M. Tullius Cicero, Pro T. Annio Milone, ed. Albert Curtis Clark, 32

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[32] quonam igitur pacto probari potest insidias Miloni fecisse Clodium? satis est in illa quidem tam audaci, tam nefaria belua docere, magnam ei causam, magnam spem in Milonis morte propositam, magnas utilitates fuisse. itaque illud Cassianum cui bono fuerit¹ in his personis valeat, etsi boni nullo emolumento impelluntur in fraudem, improbi saepe parvo. atqui Milone interfecto Clodius haec adsequebatur, non modo ut praetor esset non eo consule quo sceleris facere nihil² posset sed etiam ut eis³ consulibus praetor esset quibus si non adiuvantibus, at coniventibus certe speraret se posse⁴ eludere in illis suis cogitatis furoribus: cuius illi conatus, ut ipse ratiocinabatur, nec cuperent reprimere, si possent⁵, cum tantum beneficium ei se debere arbitrarentur, et, si vellent, fortasse vix possent frangere hominis sceleratissimi conroboratam iam vetustate audaciam.

Pro T. Annio Milone. M. Tullius Cicero. ed. Albert Curtis Clark. Oxford. 1918.

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Current edition Perseus

Pro T. Annio Milone (Latin) (Cicero. M. Tulli Ciceronis Orationes, Vol. 6. Clark, Albert Curtis, editor. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1918.)

Notes on the current edition

Pro T. Annio Milone

1. cui bono fuerit iudicium (indicium Purser) codd. Asconii

2. facere nihil E: nihil facere T δ

3. iis unus Ox., Manutius: his ET δ

4. posse se T

5. nec si cup. reprim. possent ET δ: corr. Madvig.

Commentary

Commentary on Defense of Milo (Select Orations of Cicero (Allen and Greenough's Edition). Greenough, James Bradstreet; Kittredge, George Lyman, editors. Boston, London: Ginn & Company, 1897.) focus

probari , etc.: the evidence on this point would, of course, be purely circumstantial and inferential, and to Cicero's wonderful skill in dealing with such evidence is due much of the interest of what follows. 184.10

in illa , in the case of the, etc. 184.13

fllud Cassianum , that noted saying of Cassius. L. Cassius Longinus Ravilla (cos. B.C. 127) was one of the most upright men of his time, distinguished as a quaesitor (presiding officer) of special trials.

cui bono , for whose advantage: § 382 , I and N.1 (233, a); B. 191, 2; G. 356, R.1; H. 433 (390, i); H.-B. 360 and b; not "for what advantage," as it is often wrongly given in English. The question of "motive" in cases of murder was as much insisted on in ancient trials as it is today (cf. Rosc. Am., note at. 23, p. 10, 1. 16).

personis , parties: the persona is properly the mask, which indicates by its features the "character" in a play. 184.15

atqui , etc., now, by the killing of Milo, etc.

adsequebatur , was going to gain: § 471 , c (277,c); B. 260,3; G. 233; H. 534, 2 (469, I); cf. H-B. 484. 184.16

non eo consule , without having one as consul. 184.18

quibus . . . coniventibus : these competitors of Milo were P. Plautius Hypsaeus and Q. Metellus Scipio, — the latter an adopted son of Metellus Pius. He took a leading part on Pompey's side in the Civil War, and was defeated by Caesar at Thapsus, B.C. 46. 184.19

speraret : integral part of the purpose clause

ut . . . esset : so also

cuperent ,

vellent ,

possent , below.

cogitatis : artfully suggesting that the mad conduct of Clodius was not mere hot-headedness but was deliberately planned to further his ambitious designs. 184.20

illi , i.e. the consuls. 184.21

tantum beneficium : they would owe their election to him.

M. Tullius Cicero Pro T. Annio Milone 32

ed. Albert Curtis Clark

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