Читать книгу Yale Classics - Roman Classical Literature - Луций Анней Сенека - Страница 473

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Immediately on this messengers were despatched with an account of it to Cicero, who was seized at once with great joy and anxiety. He was glad to see the state rescued from ruin, by a full discovery of the conspiracy; but what perplexed him was the difficulty of knowing how to proceed against citizens of such eminence, convicted of such horrible treason. To punish them, he thought, would create him many enemies, and to let them pass unpunished would ruin the state; for which reason, arming his mind with resolution, he ordered Lentulus, Cethegus, Statilius, and Gabinius to be summoned before him; as likewise Cæparius of Terracina, who was on the point of marching to Apulia to raise the slaves. The others came immediately; but Cæparius, having gone from home a little before, and learned that all was discovered, had fled from the city. The consul took Lentulus, who was then prætor, by the hand, and conducted him to the senate, which he had assembled in the Temple of Concord, whither he ordered the rest to be brought under guard. Volturcius and the deputies were introduced into a very full assembly, and Flaccus was ordered to bring the packet of letters which he had received from them.