Clodia

When you had married into the most famous household from a noble family, why was Caelius so intimate with you? For he was neither a relative nor the friend of your husband. What, therefore, was it, if not a certain recklessness and lust? Your accusors indeed allege acts of lust, love affairs, adultery, Baiae, banquets, concerts and pleasure boats; and they declare that they say nothing against your will. It is right either that you refute these accusations which you insanely wanted to be brought to the forum and into the trial or that you admit that no credance should be given either to your accusation or to your evidence. You caught sight of a young man from next door; his beauty and height, his face and eyes swept you off your feet; you wanted to see him more often; you were sometimes in the same gardens, you, a noble woman, want to have that son of a miserly and stingy father bound by your wealth. You are not able; he digs in his heels, he rejects you, he doesn't think your gifts are worth so much; take yourself somewhere else. You bought gardens near the Tiber, in that place all young men come to swim. From here you may pick up propositions daily; why are you annoying to this man who rejects you?