27.3
Again, when Marcus Gellius, who was thought to be of servile birth, had read letters to the senate in a loud and clear voice, Do not marvel, said Cicero, he too is one of those who have cried aloud for their freedom.A play upon the phrase (used of a slave) in libertatem reclamare. And when Faustus, the son of the Sulla who was dictator at Rome and placarded many people for death, got into debt, squandered much of his substance, and placarded his household goods for sale, Cicero said he liked this placarding better than his father’s.
28.1
As a consequence of this he became odious to many; and besides, the partisans of Clodius combined against him on the following ground. Clodius was a man of noble birth, young in years, but bold and presumptuous in spirit. This man, being in love with Pompeia, Caesar’s wife, got into his house secretly, by assuming the dress and guise of a lute-player; for the women of Rome were celebrating in Caesar’s house that mysterious rite which men were not allowed to witness,Cf. chapter xix. 3. and no man was there;