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CATILINE - The Works of Voltaire, Vol. IX The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Alzire, Orestes, Sémiramis, Catiline, Pandora) and Part II (The Scotch Woman, Nanine, The Prude, The Tatler).

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CATILINE - Voltaire, The Works of Voltaire, Vol. IX The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Alzire, Orestes, Sémiramis, Catiline, Pandora) and Part II (The Scotch Woman, Nanine, The Prude, The Tatler). [1901]

Edition used:

From The Works of Voltaire, A Contemporary Version, (New York: E.R. DuMont, 1901), A Critique and Biography by John Morley, notes by Tobias Smollett, trans. William F. Fleming. Vol. IX The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Alzire, Orestes, Sémiramis, Catiline, Pandora) and Part II (The Scotch Woman, Nanine, The Prude, The Tatler).

Author: Voltaire
Translator: William F. Fleming

Part of: The Works of Voltaire. A Contemporary Version, in 21 vols.

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CATILINE

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

CICERO,	SEPTIMUS,
CÆSAR,	CRASSUS,
CATILINE,	CLODIUS,
AURELIA,	CETHEGUS,
CATO,	LENTULUS-SURA,
LUCULLUS,	Conspirators,
MARTIAN,	Lictors.

The Scene represents, on one side, the palace of Aurelia; on the other the temple of Tellus, where the senate assembled: At a distance, a gallery communicating to some private passages that lead from the palace of Aurelia to the vestibule of the temple.

In his preface to this play Voltaire says:

“The learned will not here meet with a faithful narrative of Catiline’s conspiracy: a tragedy, they very well know, is not a history, but they will see a true picture of the manners of those times: all that Cicero, Catiline, Cato and Cæsar do in this piece is not true, but their genius and character are faithfully represented: if we do not there discover the eloquence of Cicero, we shall at least find displayed all that courage and virtue which he showed in the hour of danger. In Catiline is described that contrast of fierceness and dissimulation which formed his real character; Cæsar is represented as growing into power, factious, and brave; that Cæsar who was born at once to be the glory and the scourge of Rome.”

ACT I.

SCENE I.

catiline.

[Soldiers at the bottom of the stage.
Yes, thou proud talker, thou vile instrument
Of a deluded people, soon thy power
Shall be no more; and thou whose savage virtue,
Inflexibly severe, destroys the nation
It means to save, imperious Cato, know
Thy doom is passed, thou and the tyrant senate
Must fall together; they who keep the world
In bondage shall themselves be slaves; their chains
Are forged already, and usurping Pompey
Shall pay for dear bought honors with his blood.
Cæsar, his haughty rival, shall oppose him,
His equal Cæsar: he who, like myself,
Was ever factious, shall assist my cause;
The snare is laid, and Cæsar shall prepare
The throne for Catiline; I’ll make them all
Subservient to my purpose: Cicero’s self,
The man whom most I hate, shall be my friend:
My wife too may be useful, and may prove
A step to greatness: fathers, husbands, all
Those empty names mistaken mortals call
Most sacred, hence, I give you to the winds:
Ambition, I am thine.

SCENE II.

catiline, cethegus.

catiline.

Well, my Cethegus,
Whilst Rome and our designs are hid in night,
Say, hast thou called together our brave chiefs?

cethegus.

Even here, my lord, beneath this portico,
Safe from the consul’s prying eyes, and near
That impious scene where our proud tyrants sit,
Thy friends shall meet—already they have signed
The solemn compact, and are sworn to serve thee.
But how stands Cæsar, will he second us?

catiline.

He is a turbulent unruly spirit,
And acts but for himself.

cethegus.

And yet without him
We never shall succeed.

catiline.

I’ve laid a snare
He cannot escape: my soldiers, in his name,
Shall seize Præneste—he’s been long suspected.
This will confirm his guilt—the furious consul
Shall soon accuse him to the senate—Cæsar
Will hazard all to satiate his revenge.
I’ll rouse this sleeping lion from his den,
And make him roar for me.

cethegus.

But Nonnius still
Rules in Præneste; he’s a friend to Rome.
In vain already thou hast tried to tempt
His stubborn virtue—what must be his fate?

catiline.

Thou knowest I love his daughter, though I hate
Her surly father: long he strove in vain
To thwart our mutual passion, and prevent
Our private marriage, which at last the churl
Unwillingly consented to: he feared
To incur his angry party’s high displeasure
And the proud consul’s—but I’ve made his pride
Subservient to our purpose—he is bound
By solemn oaths to keep our marriage still
A secret: Sura only and Cethegus
Are privy to it: this perhaps may serve
More purposes than one: Aurelia’s palace
Conducts us to the temple; there I’ve placed
My instruments of ruin, arms, and firebrands,
To execute our great design: thy zeal
To friendship much I owe, but more to love.
Beneath the senate’s sacred vault, beneath
The roof of Nonnius will we sacrifice
These tyrants—you, my friends, must to Præneste;
You to the capitol; remember whom
You serve, the oath that binds you, and the cause
You are engaged in—thou, my loved Cethegus,
Must watch o’er all, and guide the great machine.

SCENE III.

aurelia, catiline.

aurelia.

O Catiline, my lord, my husband, ease
My troubled heart, remove my doubts, my fears,
My horror, my despair—alas! what means
This dreadful preparation?—every step
I tread alarms me; why these soldiers, why
With arms and torches is my palace filled?
The days of Marius and of Sulla sure
Are now returned, and discord reigns amongst us:
Explain, my lord, this dreadful mystery:
Do not turn from me—by the sacred tie
That joins our hearts, by the dear babe thou lovest,
I talk not to thee of its mother’s danger,
For thee alone I tremble: pity me,
Pity a wretched wife, and tell me all.

catiline.

Know then, my life, my fortune, and my fame,
Thy safety, and my own, the common cause,
Demand a conduct which thy fears condemn:
But if thou lovest me, let whate’er thou seest
Be buried in thy breast: I mean to save
Rome’s better part; the senate and the people
Are disunited—danger threats the state
On every side; I’ve taken the best means
To make all well again.

aurelia.

I hope thou hast;
But can we hide our hearts from those we love?
Canst thou deceive me? yet what thou hast said
Doubles my fears. Alas! thy looks are wild,
And full of horror. What will Nonnius say
When he shall see these dreadful preparations?
The voice of nature, and the tender names
Of father and brother oft have passed
Unheard and unregarded when the cause
Of Rome required it—well thou knowest our marriage
Gave much offence, and when my angry father
Returning, shall behold these sad effects
Of our unhappy union, what, my lord,
Must I expect? O why wilt thou abuse
The power which love has given thee o’er a heart
Devoted to thy service?—thou hast gained
A party, but consider well my father,
Cato, and Cicero, and Rome, and heaven,
Are all thy foes: Nonnius perhaps may come
This very day on purpose to destroy thee.

catiline.

Be not afraid, I know he cannot.

aurelia.

How?

catiline.

Whene’er he comes he must approve our purpose:
I am not left at liberty to tell thee
What we design, suffice it that his interest
And mine are one: I know when he shall find
The fair result, he then will join with me
To pull down the proud tyrants he obeys:
Trust me, Aurelia, what I do shall prove
The fertile spring of everlasting glory
And honor to you both—

aurelia.

Alas! the honor
I fear is doubtful, and the danger certain:
What seekest thou? wherefore wouldst thou urge thy fate?
Is it not enough to rank among the first
Of human kind, and rule the subject world?
Why wouldst thou mount the giddy heights of power,
And court destruction? my foreboding heart
Already sees, and trembles at thy danger.
Are these the promised joys of flattering love?
The peace I hoped for? I have lost it now
For ever: O, my lord, when last these eyes
Were in a short and broken slumber closed,
Methought I saw in flames imperial Rome;
Saw murders, deaths, and rivers stained with blood,
My father massacred in open senate,
And thee, my Catiline, amidst a band
Of vile assassins, breathing forth thy soul
In dreadful agonies: I rose, and fled
From these sad images to find my lord,
My guardian, my protector—thou art here,
And I, alas! am but the more unhappy.

catiline.

Away—thy omens fright not Catiline;
Complain not, but be resolute: I want
Thy courage, not thy tears, when I am serving
Thee and my country.

aurelia.

