Cicero's Orations

A collection of political speeches written in the late Roman Republic period. The text features Cicero's impassioned oratory tackling the threat posed by the conspiracy of Lucius Sergius Catilina (Catiline) against the Roman state. Cicero seeks to defend the republic and its values while addressing the Senate and the Roman populace about the urgent dangers they face from Catiline and his followers. The opening of this work introduces the gravity of the situation in Rome, where Cicero accuses Catiline of plotting to overthrow the government. He lays bare the conspiracy, highlighting Catiline’s reckless ambitions and the dire consequences of his actions. Cicero's rhetoric is powerful and confrontational, as he invokes the moral and civic responsibility of his audience, imploring them to recognize and respond to the imminent threat. Through a combination of historical context, accusations, and appeals to patriotism, Cicero establishes the stakes involved, positioning himself as a vigilant guardian of the republic in a moment of peril.