Latin
Lines 1.43-1.46
Greek and Roman Historians, The Conspiracy of Catiline 1.43-46
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Taking Lentulus by the hand out of consideration for his position as praetor, Cicero led the three other conspirators and Volturcius to the temple of Concord where a meeting of the Senate had been convened. The temple was surrounded by armed guards and was closely packed inside.
Volturcius was questioned first and, prompted by the promise of immunity, revealed the conspirators' plans and related how he had been entrusted by Lentulus with the message for Catiline. The Gauls who had accompanied Cicero's party were then brought into the meeting and recounted all that had passed between them and the conspirators. The letters were now produced and their authors questioned --Cethegus first, then Statilius and Lentulus, and finally Gabinius. All four confessed and, even allowing for Cicero making the most of the material in his hands, the treasonable nature of the conspirators' acclivities could not remain in doubt.
Cicero now asked the House to consider the situation revealed by these confessions. It was first resolved that Lentulus should resign his praetorship and be detained in custody. Cethegus, Statilius and Gabinius were also detained, and all four men were handed over to prominent senators for safe keeping. The Senate then went on to authorized the arrest of other conspirators, among them Cassius who had declined to provide a letter and the freedman, Umbrenus, who had made the first contact with the Gauls. Finally, a thanksgiving to the gods was decreed for Cicero, the first time that a magistrate had received this honor in recognition of the distinguished exercise of his civil, as opposed to his military, power.
On Cicero's instructions copies of the evidence were posted throughout Italy while Cicero himself went straight to the Forum where in his Third Speech Against Catiline he informed the people of the events of the last few days and of the action taken by the Senate.