C. Sallustius Crispus, Bellum Catilinae 5.1–6

Sallust introduces Catiline as a man of remarkable energy and ability whose character was utterly corrupt, and whose ambition to seize the state was inflamed by the example of Sulla's dictatorship.

 

Tier 1

Lucius Catilina natus est nobili familia. Habuit magnam vim animi corporisque, sed ingenium malum pravumque.

Ab adulescentia, bella domestica, caedes, rapinae (robbery), discordia civili Catilinam delectant, et ibi iuventutem suam coluit.

Corpus Catilinae potest pati sine cibo, tempestatem frigidam, sine somno. Corpus Catilinae potest pati omnia haec supra quam credibile est.

Mens Catilinae est audax, subdola (deceitful), versatilis, et potest simulare et dissimulare aliquid quod Catilinae placet. Inflammatus cupiditatibus, Catilina aliena (possessions of someone else) petit, sed sua profundit. Catilina habet satis eloquentiae, sed parum sapientiae.

Vasta mens Catilinae ea, quae nimis inmoderata, incredibilia, alta sunt, semper cupiebat.

Post dominationem Lucii Sullae, libido maxima capiendae rei publicae Catilinam cepit,

et dum Catilina sibi regnum pararet non anxius fuit de ullo modo quem adsequeretur.

Written by Robert Amstutz

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