Till fat with poison, near his baleful sides
Rome's petty villains swell'd to parricides.

These bold abettors of his desperate cause
Had oft escap'd, and now defy'd the laws;
Remorse was banish'd from their dire abodes;

1140

Murder their priest, and furies were their gods.
dar'd to hesitate at wrong,

If any
He lash'd the puny impulse with his tongue;

1145

Bade them from vulgar, mean restraints be free,
And scoff'd, and sham'd them into infamy,

For spoil, on him and havock they rely,

Confederate vice their bond of amity.

1150

Muretus has shewn from ancient documents that there were forty persons of noble families engaged in this conspiracy.

It is well known that Cæsar and Crassus were suspected of secretly supporting this gang of desperadoes; but they managed with such caution, that no accusation could be brought home against them. Tully with great prudence discouraged every attempt to involve them in the conspiracy, well knowing that nothing would be so likely to give it additional strength as their supposed co-operation.

Remorseless

Remorseless as they were, combin'd with hell, Scarce can we trust what ancient records tell:" Ere yet his chart of ruin was disclos'd, Himself the pledge of secresy propos'd;

Stabb'd in their sight he bade a slave expire, 1155
Then, fit libation for a league so dire,

The blood distilling from the victim's wound
He swill'd, and sent the dreadful bev'rage round.3
Defenceless Italy (her legions far 9

Led off by Pompey to the eastern war,)

1160

'Fuere ea tempestate, qui dicerint, Catilinam oratione habita, quum ad jusjurandum populares sceleris sui adigeret, humani corporis sanguinem vino permistum in pateris circumtulisse; inde quum post execrationem omnes degustavissent, sicuti in solemnibus sacris fieri consuevit, aperuisse consilium suum. SAL. in Cat.

Dio mentions this horrible ceremony in another manner: —-raida γαρ τινα καλαθυσας, και επι των σπλαγχνων αυτα τα όρκια ποίησας, επειθα εσπλαγχνευσεν αυλα μελα των αλλων. avla DION. CASS. 1. xxxvii. c. 30.

A neighbouring nation, once holding itself out as the most polite in Europe, has in our time furnished such repeated examples of sanguinary and savage cruelty, as not to leave this atrocity without a parallel.

" In Italia nullus exercitus: Cn. Pompeius in extremis terris bellum gerebat. SAL, in Cat..

Extended seem'd to their devouring eyes,

A tempting, rich, and unresisting prize.
Already their exulting hope surveys

The senate's bleeding throats, the city's blaze;'

Themselves dispers'd for slaughter through the land,.
And lords of all the ruin he had plann'd.

But cords and dungeons on their crimes await;
On him attends a less ignoble fate:

Abhorring all good men, by all abhorr'd,

1166

Fighting he perish'd by his country's sword; 1170
Stretch'd over slaughter'd foes, his visage bore
The same grim aspect which in life it wore.

'It is a melancholy consideration, that as the Romans advanced in learning and knowledge, they became in proportion more vicious and profligate. It shews, that human wisdom, without the aid of a pure and holy religion, is not sufficient to make men virtuous and happy.

M. T. CICERO.

CICERO.