[33]
But still I will first put this question to her herself, whether she wishes
me to deal with her strictly, and gravely, and according to old-fashioned
notions of right and wrong; or indulgently, mercifully, and courteously? If
I am to proceed in the old-fashioned way and manner of pleading, then I must
summon up from the shades below one of those bearded old men,—not
men with those little bits of imperials which she takes such a fancy to, but
a man with that long shaggy beard which we see on the ancient statues and
images,—to reproach the woman, and to speak in my stead, lest she
by any chance should get angry with me. Let, then, some one of her own
family rise up, and above all others that great blind Claudius of old time.
For he will feel the least grief, inasmuch as he will not see her. And, in
truth, if he can come forth from the dead, he will deal thus with her; he
will say,—“Woman, what have you to do with Caelius? What
have you to do with a very young man? What have you to do with one who does
not belong to you? Why have you been so intimate with him as to lend him
gold, or so much an enemy of his as to fear his poison? Had you never seen
that your father, had you never heard that your uncle, your grand-father,
your great-grandfather, your great-great-grand-father, were all consuls?
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