Tacitus, Annals, 12. 67–60

adeoque cuncta mox pernotuere ut temporum illorum scriptores prodiderint

Everything soon became so well known that the writers of those times recorded

infusum delectabili boleto venenum,

that the poison had been smeared on a delicious mushroom,

nec vim medicaminis statim intellectam,

nor had the violence of the medicine been [easy] to understand at once -

socordiane an Claudii vinolentia;

whether [because of] Claudius' [usual] sluggishness [or because of] his drunkenness;

simul soluta alvus subvenisse videbatur.

at the same time his loosened bowels seemed to have helped.

igitur exterrita Agrippina et, quando ultima timebantur,

Therefore Agrippina was terrified and, when the ultimate [penalties] were feared,

spreta praesentium invidia provisam iam sibi Xenophontis medici conscientiam adhibet.

treating with contempt the hatred [that would come from] immediate [actions], she [employed] the complicity of the doctor Xenophon which she had already pre-arranged.

ille tamquam nisus evomentis adiuvaret,

He, as if he were helping [Claudius'] retchings as he vomited,

pinnam rapido veneno inlitam faucibus eius demisisse creditur,

is believed to have lowered a feather smeared with rapid-acting poison down his throat,

haud ignarus summa scelera incipi cum periculo, peragi cum praemio.

not unaware that the greatest crimes are begun with danger, but finished with a reward.

vocabatur interim senatus votaque pro incolumitate principis consules et sacerdotes nuncupabant,

Meanwhile the senate was summoned and the consuls and priests began to declare prayers for the safety of the emperor,

cum iam exanimis vestibus et fomentis obtegeretur,

since he, already lifeless, was being covered with clothing and poultices,

dum quae res forent firmando Neronis imperio componuntur.

while things were being arranged to confirm Nero's power.

iam primum Agrippina, velut dolore victa et solacia conquirens, tenere amplexu Britannicum,

In the first place Agrippina, as if defeated by grief and searching for comfort, held Britannicus in her embrace,

veram paterni oris effigiem appellare

called him the true image of his father's appearance

ac variis artibus demorari ne cubiculo egrederetur.

and by various stratagems delayed [Britannicus] from leaving the bedroom

Antoniam quoque et Octaviam sorores eius attinuit,

As for Antonia, too, and Octavia, [Britannicus'] sisters, she restrained them,

et cunctos aditus custodiis clauserat,

and she had [previously] closed off all the entrances with guards

crebroque vulgabat ire in melius valetudinem principis,

and frequently she would make announcements that the health of the emperor was improving,

quo miles bona in spe ageret tempusque prosperum ex monitis Chaldaeorum adventaret.

so that the soldiers might act in good hope and [so that] the time [declared] auspicious by the advice of the Chaldaeans might arrive.

tunc medio diei tertium ante Idus Octobris, foribus palatii repente diductis,

Then in the middle of the day, the third day before the Ides of October [13th, AD 54), the doors of the palace were suddenly drawn apart

comitante Burro Nero egreditur ad cohortem,

and, with Burrus accompanying him, Nero emerged before the [praetorian] cohort (his bodyguards),

quae more militiae excubiis adest.

which was there on sentry duty in the usual manner of soldiers.

ibi monente praefecto faustis vocibus exceptus inditur lecticae.

There, as the prefect gave the word of command, he was received with cries for good fortune before being put into a litter.

dubitavisse quosdam ferunt, respectantes rogitantesque ubi Britannicus esset:

They say that some hesitated, repeatedly looking round and questioning where Britannicus was:

mox nullo in diversum auctore quae offerebantur secuti sunt.

soon, with no leader in another direction, they followed what was being offered [to them].

inlatusque castris Nero et congruentia tempori praefatus,

Nero was brought into the camp and, having spoken words befitting the moment,

promisso donativo ad exemplum paternae largitionis, imperator consalutatur.

[and], having promised a donative following the example of paternal largesse, he was hailed as emperor.

sententiam militum secuta patrum consulta, nec dubitatum est apud provincias.

Decrees of the senate followed the decision of the soldiers, nor was there [any] hesitation in the provinces.

caelestesque honores Claudio decernuntur

Heavenly honours were decreed for Claudius

et funeris sollemne perinde ac divo Augusto celebratur,

and the sacred rite of his funeral was celebrated [in a manner] equal to the divine Augustus,

aemulante Agrippina proaviae Liviae magnificentiam.

with Agrippina competing with her great-grandmother Livia in ostentation.

testamentum tamen haud recitatum, ne antepositus filio privignus iniuria et invidia animos vulgi turbaret.

However, the will was not read aloud, lest the stepson, set above the son, stir up the minds of the masses [with a sense of] injustice and malice.