Messalina - S4

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

Therefore the emperor's household shuddered and particularly those who held any power lest the state be overturned.

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

Nevertheless they had hope, if they could convince Claudius about the enormity of the crime Messalina could be condemned without a trial and overthrown.

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

But there was a danger that Claudius might listen to her defence or his ears might not be closed to her, even if she confessed.

Narcissus, occasiones quaerens, cum Caesar diu apud Ostiam moraretur, duas eius paelices largitione et promissis perpulit delationem subire.

Narcissus, searching for opportunity, since Caesar was delaying for a long time at Ostia, compelled two concubines by means of largesse and promises to submit 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 oe of the two concubines) when she was given a secret audience, fell down at the knees of Caesar and shouted that Messalina had married Silius

altera paelice haec confirmante, Calpurnia cieri Narcissum postulat.

When the other concubine confirmed this, Calpurnia demanded that Narcissus be summoned

qui 'discidiumne tuum' inquit 'novisti? nam matrimonium Silii vidit populus et senatus et milites; ac nisi celeriter agis, tenet urbem maritus.'

He said "Do you not know about your divorce for the people, the senate and the soldiers have seen Silius' marriage. And unless you act quickly, the husband controls the city."