Would that the immortal gods had granted, (I must entreat your permission to say it, O my country, for I fear lest it should be a wicked wish as far as you are concerned, though it may be a pious one for Milo,)—would that they had granted that Publius Clodius should not only be alive, but should even be praetor, consul, dictator, rather than I should see this sight! [104] O ye immortal gods, before I should see this brave man, this man who deserves to be saved by you, O judges, in this plight! “Say not so, say not so,” says Milo. “Rather let him have suffered the penalty which he deserved, and let us, if so it must be, suffer what we have not deserved.”