Summary of His Entire Speech

Cicero, Pro Milone

Summary of his entire Speech

Titus Annius Milo is a courageous citizen, more concerned about the interested of the state than his own survival.
Armed guards at the trial make for a strange and nerve-wracking setting: but they are necessary for our own protection and here thanks to Pompey.
Every true Roman citizen knows the importance of this trial for Rome.
Clodius can be judged by his followers – bands of thugs and foreigners.
The judges must use their honour, courage and wisdom to judge the true merit of the men on trial.
Milo is a patriot, opposing disruptive elements.
Cicero cannot imagine Milo being ruined by his enemies upon the judgement of such fine jurors.
The only deciding factor must be who set the trap – and that was Clodius.
Killing another is not always wrong. Cicero quotes example cases such as Horatius, Tiberius Gracchus, Servilius Ahala, Publius Nascia, Lucius Opimius, Gaius Marius and Orestes.
Killing in self-defence is right and necessary. Natural law dictates this.
Weapons do not indicate the intention of killing.
Clodius’s supporters claim that his death is against the interests of the state.
The question of guilt should be settled in court, since violence and the setting of a trap were involved. An extraordinary court was set up.
Gnaeus Pompey wants the course of justice to run by proposing his bill. The motive must be examined rather than the action.
A crime is the same whether the murdered man is famous or not.
Clodius once killed an equestrian on the same road, without consequence; yet his own death is being investigated.
Clodius had posted a slave at Castor’s temple in order to murder Pompey.
From then on, Pompey avoided the forum.
If Pompey died, the state would fall.
Pompey set up this trial to show that he was fair.
The judges are wise.
Milo admits the charge: therefore this case is about who set the trap for whom.
Clodius was a bad man who wanted the praetorship in order to wreck the state for his own benefit.
Clodius saw that Milo would stand in the way of his praetorship.
Clodius openly stated that Milo needed to be killed. He also summoned thugs.
Clodius saw an opportunity to kill Milo since he was required to go to Lanuvium.
Milo went about his normal business and was not prepared for a trap.
Milo met with Clodius, who attacked him along with his slaves. Clodius’s slaves killed many of Milo’s; Milo’s slaves conducted themselves well.
Clodius was not killed on Milo’s order.
The death of Clodius was a good thing.
It is natural to defend oneself against death, as Milo did.
So the question remains: who set the trap?
Clodius had far more motive: without Milo, Clodius would have the praetorship without suppression.
Clodius’s friend Sextus did not respect the body: he threw it out and left it to rot: even Sextus knew how bad it would have been for Clodius to be in power.
Milo had no reason to kill Clodius, since Clodius was useful to him. Only Milo could stand up to Clodius: this boosted Milo’s popularity while Clodius was alive.
Milo had no reason to hate Clodius.
Clodius had every reason to hate Milo and therefore had the motive to set the trap.
Cicero and Milo are both beyond reproach. Clodius is evil.
Cicero claims that he left Rome for the good of the state in order to prevent civil war between his men and Clodius’s men (in fact Clodius had him exiled).
Clodius is in league with the Catilines, who conspired against the state.
Clodius pointed the dagger at anyone he didn’t like: Pompey, Papinius, Cicero.
Milo has done nothing of this sort. His violence has only ever been preventative or defensive.
Milo had plenty of opportunities to kill Clodius but did not. If he had planned to do so, he would have taken one of these opportunities.
Indeed if he had done so he would have been a hero and been rewarded.
Milo had innate courage: he chose not to attack Clodius but could have done had he wated to. Had he wanted to kill Clodius he would have done it when people would have approved, e.g. when Clodius attacked him during his speeches.
Clodius had reason to stay in Rome and no reason to travel.
Milo could never have known that Clodius was going to be on the road, since even Clodius’s closest friends thought that he was staying at Alba.
This also clears Cicero of being behind the murder.
Cyrus’s death could not have been the reason for Clodius leaving in such a hurry, because Clodius had in fact visited him earlier and knew he was just about to die, but left anyway once Cyrus had made him his heir.
If Milo had known where Clodius would be, why didn’t he kill him at night?
So in summary: the death of Milo was highly desirable for Clodius but the death of Clodius was not so for Milo, Clodius announced publicly that he wanted to kill Milo, and the location of the murder was to Clodius’s advantage: in front of his house, with lots of men on higher ground.
Cicero compares how Clodius was travelling uncharacteristically light; by contrast, Milo was travelling with a large and cumbersome entourage made up of “cultured” boys and girls.
Milo knew that his death would be useful to Clodius, and how much Clodius hated him. He also knew that Clodius would stop at nothing.
Milo released his slaves not because he feared that they would incriminate him but because they had saved his life.
The interrogation of Clodius’s slaves was prejudiced towards Milo because the slaves would not testify against their master.
The interrogation was corrupt because the prosecutor did not follow correct procedure.
Milo returned to Rome with a completely clear conscience: the character he displayed, his expression, his words, were not of a murderer.
Milo had the support of the senate.
Milo ignored the slanders against his name, a thing no guilty man would have done.
Milo is the country’s and Cicero’s protector.
The suspicions that Pompey seems to have had over Milo are worrying and distressing.
Milo has nothing but the greatest respect and love for Pompey.
Pompey must be satisfied that allegations against Milo are false because he has introduced a law which allows him to be acquitted.
Milo’s armed guard in court is not for intimidation but for his and the jury’s protection.

