outlaws of every description. The conspirators were divided into two
parties; those outside of the city, headed by Marcus Manlius, whose
head-quarters were at Faesulae (Fiesole), where was gathered an army
of trained soldiers; and those inside of the city, headed by Catiline.
Here secret meetings were held, the purpose of which was to excite an
uprising, kill the magistrates, seize the government, and then unite
with the army in Etruria. Cicero was informed of these meetings by
spies, and just before the plans for the uprising were matured, he
disclosed them to the Senate.

Catiline fled from Rome; but his accomplices, of whom Lentulus and
Cethégus were the most prominent, were arrested in the city. A serious
difficulty now arose as to the disposition of the prisoners. Lentulus
was at that time Praetor, and the persons of public officers were
sacred. The Sempronian Law of Gracchus forbade the executing of any
Roman citizen without giving him a right of appeal to the Assembly.
Too many were implicated in the conspiracy for this to be safe.

In the debate in the Senate, the principal speakers were Caesar, Cato,
and Cicero.

Cato and Cicero advocated immediate death; Caesar, imprisonment for
life. The motives of the men are so characteristic that they form a
complete key to their several public careers. Cicero, vain and
selfish, weak in council, and distrustful of the temper of the people
and of his own ability to rule their factions, feared that they would
become dangerous enemies to himself; Cato, desiring the reformation of
the state, would make an example and warning for the future. The one,
forgetful of the state, was overcome by personal fears; the other,
unmindful of self, would have purity at any cost.