Hortensia

The daughter of the orator Hortensius (q.v.), who inherited her father's eloquence. When the members of the Second Triumvirate had imposed a heavy tax upon the Roman matrons and no one of the other sex dared to espouse their cause, Hortensia appeared as their advocate, and made so able a speech that a large portion of the burden was removed (Val. Max. viii. 3, 3). This harangue was extant in Quintilian's time, who speaks of it with praise (Quint.i. 1, 6).