worthy any good mans voice, That good man sit downe, by him: Cato will not.
O
If Cato leaue him. I will not keepe aside.
A
What face is this, the Senate here puts on, Against me, Fathers! Give my modesty Leaue, to demand the cause of so much strangenesse.
Q
It is reported here, you are the head To a strange faction, Lucius.
L
Aye, and will
Be prou'd against him.
A
Let it be. Why, Consul,
If in the Common-wealth, there be two bodies, One leane, weake, rotten, and that hath a head; The other strong, and healthfull, but hath none: If I do give it one, do I offend?
Restore your selues vnto your temper, Fathers; And, without perturbation, heare me speake: Remember who I am, and of what place What petty fellow this is, that opposes; One, that hath exercis'd his eloquence, Still to the bane of the Nobility: A boasting, insolent tongue-man.
N
Peace leud Traitor,
Or wash thy mouth. He is an honest man And loues his Countrey; would thou didst so, too.
A
Cato, you are too zealous for him.
N
No,
Thou art too impudent.
O
Catiline be silent.
A
Nay then, I easily feare, my iust defence Will come too late, to so much preiudice.
Q
Will he sit downe?
A
Yet, let the world forsake me,
My innocence must not.
N
Thou innocent?
So are the Furies.
L
Yes, and Ate, too.
Do'st thou not blush, pernicious Catiline?
Or, hath the palenesse of thy guilt drunke up Thy blood, and drawne thy vaines, as drie of that, As is thy heart of truth, thy breast of vertue?
Whither at length wilt thou abuse our patience?
Still shall thy fury mocke us? To what licence Dares thy vnbridled boldnesse runne it selfe?
Do all the nightly guards, kept on the Palace, The Cities watches, with the Peoples feares, The concourse of all Good men, this so strong And fortified seate here of the Senate, The present lookes upon thee, strike thee nothing?
Do'st thou not feele thy Councels all laid open?
And see thy wild Conspiracy bound in With each mans knowledge? which of all this Order Canst thou think ignorant (if they will but vtter Their conscience to the right) of what thou didst Last night, what on the former, where thou were, Whom thou didst call together, what your plots were?
O Age, and Manners! This the Consul sees, The Senate vnderstands, yet this man lives!
Liues? Aye, and comes here into Councell with us; Partakes the publique cares: and with his eye
Markes, and points out each man of us to slaughter.
And we, good men, do satisfie the State, If we can shunne but this mans sword, and madnesse.
There was that vertue, once, in Rome, when good men Would, with more sharpe coercion, have restrain'd A wicked Citizen, then the deadliest Foe.
We have that law still, Catiline, for thee; An act as graue, as sharpe: The State is not wanting, Nor the authority of this Senate; we, We, that are Consuls, onely fayle our selues.
This twentie daies, the edge of that decree We have let dull, a rust; kept it shut up, As in a sheath, which drawne should take thy head.
Yet still thou liu'st; and liu'st not to lay by Thy wicked confidence, but to confirme it.
I could desire, Fathers, to be found Still mercifull, to seeme in these maine perils, Grasping the state, a man remisse, and slacke; But then, I should condemne my self of sloth, And treachery. Their Campe is in Italy, Pitch'd in the iawes, here, of Hetruria; Their numbers daily increasing, and their Generall Within our walles: nay in our Councell, plotting Howerly some fatall mischiefe to the Publique.
If, Catiline, I should command thee, now, Here, to be taken, kill'd; I make iust doubt, Whether all good men would not think it done Rather too late, then any man too cruell.
N
Except he were of the same meale, and batch.
L
But that, which ought to have bene done long since, I will, and (for good reason) yet forbeare.
Then will I take thee, when no man is found So lost, so wicked, nay so like thy selfe, But shall professe, it is done of neede, and right.
While there is one, that dares defend thee, liue;
Thou shalt have leaue; but so, as now thou liu'st: Watch'd at a hand, besieged, and opprest From working least commotion to the State.
I have those eyes, and eares, shall still keepe guard, And spiall on thee, as they have euer done, And thou not feele it. What, then, canst thou hope?
If neither Night can, with her darknesse; hide Thy wicked meetings; nor a priuate House Can, in her walles, containe the guiltie whispers Of thy conspiracy: If all breake out, All be discouered, change thy minde at last, And loose thy thoughts of ruine, flame, and slaughter.
