Asconius, who wrote commentaries on Cicero’s published speeches as absolutely rubbish but quite sweet presents for his sons during the reign of Nero (oh thanks, Dad, you wrote me a school book. Thanks.), gave the most detailed account. He portrays Milo as a killer without remorse. In his telling, the gladiator Birra attacked Clodius for giving him a threatening look, and Clodius’ entourage then dragged the wounded man to a nearby wine shop. There he lay, bleeding but alive while the brawl (though the Romans do insist on calling it a battle) between sixty enslaved men raged outside. Milo, when
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