Publius, a Roman descended of an illustrious family. He made himself famous for his li- centiousness, avarice, and ambition. He committed incest with his three sisters, and introduced himself in women's clothes into the house of Julius Caesar, whilst Pompeia, Caesar's wife, of whom he was enamoured, was celebrating the mysteries of Ceres, where no man was permitted to appear. He was accused for this violation of human and divine laws; but he made him- self tribune, and by that means screened himself from justice. He descended from a patrician into a ple- beian family to become a tribune. He was such an enemy to Cato, that he made him go with praetorian power, in an expedition against Ptolemy king of Cy- prus, that by the difficulty of the campaign he might ruin his reputation, and destroy his interest at Rome during his absence. Cato, however, by his uncommon success, frustrated the designs of Clodius. He was also an inveterate enemy to Cicero, and by his influence he banished him from Rome, partly on pretence that he had punished with death and without trial the adhe- rents of Catiline. He wreaked his vengeance upon Ci- cero's house, which he burnt, and set all his goods to sale; which, however, to his great mortification, no one offered to buy. In spite of Clodius, Cicero was recalled, and all his goods restored to him. Clodius was some time after murdered by Milo, whose defence Cicero took upon himself.