she was less concerned about her money or her reputation,' since she
was reckless in regard to both. Respecting the imperfect subjunctive,
see Zumpt, S 528, note 2.
[140] _Praeceps_ is used of steep and precipitous places, and of persons
who fall or throw themselves headlong down from or into anything.
Hence _Sempronia praeceps abierat_ is, 'she had thrown herself
headlong into ruin,' which might also be expressed by _in praeceps
iverat_.

26. His rebus comparatis Catilina nihilo minus in proximum annum[141]
consulatum petebat, sperans, si designatus foret, facile se ex voluntate
Antonio usurum. Neque interea quietus erat, sed omnibus modis insidias
parabat Ciceroni. Neque illi tamen ad cavendum dolus aut astutiae
deerant. Namque a principio consulatus sui multa pollicendo per
Fulviam effecerat, ut Q. Curius, de quo paulo ante memoravi, consilia
Catilinae sibi proderet. Ad hoc[142] collegam suum Antonium pactione
provinciae[143] perpulerat, ne contra rem publicam sentiret; circum se
praesidia amicorum atque clientium occulte habebat. Postquam dies
comitiorum venit, et Catilinae neque petitio neque insidiae, quas consuli
in Campo[144] fecerat, prospere cessere, constituit bellum facere et
extrema omnia experiri, quoniam quae occulte temptaverat aspera
foedaque[145] evenerant.

[141] Namely, for the year beginning with the first of January, B. C. 62.
The elections took place about the middle of the preceding year,
consequently, in the present instance, about the middle of the
year B. C. 63.
[142] _Ad hoc_ is a common expression in Sallust for _praeterea_.
[143] _Pactione provinciae_, by coming to an understanding with him
about the provinces which were assigned to the consuls after the