Is it thus thou meanst
To serve her? O, my lord, I know not what
Thy purpose is, but were it fair and just
Perhaps I might long since have been consulted;
Our mutual interest claimed it from a husband:
If thou dissemblest with me, I have cause
To doubt, and to be wretched—Cicero
Has long suspected thee, and Rome thou knowest
Adores him.

catiline.

Whom? my hated rival?

SCENE IV.

catiline, aurelia, martian.

One of the Conspirators.

martian.

Sir,
The consul comes this way—by his command
The senate meet; he wishes first to see
And speak with you.

aurelia.

I tremble at his name.

catiline.

Why tremble at the name of Cicero?
Let Nonnius fear and reverence him, disgrace
His rank and character by mean submission;
I pity the weak senator, but hoped
To find in thee a noble soul: not thus,
Remember, acted thy brave ancestors:
Gods! that a woman, and a Roman, sprung
From Nero’s blood, should thus be void of pride
Or of ambition! noble minds are ne’er
Without them.

aurelia.

Mine perhaps thou thinkest is mean
And timid; cruelty alone with thee
Is courage; thy reproach is most unkind;
But know me better; know that this fond wife,
Whom thou contemnest, who has not power to change
Or soften thee, has more of Roman in her
Than thou canst boast; and, coward as she is,
Can teach thee how to die.

catiline.

How many cares
At once surround me!—Cicero comes—but him
I fear not: this Aurelia.—

SCENE V.

cicero, catiline,Chief of the Lictors.

cicero.

[To the Chief Lictor.
Do as I
Command you—I’ll try if I can sound
This faithless heart; leave me alone with him:
Sometimes a villain may be wrought by fear
To better counsel, and renounce his purpose.
Who’s there? the proud plebeian, chosen by Rome
To be her master?
[Turns to Cataline.
Ere the senate meet,
Catiline, I come for the last time to hold
The friendly torch, and save thy wandering steps
From the dread precipice of guilt and ruin.

catiline.

Who, thou?

cicero.

Yes, I.

catiline.

And is it thus thy hate
Pursues me?

cicero.

Call it pity—but observe me.
The capitol is weary of thy plaints,
Thy factious cries, and bold impertinence;
Rome, and the senate have, it seems, debased
The consul’s dignity by choosing me:
Thy pride we know expected it, but how
Hadst thou deserved it? was it by the name,
Or family, thy valor, or the pride
Of a loose prodigal in shows and feasts
And idle pomp; could these entitle thee
To such exalted honors? couldst thou hope
To be the great dispenser of the laws,
To guide the mistress of the world who rules
O’er prostrate kings? had Catiline been what
He ought to be, I might perhaps to him
Have yielded the contested palm.—Hereafter
Thou mayest support the state, but to be consul
’Tis fit thou first shouldst be—a citizen.
Thinkest thou by vile reflections on my birth,
My fortune, and my fame, to taint my honor,
Or weaken the firm basis of my power?
In our corrupted days it is not name,
Or family, that Rome has need of: no:
’Tis virtue; and the pride of Cicero
Hath ever been, that he should nothing owe
To his forefathers—my nobility
Springs from myself, and thine may end in thee.

catiline.

It ill becomes a temporary power,
Like thine, to boast of its authority.

cicero.

Had Cicero used that power as thou deservest,
Thou wouldst not have been here to question it:
Thou who hast stained our altars with pollution
And sacrilegious rage, thy days are numbered
But by thy crimes: thy merit is to dare,
To strike at all, dissemble, and betray:
Thou hast abused the precious gifts that heaven
Bestowed on thee for other purposes:
Sense, beauty, courage, and heroic warmth,
All the fair ornaments of human nature,
In thee are but the instruments of ill.
My voice, which still is raised to scourge the wicked,
And plead for the oppressed, hath spared thee yet;
Nor with the odious Verres ranked the name
Of Catiline: but long impunity
Hath made thee shameless, and insensible
Of all reproof—thou hast betrayed the state:
At Rome, and in Etruria all is discord,
And foul confusion; Umbria is revolted;
Præneste staggers in her faith; the soldiers
Of barbarous Sulla, drenched in blood, come forth
From their dark caves prepared for slaughter, armed
By cruel Mallius; all are leagued with thee;
Thy partisans declared, or secret friends,
All are united in one guilty bond,
And sworn to the destruction of their country:
I know thee for their chief, for I have eyes
On every side, and hands too, thou shalt find,
That, spite of thee, shall vindicate the cause
Of injured Rome; thy guilty friends shall feel
My justice too: thou hast beheld me long
But as thy rival, now behold thy judge,
And thy accuser, who will force thee soon
To answer for thy actions by those laws
Which thou so oft hast trampled on unpunished,
Those laws which thou contemnest, and I revenge.

catiline.

I’ve told you, sir, already, that your office
But ill excuses this indecent freedom:
But for that country’s sake, whom both are bound
To serve, I pardon your unjust suspicions;
Nay, I do more, I honor your warm zeal;
Blind though it be, in such a cause ’tis just:
But do not thus reproach me for past errors,
For the wild follies of impetuous youth,
That soon are o’er; your senate is to blame,
I followed their example; pomp and pride,
Excess and luxury, the fruits of conquest,
Are the time’s vices, not the native bent
Of Catiline’s heart: I served the commonweal
In Asia as a soldier, as a judge
In Africa: spite of our domestic feuds,
Did I not make the name of Rome revered
Among the nations? I who have defended
Shall ne’er betray her.

cicero.

Sulla too and Marius
Both served their country well, and then destroyed her.
Tyrants have all some specious show of virtue,
And ere they break their country’s laws support them.

catiline.

If you suspect each brave and gallant soldier,
Let Cæsar, Pompey, Crassus be accused:
Why fix on me amongst so many? why
Am I the only object of your fears?
Have I deserved it?

cicero.

That you best can tell.
But wherefore deign I thus to answer you?

catiline.

The more I plead in my defence, the more
Will Cicero condemn me: if as friend
Thou talkest to me, thou but deceivest thyself,
I am thy foe; if as a citizen,
So too is Catiline; if as a consul,
A consul’s not a master, he presides
But in the senate, I defy him there.

cicero.

Thou durst not; for I there can punish guilt:
If thou art innocent, I will protect thee;
If not, I charge thee, be not seen in Rome.

catiline.

This is too much: I will no longer bear
Thy insults, though I scorn thy vague suspicions:
Yet know I think the worst affront that thou
Couldst put on Catiline, would be to protect him.

cicero.

[Alone.
Insolent traitor! means he thus to prove
His innocence by false affected pride?
Perfidious wretch, I’m not to be deceived,
Nor shalt thou thus escape the watchful eye
Of vengeance.

SCENE VI.

cicero, cato.

cicero.

Well, my friend, hast thou prepared
For Rome’s defence?

cato.

Your orders are obeyed;
I have disposed the chiefs, and all are ready
To march as you direct them; but I fear
The people, nay the senate.

cicero.

Ha! the senate?

cato.

Ay—they are swollen with pride—and foul division
Will soon enslave them.

cicero.

Much indeed I fear
Our vices will avenge the conquered world;
Our liberty and virtue are no more;
But Rome may still have hope whilst Cato lives.

cato.

Alas! who serves his country often serves
A most ungrateful mistress—even thy merit
Offends the senate; with a jealous eye
It views thy greatness.

cicero.

Cato’s approbation
Is recompense enough; thy honest praise
Will more than balance their ingratitude;
On that and on posterity alone
I shall rely; let us perform our duty,
And leave the rest to heaven.

cato.

How shall we stem
The torrent of corruption? when I see,
Even in this sacred temple, raised to virtue,
Infamous treason rise with shameless front:
Can we suppose that Manlius, that proud rebel,
Would dare advance his standard, and blow up
The flames of civil war, if greater powers
Did not support him, if some secret foe
Abetted not their vile conspiracy?
The leaders of the senate may betray us;
From Sulla’s ashes may new tyrants rise:
My just suspicions light on Cæsar.

cicero.

Mine
On Catiline; perfidious, sordid, rash,
And bold; he loves rebellion, and delights
In novelty; more dangerous than Cæsar;
I know him well; even now I parted from him:
What passed between us but confirms me more
In my suspicions; on his face I read
Rage and resentment, the determined pride
Of his fierce spirit, that no longer deigned
To hide its purpose, but stood forth, and owned
Its enmity to Rome.—I must discover
His bold compeers, perhaps I may prevent
His future crimes, and save my falling country.

cato.

