CATILINE.

A. U. C. 690.

But while new empires thus to Rome were join'd, Her deep destruction was at home design'd. 1056 Flagitious Catiline, his country's pest,

Hatch'd the huge mischief in his daring breast. Unmov'd his adamantine frame could bear Hunger's keen fang, and all the extremes of air; Pursuing aught his furious soul desir'd,

1061

No fear deterr'd him, and no labour tir❜d.
With fluent words his tongue was well endu'd,
But wisdom thinly o'er those words was strew'd;
And small respect could eloquence produce, 1065
For projects wild, on wealth's or power's abuse;
When his dire schemes each evil to efface,
Brought tenfold guilt and ruin in its place:
A fierce empirick, whose relentless steel
Would lop the limb a gentler hand might heal:

1069

'Tis

'Tis time to doubt the doctor's skill, or truth,

Who cuts the throat,—to cure an aching tooth. Though for his crimes expell'd from every station,

Still roar'd he for redress and reformation:

But sober reason saw the ill-hid snare,

1075

And of REFORMING VILLAINS bade beware.

This certain test her steady rule affords;

She trusts men's lives, and reprobates their words: For knaves, whose deeds and doctrines disagree, Were never form'd to mend society.

Their murd'rous arts misguiding beacons rear,

To light a course, where rocks alone are near;
Lurking insidious on the faithless coast,

They strip the vessel, by their treachery lost.

1080

O nations bless'd, and by experience wise, 1085 Preserve your ancient tried securities!

For some small faults, by prying mischief found, Pull not a noble fabrick to the ground:

Examine well;-if such indeed there are,

Patient endure them, or correct with care; 1090

Nor from the hasty innovator's word,
Fly to new ills, and dangers unexplor❜d.
The pile ascends with labour and delay,
The work of ruin asks but one short day;

Science and skill must join to build with grace,
fool or madman can deface:

But every
Though virtue's mask disguise the dark design,
Too sure beneath it lurks—a Catiline.

1094

All moods he could assume, all feelings feign, Weep without anguish, and wear smiles in pain; Alike for avarice and profusion known,

To covet others' wealth, and waste his own.
To win a haughty strumpet to his bed,

With aconite his only son he sped ; 3

1101

Their fulsome Hymen then with trembling hand Lit at the funeral pile their nuptial brand.

1106

Captus amore Aurelia Orestillæ, cujus, præter formam nihil unquam bonus laudavit; quod ea nubere illi dubitabat, timens privignum adultum ætate, necato filio, pro certo creditur vacuam domum scelestis nuptiis fecisse. SAL. in Cat.

Yet

Yet nature, ev'n in his atrocious heart,

1110

Forgot not quite to vindicate her part;
Though wanting power to stop the shuddering deed,
In black array her vengeful pangs succeed.
Short was the trance of joy; his colour flies;
Foul sleepless mists o'erwhelm his care-worn eyes;
Pale horrour sits on his distracted brow,
And sudden starts the stings within avow;

1115

He runs, he stops, he hears in every wind
Fierce furies, and his gasping son behind.*
Could not repentance shed her healing balm?
No! publick woe his private griefs must calm;
To sooth his care one way remain❜d alone,
In Rome's expiring groans to drown his own. 1120
Glaring dismay to every breast he meets,
Like a grim beast unchain'd, he prowls the streets;
While in chill'd silence each pale passer by
Shrunk from the terrour of his deadly eye. 1124

* Namque animus impurus, diis hominibusque infestus, neque vigiliis, neque quietibus sedari poterat: ita conscientia mentem excitam yexabat. Igitur color ejus exsanguis, fœdi oculi; citus modo, modo tardus incessus: prorsus in facie vultuque vecordia inerat. SAL. in Cat.

All

All modes of waste consum'd, his birth disgrac'd, His name from honour's record quite effac'd; Restless and wretched, in the eternal strife

To live with splendour, or escape from life; Conscience, thy fiends his nightly visions haunt,

His joys by day, pale luxury and want.
Each shameful sin fastidious lust devis'd,
His frequent orgies had familiariz'd;
Yet, to consummate all the former ill,

1130

One comprehensive act was wanting still;

For never could his appetites and pride

1135

To their full guilty gorge be gratified.

Round him, like hemlock round the noxious
All infant crimes found shelter as they grew;"

yew,

' Catilina---omnium flagitiosorum atque facinorosorum circum se, tanquam stipatorum, catervas habebat. SAL. in Cat.

Catiline seems to be almost the only traitor meditating the destruction of his country, who did not make the dregs of the people, or the mob, one of his chief instruments: his accomplices were mostly taken from the senatorial and equestrian orders. This circumstance shews the great depravity of the Roman gentry at that time, to whom the cruel and bloody tyranny of Sylla had made all crimes familiar.