1But since my speech seems now to have come clear of the shallows and sailed past the rocks, a very easy remainder of the course lies open before me. 1For there are two charges concerning the gravest crimes, both bound up with one woman: that of the gold which is said to have been taken from Clodia, and that of the poison which they charge that Caelius procured for the purpose of killing that same Clodia. 1He took the gold, as you say, to give to the slaves of Lucius Lucceius, through whom Dio of Alexandria, who was then staying with Lucceius, might be killed. 1A grave charge, whether of plotting against envoys or of tempting slaves to kill their master's guest, a plan full of crime, full of audacity!
52On this charge I first ask this: did he tell Clodia for what purpose he was taking the gold, or did he not? 52If he did not tell her, why did she give it? 52If he did tell her, she bound herself as an accomplice in the same crime. 52Did you dare to bring out gold from your cabinet, did you dare to strip that Venus of yours of her ornaments — she who strips everyone else — when you knew for how great a crime this gold was sought, for the murder of an envoy, for the everlasting stain of crime upon Lucius Lucceius, a most upright and blameless man?
52To so great a crime your generous mind ought not to have been privy, your open house ought not to have been servant, nor, in short, that hospitable Venus of yours helper. 53Balbus saw this; 53he said that Clodia was kept in the dark, and that Caelius had told her this: that he was seeking the gold for the adornment of games. 53If he was as intimate with Clodia as you would have him be when you say so much about his lust, he certainly told her what he wanted the gold for; 53if he was not so intimate, she did not give it. 53So if Caelius told you the truth, you unbridled woman, you knowingly gave gold for a crime; 53if he did not dare to tell you, you did not give it.