Remember, how I told, here, to the Senate, That such a day, thy Lictor, Caius Manlius, Would be in armes. Was I deceiued, Catiline, Or in the fact, or in the time? the hower?
I told too, in this Senate, that thy purpose Was, on the fifth, the Kalends of Nouember, To have slaughterd this whole Order: which my caution Made many leaue the Citie. Canst thou here Denie, but this thy blacke designe was hindred, That very day, by me, thy selfe clos'd in Within my strengths, so that thou could'st not moue Against a publique reed? when thou wert heard To say, upon the parting of the rest, Thou would'st content thee, with the murder of us, That did remaine. Had'st thou not hope, beside, By a surprize, by night, to take Præneste?
Where when thou canst, didst thou not finde the place Made good against thee, with my aides, my watches?
My Garrisons fortified it. Thou dost nothing, Sergius, Thou canst endeuour nothing, nay not think, But I both see, and heare it; and am with thee, By, and before, about, and in thee, too.
Call but to minde thy last nights businesse. Come, I will vse no circumstance: at Lecca's house, The shop, and mint of your conspiracie,
Among your Sword-men, where so many associates Both of thy mischiefe, and thy madnesse, met.
Dar'st thou denie this? wherefore art thou silent?
Speake, and this shall conuince thee: Here they are, I see them, in this Senate, that were with thee.
O you immortall Gods! In what clime are we?
What region do we liue in? in what ayre?
What Common-wealth, or State is this we have?
Here, here, amongst us, our owne number, Fathers, In this most holy Councell of the world, They are, that seeke the spoyle of me, of you, Of ours, of all; what I can name is too narrow: Follow the Sunne, and find not their ambition.
These I behold, being Consull; Nay, I aske Their counsels of the State, as from good Patriots: Whom it were fit the axe should hew in pieces, I not so much as wound, yet, with my voyce.
Thou wast, last night, with Lecca, Catiline, Your shares, of Italy, you there diuided; Appointed who and whither, each should goe; What men should stay behind, in Rome, were chosen; Your offices set downe; the parts mark'd out, And places of the Citie, for the fire; Thy selfe (thou affirmd'st) wast readie to depart, Onely, a little let there was, that stay'd thee, That I yet liu'd: upon the word, stept forth Three of thy crew, to rid thee of that care; Two vndertooke this morning, before day, To kill me in my bed. All this I knew, Your conuent scarce dismiss'd, arm'd all my seruants, Call'd both my brother, and friends, shut out your clients, You sent to visite me; whose names I told To some there, of good place, before they came.
N
Yes, I, and Quintus Catulus can affirme it.
Q
He is lost, and gone. His spirits have forsooke him.
L
If this be so, why, Catiline, dost thou stay?
Goe, where thou meanst: The Ports are open; forth.
The Campe abroad wants thee, their Chiefe, too long.
Lead with thee all thy troupes out. Purge the Citie.
Draw drie that noysome, and pernicious sinke, Which left, behind thee, would infect the world.
Thou wilt free me of all my feares, at once, To see a wall betweene us. Dost thou stop To do that now, commanded; which before, Of thine owne choise, thou wert prone to? goe. The Consul Bids thee, an enemy, to depart the Citie.
Whither, thou wilt aske? to exile? I not bid Thee that. But aske my counsell, I perswade it.
What is there, here , in Rome, that can delight thee?
Where not a soule, without thine owne soule knot, But feares, and hates thee. What domesticke note Of priuate filthinesse, but is burnt in Into thy life? What close, and secret shame, But is growne one, with thy knowne infamy?
What lust was euer absent from thine eyes?
What lewd fact from thy hands? what wickednesse From thy whole body? where is that youth drawne in Within thy nets, or catch'd up with thy baytes, Before whose rage, thou hast not borne a sword, And to whose lusts thou hast not held a torch?
Thy latter Nuptials I let passe in silence; Where sinnes incredible, on sinnes, were heapt: Which I not name, lest, in a ciuill State, So monstrous facts should eyther appeare to be, Or not to be reueng'd. Thy Fortunes, too, I glance not at, which hang but till next Ides.
I come to that, which is more knowne, more publick; The life, and safety of us all, by thee Threatned, and sought. Stood'st thou not in the field, When Lepidus, and Tullus were our Consuls, Upon the day of choyse, arm'd, and with forces,
To take their liues, and our chiefe Citizens; When, not thy feare, nor conscience chang'd thy mind, But the meere fortune of the Common-wealth Withstood thy actiue malice? Speake but right.
