CI (Q FR II, 3)
TO HIS BROTHER QUINTUS (IN
SARDINIA)
ROME, 12 FEBRUARY
I have already told you the earlier
proceedings; now let me describe what was done
afterwards. The legations were post-poned from the
1st of February to the 13th. On the former day our
business was not brought to a settlement. On the
2nd of February Milo appeared for trial. Pompey
came to support him. Marcellus spoke on being
called upon by me.
1
We came off with flying colours. The case was
adjourned to the 7th. Meanwhile (in the senate),
the legations having been postponed to the i3th,
the business of allotting the quaestors and
furnishing the outfit of the praetors was brought
before the house. But nothing was done, because
many speeches were interposed denouncing the state
of the Republic. Gaius Cato published his bill for
the recall of Lentulus, whose son thereupon put on
mourning. On the 7th Milo appeared. Pompey spoke,
or rather wished to speak. For as soon as he got
up Clodius's ruffians raised a shout, and
throughout his whole speech he was interrupted,
not only by hostile cries, but by personal abuse
and insulting remarks. However, when he had
finished his speech—for he shewed great
courage in these circumstances, he was not cowed, he said all he had to say, and at
times had by his Commanding presence even secured
silence for his words —well, when he had
finished, up got Clodius. Our party received him
with such a shout—for they had
determined to pay him out—that he lost
all presence of mind, power of speech, or control
over his countenance. This went on up to two
o'clock-Pompey having finished his speech at noon
—and every kind of abuse, and finally
epigrams of the most outspoken indecency were
uttered against Clodius and Clodia. Mad and livid
with rage Clodius, in the very midst of the
shouting, kept putting questions to his claque:
"Who was it who was starving the commons to
death?" His ruffians answered, "Pompey." "Who
wanted to be sent to
Alexandria?"
They answered, "Pompey." "Who did they wish to
go?" They answered, "Crassus." The latter was
present at the time with no friendly feelings to
Milo. About three o'clock, as though at a given
signal, the Clodians began spitting at our men.
There was an outburst of rage. They began a
movement for forcing us from our ground. Our men
charged: his ruffians turned tail. Clodius was
pushed off the rostra: and then we too made our
escape for fear of mischief in the riot. The
senate was summoned into the Curia: Pompey went
home. However, I did not myself enter the
senate-house, lest I should be obliged either to
refrain from speaking on matters of such gravity,
or in defending Pompey (for he was being attacked
by Bibulus, Curio, Favonius, and Servilius the
younger) should give offence to the loyalists. The
business was adjourned to the next day. Clodius
fixed the Quirinalia (17th of February) for his
prosecution. On the 8th the senate met in the
temple of Apollo, that Pompey might attend. Pompey
made an impressive speech. That day nothing was
concluded. On the 9th in the temple of Apollo a
decree passed the senate "that what had taken
place on the 7th of February was treasonable." On
this day Cato warmly inveighed against Pompey, and
throughout his speech arraigned him as though he
were at the bar. He said a great deal about me, to
my disgust, though it was in very laudatory terms.
When he attacked Pompey's perfidy to me, he was
listened to in profound silence on the part of my
enemies. Pompey answered him boldly with a
palpable allusion to Crassus, and said outright
that "he would take better
precautions to protect his life than Mricanus had
done, whom C. Carbo had assassinated."
2 Accordingly, important events
appear to me to be in the wind. For Pompey
understands what is going on, and imparts to me
that plots are being formed against his life, that
Gaius Cato is being supported by Crassus, that
money is being supplied to Clodius, that both are
backed by Crassus and Curio, as well as by Bibulus
and his other detractors: that he must take
extraordinary precautions to prevent being
overpowered by that demagogue-with a people all
but wholly alienated, a nobility hostile, a senate
ill-affected, and the younger men corrupt. So he
is making his preparations and summoning men from
the country. On his part, Clodius is rallying his
gangs: a body of men is being got together for the
Quirinalia. For that occasion we are considerably
in a majority, owing to the forces brought up by
Pompey himself: and a large contingent is expected
from Picenum and
Gallia, to enable us to throw out
Cato's bills also about 'Milo and Lentulus. On the
ioth of February an indictment was lodged against
Sestius for bribery by the informer Cn. Nerius, of
the Pupinian tribe, and on the same day by a
certain M. Tullius for
3 riot. He was ill. I went at once, as
I was bound to do, to his house, and put myself
wholly at his service: and that was more than
people expected, who thought that I had good cause
for being angry with him. The result is that my
extreme kindness and grateful disposition are made
manifest both to Sestius himself and to all the
world, and I shall be as good as my word. But this
same informer Nerius also named Cn. Lentulus Vatia
and C. Cornelius to the commissioners.
4 On the same day a decree passed the senate "that political clubs and
associations should be broken up, and that a law
in regard to them should be brought in, enacting
that those who did not break off from them should
be liable to the same penalty as those convicted
of riot." On the 11th of February I spoke in
defence of Bestia
5 on a charge of bribery before
the praetor Cn. Domitius,
6 in the
middle of the forum and in a very crowded court;
and in the course of my speech I came to the
incident of Sestius, after receiving many wounds
in the temple of Castor, having been preserved by
the aid of Bestia. Here I took occasion to pave
the way beforehand for a refutation of the charges
which are being got up against Sestius, and I
passed a well-deserved encomium upon him with the
cordial approval of everybody. He was himself very
much delighted with it. I tell you this because
you have often advised me in your letters to
retain the friendship of Sestius. I am writing
this on the 12th of February before daybreak the
day on which I am to dine with Pomponius on the
occasion of his wedding. Our position in other
respects is such as you used to cheer my
despondency by telling me it would be-one of great
dignity and popularity: this is a return to old
times for you and me effected, my brother, by your
patience, high character, loyalty, and, I may also
add, your conciliatory manners. The house of
Licinius, near the grove of Piso,
7 has been taken for you. But, as I hope, in
a few months' time, after the 1st of July, you
will move into your own. Some excellent tenants,
the Lamim, have taken your house in Carinae.
8 I have received no letter from you since
the one dated
Olbia. I am anxious to hear how you
are and what you find to amuse you, but above all
to see you your-self as soon as possible. Take
care of your health, my dear
brother, and though it is winter time, yet reflect
that after all it is
Sardinia that you are in.
9
15 February.
