Quintus Lutatius Catulus Capitolinus

This course he was taking, not because his conscience reproached him with the crimes with which he was charged, but to secure the peace of the state and to prevent any dispute about himself giving rise to sedition.

To a very different effect was a letter read before the house by Quintus Catulus, which he had said had been delivered to him in Catiline's name.

Of this letter the following is a copy.

Lucius Catilina to Quintus Catulus.

Your honor, at once so eminent and so practically proved, on which, amid my great dangers, it pleases me to think, encourages me to commit my affairs into your hands.

I have determined, therefore, to enter on no defense as regards the fresh step I have taken, but have made up my mind, since I am conscious of no fault, to lay before you an explanation, of which, I profess, you can easily recognize the truth.

Others asserted that Tarquinius was set on by Cicero to prevent Crassus, according to his want, taking the sedition under his patronage, and so embroiling the state.

At a later period I personally heard Crassus declare that Cicero had actually put this insult upon him.

Marcus Antonius disapproves of my consulship, but it was approved of by Publius Servilius, to name that man first of the men of consular rank who had died most recently.

It was approved by Quintus Catulus, whose authority will always carry weight in this republic.

It was approved of by the two Lucullai, by Marcus Crassus, by Quintus Hortensius, by Gaius Curio, by Gaius Piso, by Marcus Glabrio, by Marcus Lepidus, by Lucius Volcatius, by Gaius Figulus, by Decimus Silanus, by Lucius Marena, who at that time were the consuls elect.

The same consulship which was also approved of by those men of consular rank was approved of by Marcus Cato, who escaped many evils by departing from this life, and especially the evil of seeing you consul.

Marcus Antonius disapproves of my consulship, but it was approved of by Publius Servilius, to name that man first of the men of consular rank who had died most recently.

It was approved by Quintus Catulus, whose authority will always carry weight in this republic.

It was approved of by the two Lucullai, by Marcus Crassus, by Quintus Hortensius, by Gaius Curio, by Gaius Piso, by Marcus Glabrio, by Marcus Lepidus, by Lucius Volcatius, by Gaius Figulus, by Decimus Silanus, by Lucius Marena, who at that time were the consuls elect.

The same consulship, which was also approved of by those men of consular rank, was approved of by Marcus Cato, who escaped many evils by departing from this life, and especially the evil of seeing you consul.

Marcus Antonius disapproves of my consulship, but it was approved of by Publius Servilius, to name that man first of the men of consular rank who had died most recently.

It was approved by Quintus Catulus, whose authority will always carry weight in this republic.

It was approved of by the two Lucullai, by Marcus Crassus, by Quintus Hortensius, by Gaius Curio, by Gaius Piso, by Marcus Glabrio, by Marcus Lepidus, by Lucius Volcatius, by Gaius Figulus, by Decimus Silanus, by Lucius Morena who at that time were the consuls elect.

The same consulship, which was also approved of by those men of consular rank, was approved of by Marcus Cato, who escaped many evils by departing from this life, and especially the evil of seeing you consul.

Marcus Antonius disapproves of my consulship, but it was approved of by Publius Servilius, to name that man first of the men of consular rank who had died most recently.

It was approved by Quintus Catulus, whose authority will always carry weight in this republic.

It was approved of by the two Lucullae, by Marcus Crassus, by Quintus Hortensius, by Gaius Curio, by Gaius Piso, by Marcus Glabrio, by Marcus Lepidus, by Lucius Volcatius, by Gaius Figulus, by Decimus Silanus, by Lucius Murena, who at that time were the consuls elect.

The same consulship, which was also approved of by those men of consular rank, was approved of by Marcus Cato, who escaped many evils by departing from this life, and especially the evil of seeing you consul.