How often hast thou made attempt on me?
How many of thy assaults have I declin'd With shifting but my bodie, (as we would say) Wrested thy dagger from thy hand, how oft?
How often hath it falne, or slip't by chance?
Yet can thy side not want it: which, how vow'd, Or with what rites, it is sacred of thee, I know not, That still thou mak'st it a necessitie, To fixe it in the bodie of a Consul.
But let me loose this way, and speake to thee, Not as one mou'd with hatred, which I ought, But pitty, of which none is owing thee.
N
No more then vnto Tantalus, or Tityus.
L
Thou cam'st, ere while, into this Senate. Who Of such a frequency, so many friends, And kindred thou hast here, saluted thee?
Were not the seates made bare, upon thy entrance?
Riss' not the Consular men? and left their places, So soone as thou sat'st downe? and fled thy side, Like a plague, or ruine; knowing, how oft They had bene, by thee, mark'd out for the Shambles?
How dost thou beare this? Surely, if my Slaues At home fear'd me, with halfe the affright, and horror, That, here, thy fellow Citizens do thee, I should soone quit my house, and think it need too.
Yet thou dar'st tary here? Go forth, at last; Condemne thy selfe to flight, and solitude.
Discharge the Common-wealth, of her deepe feare.
Goe; into banishment, if thou wait'st the word.
Why do'st thou looke? They all consent vnto it.
Do'st thou expect the authority of their voyces,
Whose silent willes condemne thee? While they sit, They approue it; while they suffer it, they decree it; And while they are silent to it, they proclaime it.
Proue thou there honest, I will endure the enuie.
But there is no thought, thou should'st be euer he, Whom eyther shame should call from filthinesse, Terror from danger, or discourse from fury.
Goe; I intreat thee: yet, why do I so?
When I already know, they are sent afore, That tarry for thee in armes, and do expect thee On the Aurelian way. I know the day Set downe, twixt thee, and Manlius; vnto whom The siluer Eagle too is sent, before: Which I do hope shall proue, to thee as banefull, As thou conceiu'st it to the Common-wealth.
But, may this wise, and sacred Senate say, What mean'st thou Marcus Tullius? If thou know'st That Catiline be look'd for, to be Chiefe Of an intestine warre; that he is the Author Of such a wickednesse; the Caller out Of men of marke in mischiefe, to an action Of so much horror; Prince of such a treason; Why do'st thou send him forth? why let him scape?
This is to give him liberty, and power: Rather, thou should'st lay hold upon him, send him To deseru'd death, and a iust punishment.
To these so holy voyces, thus I answere.
If I did think it timely, Conscript Fathers, To punish him with death, I would not give The Fencer vse of one short hower, to breath; But when there are in this graue Order, some, Who, with soft censures, still do nource his hopes; Some, that with not beleeuing, have confirm'd His designes more, and whose authoritie The weaker, as the worst men, too, have follow'd: I would now send him, where they all should see Cleare, as the light, his heart shine; where no man
Could be so wickedly, or fondly stupide, But should cry out he saw, touch'd, felt, and grasp't it.
Then, when he hath runne out himselfe; led forth His desp'rate partie with him; blowne together Aids of all kinds, both shipwrack'd minds and fortunes: Not onely the growne euill, that now is sprung, And sprouted forth, would be pluck'd up, and weeded; But the stocke, roote, and seed of all the mischiefes, Choking the Common-wealth. Where, should we take Of such a swarme of traytors, onely him, Our cares, and feares might seeme a while relieu'd, But the maine perill would bide still enclos'd Deepe, in the veines, and bowels of the State.
As humane bodies, laboring with feuers, While they are tost with heate, if they do take Cold water, seeme for that short space much eas'd, But afterward, are ten times more afflicted.
Wherefore, I say, let all this wicked crew Depart, diuide themselues from good men, gather Their forces to one head; as I said oft, Let them leaue off attempts, upon the Consul, In his owne house; to circle in the Prætor; To girt the Court with weapons; to prepare Fire, and balles, swords, torches, sulphure, brands: In short, let it be writ in each mans forehead What thoughts he beares the Publike. I here promise, Fathers Conscript, to you, and to my selfe, That diligence in us Consulls, for my honour'd Colleague, abroad, and for my selfe, at home; So great authority in you; so much Vertue, in these, the Gentlemen of Rome; Whom I could scarce restraine to day, in zeale, From seeking out the Parricide, to slaughter; So much consent in all good men, and minds, As on the going out of this one Catiline, All shall be cleare, made plaine, oppress'd, reueng'd.
