messalina 5 + 6

non solum rumor interea, sed undique nuntii ad Messalinam contendunt, qui Claudium omnia cognovisse et venire promptum ultioni adferrent.

Meanwhile, there was not only rumour, but messengers from all over hurried to Messalina to report that Claudius had found out everything and was on his way, ready for revenge.

igitur Messalina Lucullianos in hortos, Silius dissimulando metui ad forum digrediuntur.

Therefore Messalina and Silius went off in different directions: she, to the gardens of Lucullus, he, to the forum to conceal his fear.

illa tamen, quamquam res adversae consilium eximerent, ire obviam et aspici a marito statim constituit, quod saepe ei fuerat subsidium;

However, although these misfortunes took away her ability to plan, she decided to go to meet her husband at once and to be seen by him, [an approach] which had often been a lifeline to her;

mistique ut Britannicus et Octavia in complexum patris irent.

and she sent orders that Britannicus and Octavia should go to embrace their father.

atque interim, tribus omnino comitantibus — tam repens erat solitudo — postquam per urbem pedibus ivit,

And meanwhile with only three attendents – so sudden was her solitude – after she wandered through the city on foot,

vehiculo, quo purgamenta hortorum eripiuntur, Ostiensem viam intrat.

she got onto the road to Ostia, in a cart, in which garden rubbish was being removed.

nullam misericordiam civibus commovit quia flagitiorum deformitas praevalebat.

She evoked no pity in the citizens because the appalling nature of her scandals carried more weight.

et iam erat in aspectu Claudii clamitabatque ut audiret Octaviae et Britannici matren.

and now she was in Claudius’ sight and loudly kept on demanding that he should listen to the mother of Octavia and Britannicus

Narcissus tamen obstrepuit, Silium et nuptias referens; simul codicilos libidinum indices tradidit, quibus visus Caesaris averteret.

However, narcissus shouted her down, reminding him of Silius and the wedding; at the same time he handed over note books as proof of her disgusting behavior, with which he averted the emperor’s attention.

nec multo post urbem ingredienti offerebantur liberi, sed Narcissus amoveri eos iussit.

Not long after, the children were being presented to him as they entered the city, but Narcissus ordered them to be removed.

mirum inter haec silentium Claudii: omnia liberto oboediebat; qui continoem militum in castris paravit

Throughout all of this, Claudius kept a strange silence; he obeyed his freedman in all respects; who prepared an assembly of the soldiers in the camp

apud quos praemonente Narcisso princeps pauca verba fecit: continuus dehinc clamor militum nomina reorum et poenas flagitantium

With Narcissus forewarning them, the emperor said a few words: from then on, continuous shouting from the soldiers demanding the names of the guilty and calling for their punishment;

ductus Silius ad tribunal non defensionem, non moras temptavit, sed precatus est ut mors acceleraretur

Silius was led towards the platform and made no attempt at either self-defence or delaying tactics, but instead he begged for his death to be hastened.