17 Accordingly, about
the beginning of June, in the consulship of Lucius Caesar and Caius Figulus, he
at first addressed each of his accomplices separately, encouraged some, and sounded
others, and informed them of his own resources, of the unprepared condition of
the state, and of the great prizes to be expected from the conspiracy. When he
had ascertained, to his satisfaction, all that he required, he summoned all
whose necessities were the most urgent, and whose spirits were the most daring,
to a general conference. At that meeting there were present, of senatorial
rank: Publius Lentulus Sura, Publius Autronius, Lucius Cassius Longinus, Caius
Cethegus, Publius and Servius Sylla, the sons of Servius Sylla, Lucius
Vargunteius, Quintus Annius, Marcus Porcius Laeca, Lucius Bestia, Quintus
Curius; and of the equestrian order, Marcus Fulvius Nobilior, Lucius Statilius,
Publius Gabinius Capito, Caius Cornelius; with many from the colonies and
municipal towns, persons of consequence in their own localities. There were
many others, too, among the nobility, concerned in the plot, but less openly;
men whom the hope of power, rather than poverty or any other exigence, prompted
to join in the affair. But most of the young men, and especially the sons of
the nobility, favored the schemes of Catiline; they who had abundant means of
living at ease, either splendidly or voluptuously, preferred uncertainties to
certainties, war to peace. There were some, also, at that time, who believed
that Marcus Licinius Crassus was not unacquainted with the conspiracy; because
Cneius Pompey, whom he hated, was at the head of a large army, and he was
willing that the power of anyone whomsoever should raise itself against
Pompey’s influence; trusting, at the same time, that if the plot should
succeed, he would easily place himself at the head of the conspirators.
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