Catiline has friends, and much I fear the power
Of these united tyrants may prove fatal:
Our forces are in Asia, and at Rome
We are corrupted; but one upright man
May save the state.

cicero.

If we unite, our country
Has naught to fear—in factions discord soon
Dissolves the tie: Cæsar perhaps may join them;
But, if I know him right, his noble soul
Will never stoop to serve a worthless tyrant;
He loves his country still, and hates a master;
Though soon the time will come when he shall strive
To be one; both are eager for applause,
And both ambitious: both are raised too high
To meet in friendship long; by their division
Rome may be saved; let us not tamely wait
To see our country’s ruin, or behold
In shameful chains the masters of mankind.

End of the First Act.

ACT II.

SCENE I.

catiline, cethegus.

cethegus.

At length the torch is lit to set on fire
Rome and the subject world; our army’s nigh,
And all is ready for the great event.
Knowest thou meantime, my friend, what passes here?

catiline.

I know the consul’s prudence, so he calls
His cowardice, which deeply ruminates
On future ills: like an unskilful pilot
He sets up every sail for every wind,
But knows not or which way the tempest comes,
Or whither it may drive him—for the senate,
I fear it not; that many-headed monster,
So proud of conquest and nobility,
Looks with an evil eye on Cicero;
I know it hates him, so does Cæsar; Crassus
Would gladly yield him up a sacrifice
To our resentment; on their jealousy
Depend my hopes—he’s like a dying man,
With feeble arm he struggles for a while,
But soon shall sink beneath us and expire.

cethegus.

Envy I know attacks him, but his tongue
Can soften all; he leads the captive senate.

catiline.

I brave him everywhere; despise his clamors,
And smile at his resentment: let him rail
To his last hour, and triumph in the shouts
Of his admirers, I have other cares
That sit more heavy on me.

cethegus.

What should stop
Thy rapid progress in the paths of glory
And happiness? Canst thou have aught to fear?

catiline.

My numerous foes I heed not, ’tis my friends
I have most cause to dread; the jealousy
Of Lentulus, the aspiring soul of Cæsar,
And, above all, my wife.

cethegus.

Shall Catiline
Be frightened at a woman’s tears?—for shame,
Leave her to indulge her visionary fears:
I thought thou lovest her as a master should,
And madest her but the servile instrument
Of thy ambition.

catiline.

’Tis a dangerous one:
Rome and her child divide with me her love.
Curse on the name of Rome, that even beneath
The roof of Catiline those should dwell who love
Their country! But before the important hour
That must decide our fate, she shall be moved,
She and her son—be that thy care, Cethegus:
Our wives and children must not trouble us
In those distressful moments—but for Cæsar—

cethegus.

What’s to be done? if he refuse to join
Our cause, shall we proscribe him; shall the names
Of Cicero and of Cæsar be united?

catiline.

Let me consider—to cut Cæsar off—
That were a dreadful sacrifice; methinks
I cannot but admire him, and revere
In him the honor of the Roman name:
But where is Lentulus?

cethegus.

O fear not him;
His pride we know will prompt him to believe
That thou with him wilt share the sovereign power.

catiline.

Let him believe it still! the credulous fool!
Thou seest, Cethegus, with what sublety
I’m forced to manage these imperious spirits;
Their rage, resentment, pride and jealousy:
Knowest thou he dares even to be Cæsar’s rival?
To keep my friends within the pale of prudence
Will cost me much more trouble than the ruin
Of Cicero and Rome—to guide a party
Is of all tasks the hardest.—

cethegus.

Lentulus
Is here, my lord.

SCENE II.

catiline, cethegus, lentulus-sura.

sura.

In spite of my remonstrance
You will rely on Cæsar, and confide
In him alone; Præneste’s in his power.
And I must yield to him; but know I scorn it,
The blood of Scipio was not made to yield.

catiline.

I’ve joined with Cæsar, but depend not on him;
He may support our cause, or he may hurt it;
I use his name, but ’tis for your advantage.

sura.

And what is there in Cæsar’s name superior
To yours or mine? why must we meanly court
His favor? but because he’s Pompey’s rival
Rome makes a God of him.—I am thy friend;
Sura and Catiline may defy them all,
And without Cæsar make the world their own.

catiline.

We may—thy conduct and approved valor
Have ever been my best and surest hope;
But Cæsar is beloved, respected, feared;
The senate and the people all admire
And court him; statesman, general, magistrate;
In peace revered, and terrible in war;
A thousand ways he charms the multitude;
In short he will be necessary.—

sura.

Say
Destructive rather—if to-day he shines
Our equal, by to-morrow he will prove
Our rival, and ere long perhaps our master;
Trust me, I know him well, and therefore think
Our party has not a more dangerous foe:
Perhaps his haughty soul may yield to thee,
But play the tyrant o’er the rest; for me,
I cannot, will not, brook it—I’ve devoted
My honor and my fortunes to thy service;
But I renounce my plighted faith, renounce
Thee and thy cause, if Cæsar is preferred.

catiline.

And so thou shalt—I’d sacrifice my life
Rather than e’er permit a haughty rival
To soar above us—Cæsar is our tool,
Our instrument; to-day I flatter him,
To-morrow can bring down his pride, perhaps
Do more—thou knowest our mutual happiness
And interest are my first and dearest care.
[To Cethegus.
Away, and let Aurelia be prepared:
Go; or her fond intruding love may ruin
Our deep laid schemes, and mar the great design:
Return some private way and meet me here,
I wait for Cæsar.

sura.

Nothing’s to be done.
I find, without him—but I’ll wait the event.

catiline.

Farewell: remember I rely on thee
More than on Cæsar.—

cethegus.

I shall execute
Your high command, and gather all our friends
Before the standard of great Catiline.

SCENE III.

catiline, cæsar.

catiline.

Hail, godlike Cæsar, thou whom from the days
Of Sulla I have ranked amongst my best
And dearest friends, whose fortunes I foretold:
Born as thou art to be the first of Romans,
How suits it with thy pride to be the slave
Of a plebeian, who forever thwarts
And braves thee to thy face? I know thou hatest him;
Thy piercing eye observes impatient Rome
Contending for her freedom, will not Cæsar
Assist his country to shake off her chains?
The cause is noble, and the fate of millions
Depends on this important crisis; thou
Wilt join us—lookest thou not with jealous eye
On Pompey still? dost thou not still abhor
The surly Cato? canst thou serve the gods
With half thy wonted zeal when the proud consul
Presides at the altar? will thy noble spirit
Bear these imperious rulers; soft Lucullus,
Sunk in the arms of luxury and sloth;
The greedy Crassus, grasping his large heaps
Of ill-got wealth, enough to purchase Rome
And all her venal sons? on every side
Or faction or corruption reigns; the world
Calls out on Cæsar; wilt thou hear her voice?
Wilt thou redress and save thy falling country?
Will Cæsar listen to his friend?

cæsar.

He will;
And if the senate do thee wrong, step forth
To plead thy cause; I never will betray thee;
But ask no more.

catiline.

Are these the utmost bounds
Of Cæsar’s friendship, but to talk for him?

cæsar.

I’ve weighed the projects, and shall not oppose them;
I may approve, but would not execute.

catiline.

I understand you, you are on that side
Which fortune favors, and would stand aloof
To mark the progress of our civil wars,
And raise your fortunes on the common ruin.

cæsar.

No—I have nobler views; my hate of Cato,
My jealousy of Pompey, the renown
Of Cicero, conspire to make me wish
I might surpass them all; fair glory calls,
The banks of Seine, the Tagus, and the Rhine;
I pant for honor, and for victory.

catiline.

If conquest is thy aim, begin with Rome;
To-morrow we may reign the masters of her.

cæsar.

The enterprise is great, perhaps too bold;
But, to be open with thee, though ’tis worthy
Of Catiline, it suits not Cæsar.

catiline.

How!

cæsar.

I do not choose to serve.

catiline.

To share with Cæsar
Were no dishonor to the most ambitious.

cæsar.

