Messalina + Avunculus Meus translation

All the phrases with their English translations of the prose text 2024/25

Messalina novo et quasi insano amore incensa est.

Messalina novo et quasi insano amore incensa est.

Messalina was set on fire with a new and almost insane love.

nam in C.Silium, iuventutis Romanae pulcherrimum, ita exarserat…

For she had been so inflamed (with love) for Gaius Cillius, the most handsome of the Roman youth,…

…ut Iuniam Silanam, nobilem feminam, matrimonio eius exturbaret liberoque adulerto potiretur.

…that she drove Iunia Silana, a noble woman, out of marriage with him and had an adulterer who was unemcumbered.

neque Silius flagitii aut periculi nescius erat:

And Silius was not unaware of the scandal:

… sed intellexit exitium, si abnueret, fore certum et, si consentiret, nonnullam facinoris celandi spem esse;

but he understood that, if he refused, death would be certain, but that if he agreed, there would be some hope of hiding the crime;

…simulque se magna praemia accepturum.

…and at the same time, he would receive great rewards.

igitur placuit neglegere futura praesentibus frui.

Therefore it suited him to ignore the future and to enjoy the present.

illa non furtim sed multis cum comitibus ventitat domum,…

That woman came frequently to his home, not furtively, but with many companions,…

…egredienti adheret, dat opes honoresque;…

…and when he went out she clung to him, and gave him money and honours;…

…postremo servi, liberti, paratus principis apud adulterum saepe videbantur.

…finally slaves, freedmen, and the property of the emperor were often seen at the house of the adulterer.

at Claudius matrimonii sui ignarus.

But Claudius was unaware of the state of his marriage.

iam Messalina propter facilitatem adulteriorum ad novas libidines versa est.

By now Messalina, because of the ease of her adulteries, turned to new pleasures.

Silius, sive fatali insania an ipsa pericula remedium imminentium periculorum ratus,…

Silvius, whether from fatal madness or thinking that those very dangers were the remedy for imminent dangers,…

…abrumpi dissimulationem urgebat: quippe non exspectandum, dum princeps senesceret.

…began to urge for the concealment to be thrown off: indeed they should not wait until the emperor grow old.

se caelibem, orbum, nuptiis et adoptando Britannico paratum.

That he himself was unmarried, childless, ready for marriage and adopting Britannicus.

eandem Messalinae potentiam mansuram esse, addita securitate, si praevenirent, qui insidiis incautus sed ad iram celer esset Messalina,…

That the same power would remain for Messalina, with added security, if they were to forestall Claudius, who was unsuspicious of intrigue but quick to anger Messalina,…

…non amore in maritum, sed verita ne Silius summa adeptus se sperneret, diu haesitavivt; sed tandem persuasum.

…not from love toward her husband, but fearing that Silius, having obtained supreme powers, might spurn her, hesitated for a love time; but at last she was persuaded.

nomen enim matrimonii concupivit ob magnitudinem infamiae.

For she longed for the name of marriage because of the sheer scale of her outrageousness.

nec ultra morata quam dum sacrificii gratia Claudius Ostiam proficisceretur,…

After waiting only until Claudius was setting out for Ostia for the purpose of making sacrifice,…

…cuncta nuptiarum sollemnia celebrat.

…she celebrated all the ceremonies of marriage.

igitur domus principis inhorruit, maximeque ei qui potentiam habebant timuerunt ne res verterentur:…

Therefore the emperor’s house shuddered, and those who held power were especially afraid that things would be overturned:…

…spem tamen habebant, si Claudio de atrocitate sceleris persuasissent, Messalinam posse opprimi sine quaestione damnatam;…

…however, they had hope that, if they persuaded Claudius about the enormity of the crime, Messalina could be arrested, condemned without trial;…

…sed periculum esse ne ille defensionem audiret, neve clausae aures etiam confitenti non essent.

…but there was a danger that he would hear her defence, and that his ears would not be closed to her even when she confessed.

Narcissus, occasiones quaerens, cum Caesae diu apud Ostiam moraretus, duas eius parlices largitione et promissis perpulit delationem subire.

Narcissus, seeking opportunities, since Caesar was delaying for a long time at Ostia, induced two of his concubines with bribery and promises to undertake an accusation.

exim Calpurnia (id alteri paelici nomen), ubi datum est secretum, ad genua Caesaris provoluta nupsisse Messalinam Silio exclamat;…

Then Calpurnia (that was the name of one concubine), when she was given a private meeting, falling down at Caesar’s knees exclaimed that Messalina has married Silius;…

…altera parlice haec confirmante, Calpurnia cieri Narcissum postulat.

