ALL MESSALINA TRANSLATION

Messalina novo et quasi insano amore incensa est.

Messalina was fired with a new and almost mad love.

Nam in C.Silium iuventutis Romanae pulcherrimum, ita exarserat ut Iuniam Silanam, nobilem feminam, matrimonio eius exturbaret liberoque adultero potiretur.

For she had burned (with love) for C.Silius, the most handsome of the Roman youth to such an extent, that she drove out Junia Silana, from her marriage and got possession of an unrestricted adulterer.

Neque Silius flagitii aut periculi nescuis erat: but intellexit exitum, si abnueret, fore certum et, si consentiret, nonnullam facinoris celandi spem esse; sumulque se magna praemia accepturum.

Silius was not unaware of the disgrace or the danger, but he realised that ruin would be certain, if he rejected her, and if he agreed, there was some hope of concealing the deeed; and at the same time, he would receive great rewards.

Igitur placuit neglegere futura et praesentibus frui.

Therefore, he decided to ignor future events and enjoy the present circumstances.

sed multis cum comitibus ventitat domum, egredienti adhaeret, dat opes honoresque; postremo servi, liberti, paratus principis apid adulterum saepe videbantur.

She visited the house frequently, not secretly, nut with many companions, clung to him when he went out, gave him wealth and honours; finally, slaves, freedmen, the furnishings of the emperor were often seen at the adulterer’s house.

at Claudius matrimonii sui ignarus.

But Claudius was unaware of (the state of) his own marriage.

iam Messalina propter facilitatem adulteriorum ad novas libidines versa est.

Now, Messalina, because of the easiness of the adulteries, turned to new (i.e. unheard of) lusts.

Silius, sive fatali insania an ipsa pericula remedium imminentium periculorum ratus, abrumpi dissimulatioinem urgebat: quippe non exspectandum, dum priniceps senesceret.

Silius, whether because of his fateful folly or thinking that the very dangers were a cure for the imminent dangers, pressed for the concealment to be cast aside: certainly, they should not wait for the emperor to grow 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 securitate, 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 swift to anger.

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

Messalina hesitated for a long time, not because of love towards her husband, but fearing that Silius, if he obtained supreme power, might spurn her; but finally, she was persuaded.

Nomen enim matrimonii concupivit ob magnitudinem infamiae.

For she craved the title of marriege because of the magnitude of the ignominy.

NEc ultra morata quam dum sacrificii gratia Claudius Ostiam proficisceretur, cuncta nuptiarum sollemnia celebrat.

Not delaying any further than until Claudius set out for Ostia for a sacrifice, she celebrated all the rites of marriage.

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 feared lest the state be overturned;

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

nevertheless, they had some hope that if the convinced Claudius about the enormity of the crime, Messalina could be condemned without a trial and overthrown.

sed periculun esse ne ille defensionem audiret, never clausae aures etiam confitenti non essent.

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

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

Narcissus, looking for opportunities, since Caesar was delaying for a long time at Ostia, compelled two of his concubines by means of largesse and promises to submit an accusation.

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

Then Calpurnia (that was the name of one of the two concubines), when she was given a secret audience, prostrating herself at the knees of Caesar, 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 urben maritus.

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

In the meantime, there was not only rumour, but from all sides messengers were hastening to Messalina, to report the Claudius knew everything and was coming eager 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,

She, however, although the unfavourable circumstances were taking away (time for) deliberation, immediately decided to meet and be seen by her husband,

quod saepe ei fuerat subsidium; misitque ut Britannicus et Octavia in complexum patris irent.

which had often been a help to her; and she sent instructions that Britannicus and Octavia should go to embrace their father.

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

And meanwhile, with three at the most accompanying them - so sudden was the isolation - after she went on foot through the city, she entered the Ostian road in a cart, by which the refuse of the gardens was being taken away.

nullam misericordiam civibus commovit quia flagitiorum deformitas praevalebat.

She aroused no pity in the citizens, as the hideousness of the scandals prevailed.

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

And now, she was in sight of Claudius and kept shouting 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, referring to 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 tried to present themselves to Claudius as he was entering the city, but Narcissus ordered them to be taken away.

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

Claudius’s silence amid these events was surprising: he obeyed the freedman in every respect. Narcissus prepared a meeting of the soldiers in the camp.

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

In their presence, after a previous warning by Narcissus, the emperor spoke a few words: then there arose a continuous shouting of the soldiers who demanded the names of the guilty and punishments.

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

Silius, brought into the tribunal, did not attempt a defence or delaying tactics, but begged that he might be killed quickly.

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, composed a petition, with some hope and anger: even then, she displayed such great pride.

ac nisi cauedem 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, was heated with the meal and wine, he ordered that the wretched woman (for they say that this is the word Claudius used) should be present the next 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 head this and saw that Claudius’s anger was abating and that 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, exxsequi caedem; ita imperatorem iubere.

therefore, he burst forth and ordered the centurions and a tribune, who was present, to carry out the slaughter: he said that this is what the emperor was ordering.

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

One of the freedmen was also sent, he, having gone swiftly to the gardens before the rest, found Messalina prostrate on the ground.

adsidebat mater Lepida, quae florenti filiae haud concors fuerat; sed supremis eius necessitatibus ad miserationem versa suadebat ne percussorem operiretur: transiisse vitam neque aliud quam mortem decoram quarendum.

Sitting beside her was her mother Lepida, who had not been in harmony with her daughter when she was flourishing, but in her final hours of need, having turned to pity, she advised her not to wait for an assassin: her life was past and she should not seek anything other than a noble death.

Sed nihil honestum inerat Messalinae animo, oer libidines corrupto; lacrimae et questus inriti effundebantur cum impetu venientuium 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 arriving and the tribune stood nearby.

tunc primum Messalina fortunam suam intellexit ferrumque accepit; quod frustra iugulo aut pectori per trepidationem admovens, ictu tribuni transigitur.

Then for the first time Messalina recofnised her fate and took up the sword, applying this in vain to her throat or chest because of her panic, she was pierced by the tribune’s blow.

corpus matri concessum

The body was granted to the mother.