But power supreme is not to be divided:
I’ll not be dragged at Catiline’s chariot wheels
To grace his triumph: as a friend I love thee;
But know that friend shall never be—my master:
Even Pompey shall not—Sulla, whom thy valor
Hath nobly followed in the race of glory,
Whose courage I admire, whose lawless rage
I ever shall abhor, enslaved proud Rome:
But he deserved the glorious prize, subdued
The Hellespont, and made Euphrates tremble:
Asia was conquered: Mithridates owned
His martial genius—but what noble deeds
Hast thou to boast? what kings hast thou subdued?
What seas has Catiline passed, what lands explored?
Thou hast the seeds of greatness in thy nature;
But to enslave thy country is above
Thy present powers, above the powers of Cæsar:
We have not strength, authority or name
For such an enterprise. Rome soon must fall:
But ere I will attempt to be her master,
I will extend her empire and her glory;
And if I forge my country’s chains, at least
Will cover them with laurels.

catiline.

Mine, perhaps,
Is, after all, the shortest path to glory:
How did your boasted Sulla rise to empire?
He had an army, so has Catiline;
Raised by myself alone, and not, like his,
The gift of fortune; he observed with care
The favorable hour, and well improved it:
I have done more; have made the times and seasons
Subservient to me. Sulla was a king.
Wouldst thou be one? wilt thou be Cicero’s slave,
Or rule with Catiline?

cæsar.

Neither. To be free,
For I no longer will dissemble with you,
I esteem Cicero; but love him not,
Nor fear him: though I love, I dread not thee.
Divide the senate if thou canst, pull down
The proud oppressors; thou hast my consent;
But hope no more, nor dare to think that Cæsar
Will ever be thy slave: I’ll keep thy secret,
And be thy friend or foe, as thou deservest it.

SCENE IV.

catiline.

If he supports us not, even let him fall
The victim of his folly: Sulla knew
And would have cut him off, but Sulla dared not:
I know he is my secret enemy,
As such I shall beware of him.

SCENE V.

catiline, cethegus, lentulus-sura.

sura.

What says
The mighty Cæsar? is he friend or foe?

catiline.

His barren friendship only offers me
A feeble aid; but we can do without him:
Perhaps he may repent it; and meantime
We’ve better pillars to support the fabric.
Behold, the heroes come.

SCENE VI.

catiline, the conspirators.

catiline.

Hail, bold Statilius,
Valiant Autronius, noble Piso, hail,
Vargontes, and the rest of my brave friends,
The first of men, the conquerors of kings,
The great avengers of a world oppressed,
This seat of empire soon shall be your own:
The vanquished nations, which your valor gained,
Were ravished from you by usurping tyrants;
For the proud senate still your blood hath flowed;
For them Tigranes, Mithridates fell;
For them alone; and all your poor reward
Was but to stand at distance, and adore
Your haughty masters; but at length the hour
Of vengeance is approaching: be prepared
For no inglorious enterprise: I know
Your souls would scorn a victory cheaply bought;
But I will bring you noble conquests, full
Of danger and of glory: seize, my friends,
The golden opportunity: already
I see your foes expiring at your feet.
Rush on your prey, burn, plunder, and destroy;
But, above all, let union guide your counsels:
Even now Præneste falls: the brave remains
Of Sulla’s scattered forces march towards us:
I shall command them, and Rome must be yours
Petreius vanquished, I shall clear my way
Even to the capitol: then you, my friends,
Shall rise to empire, to a throne disgraced
By worthless Romans, and by you restored
To its true lustre: Curius and his band
Will open me the gates; but tell me, friend,
The gladiatorian cohorts, where are they?
Will those brave veterans join our cause?

lentulus-sura.

They will:
Myself shall lead them in the dead of night,
And arm them in this secret place.

catiline.

Mount Cælius—
Is that secured?

statilius.

I’ve bribed the sentinels,
And all is safe.

catiline.

You to mount Aventine
Repair, and soon as Mallius shall display
His colors, light your torches, spread destruction
On every side; let the proscribed perish.
Let Cicero—ye have sworn it—be my first
My darling victim: Cæsar too must die,
And Cato; these removed, the senate soon
Will tremble and obey: already fortune
Declares for us, and blinds them to their ruin:
Within their walls, and almost in their sight
We lay the snares of death, and mark them out
For sacrifice: remember not to take up arms
Before the appointed time: we must surprise
Ere we destroy: let Cicero and Rome
Perish together, and the lightning blast
Before the thunder’s threatening voice alarms them.
Call not this deed a foul conspiracy;
’Tis a just war declared against the foes
Of Rome and all mankind; reclaim your rights,
The empire of the world, which base usurpers
Had ravished from you.
[To Cethegus and Lentulus-Sura.
Haste, ye gallant leaders,
Haste to the senate; see your victims there:
Hear your proud consul roar; ’tis the last time
That he shall triumph there—now, worthy Romans,
Swear by this sword, that with the blood of tyrants
Shall soon be stained, to perish, or to conquer,
With Catiline.

martian.

By thee and by this sword
We swear with thee to perish or to conquer.

another conspirator.

Perish the senate! perish all who serve,
All who defend them! if there be amongst us
A traitor, let him die.

catiline.

Away, this night
Will finish all, and Rome shall be our own.

End of the Second Act.

ACT III.

SCENE I.

catiline, cethegus, martian, septimus.

catiline.

Are all things ready? do our troops advance?

martian.

Even so, my lord; the faithful Mallius comes
Prepared to circle these devoted walls;
Our friends impatient brook not dull delay,
But urge each other to the bloody scene;
We wait but thy command; appoint the hour
When Rome must fall.

catiline.

Soon as I quit the senate
Begin the sacrifice: let this great day
Be sacred to destruction: but meantime
Take special care the consul’s busy friends
Do not observe our motions.

cethegus.

Were it not
Most prudent to destroy him in the senate?
He has alarmed the people, and foresees
Our every action.

catiline.

Knows he the revolt
Of Mallius? knows he Catiline’s deep designs?
Knows he an army is approaching for me?
Fear not, my friends, ours is no common cause,
’Tis fit the means should be proportioned to it:
When vulgar mortals, grovelling and obscure,
Form ill-digested schemes, and idle plans
Of future greatness, if one slender wheel
Is broke, it overthrows the whole machine:
But souls like ours, a firm and chosen band,
Plans deeply laid, the conquerors of kings,
The sons of Mars, united to support
And raise each other, these must be superior
To Cicero’s art, or Cicero’s vigilance:
We’ve naught to fear.

cethegus.

But is Præneste ours
In Cæsar’s name?

catiline.

Ay; that was my first stroke
Of policy: the unsuspecting senate
Will be deceived: I’ve whispered it abroad,
That Nonnius hath conspired against the state,
And half our credulous fools believe the tale.
Ere he can clear his innocence, my army
Will be in Rome, and all secured: away,
Remove Aurelia: let no little cares
Intrude to stop or hurt the great design.

SCENE II.

aurelia, catiline, cethegus, etc.

aurelia.

[A letter in her hand.
There, Catiline, read Aurelia’s fate and thine,
Thy crime and thy just sentence.

catiline.

What rash hand—
Ha! ’tis thy father’s.

aurelia.

Read it.

catiline.

[Reads the letter.
“Death too long
Hath spared me, and the child I loved too well
Must finish my sad days: at length I suffer
For my own follies, and that hapless marriage
Which I consented to; I know the plots
Of thy vile husband: Cæsar has betrayed us,
And would have seized Præneste: thou partakest
The treason: but repent, or perish with them.”
But how could Nonnius e’er discover that
Which even the consul knows not?

cethegus.

This may prove
Our ruin.

catiline.

[To Cethegus.
It may turn to our advantage.
Aurelia, I must tell thee all: this day
The world is armed in Catiline’s defence:
Say, in the hour of danger wilt thou serve
A father or a husband?

aurelia.

To be silent,
And trouble thee no more, were the commands
Which Catiline laid on his neglected wife,
Spite of her fond entreaties, prayers, and tears:
What hast thou further to desire?

catiline.

Away:
This moment, send that letter to the consul;
I have my reasons; I would have him know,
That Cæsar is as much to be suspected
As I am: he’s accused, and Catiline not
So much as named: it is as I could wish.
Take with thee our loved infant, and return not
To bleeding Rome, till I am master there:
Then thou shalt reign with me: our marriage yet
Is kept a secret: I’ll not have it known,
’Till at the head of our victorious army
I shall proclaim it loud to Italy,
And to the world: then shall thy haughty father,
As our first subject, humbly bend before thee,
And sue to be forgiven: begone, Aurelia,
And leave me to my fate. I would not wish
Thou shouldst partake my dangers or my cares:
This night prepare to meet a conqueror.

aurelia.

O Catiline, meanest thou to destroy thy country?
Is this the day appointed for destruction?

catiline.

