Page:Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 B.C..djvu/255

Rh spring of 58. The controlling power being out of the way, Clodius, who had so far been the audacious agent of the triumvirate, saw that with his bands he was the lord of the streets of the capital, and he decided to break a lance on his own account. He began to attack some of the eastern arrangements of Pompeius. To retaliate, Pompeius favored the recall of Cicero. But a bill to this effect, proposed in June, could not be put to vote on account of the street fights. The elections for 57 were not favorable to Clodius, and so he plotted to assassinate Pompeius. Failing in this, he caused his bands to besiege the house of Pompeius, and, to increase the confusion, began to agitate for the repeal of the laws of Caesar. His influence was, however, on the wane. Nevertheless, in January, 57, the passage of another bill for Cicero's recall was prevented by violence and bloodshed. To use force in return, the tribune T. Annius Milo, according to an agreement with Pompeius, hired a band of gladiators. P. Sestius, another tribune of the same party, followed his example. Then several months elapsed amidst street fights and violent harangues to the rabble, until Milo gained the upper hand.

Recall of Cicero. — At a meeting of the senate in July, 57, Pompeius delivered a magnificent eulogy on Cicero and in favor of his recall. He was supported by four hundred and sixteen senators, Clodius alone voting in the negative. Accordingly, on August 4, the centuriate assembly, which was now attended by an unusual number of citizens from the Italian towns and was protected by the armed bands of Milo, enacted a law recalling Cicero and restoring his property. Cicero's journey from Brundisium on his return resembled a triumphal procession, and his reception at Rome was very brilliant.

The agitation for the recall of Cicero and the demonstration on his return were not due to his popularity exclusively,