Latin GCSE Messalina

Messalina novo et quasi insano amore incesta est

Messalina was burning with a new and almost insane love

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

For she had been inflamed for Gaius Silius, the most handsome of the Roman young men, to such an extent that she drove

Iuniam Silinam, nobilem feminam, matrimonio eius

Junia Silana, a noble woman, from her marriage

exturbaret liberoque adultero potiretur. neque Silius flagitii aut periculi nescius erat:

And she got possession of  an unattached lover. And Silius was not unaware of the shame or the danger:

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

but he understood that if he rejected her, destruction would be certain and if he agreed, that there would 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 pleased him to ignore future events and enjoy present circumstances.

illa non furtim sed multis cum comitibus ventitat domum, egredienti adhaeret, dat opes honoresque:

she kept coming to the house not secretly, but with many companions, she clung to him when he went out, she gave him riches and honours

postremo servi, liberti, paratus principis apud adulterum saepe videbantur

finally, slaves, freedman and the furniture of the emperor were seen often at the house of the adulterer

at Claudius matrimonii sui ignarus.

but Claudius was unaware of the state of his own marriage.

iam Messalina propter facilitate adulteriorum ad novas libidines versa est.

now Messalina, because of the ease of the adulteries, turned to new desires

Silius, sive fatali insania an ipsa pericula remedium imminentium periculorum ratus, abrumpi dissimultationem urgebat:

Silius, whether because of a fated madness or thinking that the very dangers were a cure for the imminent dangers, was urging for concealment to be cast aside

quippe non exspectandum, dum princeps senesceret

Certainly, they should not wait while the emperor grows old.

se caelibem, orbum, nuptiis et adoptando Britannico paratum.

He (was) single, childless, ready for marriage, and adopting Britannicus.

eandem Messalinae potentiam mansuram esse, addita securiatate, si praevenirent Claudium, qui insidiis incautus sed ad iram celer esset.

For Messalina the same power would remain with added security if they forestalled Claudius, who was oblivious to treachery, but quick to anger.

Messalina, non amore in maritum, sed verita ne Silius suma adeptus se sperneret, diu haesitavit; sed tandem persuasum.

Messalina, hesitated for a long time, not (because of) love for her husband, but fearing that Silius, if he obtained the highest honours might reject her; but finally she was persuaded.

nomen enim matrimonii concupivit ob magnitudinem infamiae.

For she desired the title of marriage because of the magnitude of the disgrace

nec ultra morata quam dum sacrificii gratia Claudius Ostia proficisceretur, cuncta nuptiarium sollemnia celebrat.

And having not delayed any further than until Claudius set out to Ostia for the purpose of sacrifice, she celebrated all the rites of marriage.

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

Therefore the emperor’s household shuddered, and most of all those who held (any) power were afraid that the state 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 convinced Claudius about the enormity of the crime, Messalina could be crushed without a trial (and) condemned.

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 and that his ears might not be closed to her, even if she confessed.

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

Narcissus, looking for opportunities, since Caesar was delaying for a long time at Ostia he persuaded two of his concubines with generous gifts and promises to undertake/submit an accusation.

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

Then Calpurnia (that was the name of one of the two concubines), when she was given a secret audience, fell down at the knees of Caesar, shouted that Messalina had married Silius;

altera paelice haec confirmante, Calpurnia cieri Narcissum postulat.

With the other concubine confirming this, Calpurnia demanded that Narcissus be summoned.

qui ‘discidiumne tuum’ inquit ‘novisti?’ Nam matrimonium Silii vidit populus et senatus et milites;

He said ‘did you know about your divorce?’ For the people, the senate, and the soldiers have seen Silius’ marriage.

ac nisi celeriter agis, tenet urbem maritus.’

And unless you act quickly, the husband controls the city.’

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 from all sides messengers were hastening to Messalina, to report (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 departed in different directions, (she) to the gardens of Lucullus, (he) to the forum to hide 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 unfavourable circumstances were taking away (time for) deliberation, immediately decided to meet and be seen by her husband, which had often been a means of salvation/help to her.

misitque ut Britannicus et Octavia in complexum patris irent.

