ABSTRACT
In February 56 b.c., Publius Clodius, the patrician leader of the urban proletariat at Rome, had indicted his enemy, Titus Annius Milo, on a charge of seditious violence before the popular assembly. (Milo had successfully disputed Clodius’ control of the streets by hiring gladiators and other bravadoes.) Pompey had undertaken to appear for Milo at a preliminary hearing. 2
Pompey spoke [wrote Cicero] or intended to; in fact, as soon as he rose, the Clodian gang raised a clamour, and throughout his speech he was interrupted not only by shouting but by loud abuse and insults. When he had finished—in this he certainly showed courage; he was not frightened away, said his piece to the end, and now and again secured silence by his authority—up got Clodius. Our people made such a clamour—we had decided to show him the same courtesy—that he could not control his mind, tongue or expression. Pompey had barely finished at noon; this went on till two o’clock; every kind of insult and the most bawdy verses were shouted at Clodius and his sister. Livid with fury, Clodius asked his followers who was starving the people to death. The gang replied: “Pompey”. Who wanted to go to Alexandria ? “Pompey.” Whom did they want to go ? “Crassus” … At about three o’clock, as if at a signal, Clodius’ people began to spit in unison at ours. A crescendo of anger. They began to shove our people out. We charged; the gangsters fled; Clodius was thrown off the platform, and I took to flight; there might have been an accident.