To-day I purpose to chastise my foes;
All is prepared.

aurelia.

Begin then with Aurelia;
For I had rather perish by thy hand,
Than live to share thy guilt.

catiline.

O let the tie
That binds us—

cethegus.

Drive not thus to desperation
A husband and a friend, who trusts his all
To thee; thou art entered in the paths of glory,
And to retreat were fatal.

aurelia.

Misery
And sure destruction were Aurelia’s fate:
From that unhappy moment, when by thee
And thy vile counsels led, I gave my hand
To Catiline; despised, neglected, long
Have I beheld, with eyes of detestation,
Your horrid plots: spite of myself you made me
A vile accomplice; but you know I loved,
And basely have imposed upon my weakness:
I blush to think how grossly you abused
A woman’s fond credulity; but know
I’ll no longer be guilty of a crime
Which I abhor: no longer serve a tyrant:
No, I renounce my vows, my faith to thee;
These hands shall rise against thee, thou vile traitor:
Henceforth I am thy foe. Strike, Catiline, strike;
Destroy me; carry into burning Rome,
For thy first victim, an expiring wife
Slain by thy hand; destroy the hapless infant,
Sad pledge of our detested nuptials: then,
Barbarian as thou art, complete thy guilt,
And in the blood of millions glut thy vengeance.

catiline.

And is the gentle, kind Aurelia then
Amongst my foes? thus in the noblest war,
That e’er was waged for freedom and for empire,
When Pompey, Cæsar, Cato, are subdued,
My worst of enemies at last are found
In my own house; I am deserted there
For an unworthy father: threatened too.

aurelia.

I threaten guilt, and tremble for—a husband:
Even in my rage thou seest my tenderness;
Abuse it not, it is my only weakness:
But I would have thee fear—

catiline.

That word, Aurelia,
Was never made for Catiline—but hear me:
I love thee; yet presume not on thy power,
Nor think I e’er will sacrifice my friends,
My noble cause, my interest, and my fame,
Glory and empire: no, it is enough
If I forgive and pity thee, but know—

aurelia.

The crown thy pride looks up to I despise:
I should behold it as the shameful mark
Of infamy: thou showest thy love for me
By pity and forgiveness; and I mine,
By holding back, if possible, thy hand
From guilt and error—therefore will I go—

SCENE III.

catiline, cethegus, lentulus-sura, aurelia, etc.

lentulus-sura.

We are discovered, lost, undone; our friends
Betrayed, our plots unravelled all; Præneste
Not yielded to us; Nonnius is in Rome;
One of our spies is seized, and has confessed;
Nonnius in open senate will accuse
His son-in-law; he’s gone to Cicero,
Who knows too much already.

aurelia.

Now behold
The fruits of guilt, and all thy great designs,
Thy boasted fortunes, empire, and the throne,
Which I despised: are thy eyes opened yet?

catiline.

[After a long pause.
This is a blow I thought not of; but say,
Wilt thou betray me?

aurelia.

’Tis what thou deservest:
My country claims, and heaven demands it of me;
But I’ll do more, I’ll save both Rome and thee;
And though I have not all thy rage, may boast
Some of thy courage; love will make me brave:
Long since I saw thy danger, Catiline:
’Tis come, and now I will partake it with thee;
I’ll see my father, and obtain thy life,
Or lose my own; I know he is forgiving,
Gentle, and mild: I know he loves Aurelia,
And will not urge too far a foe like thee,
Desperate and brave; I’ll talk to Cicero
Who fears, and to the senate who adores thee;
They will be glad to think thee innocent;
Those whom we fear we readily forgive:
But let sincerest penitence atone
For thy past crimes: convicted guilt by that,
And that alone, can hope for pardon; though
I know it hurts thy pride, it must be done:
At least I hope I shall procure thee time,
Or to quit Rome, or to defend thyself:
I’ll not reproach thee; even when most guilty
I loved, and in misfortune will not leave thee;
But rather die to save thy life and glory.
Farewell; let Catiline learn henceforth to trust me;
I have deserved it.

catiline.

Sad alternative;
It is most dreadful—but I yield to thee:
Remember that a husband’s plea is stronger,
Much stronger than a father’s: if I err,
The crime is thine.

aurelia.

I’ll take it all upon me;
Nay, even thy hatred, if it must be so;
I act for thee, and I’m satisfied.
Daughter, and wife, and Roman, every duty
Shall be performed; remember thine, and keep
Thy heart as pure and spotless as Aurelia’s.

SCENE IV.

catiline, cethegus, lentulus-sura, freedmen.

lentulus-sura.

Is this the bold and fearless Catiline,
Or Nonnius’ timid son; a woman’s slave;
Appalled by phantoms? how thy great soul shrunk
Soon as Aurelia spoke!

cethegus.

It cannot be;
Catiline will never change; his noble soul
By opposition grows but more resolved:
Præneste lost, the senate our accusers,
We may be conquerors still, and make them tremble
Whilst they condemn us; we have noble friends,
And will deserve them.

lentulus-sura.

Ere the signal’s given
We may be seized; thou knowest at dead of night,
Just as the senate part, we had agreed
To execute our purpose: what, my friends,
Must be resolved on?

cethegus.

[To Catiline.
Catiline, thou art silent,
And tremblest too.

catiline.

I tremble at the blow
Which I shall strike; my fate demands it of me.

lentulus-sura.

I’ve no dependence on Aurelia: all
That we can hope for is to sell our lives
As dearly as we can.

catiline.

I count the moments,
And weigh each circumstance; Aurelia’s tears
And flattery will a while suspend our fate;
Cicero on other business is detained,
And all is safe; let me have arms and men,
No matter who they are, or slaves or free,
Assassins, robbers, if they will but fight,
We’ll have them: thou brave Septimus, and thou
My dearest Martian, whose approved zeal
I shall depend on, must observe Aurelia;
And Nonnius; when they’re parted, talk to him
About his daughter; tell him of her danger,
Draw him by artful means to the dark path
That leads to the Tiber, seize the lucky moment,
And hurl him—ha! who’s this?

SCENE V.

cicero, catiline, cethegus, etc.

cicero.

Audacious traitor,
Where art thou going? speak, Cethegus, who
Assembled you?

catiline.

We’ll tell thee in the senate.

cethegus.

There we shall see if thou art authorized
Thus to pursue us.

lentulus-sura.

Or what right
The son of Tullius has to question us.

cicero.

At least I have a right to ask of these,
Who brought them here: these are not like yourselves,
Of senatorial rank; away with them.
To prison.

catiline.

Darest thou thus on mere suspicion
Confine a Roman; where’s our liberty?

cicero.

They are of thy council, that’s sufficient cause;
Tremble, thyself; lictors, obey.
[The lictors carry off Septimus and Martian.

catiline.

’Tis well:
Go on, proud consul, and abuse thy power,
The time will come when thou shalt answer for it.

cicero.

Instant I will examine them, hereafter
Thus may I treat their masters; Nonnius knows
All thy designs, Præneste’s mine, and Rome
Prepared for her defence; we soon shall see
Which most prevails, or Catiline’s artifice
Or Cicero’s vigilance: I do not preach
Repentance and forgiveness to thee; no,
I talk of punishment, thou mayest expect it:
Come to the senate; follow if thou darest.

SCENE VI.

catiline, cethegus, lentulus-sura.

cethegus.

Must we at last then bend to Cicero,
And own his hated power?

catiline.

To the last hour
I will defy him: still his curious soul
Pries into all, but can discover nothing:
Our friends will only lead him more astray,
By holding out false lights that will misguide
His wandering footsteps: in that fatal scroll
Cæsar’s accused; the senate is divided,
And Manlius with his army’s at the gate:
You think that all is lost, but follow me.
And mark the event; we shall be conquerors still.

lentulus-sura.

Nonnius, I fear, will make it all too plain.

catiline.

But he and Cicero shall never meet;
Depend on that; away, address the senate
With confidence, and leave the rest to me:
But whither am I going?

cethegus.

catiline.

Aurelia!
O gods! what shall I do with that proud heart?
Remove her from me: if I see my wife,
Bold as I am, I shall relapse: away.

End of the Third Act.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

The Scene represents the place prepared for the reception of the Senate, with part of the gallery leading from Aurelia’s palace to the temple of Tellus; a double row of benches in a circular form, with a raised seat for Cicero in the middle of it.

cethegus, lentulus-sura.

lentulus-sura.

