OCR GCSE Latin - Prose Literature - Messalina

Messalina novo et quasi insano amore incensa est

Messalina was on fire with a new and almost insane love. (FIRE IMAGERY SHOWS INTENSITY OF LOVE)

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

For she had been so inflamed for for C. Silius, the most handsome of the Roman young men. (EMPHASISES MESSALINA’S SUPERFICIAL INTENTIONS)

ut Iuniam Silanam, nobilem feminam, matrimonio eius exturbaret

that she drove out Junia Silana, a noble woman, from her marriage (EX- PREPOSITION ADDS FORCE TO VERB)

liberoque adultero potiretur.

and she got possession of an unattached lover

neque Silius flagitii aut periculi nescius erat: sed intellexit exitium, si abnueret, fore certum

Silius was not unaware of the scandal or danger: but he realised that, if he rejected her, destruction would be certain (LITOTES - DOUBLE NEGATIVE TO EXPRESS A STRONG POSITIVE. EMPHASISES SILIUS WAS AWARE BUT STILL GOING THROUGH WITH IT - WEAK?)

et, si consentiret, nonullam facinoris celandi spem esse;

and, if he agreed, there would be some hope of hiding the crime; (LITOTES, NOT NOTHING. EMPHASISES SILIUS WANTS TO HIDE THE CRIME. ENCLOSING ORDER: "hiding the crime” is hidden in the middle, literal representation of the meaning)

simulque se magna praemia accepturum.

and at the same time he would recieve great rewards.

igitur placuit neglegere futura praesentibus frui.

Therefore he decided to ignore the future and enjoy the present. (CHIASMUS: ABBA (A = INFINITIVE, B = NOUN) DRAWS ATTENTION TO THIS PART. EMPHASISES THAT SILIUS DOESN’T WANT TO THINK ABOUT CONSEQUENCES

illa non furtim sed multis cum comitibus ventitat domum,

She kept coming to his house, not secretly but with many companions, (NON FURTIM EMPHATICALLY POSITIONED TO SHOW HER LACK OF SHAME, VENTITAT SHOWS HOW OFTEN SHE SEES HIM)

egredienti adhaeret, dat opes honoresque;

she clung to him when he went out, she gave him riches and honours; (ASYNDETON - NO ‘ANDS’ SPEEDS UP SENTENCE + INTENSIFIES ALL THE THINGS M IS DOING)

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

finally slaves, freedmen, and furniture of the emperor were often seen at the house of the adulterer (PLOSIVE ALLITERATION. SILIUS REDUCED TO ADULTERER, NAME NOT USED: HE LACKS POWER + AGENCY)

at Claudius matrimonii sui ignarus.

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

iam Messalina propter facilitatem adulteriorum ad novas libidines versa est.

Now because of the ease of her adulteries, Messalina turned to new pleasures.

Silius, sive fatali insania an ipsa pericula remedium imminentium periculorum ratus,

Silius, whether because of a fated madness or thinking that the dangers themselves were a cure for the imminent dangers (POLYPTOTON: SAME ROOT WORD REPEATED IN DIFFERENT FORM HIGHLIGHTS THE DANGER. -IUM/-ORUM ALLITERATION GIVES A SOMBRE TONE EMPHASISING HIS WORRY)

abrumpi dissimulationem urgebat: quippe non exspectandum, dum princeps senesceret.

was urging for the concealment to be cast aside: certainly they should not wait while the emperor to grow old. (S’s MORALCOMPASS DOESN’T ALIGN WITH M’S)

se caelibem, orbum, nuptiis et adoptando Britannico paratum.

He was single, childless, ready for marraige and adopting Britannicus. (ASYNDETIC TRICOLON EMPHASISES HIS EAGERNESS)

eandem Messalinas potentiam mansuram esse, addita securitate, si praevenirent Claudium,

The same power would remain for Messalina, with more security, if they forestalled Claudius,

qui insidiis incautus sed iram celer esset.

who was slow to suspect intrigue but quick to anger.

