In Defence of the Republic by Cicero

Author:Cicero [Tullius Cicero, Marcus]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780141970936
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2011-07-20T16:00:00+00:00

53. Let us now look at the main point: for which one of them was the actual spot where they came to blows more convenient? Jurors, is that something that we need to hesitate on or mull over any longer? Did Milo think he would win a fight outside Clodius’ estate, where his crazy building plans kept easily 1,000 strong men employed? Or on a raised, high spot belonging to his enemy? Did he select that location (above all others!) for a fight? Or did a man who planned to make his attack there because of the advantage of the location lie there in wait for him? Jurors, the facts speak for themselves – always the most important thing. 54. Even if you were looking at a picture of this rather than hearing about it, it would still be clear who was the ambusher and who plotted nothing, since Milo was enswathed in travelling clothes and driving a coach, accompanied by his wife. Which of these was not a serious impediment? His clothing? Vehicle? Companion? What could be less convenient for a fight: his entanglement in his travelling clothes, the impediment of the coach or that he was nearly as much tied up by his wife’s presence?

Now look at Clodius. First, he suddenly sallies out of his villa. Why?

‘It was evening.’

What made that necessary?

‘He was late.’

How does that make sense, especially at this hour?

‘He made a detour to Pompey’s villa.’

To see Pompey? But he knew that he was in Alsium.56 Or was it to look at his villa? He had been there a thousand times. It was all delay and equivocation. He did not want to relinquish his position before Milo arrived. 55. Now! Compare with Milo’s impediments how this unencumbered outlaw was travelling. Before this, Clodius always travelled with his wife; now he was without her. Before, he never travelled except in a carriage; now he was on horseback. He always went around accompanied by his little Greeks, even when he was rushing to his strongholds in Etruria;57 but now none of that rubbishy sort was part of his escort. Milo was for the first time in his life by chance at the head of a herd of boy singers and maids. Clodius, who always was the kind of person who travelled at the head of a pack of prostitutes, man whores and streetwalkers, then had no one – except those you would call an elite corps. Then, why did he lose? Because a traveller is not always killed by an outlaw: sometimes the outlaw is killed by the traveller. Because, although Clodius was prepared and attacked unprepared men, he was still a woman attacking men.

56. Besides, Milo was never so unprepared for Clodius’ attacks that he was not prepared to some degree. He always kept in mind what a great advantage it would be for Publius Clodius if he, Milo, died, how much hatred Clodius had for him and how far he would go. For this reason, he

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