These reverend fathers are exceeding slow,
I thought ere this they would have met; perhaps
Uncertain yet, and trembling for their fate,
They know not how to act.

cethegus.

The oracle
Of Rome, (for so he deems himself,) engaged
In a continued round of toil, is busied
In questioning his prisoner Septimus,
Who will perplex him more; ’tis that retards
Their meeting.

lentulus-sura.

Would to heaven that we already
Had taken up arms! I own I dread the senate.
That reverence and attachment to the state,
That sacred name of country, which awakes
The sense of honor in each patriot breast;
I like it not.

cethegus.

’Tis nothing but a name,
A word without a meaning; in the days
Of our forefathers men respected it.
Save a few stubborn stoics, none retain
The memory of it; Cicero has raised
Suspicions only; Cato’s credit’s lost;
Cæsar is for us, what have we to fear?
Defend yourselves, and Rome will be your own.

lentulus-sura.

But what if Catiline, by an artful wife
Seduced, at last should leave us; we have all
Our weaknesses, and well thou knowest Aurelia
Can lead him as she lists; he loves, esteems,
And may be ruled by her.

cethegus.

His love will yield
To his ambition.

lentulus-sura.

Thou beheldest him tremble.
In short, my friend, when tender ties like these—

cethegus.

[Taking him aside.
Cato approaches, let us listen to him.
[Lentulus-Sura and Cethegus sit down at one corner of the Senate-house.

SCENE II.

catoenters the Senate withlucullus, crassus, favonius, clodius, murena, cæsar, catullus, marcellus, etc.

cato.

[Observing the two conspirators.
Lucullus, mark those dangerous men; behold them
In secret conference; see, the blush of guilt
Glows on their cheeks at sight of me; already
Treason with bold and shameless front stalks forth
Amongst us, and the senate still dissemble
Their knowledge of it; Sulla’s demon sure
Hath breathed its baneful influence o’er the souls
Of our blind rulers.

cethegus.

Cato, thy rash censure
May cost thee dear.

cato.

[Sits down, the other senators take their places.
The gods of Rome sometimes
Permit a traitor’s crimes to pass unpunished;
They crushed our ancestors beneath the yoke
Of cruel tyrants; shall imperial Rome,
The mistress of the world, again submit
To slavery? no: the guilt she spared in Sulla,
In Catiline and Cethegus she may punish.

cæsar.

Cato, what meanest thou? thy outrageous virtue
Can serve no purpose but to make thee foes.

cato.

[To Cæsar.
Cæsar is still the factious leader’s friend,
The patron of corruption, and preserves
A soul unmoved whate’er his country suffers.

cæsar.

When danger calls, my country will not say
I am too calm, therefore complain not, Cato.

cato.

I must complain, must weep the fate of Rome,
Deserted and betrayed: now where is Pompey?
Would he were here to save us!

cæsar.

Why not call
On Cæsar?

cato.

Pompey loves his country.

cæsar.

That
Would I dispute with him.

SCENE III.

cicero.

[Entering with precipitation, the senators rise.
Why waste ye thus in idle altercation,
The precious time when Rome is on the brink
Of ruin, whilst on you she calls for succor,
When the dread signal is already given?
Already is this land of freedom stained
With senatorial blood.

lucullus.

O heavens!

cato.

What sayest thou?

cicero.

The equestrian cohort, formed by my command,
Were posted where they best might quell the foe;
Nonnius, my friend, that generous old man,
Who, amidst the crimes of this degenerate age,
Still uncorrupted, from Præneste came,
To guide us through this labyrinth of treason,
And lead our wandering steps to peace and safety,
When lo! two bloody ruffians rushed upon him,
And plunged their daggers in his faithful heart:
He fell: confusion followed, and wild uproar
Amongst the people: we pursued the traitors,
Spite of the multitude that thronged around them,
And night’s dark shade to favor their escape:
One I have seized, and bound in chains; already
He has confessed that Catiline set him on.

SCENE IV.

catiline.

[Standing up between Cato and Cæsar, Cethegus next to Cæsar, the Senate seated.
Yes, reverend fathers, know, the deed was mine;
I slew your foes; ’twas Catiline who revenged
His injured country, and destroyed a traitor.

cicero.

Barbarian, thou?

cato.

And darest thou boast of it?

cæsar.

Remember, fathers, we’ve no right to punish
Before we hear him.

cethegus.

Speak, defend thyself,
And triumph o’er the malice of thy foes.

cicero.

Romans, where are we?

catiline.

Amidst evil days
And evil men, the horrors of foul discord
And civil war; amidst determined foes,
Whom I alone must conquer; Sulla’s spirit
Inspires once more the haughty sons of Rome:
With grief I see expiring liberty,
With grief behold this reverend senate torn
By discord, horrors spread on every side,
And Cicero pouring in the senate’s ear
Unjust suspicions: Cicero talks for Rome,
But I avenge her: I have shown her cause
Is dearer far to me than e’er it was
To your proud consul. Nonnius was the soul,
The leader of this foul conspiracy:
It was a dangerous crisis; I stepped forth
And saved you all: thus by a soldier fell
The daring Spurius; thus was Gracchus slain
By the brave Scipio: who shall punish me
For acting like a Roman? which of you
Will dare accuse me?

cicero.

I, who know thy crime;
I, who can prove it—bring those freedmen here,
Let them be heard. Fathers, behold the man
Who has destroyed a senator of Rome:
Will ye permit him thus to speak, to boast
Of his foul deed, and call his crime a virtue?

catiline.

And will ye, Romans, let this vile accuser
Thus persecute your fellow-citizens,
Your best, your noblest friends? but know from me
What Cicero could not tell you, and improve
The important secret to your best advantage:
In his own palace, know, this impious man,
This vile betrayer, Nonnius, had concealed
Arms, torches, all the instruments of death
Designed for our destruction: if Rome lives,
She lives by me, and to this arm you owe
Your safety: send and seize them, and then say
What’s due to Catiline from his thankless country.

cicero.

[To the lictors.
Go you to the palace, bring with you the daughter
Of Nonnius—ha! thou tremblest.

catiline.

I? ’tis false:
Know, I despise this mean, this last resource
Of disappointed malice—fathers, say,
Have I not cleared myself? are you convinced!

cicero.

I am, that thou art guilty: can ye think
That good old man was ever capable
Of such detested fraud? it was thy art,
Thy cunning, miscreant, to conceal from me
Thy treachery; therefore didst thou choose the palace
Of Nonnius to secrete thy instruments
Of vengeance; there thou wouldst have hid thy guilt:
Perhaps thou hast seduced his wretched daughter:
Alas! his family is not the first
Where thou hast carried sorrows, crimes, and death;
And now thou wouldst destroy thy country too;
Yet boldly darest, instead of punishment,
To call for approbation and reward.
O thou abandoned traitor, murderer,
Reviler, hypocrite; such titles suit
Thy boasted services. O you, who once
Stood forth the happy patrons of mankind,
The sovereign judges of the world, at length
Will you submit, to let a tyrant hold
Dominion o’er you, will you shut your eyes
And rush into the precipice? awake,
Revenge yourselves, or you partake his guilt:
This day or Rome or Catiline must perish:
Lose not a moment therefore, but determine:

cæsar.

Judgments too quickly made are oft unjust:
This is the cause of Rome, and therefore merits
Our strict attention: when our equals lag
Beneath the stroke of censure, we should act
With caution, and in them respect ourselves:
Too much severity suits none but tyrants.

cato.

Too much indulgence here suits none but traitors.
What! balance ’twixt a murderer and Rome!
Is it not Cicero speaks, and shall we doubt?

cæsar.

These are suspicions only; give us proof:
The arms once found, and Nonnius’ guilt confirmed,
Catiline deserves our praise.
[Turning to Catiline.
Thou knowest I’ll keep
My word with thee in all things.

cicero.

O my country!
O Rome! O gods! thus shall a hero plead
A traitor’s cause; art thou the senate’s friend,
And canst be Catiline’s? henceforth Rome has naught
To fear but from her own ungrateful sons.

clodius.

Rome is in safety; Cæsar loves his country,
And we should think with him.

cicero.

