First Oration of Cicero Against Catiline

In the heat of Rome’s most dangerous political crisis, a young consul steps onto the Senate floor to confront a shadowy cabal threatening the Republic. His words, sharpened by years of legal battles and philosophical study, charge the conspirators with treason while rallying the citizenry to defend liberty. The speech crackles with urgency, offering a vivid portrait of a city on the brink and the orator’s determination to preserve order.

Accompanying the oration is a concise preface that sketches the lives of both the speaker and his opponent, placing the drama within its historical timeline. Helpful notes clarify obscure references, while a glossary of proper names and key vocabulary guides listeners through the Latin text. This carefully edited presentation makes a foundational moment of Roman history accessible, inviting you to hear the power of Cicero’s rhetoric as it once echoed through the marble halls of the Senate.