And, with this omen, go, pernicious plague,
Out of the Citie, to the wish'd destruction Of thee, and those, that, to the ruine of her, Have tane that bloudy, and blacke sacrament.
Thou Iupiter, whom we do call the STAYER
Both of this Citie, and this Empire, wilt (With the same auspice thou didst raise it first) Driue from thy Altars, and all other Temples, And Buildings of this City; from our Walles; Liues, states, and fortunes of our Citizens; This fiend, this fury, with his complices.
And all the offence of good men (these knowne traitors Vnto their countrey, theeues of Italie, Ioynd'd in so damn'd a league of mischiefe) thou Wilt with perpetuall plagues, aliue, and dead, Punish for Rome, and saue her innocent head.
A
If an Oration, or high language, Fathers, Could make me guilty, here is one, hath done it: He has stroue to æmulate this mornings thunder, With his prodigious rhetoricke. But I hope, This Senate is more graue, then to give credit Rashly to all he vomits, 'gainst a man Of your owne Order, a Patrician; And one, whose ancestors have more deseru'd Of Rome, then this mans eloquence could vtter, Turn'd the best way, as still, it is the worst.
N
His eloquence hath more deseru'd to day, Speaking thy ill, then all thy ancestors Did, in their good: And that the State will finde, Which he hath sau'd.
A
How he? were I that enemy,
That he would make me: I would not wish the State More wretched, then to neede his preseruation.
What do you make him, Cato, such a Hercules?
An Atlas? A poore petty In-mate.
N
Traitor.
A
He saue the State? A Burgesse sonne of Arpinum.
The Gods would rather twenty Romes should perish, Then have that contumely stucke upon them, That he should share with them, in the preseruing A shed, or signe-post.
N
Peace, thou prodigie.
A
They would be runne themselues, againe, and lost In the first, rude, and indigested heape; Ere such a wretched name, as Cicero, Should sound with theirs.
O
Away, thou impudent head.
A
Do you all backe him? are you silent too?
Well, I will leaue you Fathers; I will goe.
But -- my fine dainty speaker. --
L
What now Fury?
Wilt thou assault me here?
U
Helpe, aide the Consul,
A
See Fathers, laugh you not? who threatned him?
In vaine thou do'st conceiue, ambitious Orator, Hope of so braue a death, as by this hand.
N
Out, of the Court, with the pernicious traytor.
A
There is no title, that this flattering Senate, Nor honor, the base multitude can give thee, Shall make thee worthy Catilines anger.
N
Stop,
Stop that portentous mouth.
A
Or, when it shall,
I will looke thee dead.
N
Will none restraine the Monster?
O
Parricide.
W
Butcher, Traytor, leaue the Senate.
A
I am gone, to banishment, to please you Fathers.
Thrust head-long forth?
N
Stil, dost thou murmure, Monster?
A
Since, I am thus put out, and made a --
L
What?
O
Not guiltier then thou art.
A
I will not burne
Without my funerall pile.
W
Sing out Scrich-owle.
A
It shall be in --
O
Speake thy imperfect thoughts.
A
The common fire, rather then mine owne.
For fall I will with all, ere fall alone.
P
He is lost, there is no hope of him.
Q
Vnlesse
He presently take armes; and give a blow, Before the Consuls forces can be leuie'd.
L
What is your pleasure, Fathers, shall be done?
O
See, that the Common-wealth receiue no losse.
N
Commit the care thereof vnto the Consuls.
P
It is time.
Q
And need.
L
Thanks to this frequent
But what decree they, vnto Curius, And Fuluia?
O
What the Consul shall think meete.
L
They must receiue reward, though it be not knowne; Lest when a State needes ministers, they have none.
N
Yet, Marcus Tullius, do not I beleeue, But Crassus, and this Cæsar here ring hollow.
L
And would appeare so, if that we durst proue them.
N
Why dare we not? What honest act is that, The Roman Senate should not dare, and do?
L
Not an vnprofitable, dangerous act, To stirre too many Serpents up at once.
Cæsar, and Crassus, if they be ill men, Are mighty ones; and, we must so prouide, That, while we take one head, from this foule Hydra, There spring not twenty more.
N
I 'proue your Counsell.
L
They shall be watch'd, and look'd too. Till they do Declare themselues, I will not put them out By any question. There they stand. I will make My selfe no enemies, nor the State, no traitors.