1Why should I now resist this charge with arguments, which are countless? 1I can say that the character of Marcus Caelius is very far removed from the atrocity of so great a crime; 1that it is not at all to be believed that it did not occur to so clever and so shrewd a man that a matter of so great a crime was not to be entrusted to unknown slaves belonging to another. 1I can also, following both the practice of other advocates and my own, inquire of the prosecutor where Caelius met with the slaves of Lucceius, what access he had to them; 1if he did it himself, what recklessness!
1if through someone else, through whom? 1I can range in my speech through all the hiding-places of suspicion; 1no motive, no place, no opportunity, no accomplice, no hope of carrying out or concealing the crime, no plan of any kind, no trace of this enormous deed will be found. 54But these things, which are the orator's own, which might have brought me some profit, not because of my talent but because of this practice and experience in speaking, since they would seem to be put forward as worked up by me myself, I leave all aside for the sake of brevity. 54For I have, judges, a man whom you would readily accept as a partner in your sacred obligation and oath, Lucius Lucceius, a most upright man and a most weighty witness, who would neither have failed to hear of so great a crime brought by Marcus Caelius against his good name and fortunes, nor have disregarded it, nor have borne it.
54Could that man, endowed with such culture, such studies, such arts and learning, have disregarded the danger of that very man whom he loved because of those very studies, and would he have failed to care about a crime aimed at his guest, which he would have taken seriously if it were aimed at a stranger? 54would he disregard an attempt made by his own slaves, which he would be grieved to discover if it had been carried out by strangers? 54would he bear calmly a thing begun in the city and in his own house, which he would censure if it were done in the countryside or in public places?
54would he, a learned man, think he should hide a plot against a most learned man, which he would not pass over if some rustic were in danger? 55But why do I detain you longer, judges? 55Mark the religious scruple and the authority of the man himself under oath, and take careful note of every word of his testimony. 55Read it out. 55'The testimony of Lucius Lucceius.' 55What more are you waiting for? 55or do you think that the case and the truth could send forth some voice of their own on their behalf? 55This is the defence of innocence, this the speech of the case itself, this the one voice of truth.
55In the charge itself there is no ground for suspicion, in the matter there is no proof, in the transaction which is said to have taken place there is no trace of any conversation, place or time; 55no witness, no accomplice is named, the whole charge is brought forth from a hostile, an infamous, a cruel, a criminal, a lustful house. 55But that house which is said to have been tempted by this wicked crime is full of integrity, honour, duty and religious scruple; 55from that house testimony bound by an oath is read out to you, so that the question in dispute is one hardly to be doubted: whether a reckless, wanton, angry woman seems to have invented a charge, or a grave, wise and temperate man to have given his evidence scrupulously.