It well becomes
A man like Clodius to unite with those
Who plan destruction, and delight in ruin:
But whereso’er I turn my eyes, they meet
With bold conspirators, or citizens
Cold and inactive in the cause of Rome:
Catiline, without or fear or danger, drives
The storm upon us; he proscribes the senate;
Already reaps in thought the bloody harvest;
Marks out his victims, threatens, and commands;
And when I point out the dread consequence,
Then Cæsar talks of senatorial rights,
And Clodius joins him: Cicero must be dumb:
Catiline has murdered Nonnius; he who takes
Another’s life should lose his own; no rights,
No laws should plead for him: the first great care
Is to defend our country; but, alas!
That country is no more.

SCENE V.

the senate, aurelia.

aurelia.

Ye great avengers
Of innocence oppressed, my only hope,
And thou, O consul, virtue’s kind protector,
To thee my murdered father calls for vengeance:
O let me wash thy feet with tears—assist,
[She falls at Cicero’s feet; he raises her up.
Avenge me: tell me, if thou canst, who slew
My father.

cicero.

There he stands.
[Pointing to Catiline.

aurelia.

O gods!

cicero.

’Twas he
Who did the deed, and boasts of it.

aurelia.

Good heaven!
Can it be Catiline? did I hear aright?
O bloody monster, didst thou murder him?
[The Lictors support her.

catiline.

[Turning to Cethegus, and fainting in his arms.
This is a dreadful sight—support me—this
Is punishment enough.

cethegus.

Why droops my friend?
Aurelia calls for vengeance: but if Catiline
Has served his country, what has he to fear?

catiline.

[Turning to Aurelia.
Aurelia, ’tis too true—my cruel duty—
My country—think me not so base; Aurelia
Thou knowest my love, my tenderness—but ties
Of a more sacred nature, ties—

SCENE VI.

the senate, aurelia, chief of the lictors.

chief of the lictors.

My lord,
We’ve seized these arms.

cicero.

At Nonnius’s?

chief lictor.

His house
Was the receptacle of all: our prisoners
Accuse him as the chief conspirator.

aurelia.

Malice and calumny! the lying slaves
First take his life, and then destroy his fame:
The wretch whose murderous hand—

cicero.

Go on—

aurelia.

Just gods.
For what have ye reserved me?

cicero.

Speak: let truth
In open day appear: but at the sight
Of him you tremble; your dejected eyes,
And sudden silence, show how much you dread
The tyrant.

aurelia.

I have been to blame; Aurelia
Alone is guilty.

catiline.

No; thou art not.

aurelia.

Hence,
Detested monster, I abhor thy pity,
Disclaim all converse, all relation with thee:
Alas! too late, I see my guilt; too late
Confess my crimes; yes, reverend fathers; yes,
Aurelia knew the traitor, and concealed him:
I asked for aid, but merit punishment;
My weakness may be fatal; Rome’s in danger;
The world this day may be subverted: thou,
Thou traitor, ledst me to the dark abyss
Of infamy; thou madest my tenderness
Subservient to thy wicked purposes;
Curse on the guilty hour that gave my heart
To Catiline; to thee I have been faithful,
But false to heaven, and to my country; false
To my unhappy father: I betrayed,
And I destroyed him.
[Whilst Aurelia is speaking, Cicero seems deeply affected.
Ye avenging gods,
Ye sacred walls, and thou much injured spirit
Of my dear father, Romans, senators,
Behold my husband, your inveterate foe.
[Turning to Catiline.
Now, miscreant, mark, and imitate Aurelia.
[Stabs herself.

catiline.

O wretched Catiline!

cato.

O dreadful day!

cicero.

[Rising.
’Tis worthy of this guilty age.

aurelia.

O consul!
There was a letter sent you—murder threatens
On every side—take heed—alas!—I die.
[Aurelia is carried off.

cicero.

Let her have needful succor: Aufidus,
Search for that paper—still are ye in doubt;
Still will ye suffer this vile murderer
To lord it o’er the senate, shall the deaths
Of Nonnius and Aurelia pass unpunished?

catiline.

The guilt was thine: thy rancor and fell hatred
Of Catiline urged him to the deed; ambition
Inspired us both; thy happier fortune soared
Above me, thou hast been the cause of all:
I hate thee, Cicero, hate Rome itself
For loving thee: long have I sought thy ruin,
And I will seek it still: the wrongs I suffer
Shall be revenged on thee; thy blood shall pay
For mine; inconstant Rome, that now adores thee,
Shall one day see with joy the mangled limbs
Of her proud consul scattered o’er the senate:
Remember Catiline has foretold thy fate;
I hasten to accomplish it: farewell.

cicero.

Guards, seize the traitor.

cethegus.

Let them if they dare.

lentulus-sura.

The senate is divided: we defy thee.

catiline.

The war then is declared: friends, follow me,
We must to battle: the uncertain senate
Will think on’t, and determine at their leisure.
[He goes out with some senators of his party.

cicero.

Now, ye illustrious conquerors of the world,
Which will ye choose, or slavery or empire:
Where is the freedom, where the majesty
Of ancient Rome? where is her lustre now?
’Tis faded all: awake, my slumbering country;
Lucullus, Cæsar, and Murena, listen;
O listen to the voice of Rome; she calls
Aloud for help, demands some gallant leader
To fight for her; equality of rank
Must be reserved for happier times, the Gauls
Are here, Camillus must be found, we want
A chief, a warrior, a dictator; now
Name the most worthy, and I’ll follow him.

SCENE VII.

the senate, chief lictor.

chief lictor.

My lord, I found this letter to Aurelia
From Nonnius: all our cares for her were vain.

cicero.

[Reading the letter.
More dangers threatening! “Cæsar, who betrays us,
Would seize Præneste,” ha!
[Turning to Cæsar.
Art thou too, Cæsar,
A vile accomplice? this completes our woes;
And wilt thou bend beneath a tyrant?—read it.

cæsar.

I have: I am a Roman, ruin comes
Upon us, danger is on every side;
’Tis well: I must be gone: you have my answer.

cato.

It was a doubtful one: most certainly
He is their friend.

cicero.

Away: let us defend
The state against them all: O Senators!
If Nonnius’ death, if poor Aurelia’s pangs,
If bleeding Rome, if a subverted world
Have power to stir up your resentment, rise,
Fly to the capitol, defend your gods,
Defend your country, punish Catiline.
I’ll not reproach you; though ’twas most unkind,
To spurn at Cicero, and embrace a villain.
But to avoid a tyrant, name your chief:
You, who are friends to virtue, separate
From traitors.
[The Senators separate themselves from Cethegus and Lentulus-Sura.
Now let us unite, my friends,
Never let quarrels, jealousies, and strife,
Divide us; ’twas by them that Sulla triumphed.
For me, wherever danger calls, I go
Intrepid and inflexible: O gods!
Strengthen this arm, and animate this voice:
O grant me still to save ungrateful Rome!

End of the Fourth Act.

ACT V.

SCENE I.

cato,with part of the senate in arms.

clodius.

[To Cato.
What! whilst the senate armed for its own safety
From busy faction’s power can scarce preserve
These sacred walls; thus shall a proud plebeian
Insult us? shall a people, born to freedom,
Be treated like dependent slaves? by him,
Shall Rome’s best friends, the conquerors of the world,
Be put in chains? because he is a consul,
Shall he condemn his masters? Catiline’s self
Were less despotic, and less dangerous:
With you I feel my country’s wretchedness,
And weep her fate; but cannot, will not, see
The senate thus disgraced.

cato.

Disgrace attends
On those alone who merit it—but know,
The blood of nobles, your patrician friends,
Debased by guilt, should rank below the meanest;
Those who betrayed us are condemned to death:
Cicero condemned them; he who saved your country,
The glorious consul, whom ye dare accuse,
Because he loved you but too well: yet fear
And tremble all, ungrateful as ye are
To join with traitors, for an equal fate
Shall soon o’erwhelm you; Catiline’s at our gates.
What Cæsar hath determined yet we know not;
Whether he means to save, or to destroy
His country: Cicero bravely acts alone,
And hazards all for Rome, whilst you despise
Your best of friends, and treat him as a foe.

clodius.

Cato has more severity than courage,
And ever rigorous, hates not guilt so much
As he loves punishment: reproach us not,
Nor act the censor when we want a friend.
Whilst the destructive flames of war surround,
’Tis not a consul’s edict can defend us.
What can your lictor and his fasces do,
Against a band of fierce conspirators?
You talk of dangers, and of Cæsar’s power:
Who does not know that Cæsar is the friend
Of Catiline? you have pointed out the ills
That threaten Rome; it were a nobler task
To show us how we may remove them.

cato.

