Note 9 — CICERO AGAINST CATILINE

: rei publicae: generally taken as a dative after deest: others take it as a genitive depending on consilium, i.e., there is no lack of precedents of the state, i.e., the state have many instances of wicked citizens being punished. The state, according to Cicero, has enough of wisdom (consilium) and determining authority (auctoritas), but the executive power is weak.