Failure of the plot

In this passage, Cicero goes in depth into Catiline's conspiracy and why it failed.

M. Porcius Laeca was a man that went along with Catiline's conspiracy. Meetings with the other conspirators were held in his house. There was a plan where Catiline would prepare his army against Rome in Etruria. In addition to Catiline's delay in his plot against Rome, Laecus's girlfriend overhead the conspirator's conversation and told the Senate of Rome about his plot.

Cicero uses more rhetorical figures in this speech. Along with rhetorical questions, Cicero repeats himself in different ways to amplify what he was trying to say.
"Hic, hic sunt in nostro numero... In hoc orbis terrae sanctissimo gravissimoque consilio..." Here, here they are in our numbers... with the most sacred and most serious consul in the world...
"Ubinam gentium sumus? Quem rem publicam havemus? In que urbe vivimus?"
Where in the world are we? What kind of republic do we have? What city do we live in?

During Cicero's speech, he talks about
He talks about very detailed steps in Catiline's plot. He talks about where he was, where he wanted his army to go, and how he had a delay in his plan. Cicero includes that Catiline had planned to have Cicero killed in his sleep, but that was a failure, too.

Why Not Put Catiline to Death

This is the second part of Cicero's speech to the senators about Catiline's conspiracy. Here, he speaks to question the existence of Catiline.

"Habemus enim eius modi senatus consultum, verum inclusum in tabulis, tamquam in a vagina reconditum, quo ex senatus consulto confestim te interfecum esse, Catilina, convenit."
Yes, it is true, we have a senatorial decree of that kind, but having been put away in official records, just like having been put away in a sheath, and on the basis of that senatorial decree, immediately, Catiline, yit is now right for you to have been already killed.
In this line, Cicero talks about how Catiline is still alive because the senators have not taken action about his conspiracy, but since they have the right to do something about it, he should already be dead by that moment.

"Si te iam Catilina, comprehendi, si te interfici iussero, credo, erit verendum mihi ne non potius omnes boni serius a me quam quisquam crudelius factum esse dicat. Tem denique interfeciere cum iam nemo tam improbus, tam perditus, tam tui similis inveniri poterit qui id non iure factum esse fateatur."
I understand if you, Catiline, were ordered by me to be killed, I believe, I will have to fear not that all the good men may say that this was done too late by me, but that someone may say that this was done too cruelly. You will finally be killed at the time when no one any longer so wicked, so socially ruined, like yourself, is able to be discovered which I must admit that this is not done justly.
Cicero is saying that if someone, anyone, were to say that Catiline's death was done too brutally, it would look bad on Cicero, and he does not want that. He believes that Catiline should be put to death because of his actions but Cicero does not want to look like the bad person.

"Quam diu quisquam erit qui te defendere audeat, vivis, et vives ita ut nunc vivit, multis meis et firmis praesidiis obsessus ne commovere te contra rem publicam possis. Multorum te etiam oculi et aures non sentientem, sicut adhuic fecerunt, speculabantur atque custodient."
As long as there will be someone who might dare to protect you, you will live, and indeed you will live just as you live now, many of mine have been blocked by strong bodyguards for the putpose of you to be not able to stir up against the Republic. Though you are not aware of them, the eyes and ears of many people will watch and also keep guard over you, who is not feeling this, just as they have done up to now.
In this line, Cicero talks about the reason why Catiline would be alive if he continues to be. However, even though Catiline would still be alive, his life will continue on as it did at the moment. People will watch and be cautious about Catiline's actions so he does not cause destruction to the Republic until it is time for him to be put to death.

On the Eruption of Mount Vesuvius

Imagine living the tragedy of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. It is almost too devastating to imagine. Such a terrible fate had fallen upon the people of Pompeii in 79 AD, nearly wiping all of them out.

• "Ab altero latere nubes atra et horrenda, ignei spiritus tortis vibratisque discursibus rupta, in longas glammarum gifuras hediscebat; fulguribus illae et similes et maiores erant." On the other side, the black and horrifying cloud, broken with a blast, with the air having been twisted and shaken by the fire, revealing forms of flames, with respect to lightning bolts, they were both similar and greater.
• "... densa caligo tergis imminebat, quae nos torrentis modo infusa terrae sequebatur." A dense darkness was threatening to our backs, which was followed in the way of a waterfall poured on our land.
• "Audires ulalatus feminarum, infantum quireitatus, clamores virorum..." You could hear the wailing of women, the crying of the infants, and shouting of the men...
• "... alii  parentes alii liberos alii coniuges vocibus requirebant..." ... Some looking for the voices of parents, spouses, children, and others...

Pliny was there to witness this horrifying event in Pompeii alongside those who have past from this. He writes this letter from what he had seen from his own eyes of this eruption. He had seen the water receding back into the ocean and the shaking of the earth "Praeterea mare in se resorberi et tremore terrae quasi repelli videbamus." Even the flattest plane was being driven in opposite directions "... in planissimo campo, in contrarias agebantur..."