Messalina, non amore in maritum, sed verita ne Silius summa adeptus se spernet,

Messalina, not through love for her husband, but afraid that Silius, having achieved the greatest power, might reject her,

diu haesitavit, sed tandem persuasum.

hesitated for a long time, but was at last she was persuaded.

nomen enim matrimonii concupivit ob magitudem infamiae.

She longed for the name of marriage because of the magnitude of its outrageousness.

nec morata ultra quam dum sacrificii gratia Claudius Ostiam profisceretur,

Having delayed only until Claudius set out for Ostia to make a sacrifice,

celebrat cuncta sollemnia nuptiarum.

she celebrated all the ceremonies of marriage.

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

Therefore the house of the emperor shuddered, most of all those who had power feared that there would be a revolution.

spem tamen habebant, si Claudio de atrocitate sceleris persuasissent,

however, they had hope that, if they persuaded Claudius of the enormity of the crime,

Messalinam posse opprimi sine quaestione damnatum;

Messalina could be crushed by being damned without trial;

sed periculum esse ne ille defensionem audiret,

but there was a danger that he might listen to her defence,

neve clausae aures etiam confitenti non essent.

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

Narcissus, occasiones quaerens, cum Caesar diu apud Ostiam moraretur,

Narcissus, looking for opportunities, while Claudius delayed for a long time at Ostia,

duas eius paelices largitione et promissis perpulit delationem subire.

induced his two courtesans with bribery and promises to undertake the accusation.

exim Calpurnia (id alteri paelici nomen),

Then Calpurnia (that was the name of one courtesan),

ubi datum est secretum, ad genua Caesaris provoluta nupsisse Messalinam Silio exclamat;

when a secret interview was given, having fallen down at the knees of Caesar, She exclaimed that Messalina had married Silius;

altera paelice haec confirmante, Calpurnia cieri Narcissum postulat.

the other courtesan confirming these things, Calpurnia demanded that Naricssus be summoned.

qui 'discidiumne tuum' inquit 'novisti?'

He said 'Do you know about your divorce?'

'nam matrimonium Silii vidit populus et senatus et milites; ac nisi celeriter agis, tenet urbem maritus.'

'For the people and the senate and the soldiers have seen Silius' marriage; and if you do not act quickly, her husband holds the city.'

non solum rumor interea, sed undique nuntii ad Messalinam contendunt,

Meanwhile not only rumor, but messengers from all sides were hurrying to Messalina,

qui Claudium omnia cognovisse et venire promptum ultioni adferrent.

to report that Claudius had found out everything and was coming ready for revenge.

igitur Messalina Lucullianos in hortos, Silius dissimulando metui ad forum digrediuntur.

Therefore they separated, Messalina to the gardens of Lucullus, Silius, to conceal his fear, to the Forum.

illa tamen, quamquam res adversae consilium eximerent, ire obviam et aspici a marito statim constituit,

She, however, although the disaster prevented planning, immediately decided to go to meet and be seen by her husband,

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

because this had often been a lifesaver for her; and she sent orders that Britannicus and Octavia should go to their father's arms.

atque interim, tribus omnino comitantibus-tam repens erat solitudo-

And meanwhile, with only three companions - so sudden was her desertion-

postquam per urbem pedibus ivit, vehiculo, quo purgamenta hortorum eripiuntur, Ostiensem viam intrat.

after she went through the city on foot, she entered the road to Ostia in a cart in which garden waste is removed.

nullam misericordiam civibus commovit quia flagitiorum deformitas praevalebat.

She aroused no pity from the citizens, because the monstrous nature of her scandals carried more weight.

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

And now she was in Claudius' sight and shouting repeatedly that he listen to the mother of Octavia and Britannicus.

Narcissus tamen obstrepuit, Silium et nuptias referens;

Narcissus, however, shouted her down, recalling Silius, and their marriage;

simul codicillos libidinum incides tradidit, quibus visus Caesaris averteret.

