1But first I shall ask the lady herself whether she would prefer me to deal with her severely and gravely and in the old-fashioned way, or in a relaxed, gentle and urbane manner. 1If in that austere style and fashion, I must raise up from the dead one of those bearded men of old — not with the little beard in which she delights, but with that shaggy one which we see on ancient statues and portrait masks — to rebuke the woman and to speak for me, so that she may not perhaps be angry with me. 1Let someone, then, arise from this very family, and above all the famous Caecus; 1for he will feel the least pain, since he will not see her.
1He surely, if he arises, will act and speak like this: 'Woman, what have you to do with Caelius, what with a mere youth, what with a stranger? 1Why were you either so intimate as to lend him gold, or so hostile as to fear poison? 1Had you not seen that your father, had you not heard that your uncle, your grandfather, your great-grandfather, your great-great-grandfather and your great-great-great-grandfather had been consuls; 34did you not know, finally, that you had lately been the wife of Quintus Metellus, a most distinguished and brave man and a great lover of his country, who had only to set foot over his threshold to surpass almost all citizens in virtue, glory and standing?
34When you had married from a most illustrious line into a most famous family, why was Caelius so closely connected with you? 34Was he a kinsman, a relative by marriage, a friend of your husband? 34None of these. 34What was it, then, but some recklessness and lust? 34If the portrait masks of the men of our house did not move you, did not even my own descendant, the famous Quinta Claudia, remind you to rival the glory of your house in womanly renown, nor that Vestal Virgin Claudia who, embracing her father in his triumph, did not allow him to be dragged from his chariot by a hostile tribune of the plebs?
34Why were you moved by your brother's vices rather than by the virtues of your father and forefathers, renewed ever since my time in women as well as in men? 34Was it for this that I broke off peace with Pyrrhus, that you might daily strike treaties of the most shameful amours; for this that I brought water to the city, that you might use it for your impurity; for this that I built a road, that you might throng it escorted by other women's husbands?'