But, Cneius Domitius, your distinguished penetration informs you, that our business lies with her only: if she denies that she lent gold to Caelius, if she does not affirm that he prepared poison for her, we are guilty of slander, by our mentioning the mother of a family, in a manner that is inconsistent with the decency which the sanctity of matrons requires. But since, were that lady out of the question, there neither would be a crime of which my client could be convicted, nor any money to carry on the prosecution, what ought we, are his advocates, to do, but to repel those who attack us? This, indeed, I would do with great keenness, did there not subsist animosities betwixt me and that lady’s husband—I mean her brother—I still fall into that mistake. Now I will act coolly, nor advance a step farther than my duty, and the interest of my client, oblige me; for I have always thought it unbecoming me to harbour any resentment against a woman; especially a lady who has the character of extending her good nature to all the world, rather than of showing her spite to any particular male.