Cicero’s speech defending Milo is one of the most important of Cicero’s extant speeches. From a historical standpoint, it provides a glimpse of the partisan conflicts that were tearing apart the fabric of the Republic shortly before Caesar’s march across the Rubicon. From a rhetorical standpoint, this speech was celebrated as one of Cicero’s most impressive judicial speeches and was quoted extensively by no less a critic than Quintilian. It is also important corrective for those who view Cicero’s speeches as a straightforward record of a historical event; it provides a clear example of Cicero altering facts that demonstrated the guilt of his client, as well as embroidering the substance of his delivered speech prior to distributing it. I will deal with these issues in order:…
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Citation: Melchior, Aislinn. "Pro Milone". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 08 February 2014 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=20498, accessed 22 November 2024.]
