messalina 3-4

igitur domus principis inhorruit, maximeque ei qui potentiam habebant timuerunt ne res verterentur: spem tamen habebant, si Claudio de atrocitate sceleris persuas essent, Messalinam posse opprimi sine quaestione damnatum;

Thus the emperor's household shuddered, and those who held power were especially afraid that there would be a coup: but they had hope that, if they could convince Claudius of the enormity of the crime, Messalina could be overcome and condemned without a trial;

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

but [they believed] that there was the danger that he might listen to her defense, and that his ears might not be closed even to her confession.

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

Narcissus, looking for the right opportunity, with the emperor delayed for a while at Ostia, prevailed upon two of Claudius' courtesans, by means of promises and bribery, to make the accusation.

exim Calpurnia (id alteri paelici nomen), ubi datum est secretum, ad genua Caesaris provoluta nupsisse Messalinam Silio exclamat; altera paelice haec confirmante, Calpurnia cleri Narcissum postulat.

Then Calpurnia (that was the name of one of the courtesans), when she was granted a private interview, after falling down at the emperor's knees, exclaimed that Messalina had married Silius; while the other courtesan was confirming this, Calpurnia demanded that Narcissus be summoned.

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

He said 'Did you know about your divorce? For the wedding of silius was seen by the people and the senate and the army; and unless you act quickly, her husband [Silius] will have control of the city.'

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

He said that Messalina would keep the same power, with the added security, if they could forestall Claudius, who was slow to suspect intrigue but quick to get angry.

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

Messalina, not out of love for her husband, but fearing that Silius, having obtained supreme power would reject her, hesitated for a long time; but at last she was persuaded.

nomen enim matrimonii concupivit ob magnitudinem infamiae. nec ultra morata quam dum sacrificii gratia Claudius Ostiam proficisceretur, cuncta nuptiarum sollemnia celebrat.

For she longed for the respectable name of marriage because of the magnitude of her outrageousness. And having lingered only until Claudius set out to Ostia in order to attend a sacrifice, she [then] celebrated all the solemnities of marriage.