25 In the number of
these ladies was Sempronia, a woman who had committed many crimes with the
spirit of a man. In birth and beauty, in her husband and her children, she was
extremely fortunate; she was skilled in Greek and Roman literature; she could
sing, play, and dance, with greater elegance than became a woman of virtue, and
possessed many other accomplishments that tend to excite the passions. But
nothing was ever less valued by her than honor or chastity. Whether she was
more prodigal of her money or her reputation, it would have been difficult to
decide. Her desires were so ardent that she oftener made advances to the other
sex than waited for solicitation. She had frequently, before this period,
forfeited her word, forsworn debts, been privy to murder, and hurried into the
utmost excesses by her extravagance and poverty. But her abilities were by no
means despicable; she could compose verses, jest, and join in conversation
either modest, tender, or licentious. In a word, she was distinguished by much
refinement of wit, and much grace of expression.
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