14.
[36]
It remains for me now to urge his natural disposition and his habits of life
in the defence of the one, and the very same things as an accusation against
the other. Clodius, I suppose, had never done anything by violence; Milo had
done everything by violence. What then shall I say, O judges? When, amid the
grief of all of you, I departed from the city, was I afraid of the result of
a trial? was I not afraid of slaves, and arms and violence? What, I pray
you, was the first ground of my restoration, except that I had been unjustly
driven out? Clodius, I suppose, had commenced a formal prosecution against
me; he had named a sum as damages; he had commenced an action for high
treason; and, I suppose too, I had cause to fear your decision in a cause
which was an unjust one, which was my own private cause, not one which was a
most righteous one, and which was, in reality, your cause, and not mine?
No,—I was unwilling that my fellow-citizens, who had
been saved by my prudence and by my own personal danger, should be exposed
to the arms of slaves and needy citizens and convicted malefactors.
[37]
For I saw—I saw, I say,
this very Quintus Hortensius, the light and ornament of the republic, almost
slain by the hand of slaves, while he was standing by me. In which crowd
Caius Vibienus, a senator, a most excellent man, who was with Hortensius,
was so maltreated that he lost his life.
When, then, was it that that assassin's dagger of his which he had received
from Catiline rested? It was aimed at us I would not allow you all to be
exposed to it for my sake. It was prepared in treachery for Pompeius. It
stained with blood, through the murder of Papirius the very Appian road, the
monument of his name, this, this same dagger, after a long interval was
again turned against me lately as you know, it nearly murdered me close to
the palace of Ancus.
[38]
What is there of Milo's conduct like all
this? when all the violence that he has ever displayed has amounted to this,
that he wished to prevent Publius Clodius (as he could not be brought to
trial) from oppressing the city by violence. And if he wished to put him to
death what great what repeated, and what splendid opportunities he had of
doing so! Might he not have avenged himself without violating the law when
he was defending his own house and his household gods from his attacks?
might he not have done so when that illustrious citizen and most gallant man
Publius Sestius his own colleague, was wounded? might he not have done so
when that most excellent man Quintus Fabricius, while carrying a bill for my
restoration, was driven away and when a most cruel slaughter was taking
place in the forum? might he not have done so when the house of Lucius
Caecilius, that most upright and fearless praetor, was attacked? might he
not have done so on the day on which the law concerning me was passed, and
when that vast concourse of people from all parts of Italy, whom a regard
for my safety had roused up, would have gladly recognised and adopted as its
own the glory of that action? so that even if Milo had performed it the
whole state would claim the praise of it as belonging to itself?
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