M. Tullius Cicero, For Milo
C. D. Yonge, Ed.

[65] I praised, indeed, the incredible diligence of Cnaeus Pompeius; but still I will say what I really think, O judges.

Those men are compelled to listen to too many statements; indeed, they cannot do otherwise, who have the whole republic entrusted to them. It was necessary even to listen to that eating-house keeper Licinius, if that was his name, a fellow out of the Circus Maximus, who said that Milo's slaves had got drunk in his house,—that they had confessed to him that they were engaged in a conspiracy to assassinate Cnaeus Pompeius, and that he himself was afterwards stabbed by one of them to prevent him from giving information. He went to Pompeius's villa to tell him this. I am sent for among the first. By the advice of his friends Pompeius reports the affair to the senate. It was impossible for me to be otherwise than frightened almost to death at the bare suspicion of such danger to one who was the protector both of me and of my country; but still I wondered that an eating-house keeper should be at once believed—that the confession of the slaves should be listened to, and that a wound in the side, which looked like the prick of a needle should be admitted to be a wound inflicted by a gladiator.