Come, say forth!
What was his answer?

 

CETHEGUS. Ah, quite otherwise
Than we expected was his answer.

 

GABINIUS. Well?

 

LENTULUS. Well, all of our proposals he declined; —
He would not even hearken to our counsels.

 

STATILIUS. Is this the truth?

 

COEPARIUS. And wherefore would he not?

 

LENTULUS. In short, he will not. He forsakes his friends, —
Abandons us, — and leaves the city.

 

STATILIUS. What?
He leaves, you say?

 

CETHEGUS. ‘Tis true; — he goes away
This very night. Yet, — blamed he can not be;
His ground was valid —

 

LENTULUS. Fear was his excuse!
In danger he forsakes us faithlessly.

 

GABINIUS. That is the friendship of our Catiline!

 

COEPARIUS. Never was Catiline faithless or afraid!

 

LENTULUS. And yet he leaves us now.

 

STATILIUS. Our hopes go with him.
Where’s now the man to take the leadership?

 

COEPARIUS. He’ll not be found; our plan we must forego.

 

LENTULUS. Not yet, not yet, my friends! First you shall hear
What I will say. Now what have we resolved?
That we should win at last by force of arms
What an unrighteous destiny denied.
Tyrants oppress us; — yet we wish to rule.
We suffer want; — yet wealth is our desire.

 

MANY VOICES. Yes, wealth and power! Wealth and power we want!

 

LENTULUS. Yes, yes; we chose a comrade as our chief,
On whom there was no doubt we could rely.
Our trust he fails and turns his back to danger.
Ah, brothers, — be not daunted. He shall learn
We can succeed without him. What we need
Is some one man, fearless and resolute,
To take the lead —

 

SOME. Well, name us such a man!

 

LENTULUS. And should I name him, and should he comeforth, —
Will you then straightway choose him as your leader?

 

SOME. Yes, we will choose him!

 

OTHERS. Yes, we will, we will!

 

STATILIUS. Then name him, friend!

 

LENTULUS. Suppose it were myself?

 

GABINIUS. Yourself?

 

COEPARIUS.