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It always amuses me when the notes start pointing out that Cicero's argument is actually pretty weak in this case. Maybe that's why he's doing a lot of hand-waving again.
Chapter 14
And by this varied and complex nature, Cataline had gathered together all wicked men out of all the lands, and controlled even many good, strong men with a certain kind of feigned virtue. And never since his destruction by this power would such a wicked attack have arisen, unless such an enormity of so many vices were depending on certain foundations of affability and patience. In which case let that possibility be rejected, judges, and let the charge of friendship with Cataline not cling. For it is common with many men, and with certain good men. And at one time, as it's said, he nearly deceived me--even me!--when he seemed to me to be a loyal citizen, a devoted, steadfast, and faithful friend to all the best men; I detected his deeds by sight sooner than by opinion, and by hands before suspicion. If Caelius was among his enormous throngs of friends, it is more likely that it bothered Caelius that he had gone astray (just as sometimes I regret my mistakes regarding the same man), than that he fears the charge of that man's friendship.
Chapter 15
And so your oration has slipped from insults of immorality to a bad reputation from Cataline's conspiracy. For you alleged--though you did so hesitantly and superficially--that this man was a participant in the conspiracy because of his friendship with Cataline; in which case not only does the charge not stick, but the eloquent young man's oration hardly sticks together. For what madness so great in Caelius, what flaw so great either in his morals and nature, or in the situation and happenstance--finally, where was even the name of Caelius heard in this suspicion? I speak too much about this tiny, dubious matter; nevertheless, I say this. Not only if he had been a friend to the conspiracy, but also unless he had been most hostile to that crime, he never would have wished to distinguish his own adolescence so much by his prosecution of a conspirator.
Chapter 14
And by this varied and complex nature, Cataline had gathered together all wicked men out of all the lands, and controlled even many good, strong men with a certain kind of feigned virtue. And never since his destruction by this power would such a wicked attack have arisen, unless such an enormity of so many vices were depending on certain foundations of affability and patience. In which case let that possibility be rejected, judges, and let the charge of friendship with Cataline not cling. For it is common with many men, and with certain good men. And at one time, as it's said, he nearly deceived me--even me!--when he seemed to me to be a loyal citizen, a devoted, steadfast, and faithful friend to all the best men; I detected his deeds by sight sooner than by opinion, and by hands before suspicion. If Caelius was among his enormous throngs of friends, it is more likely that it bothered Caelius that he had gone astray (just as sometimes I regret my mistakes regarding the same man), than that he fears the charge of that man's friendship.
Chapter 15
And so your oration has slipped from insults of immorality to a bad reputation from Cataline's conspiracy. For you alleged--though you did so hesitantly and superficially--that this man was a participant in the conspiracy because of his friendship with Cataline; in which case not only does the charge not stick, but the eloquent young man's oration hardly sticks together. For what madness so great in Caelius, what flaw so great either in his morals and nature, or in the situation and happenstance--finally, where was even the name of Caelius heard in this suspicion? I speak too much about this tiny, dubious matter; nevertheless, I say this. Not only if he had been a friend to the conspiracy, but also unless he had been most hostile to that crime, he never would have wished to distinguish his own adolescence so much by his prosecution of a conspirator.