gam cōnsiliō cōgnitō, lēgātīs praecepit, ut studium coniūrātiōnis vehementer simulent, cēterōs adeant, bene polliceantur, dentque operam utī eōs quam maximē manifēstōs habeant.
The envoys, pretending that it would be difficult to persuade their countrymen to revolt unless the matter were put into writing, easily secured thus from the conspirators evidence sufficient to convict nine of the ringleaders, five of whom were promptly executed in the public prison. Shortly afterward, in the north country, the army of Catiline (see the note at the head of Lesson 134) was brought to bay by the government forces, and he chose to try conclusions with a division which on the day of battle was under the command of a veteran officer named Petreius.
Sed ubi, omnibus rēbus explōrātīs, Petrēius tubā signum dat, cohortis paulātim incēdere iubet; idem facit hostium exercitus. Postquam eō ventum est, unde [a] ferentāriīs proelium committī posset, maximō clāmōre cum īnfēstīs signīs concurrunt: pīla omittunt, gladiīs res gēritur. Ve-
