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