…when the other concubine confirmed this, Calpurnia demanded that Narcissus be summoned.

qui ‘discidiumne tuum’ inquit ‘novisti? nam matrimonioum Silii vidit populus et senatus at milites; as nist celeriter agis, tener urbem maritus.’

And he said “Do you know about your divorce? For the people and the senate and the soldiers have seen Silius’ marriage; and unless you act quickly, he will hold the city as her husband.

non solum rumor interea, sen undique nuntii ad Messalinam contendunt…

In the meantime, not only the romour, but messengers, from all directions rushed to Messalina…

…qui Claudium omnia cognovisse et venire promptum ultioni adferrent.

…and announced that Claudius knew everything, and was coming, ready for revenge.

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

Therefore Messalina and Silius went 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;…

She however, although the misfortune took away her plan, decided to meet and be seen straight away by her husband, because he had often been a lifeline to her;…

…misitque ut Britannicus et Octavia in complexum patris irent.

…and she sent orders that Britannicus and Octavia should go into their father’s embrace.

atque interim, tribus omnio comitantibus - tam repens erat solitudo - postquam per urbem pedibus ivit,…

And meanwhile, with only three accompanying her - so sudden was her desertion - after going through the city on foot…

…vehiculo, quo purgamenta hortorum eripiuntur, Ostiensem viam intrat.

…she entered the Via Ostiensis on a cart by which rubbish from gardens is taken away.

nullam misericordiam civibus commovit quia flagitiorum deformitas praevalebat.

She aroused no pity in the citizens because the appalling natire of her scandals carried more weight.

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

And she was not in Claudius’ sight and kept on demanding loudly that he should hear the mother of Octavia and Britannicus.

Narcissus tamen obstrepuit, Silium et nuptias referens;…

Narcissus, however, shouted her down, bringing up Silius and their marriage;….

…simul codicillos libidinum indices tradidit, quibus visus Carsaris averteret.

…at the same time he handed over a writing tablet - proof of her pleasures - by which he might avert Caesar’s attention.

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

Not long afterwards the children were presented to Caesar as he entered the city, but Narcissus ordered for them to be removed.

mirum inter haec silentium Claudii omnia liberto oboediebat; qui contionem militum in castris paravit.

Amid these things there was a strange silence from Claudius; regarding everything he obeyed his freedman, who prepared an assembly of soldiers in the camp.

apud eos praemonente Narcisso princeps pauca verba fecit:…

Among them, with Narcissus forewarning him, the emperor said a few words:…

…continuus dehinc clamor militum nomina reorum et poenas flagitantium.

…from then on there was a continuous clamour of soldiers demanding the names of the guilty persons, and their punishments.

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

After being led to the platform Silius did not attempt a defense, or any delaying tactics, but he prayed that his death might be swift.

interim Messalina Lucullianis in hortis prolatare vitam, componere preces, nonnulla spe et ira: tantam superbiam etiam tum gerebat.

Meanwhile Messalina prolonged her life in the gardens of Lucullus, amd composed prayers of petition, with some hope and anger: even then she displayed such great arrogance.

ac nisi caedem eius Narcissus properavisset, vertisset pernicies in accusatorem.

And if Narcissus had not hastened her execution, death would not have turned on her accuser.

nam Claudius domom regressus, ubi cena vinoque incaluit,…

For Claudius, after returning home, when he had grown warm from dinner and wine,…

…imperavit ut femina misera (hoc enim verbo Claudium usum esse ferunt) ad causam dicendam postridie adesset.

…ordered that the wretched woman (for they say that Claudius used this word) should be present on the following day to plead her case.

quod ubi Narcissus audivit et languescere iram redire amorem vidit, timebat, si moraretur, propinquam noctem et uxorii cubiculi memoriam;…

When Narcissus heard this, and saw Claudius’ anger growing weak and his love for Messalina returning, he begun to fear, if he delayed, the approaching night and Claudius’ memory of his wife’s bedroom;….

…igitur prorumpit denuntiatque centurionibus et tribuno, qui aderat, exsequi cardem: ita imperatorem iubere.

…therefore he rushed pit and ordered the centurions and the tribune, who was present, to carry out the execution: he said that the emperor ordered this.