A Senate Speech in Latin--Audio of Cicero Discovered!

To hear Cicero attacking the conspirator Cataline in the Roman Senate in a speech learned by every fourth year Latin student, you must navigate to this wondrous page

http://www.rhapsodes.fll.vt.edu/Cicero/cicero.htm

But first, read the text and translation so that you can let the magical, musical sounds of Classical Latin roll over you. Notice how the invective builds to a crescendo of the slightly rolled "r" sound. Amazing that after 2000 years we can have a recording of Cicero, one of the greatest orators of all time, almost as good as being there. Of course, we have to take the scholars at their word when they reassure us that this is what it sounded like.



 SOCIETY FOR THE ORAL READING OF GREEK AND LATIN LITERATURE (SORGLL)



 


Cicero, In Catilinam, I.1-3.

read in the restored pronunciation of classical Latin
by Robert P. Sonkowsky, University of Minnesota.

(Text followed by translation.)


When, O Catiline, do you mean to cease abusing our patience? How long is that madness of yours still to mock us? When is there to be an end of that unbridled audacity of yours, swaggering about as it does now? Do not the mighty guards placed on the Palatine Hill — do not the watches posted throughout the city — does not the alarm of the people, and the union of all good men — does not the precaution taken of assembling the senate in this most defensible place — do not the looks and countenances of this venerable body here present, have any effect upon you? Do you not feel that your plans are detected? Do you not see that your conspiracy is already arrested and rendered powerless by the knowledge which every one here possesses of it? What is there that you did last night, what the night before — where is it that you were — who was there that you summoned to meet you — what design was there which was adopted by you — with which you think that any one of us is unacquainted?

Shame on the age and on its principles! The senate is aware of these things; the consul sees them; and yet this man lives. Lives! ay, he comes even into the senate. He takes a part in the public deliberations; he is watching and marking down and checking off for slaughter every individual among us. And we, gallant men that we are, think that we are doing our duty to the republic if we keep out of the way of his frenzied attacks.

You ought, O Catiline, long ago to have been led to execution by command of the counsel. That destruction which you have been long plotting against us ought to have already fallen on your own head.

What? Did not that most illustrious man, Publius Scipio, the Pontifex Maximus, in his capacity of a private citizen, put to death Tiberius Gracchus, though but slightly undermining the constitution? And shall we, who are the consuls, tolerate Catiline, openly desirous to destroy the whole world with fire and slaughter? For I pass over older instances, such as how Caius Servilius Ahala with his own hand slew Spurius Mælius when plotting a revolution in the state. There was — there was once such virtue in this republic that brave men would repress mischievous citizens with severer chastisement than the most bitter enemy. For we have a resolution of the senate, a formidable and authoritative decree against you, O Catiline; the wisdom of the republic is not at fault, nor the dignity of this senatorial body. We, we alone — I say it openly — we, the consuls, are wanting in our duty.

trans. J.C. Tichenor