1Milo is not moved by these tears — he has an incredible strength of spirit — he thinks exile is where there is no room for virtue; 1that death is the end set by nature, not a punishment. 1Let him keep the mind with which he was born: what then? 1you, judges, what will your mind be, pray? 1Will you keep the memory of Milo, and cast out the man himself? 1And will there be any place on earth more worthy to receive this virtue than this place which gave it birth? 1You, you I appeal to, bravest of men, who have shed much blood for the state; 1you, I say, I appeal to in the danger of an unconquered citizen, centurions, and you, soldiers: while you not only look on but stand armed, guarding this court, will so great a virtue be driven out of this city, banished, cast away?
102O wretched me, O unhappy me! 102You, Milo, could recall me to my country through these men, and shall I be unable to keep you in your country through the same men? 102What shall I answer to my children, who think of you as a second father? 102what to you, my brother Quintus, now absent, who shared with me those times? 102that I could not protect Milo's safety through the same men through whom he had saved ours? 102And in what cause could I not? 102One that is welcome to all nations. 102From whom could I not win it? 102From those who found most relief in Publius Clodius' death. 102Who was pleading?
102I was. 103What great crime did I conceive, or what great wickedness did I commit, judges, when I tracked down, exposed, brought to light and stamped out those signs of the common destruction? 103From that source all griefs flow over upon me and mine. 103Why did you want me back? 103was it so that, before my eyes, those through whom I had been restored should be driven out? 103Do not, I beg you, allow my return to be more bitter to me than that departure itself was. 103For how can I think myself restored, if I am torn away from those through whom I was restored?