Yes;
And so I will: I would advise the senate
To be aware of Cæsar, and of—thee;
Nay, more—but see our father comes.

SCENE II.

cicero, cato,part of the senate.

cato.

[To Cicero.
Behold
Great Cicero, the sons of thankless Rome:
Approach and save us; envy’s self shall soon
Fall at thy feet, in humble admiration
Of such transcendent virtue.

cicero.

Friends and Romans,
The love of glory is my ruling passion,
Fame is the fair reward of human toil,
And I would wish to merit it from you:
I have done little yet, perhaps hereafter
I may do more to serve my country: Rome
Was full of open and of secret foes;
Patricians, and plebeians, citizens
And soldiers, all in wild confusion, seemed
To thirst for blood: I saw the gathering storm
That threatened universal ruin; saw
The bold conspirators tumultuous rise,
And bear down all before them: at their head
Were Sura and Cethegus; them I seized,
And gave to justice; but the Hydra faction
Hath many heads which still successive rise,
And mock my labors: Catiline boldly pushed
To the Quirinal gate; by gallant deeds,
Almost incredible, he kept the field,
And forced a passage to his army; Rome
Beheld him with amazement; Antony
In vain opposing Sulla’s hardy veterans,
Was baffled and subdued; Petreius strove
To succor him, but with unequal force
And fruitless valor: thus on every side,
Surrounded by calamities, great Rome,
The mistress of the world, is on the brink
Of ruin; Cicero trembles for her fate.

crassus.

What part hath Cæsar taken?

cicero.

He hath behaved
As Cæsar must, with most undaunted courage,
Yet not as Rome could wish a zealous friend
Would act in her defence. I saw him quell
The rebel foe; yet after that, stir up
Seditious spirits, and by every art
Of smooth insinuation, work himself
Into the people’s hearts. Amidst this scene
Of blood, methought a secret joy o’erspread
His glowing cheek, whilst his all-soothing voice
Courted applause, inviting Rome to be
His slave hereafter.

cato.

I was ever fearful
Of Cæsar’s power; he is not to be trusted.

SCENE III.

the senate, cæsar.

cæsar.

Well: am I still suspected in the senate?
Is Cato’s stubborn virtue still my foe?
Of what does he accuse me?

cato.

As a friend
To Catiline, the sworn enemy of Rome;
You have protected him, and leagued with those
It had become you better to chastise.

cæsar.

I would not stain my laurels with the blood
Of such vile miscreants: Cæsar fights with none
But warriors.

cato.

What are these conspirators?

cæsar.

A dastard crowd, contemptible and vile:
They fled like slaves before me; but the soldiers
Of Sulla are a formidable band,
And boast an able chief; from them indeed
Rome hath some cause to fear; Petreius sinks
Beneath his wounds, and Catiline marches onward;
Our soldiers are alarmed: what says our consul?
And what has he resolved?

cicero.

I’ll tell thee, Cæsar:
Grant, heaven, we may succeed!—thou hast deserved
Suspicion, but I’ll give thee the fair means
To clear thy honor, and avenge thy country.
I know thee well, thy virtues and thy frailty;
Know what thou canst, and what thou darest not do;
Know Cæsar would command, but not betray,
A noble friend, and a most dangerous foe:
Whilst I condemn I cannot but esteem thee.
Away: remember that the eyes of Rome,
And of the world, are on thee: go, support
Petreius, save the empire, and deserve
The love of Cato: we have men, but want
A general to conduct them; Cæsar best
Can lead them, and to him alone we trust
The safety and the glory of mankind.

cæsar.

Cicero on Cæsar safely may depend;
Farewell: I go to conquer or to die.
[Exit.

cato.

You’ve touched him in the tenderest part; ambition
Will urge him on.

cicero.

Great souls must ever thus
Be treated: I have bound him to the state
By this firm confidence; I know his valor
Will now support us: the ambitious still
Should be distinguished from the traitor; I
Shall make him virtuous if he is not so
Already. Courage, as directed, forms
The mighty hero, or the mighty villain;
And he who is renowned for guilt alone,
Had glory fired his breast, to him had been
The incense poured, to him the temple raised
For his exalted merit: Catiline’s self,
By me conducted, had like Scipio shone:
Though many a Sulla is in Cæsar hid,
Yet doubt I not but Rome shall find in him
Her best support.
[Turning to the chief of the Lictors, who enters armed.
Well: these conspirators,
What have they done?

chief lictor.

My lord, they met the fate
They merited, but other foes rise up,
Sprung from their blood; like Ætna’s flames, that burst
From the parched entrails of the burning mount:
Another Hannibal, but far more dreadful,
Because amongst the guilty sons of Rome
He finds his traitorous friends, is at our gates.
A hundred voices roar for Catiline,
Condemn your laws, and curse your tardy senate;
Demand their ancient rights, and cry aloud
For vengeance on the consul.

clodius.

Well indeed
They may, while Cicero tramples on the laws,
And spurns his equals thus; perhaps the senate—

cicero.

Clodius, no more; restrain thy envious tongue,
Nor rashly blame the guiltless; my short power
Will soon be wrested from me; whilst it lasts
It shall not be controlled; you will have time
Enough to vex and persecute hereafter;
But whilst the state’s in danger, Cicero claims
The tribute of respect: I know too well
This fickle world to hope for constancy
And candor from it; foul ingratitude
Is all that I expect; on false surmises
Great Scipio was accused; he thanked the gods,
And quitted Rome: I too will pay my vows
To gracious heaven, but will not leave you; no;
My days are all devoted to my country,
And all shall be expended in her service.

cato.

Suppose I were to show myself in Rome,
Perhaps my presence might disperse the crowd,
And be a check on Cæsar, whom I own
I much suspect: if fortune frowns upon us—

cicero.

We cannot do without you in the senate;
I’ve given my orders; Cæsar’s in the field;
Thy great example may be useful here,
And Rome’s expiring glory be restored
By Cato’s virtue—but behold he comes,
And crowned with victory.
[Cæsar enters; Cicero embraces him.
Most noble Cæsar,
Hast thou preserved the state?—

cæsar.

I hope so: now
The consul will believe me—brave Petreius
Has gained immortal glory: here we fought,
Beneath this sacred rampart, in the sight
Of our domestic gods that fired each soul
With nobler rage: Metellus, and Murena,
With the brave Scipios showed in Rome’s defence
The same exalted courage that subdued
Asia and Carthage; they have merited
Most nobly of their country: touching Cæsar
Let others speak: the desperate remains
Of Sulla’s army seemed to brave their fate,
And in the agonies of death breathed forth
Their curses on us: midst the general slaughter,
The fiery Catiline long undaunted stood,
Fought through a host of circling foes, till spent
With ceaseless toil, and covered o’er with wounds,
Bravely he fell: I must admire the soldier,
Though I detest the rebel: once I loved him,
I own it; but let Cicero judge, if ever
To friendship Cæsar sacrificed his honor.

cicero.

Cæsar is all that Cicero could desire,
All that he wished, and all he hoped to find him:
Go on, brave youth, preserve thy noble spirit,
And be thy country’s friend; may heaven protect
And guard thee: never may thy generous soul
Be stained with vice, nor false ambition urge
Thy spotless youth to quit the paths of virtue!

End of the Fifth and Last Act.

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CATILINE - Voltaire, The Works of Voltaire, Vol. IX The Dramatic Works Part 1 (Alzire, Orestes, Sémiramis, Catiline, Pandora) and Part II (The Scotch Woman, Nanine, The Prude, The Tatler). [1901]

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CATILINE

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

ACT I.

SCENE I.

catiline.

SCENE II.

catiline.

cethegus.

catiline.

cethegus.

catiline.

cethegus.

catiline.

SCENE III.

aurelia.

catiline.

aurelia.

catiline.

aurelia.

catiline.

aurelia.

catiline.

aurelia.

catiline.

SCENE IV.

martian.

aurelia.

catiline.

aurelia.

catiline.

SCENE V.

cicero.

catiline.

cicero.

catiline.

cicero.

catiline.

cicero.

catiline.

cicero.

catiline.

cicero.

catiline.

cicero.

catiline.

cicero.

SCENE VI.

cicero.

cato.

cicero.

cato.

cicero.

cato.

cicero.

cato.

cicero.

cato.

cicero.

ACT II.

SCENE I.

cethegus.

catiline.

cethegus.