Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/59

CICERO. 51 After Cicero had received this power, he committed all affairs outside to Quintus Met'ellus, but the management of the city he kept in his own hands. Such a numerous attendance guarded him every day when he went abroad, that the greatest part of the market-place * was filled with his train when he entered it. Catiline, impatient of fur- ther delay, resolved himself to break forth and go to Manlius, but he commanded Marcius and Cethegus to take then- swords, and go early in the morning to Cicero's gates, as if only intending to salute him, and then to fall upon him and slay him. This a noble ladj^, Fulvia, com- ing by night, discovered to Cicero, bidding him beware of Cethegus and Marcius. They came by break of day, and being denied entrance, made an outcry and disturb- ance at the gates, which excited all the more suspicion. But Cicero, going forth, summoned the senate into the temple of Jupiter Stator, which stands at the end of the Sacred Street, going up to the Palatine. And when Catiline with others of his j^arty also came, as intending to make his defence, none of the senators would sit by him, but all of them left the bench where he had placed himself And when he began to speak, they interrupted him with outcries. At length Cicero, standing up, com- manded him to leave the city, for since one governed the commonwealth with words, the other with arms, it was necessary there should be a wall betwixt them. Catiline, therefore, immediately left the town, with three himdred armed men ; and assuming, as if he had been a magis- trate, the rods, axes, and military ensigns, he went to Manlius, and having got together a body of near twenty thousand men, with these he marched to the several cities, endeavoring to persuade or force them to revolt. So it being now come to open war, Antonius was sent forth to fight him. • The Forum.