At the same time he handed over notebooks as proof of their debaucheries, with which he might distract Caesar's attention.

nec multo post urbem ingredienti offerebantur liberi,

And not long afterwards, his children were presented to him as he was entering the city,

sed Narcissus amoveri eos iussit.

but Narcissus ordered them to be removed.

mirum inter haec silentium Claudii:

Amidst these events Claudius' silence was remarkable:

omnia liberto obodiebat; qui contionem militum in castris paravit.

he obeyed his freedman in everything; and he arranged an assembly of soldiers in their camp.

apud eos praemonte Narcisso princeps pauca verba fecit:

In their presence, Narcissus warning them in advance, the emperor said a few words.

continuus dehinc clamor militum nomina reorum et poenas flagitantium.

from then on there was the consistent uproar of the soldiers demanding the names of the guilty and their punishment.

ductus Silius ad tribunal non defensionem, non moras temptavit,

Silius, having been led to the platform, attemted no defense, no delaying tactics,

sed precatus est ut mors acceleraretur.

but he prayed that his death might be hastened.

interim Messalina Lucullianis in hortis prolatare vitam,

Meanwhile Messalina tried to prolong her life in the gardens of Lucullus,

componere preces, nonulla spe et ire: tantam superbiam etiam tum gerebat.

and to compose new prayers, with some hope and anger, such great arrogance was she displaying even then.

ac nisi caedem eius Narcissus properavisset,

And if Narcissus had not hastened her execution,

vertisset pernicies in accusatorem.

death would have turned on to her accuser.

nam Claudius domum regressus, ubi cena vinoque incaluit,

For Claudius, having returned home, when he glowed with dinner and wine,

imperavit ut femina misera (hoc enim verbo Claudium usum esse ferunt)

he ordered that the miserable woman (for they say that Claudius used this phrase)

ad causam dicendam postridie adesset.

should be present the next day to plead her case.

quod ubi Narcissus audivit et languescere iram redire amorem vidit,

When Narcissus heard this and saw that his anger was weakening and his love returning,

timebat, si moraretur, propinquam noctem et uxorii cubiculi memoriam;

he feared, if he delayed, the approaching night and memory of his wife's bedroom;

igitur prorumpit denuntiatque centurionibus et tribuno, qui aderat,

therefore he rushed out and ordered the centurion and a tribune, who was present,

exsequi caedem: ita imperatorem iubere.

to carry out the execution: so did the emperor order.

missus quoque unus e liberis: is raptim in hortos praegressus repperit Messalinam,

One of the freedmen was also sent: he having gone on ahead hurriedly into the gardens, found Messalina,

humi fusam; adsidebat mater Lepida, quaea florenti, filiae haud concors fuerat;

sprawled on the ground; sitting beside her was her mother Lepida, who had not been on friendly terms with her daughter while she prospered;

sed supremis eius necessitatibus ad misericordam versa suadebat ne percussorem opperiretur:

but having turned to pity in her extreme crisis, was persuading her not to await the executioner:

transiisse vitam neque aliud quam mortem decoram quaerendum.

her life was over and nothing other than a decent death should be sought.

sed nihil honestum inerat Messalinae animo, per libidines corrupto;

But nothing honourable was in Messalina's mind, corrupted by her lusts;

lacrimae et questus inriti effundebantur,

tears and useless complaints were being poured out,

cum impetu venientem pulsae sunt fores adstititque tribunus

when the garden gate was broken down by the force of those coming, and there stood the tribune.

tunc primum Messalina fortunam suam intellexit ferrumque accepit;

Then for the first time Messalina realised her fate and accepted the sword;

quod frustra iugulo aut pectori per trepidationem admovens,

applying it to her throat or chest, ineffectively on account of her trembling,

ictu tribuni transigitur. corpus matri concessum.

she was run through by a blow of the tribune. Her body was handed over to her mother.