t voluntarily to meet him, and was reconciled, as he said, to
please his son Publius, who was Cicero's affectionate admirer.

Cicero had not been long at Rome, when, taking the opportunity of
Clodius's absence, he went, with a great company, to the capitol, and
there tore and defaced the tribunician tables, in which were recorded
the acts done in the time of Clodius. And on Clodius calling him in
question for this, he answered, that he, being of the patrician order,
had obtained the office of tribune against the law, and, therefore,
nothing done by him was valid. Cato was displeased at this, and opposed
Cicero, not that he commended Clodius, but rather disapproved of his
whole administration; yet, he contended, that it was an irregular and
violent course for the senate to vote the illegality of so many decrees
and acts, including those of Cato's own government in Cyprus and at
Byzantium. This occasioned a breach between Cato and Cicero, which,
though it did not come to open enmity, made a more reserved friendship
between them.

After this, Milo killed Clodius, and, being arraigned for the murder,
he procured Cicero for his advocate. The senate, fearing lest the
questioning of so eminent and high-spirited a citizen as Milo might
disturb the peace of the city, committed the superintendence of this
and of the other trials to Pompey, who should undertake to maintain
the security alike of the city and of the courts of justice. Pompey,
therefore, went in the night, and occupying the high grounds about it,
surrounded the Forum with soldiers. Milo, fearing lest Cicero, being
disturbed by such an unusual sight, should conduct his cause the less
successfully, persuaded him to come in a litter into the Forum, and
there rest till the judges had taken their seats, and the court was
filled. For Cicero, it seems, not only wanted courage in arms, but, in
his speaking also, began with timidity, and in many cases scarcely left
off trembling and shaking when he had got thoroughly into the current
and the substance of his speech. Once when he had to defend Licinius
Murena against the prosecution of Cato, being eager to outdo Hortensius,
who had made his plea with great applause, he took so little rest the
night before, and was so disordered with thought and over-watching, that
he spoke much worse than usual. And so now, on quitting his litter to
commence the cause of Milo, at the sight of Pompey, encamped, as it
were, with his troops, and