Whenever they went out, they were attended with armed bands, which were continually in danger of coming into collision.

The collision at last came, quite a battle was fought, and Clodius was killed.

This made the difficulty worse than it was before.

Parties were formed, and violent disputes arose on the question of bringing Milo to trial for the alleged murder.

He was brought to trial at last, but so great was the public excitement, that the consuls for the time surrounded and filled the whole Forum with armed men while the trial was proceeding, to ensure the safety of the court.
[Sidenote: Conspiracy of Catiline.] [Sidenote: Warm debate in the Senate.] [Sidenote: Caesar in danger of violence.] In fact, violence mingled itself continually, in those times, with almost all public proceedings, whenever any special combination of circumstances occurred to awaken unusual excitement.