And she sent (instructions) that Britannicus and Octavia should go to embrace their father.

atque interim, tribus omnino comtantibus - tam repens erat sollitudo - postquam per urbem pedibus ivit, vehiculo, quo purgamenta hortorum eripiuntur, Ostiensem viam intrat.

And meanwhile, with three only accompanying her, so sudden was the isolation, after she went on foot through the city, she entered the Ostian road in a cart, by which the rubbish of the garden was being taken away.

nullam misericordiam civibus commovit quia flagitorum deformitas praevalebat.

She aroused no pity in the citizens, because the hideousness of the scandal prevailed.

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

And now she was in sight of Claudius and demanded loudly that he should listen to the mother of Octavia and Britannicus.

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

Narcissus, however, shouted her down, recalling Silius and the marriage; at the same time, he handed over a writing tablet as proof of her lusts, by which he might divert the glances of Caesar.

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

Not long afterwards, the children were offered (to Claudius) as he was entering the city, but Narcissus ordered them to be moved away.

mirum inter haec silentium Claudii: omnia liberto oboediebat;

Claudius’ silence amid these events was surprising: he obeyed the freedman in every respect.

qui contionem militum in castris paravit. apud eos praemonente Narcisso prineps pauca verba fecit:

Narcissus prepared a meeting of the soldiers in the camp. Among them after a previous warning by Narcissus, the emperor spoke a few words.

continuus dehinc clamor militum nomina reorum et poenas flagitantium.

From there (there was/arose) continous shouting of the soldiers demanding the names of the guilty people and punishments.

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

Silius, having been led into the tribunal, did not attempt a defence or delaying tactics, but begged that his death would be hastened/sped up.

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

Meanwhile, Messalina prolonged her life in the gardens of Lucullus, composed letters of appeal with some hope and anger: even then, she was displaying such great arrogance.

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

And if Narcissus had not hastened her slaughter, destruction would have turned onto the accuser.

nam Claudius domum regressus, ubi cena vinoque incaluit, imperavit ut femina misera (hoc enim verbo Claudium usum esse ferunt) ad causam dicendam postridie adesset.

For when Claudius, having returned home, grew warm from dinner and wine, he ordered that the wretched woman (for they say Claudius used this word) should be present the next day to plead her case.

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

When Narcissus heard this and saw that (Claudius’) anger was declining and his love was returning, he began to fear the approaching night, if he delayed, and the memory of his wife’s bedroom.

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

Therefore, he rushed out and ordered the centurions and a tribune, who was present, to carry out the slaughter: (he said that) the emperor ordered thus.

missus quoque unus e libertis: is raptim in hortos praegressus repperit Messalinam, humi fasam;

One of the freedmen was also sent: he, having gone on ahead swiftly to the gardens found Messalina sprawled on the ground;

adsidebat mater Lepida, quae florenti filiae haud concors fuerat; sed supremis eius necessitatibus ad miserationem versa duadebat ne percussorem opperiretur:

Her mother Lepida was sitting beside her who had not been in harmony with her daughter when she was flourishing; but in her final (hours of) need, having turned to pity, advised her not to wait for an assassin.

transiisse vitam neque aliud quam mortem decoram quaerendum.

Her life was over, and she should not seek anything other than a noble death.

sed nihil honestum inerat Messalinae animo per libidines corrupto; lacrimae et questus inriti effundebantur, cum impetu venientium pulsae sunt fores adstititque tribunus.

But there was nothing honourable in Messalina’s mind, which was corrupted by her lusts; tears and futile complaints were pouring forth, when the doors were struck by the force of those approaching and the tribune stood nearby.

tunc primum Messalina fortunam suam intellexit ferrumque accepit;

Then for the first time Messalina understood her fate and took up the sword.

quod frustra iugulo aut pectori per trepidationem admovens, ictu tribuni transigitur. corpus marti concessum.

Putting this to her throat or chest in vain because of panic, she was stabbed by the tribune’s blow. The body was granted to the mother.