Read Imaginary LIves for Free Online

found such men as Licinius Calvus; young Curion (nicknamed “Girlie”); Sextius Clodius who followed the races; Ignatius and his band; and Catullus of Verona and Calius Rufus who were both in love with her. While they recounted the latest scandals about Cæsar and Mamurra, Clodia’s husband sat silent in his chair.
    Elected proconsul, Metellus departed at once for Cisalpine Gaul, leaving Clodia in Rome with her sister-in-law, Murcia. Cicero was soon thoroughly charmed by Clodia’s big blazing eyes. He dreamed of divorcing Terrentia, his wife, supposing Clodia would leave her husband and come to him in that event. But Terrentia discovered the design, promptly terrifying Cicero with her discovery and its possible consequences until he dropped all association with Clodius and Clodia.
    Meanwhile Clodius had busied himself making love to Pompeia, Cæsar’s wife. On the night celebrating the divinity of their patron goddess, women only were permitted in Cæsar’s house, for Cæsar was praetor and Pompeia alone offered the sacrifice. Disguised in the feminine garments of a zither player (just as his sister used to dress him) Clodius made his way to Pompeia, but a slave recognized him and Pompeia’s mother gave the alarm. The scandal was soon public. Clodius attempted to defend himself by vowing he had spent the night with Cicero, but Terrentia forced her husband’s denial and Cicero testified against Clodius.
    Thereafter Clodius had no place among the nobles. Now past thirty, his sister was more ardent than ever. Clodius, she thought, might be adopted by some plebeian and so become a tribune of the people. Metellus, now returned to Rome, saw through her schemes and mocked her with them. In these days when she had no Clodius, she let herself be loved by Catullus. Metellus seemed odious to her.
    Resolved to be rid of him, she met him one day as he returned from the senate, presenting him a cup to quench his thirst. Metellus drank and fell dead, and Clodia was free. Then she fled her husband’s house, shutting herself up at once with Clodius on Mount Palatin, where the youngest sister came to join them after deserting her husband, Lucullus. They resumed their old manner of life, all three, and unleashed their spite.
    When he turned plebeian Clodius was known almost from the first as a tribune of the people, for notwithstanding his feminine graces, he had a strong, penetrating voice. He obtained Cicero’s exile, destroyed the statesman’s house before his eyes and swore ruin and death to all his friends.
    Then serving as proconsul in Gaul, Cæsar was powerless to intervene. Through Pompey, Cicero gained new influences during the following year, thus contriving to have himself recalled, whereupon the fury of the young commoner leaped to extremes.
    He first launched a violent attack against Cicero’s friend, Muon, who was then hinting at ambitions for the consulate. Apostle of night, Clodius tried to murder Muon after overpowering his torchbearers, but the scandal of that scene marked the end of the young plebeian’s popularity, for obscene songs about Clodius and Clodia were soon sung in the streets, while Cicero denounced them both in a violent discourse, comparing Clodia to Medea and Clymenestra. The rage of the brother and sister ended by consuming them. Clodius was killed in the dark by guardian slaves while attempting to burn Muon’s house.
    Clodia was desperate. She took and rejected Catullus, Cælius Rufus and Ignatius, but she loved only her brother Clodius. It was for him she had poisoned her husband, for him she hired the incendiaries. When he died the object of her life vanished, though she remained beautiful and passionate. She had a country villa on the road to Ostia, a summer place with gardens on the Tiber, and another at Baja. In that last resort she sought refuge, endeavouring to find distraction through lascivious dancing with her women. But it was not enough. Her spirit was filled with the stupors of