MESSALINA COMPLETE TRANSLATION

entire translation for last minute cramming :)

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 Siliana, a noble woman, from her marriage and got possession of an unrestricted adulterer.

neque Silius flagitii aut periculi nescius erat: sed intellexit exitium, si abnueret, fore certum et, si consentiret, nonnullam facinoris celandi spem esse;

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 deed;

simulque se magna praemia accepturum. igitur placuit neglegere futura et praesentibus frui.

and at the same time, he would receive great rewards. Therefore, he decided to ignore future events and enjoy the present circumstances.

illa non furti sed multi cum comitibus ventitat donum, egredienti adhaeret, dat opes honoresque;

She visited the house frequently, not secretly, but with many companions, clung to him when he went out, gave him wealth and honours:

postremo servi, liberti, paratus principis apud adulterum saepe videbantur.

finally, slaves, freedmen, the furnishings of the emperor were often seen at the adulterer’s house.

at Claudius matrimonii sui ignarius.

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 unusual lusts.

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

Sillius, 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:

quippe non exspectandum, dum princeps senesceret.

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 marriage 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, maxime que 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 posee opprimi sine quaestione damnatam.

nevertheless, they had (some) hope that if they convinced 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 that 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, 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 datum est secretum, ad genua, Caesaris provoluta nupisee Messalina 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 Nacissum postulat.

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

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

He said, “Do you know about your divorce? For the people, the senate and the soldiers have seen Sillius’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 congovisse et venitre promptum ultioni adferrent.

In the meantime, there was not only rumour, but from all sides messengers were hastening to Messalina, to report that 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 consituit, quod saepe ei fuerat subisidium;

She, however, although the unfavourable circumstances were taking away (time for) deliberation, immediately decided to meet and be seen by her husband, which had often been a 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 comitantibus - tam repens eart sollitudo - postquam per urbem pedibus ivit, vehiculo, quo purgamenta hortorum eripiuntur, Ostiensem viam intrat.

And meanwhile, with three at the most 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 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 issuit.

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 mors acceleraretur.

Silius, brought into the tribunal, did not attempt a defence or delaying tatics, 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 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, was heated with the meal and wine, he ordered that the wretched woman (for they say 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 heard this and saw that (Claudius’) 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 prompit denuntiatque centurionibus et tribuno, qui aderat, exsequi 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: 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;

Sitting beside her was her mother Lepida, who had not been in harmony with her daughter when she was flourishing,

sed supremis eius necessitatibuus ad miserationem versa suadebat ne percussorem opperiretur.

but in her final (hours of) need, having turned to pity, she advised her not to wait for an assassin.

transiisse vitam neque aliud quam mortem decoram quaerendum.

her life was past, and she should not seek anything other than a noble death.

sed nihil honestum inerat Messalinae animo, per libidines corrupto;

But there was nothing honourable in Messalina’s mind, which was corrupted by her lusts;

lacrimae et questus inriti effundebantur, cum impetu venientium pulsae sunt fores adstititque tribunus.

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;

Then for the first time Messalina recognised her fate and took up the sword;

quod frustra ingulo aut pectori per trepidationem admovens, ictu tribuni transigitur.

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.