Lines 1-6

defendi rem publicam adulescens

I defended the Republic when I was a young man.

non deseram senex

I shall not desert it as an old man.

contempsi Catilinae gladios

I scorned Catiline's swords,

non pertimescam tuos

I shall not fear yours.

quin etiam corpus libenter obtulerim

On the contrary, I shall even offer my body willingly,

si repraesentari morte mea libertas civitatis potest

(if the freedom of the state can be brought back by my death),

ut aliquando dolor populi Romani pariat

so that at some time the sorrow of the Roman people may accomplish

quod iam diu parturit

that on which it has this long time been meditating!

etenim si abhinc annos prope viginti

Indeed, if, nearly twenty years ago,

hoc ipso in templo negavi

I said in this very temple,

posse mortem immaturam esse consulari

that it was not possible for death to come early for a former consul,

quanto verius nunc negabo seni

how much more truly shall I deny it now for an old man?