his, turning upon one another,
they broke out into insulting words, so that the theatre was in great
disorder. Cicero, being informed of it, came himself to the theatre, and
summoning the people into the temple of Bellona, he so effectually chid
and chastised them for it, that, again returning into the theatre, they
received Otho with loud applause, contending with the knights as to who
should give him the greatest demonstrations of honor and respect.

The conspirators with Catiline, at first cowed and disheartened, began
presently to take courage again. And assembling together, they exhorted
one another boldly to undertake the design before Pompey's return. But
the old soldiers of Sylla were Catiline's chief stimulus to action.
They had been disbanded all about Italy, but the greatest number and the
fiercest of them lay scattered among the cities of Etruria entertaining
themselves with dreams of new plunder and rapine among the hoarded
riches of Italy. These, having for their leader Manlius, who had served
with distinction in the wars under Sylla, joined themselves to Catiline,
and came to Rome to assist him with their suffrages at the election. For
he again aspired for the consulship, having resolved to kill Cicero in a
tumult at the elections. The divine powers seemed to give intimation
of the coming troubles, by earthquakes, thunderbolts and strange
appearances. Nor was human evidence wanting, certain enough in itself,
though not sufficient to convict the noble and powerful Catiline.
Therefore Cicero, deferring the day of election, summoned Catiline
into the senate, and questioned him as to the charges made against him.
Catiline, believing there were many in the senate desirous of change,
and to give a specimen of himself to the conspirators present, returned
an audacious answer. "What harm," said he, "when I see two bodies, the
one lean and consumptive with a head, the other one great and strong
without one, if I put a head to that body which wants one?" This
covert representation of the senate and the people excited yet greater
apprehensions in Cicero. He put on armor, and was attended from his
house by the noble citizens in a body; and a number of the young men
went with him into the Plain. Here, designedly letting his tunic slip
partly off from his shoulders, he showed his armor underneath, and
discovered his danger to the spectators, who, being much moved at it,
gathered around about him for his defence. At leng