Clearly everyone is happy that Clodius is dead as he was evil.
Cicero is not afraid to admit that Milo killed Clodius as it benefits everyone.
Mentions famous people to liken Milo to and make him seem like a hero of the people.
Lists Clodius’s worst crimes to show what an evil man he was, emphasising incest and the bullying of citizens. Names those who can be called as witnesses to state Clodius was an evil man and testify that he has committed crimes against them.
Clodius was even evil towards his own sister.
Clodius was against the state and its key individuals.
States that while Clodius’s individual crimes could perhaps be overlooked, his attempt to gain military power cannot be ignored.
The possible consequences were Clodius to have lived are extremely serious.
Titus Annius: great hero of Rome/Italy. Asks whether, had Titus Annius killed Clodius for the good of the state, the judges would have considered him guilty as they do Milo.
What a terrible future they would have were Clodius still alive: now he is dead the future is brighter.
While Cicero could be seen to have bias against Clodius, he cannot possibly have made up all the crimes he has committed.
Condemning Milo is tantamount to wishing that Clodius were brought back to life – which clearly no-one would want: surely it is illogical to want to avenge a man whose life one would not wish to restore.
The Greeks reward those who kill tyrants – so why is Milo being judged when this is what he did?
If the killing of Clodius were a crime, Milo would not be proudly admitting to it.
Milo assumed that he would be rewarded as he was saving everyone; in fact they are ungrateful and are condemning him when they should be praising him.
Clodius was a terrible villain and although Milo knew he would be found out and condemned for killing Clodius he did it anyway for the greater good. He is a hero.
Like all great heroes, Milo will be happy just knowing that he has done a great deed – he doesn’t need gratitude.
But as good Roman citizens you should show your gratitude for this blessed act. Wisdom handed down from the gods and our ancestors tells us this.
The judges have the power to do the right thing and let Milo off.
Remember that there were terrible consequences had Clodius lived.
The gods and the heavens wanted Milo to kill Clodius and now they want the judges to forgive him.
Remember how many and how serious Clodius’s crimes were: he committed acts of violation against the gods and the state.
No-one could have stopped Clodius other than the great Milo, who did the right thing.

The gods must have given Clodius the idea of setting the trap which led to his own death, for otherwise he would never have been overthrown by Milo.
If Clodius had taken complete control, he would have destroyed the state.
Since his death, Clodius’s followers have caused much trouble; so Clodius’s death has not abated the violence.You should pity the fact that Milo is facing death bravely and has shown how much Rome means to him through his speeches and by emphasising what he has done for Rome. Milo is very popular.
Milo acts according to what he believes is the right thing to do.
Cicero is glad that he has done his duty to the people by defending Milo. Cicero appeals to the judges to support Milo.