1.44 to 1.51

December 3: The next morning the letters were delivered to Cicero. He brought the "big five" conspirators remaining in the city, Lentulus, Cethegus, Statilius, Gabinius, and Caeparius to the temple of Concord, where he and the patres conscripti had already gathered, and conducted an inquisition that found the conspirators to be guilty. Cicero was hailed as a hero, is given a vote of thanks and a supplicatio is declared. Cicero delivers his Third Catilinarian to the expectant masses, and the city rejoiced. (Cicero Cat. 3. 5 &Sallust Cat. 46. 3-47. 3) On the same day, the house of C. Cornelius Cethegus, a conspiracy leader, was searched and arms for the rebel army were found, and both the leaders of the conspiracy and the Allbroges testified against Catiline in the temple of Concord. (Sallust) December 4: Further testimony against conspirators before the Senate. L. Tarquinius unsuccessfully attempts to implicate Crassus. Rewards voted to the informers. (Sallust Cat. 48. 3-50. 1) Attempt to rescue the conspirators under house arrest fails. (Sallust Cat. 50. 1-2) December 5: Senate debates punishment of conspirators. The majority of senators agreed with the death penalty for the currently incarcerated prisoners as well as those still to be apprehended until Caesar spoke, warning against the implications of the oligarchy taking such drastic measures against the populace. He argued against a rash decision while the senators were still full of passion and instead suggested property confiscations and life imprisonments in Roman towns. Cicero delivered the Fourth Catilinarian ,followed by a rousing speech from the young Marcus Cato. The senators were then fully persuaded that a harsh sentence would dissuade Catiline from marching against Rome on the 17th. (Sallust Cat. 50. 3-53. 1) Those conspirators who had been arrested were executed. Lentulus was forced to resign as praetor before he was executed. Catiline's conspiracy in Rome had failed. (Sall Cat. 55) Cicero makes a brief speech to crowd, given triumphal escort home by torchlight.