46 The affair being
thus concluded, a full account of it was immediately transmitted to the consul
by messengers. Great anxiety, and great joy, affected him at the same moment.
He rejoiced that, by the discovery of the conspiracy, the state was freed from
danger; but he was doubtful how he ought to act, when citizens of such eminence
were detected in treason so atrocious. He saw that their punishment would be a
weight upon himself, and their escape the destruction of the Commonwealth.
Having, however, formed his resolutions he ordered Lentulus, Cethegus,
Statilius, Gabinius, and one Quintus Coeparius of Terracina, who was preparing
to go to Apulia to raise the slaves, to be
summoned before him. The others came without delay; but Coeparius, having left
his house a little before, and heard of the discovery of the conspiracy, had
fled from the city. The consul himself conducted Lentulus, as he was praetor,
holding him by the hand, and ordered the others to be brought into the Temple of Concord, under a guard. Here he
assembled the senate, and in a very full attendance of that body, introduced
Volturcius with the deputies. Hither also he ordered Valerius Flaccus, the
praetor, to bring the box with the letters which he had taken from the
deputies.
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