Pro Caelio [30]

[30] Itaque severitati tuae, ut oportet,

Therefore to your seriousness, as it is proper,

ita respondere non audeo;

I do not dare to respond in such a way;

erat enim meum deprecari vacationem adulescentiae veniamque petere;

For it was mine to ask for an excuse of youth and to seek pardon;

non, inquam, audeo;

I dare not, I say;

perfugiis non utor aetatis,

I do not use the defenses of age,

concessa omnibus iura dimitto; tantum

I dismiss the duties having been conceded to all;

peto, ut, si qua est invidia communis hoc tempore

I only seek that, if any general envy at this time

aeris alieni, petulantiae, libidinum iuventutis, quam video esse magnam,

of debt, of impudence, of the passions of youth, which I see to be great,

ne huic aliena peccata, ne aetatis

nor others' mistakes, nor the vices of age

ac temporum vitia noceant.

and of the times are harming this one [Caelius].

Atque ego idem, qui haec postulo,

But, I who am proclaiming these things,

quin criminibus diligentissime respondeam,

that I respond most diligently to the charges,

quae in hunc proprie conferuntur, non recuso.

which are being brought together against this one particularly (Caelius), I do not oppose.

Sunt autem duo crimina, auri et veneni;

However there are two charges, (one) of gold and (one) of poison;

in quibus una atque eadem persona versatur.

in which one and the same character is being engaged. (Clodia)

Aurum sumptum a Clodia,

The gold having been taken from Clodia,

venenum quaesitum, quod Clodiae daretur, ut dicitur.

the poison having been sought, which was being given to Clodia, as is being said.

Omnia sunt alia non crimina, sed maledicta,

All the other things are not charges but insults,

iurgi petulantis magis quam publicae quaestionis.

of petulant strife more than of public investigation.

"Adulter, impudicus, sequester" convicium est, non accusatio;

"Adulterer, an immoral one, the middleman" it is an insult, not an accusation;

nullum est enim fundamentum horum criminum, nulla sedes;

for there is no foundation of these charges, no basis;

voces sunt contumeliosae temere ab irato accusatore, nullo auctore emissae.

the voices have been sent out recklessly abusive by an angry accuser, with no authorship.