V The Deaf Woman
Turd. Do you know that woman there?
Grac. No, who is she?
Turd. She has her ears stopped up against gossip.
Grac. Why so?
Turd. So as to hear nothing; because she hears ill of herself.32
Nugo. How many “hear ill of themselves” who have unstopped and normal ears?
Turd. I believe that it is to the point to quote the passage in Cicero’s Tusculanae Quaestiones. M. Crassus was somewhat deaf—but what was worse, he “heard ill.”
Nugo. There is no doubt that this must be traced back to slander. But, I say, Bambalio, have you found your Tusculanae Quaestiones?