It was made toward the end of the year, on the 20th of November, after the second Catiline oration, and before the third, at the very moment in which Cicero was fully occupied with the evidence on which he intended to convict Catiline's fellow-conspirators.

As I read it I am carried away by wonder, rather than admiration, at the energy of the man who could at such a period of his life give up his time to master the details necessary for the trial of Murena.
Early in the year Cicero had caused a law to be passed--which, after him, was called the Lex Tullia--increasing the stringency of the enactments against bribery on the part of consular candidates.

His intention had probably been to hinder Catiline, who was again about to become a candidate.

But Murena, who was elected, was supposed to have been caught in the meshes of the net, and also Silanus, the other Consul designate.

Cato, the man of stern nature, the great Stoic of the day, was delighted to have an opportunity of proceeding against some one, and not very sorry to attack Murena with weapons provided from the armory of Murena's friend, Cicero.