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,

For Messalina the same power would remain, with added security, if they forestalled Claudius (FORESTALL MEANS TO PREVENT AN ANTICIPATED EVENT BY TAKING ACTION IN ADVANCE)

qui insidiis incautus sed iram celer esset.

who was oblivious to treachery, but quick to anger. (ALLITERATION OF in HIGHLIGHTS THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THEY’RE DOING IS WRONG. MESSALINA’S JUSTIFICATION IS THAT CLAUDS IS DUMB BUT HAS A TEMPER)

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

Messalina, not because of love for her husband, but feeling that Silius, if he obtained the highest honours, might reject her (REPEATED S SOUND HIGHLIGHTS HER UNEASE. SHE ONLY CARES ABOUT HER POWER)

diu haesitavit, sed tandem persuasum.

hesitated for a long time, but was finally persuaded.

nomen enim matrimonii concupivit ob magitudem infamiae.

For she desired the title of marriage because of the magnitude of the disgrace. (THE CON- BEFORE CUPIVIT INTENSIFIES THE VERB, EMPHASISING HER DESIRES. IMFAMIAE/DISGRACE IS EMPHATICALLY POSITIONED AT END OF SENTENCE. M CARES ABOUT TITLE MORE THAN MARRAIGE ITSELF - SUPERFICIAL)

nec ultra morata quam dum sacrificii gratia Claudius Ostiam profisceretur,

And having not delayed any further than until Claudius set out to Ostia for the purpose of sacrifice, (MESSALINA NO LONGER WANTS TO WAIT. JUXTAPOSITION: C DOING HOLY SACRIFICE, M+S SINNING ILLEGALLY)

cuncta sollemnia nuptiarum celebrat.

she celebrated all the rites of marriage. (CELEBRAT IS HISTORIC PRESENT: PRESENT BUT TRANSLATE AS PAST, THIS MAKES IT VIVID + FOCUSING ON CELEBRATION)

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

Therefore the emperor’s household shuddered and most of all those who had power feared that the state would be overturned: (INHORRUIT IS A PHYSICAL VIVID VERB, AND PERSONIFIES THE HOUSE TO SHOW HOW SCARED THEY WERE. VERTERENTUR IS PASSIVE SHOWING THEY HAVE NO CONTROL. IRONY - THOSE WITH POWER ARE NOW AFRAID)

spem tamen habebant, si Claudio de atrocitate sceleris persuasissent,

however, they had hope that, if they convinced Claudius about the enormity of the crime, (SPEM EMPHATICALLY POSITIONED HIGHLIGHTING THEIR HOPE, HABEBANT IS REPEATED, “SI” EMPHASISES THEIR DOUBT)

Messalinam posse opprimi sine quaestione damnatum;

Messalina could be crushed without a trial and condemned; (OPPRIMI IS PRESENT PASSIVE INF TO REPRESENT M’S LOSS OF AGENCY, and DAMNATAM IS EMPHATICALLY POSITIONED)

sed periculum esse ne ille defensionem audiret,

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

neve clausae aures etiam confitenti non essent.

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

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

Narcissus, looking for opportunities, since Claudius was delaying for a long time at Ostia, (QUARENS IS A PRESENT PARTICIPLE WHICH SHOW’S NARCISSUS’ EAGERNESS TO CATCH M OUT)

duas eius paelices largitione et promissis perpulit delationem subire.

persuaded two of his concubines with generous gifts and promises to submit an accusation. (PLOSIVE ALLITERATION IN LATIN)

exim Calpurnia (id alteri paelici nomen)

Then Calpurnia (that was the name of the other concubine),(THE BIT IN BRACKETS IS A DIG AT MESSALINA, BY COMPARING HER WITH THE CONCUBINE)

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

when she was given a secret audience, fell down at the knees of Caesar, she shouted that Messalina had married Silius; (EXCLAMAT HIGHLIGHTS EXTREMITY OF SITCH)

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?'

He said 'Did you know about your divorce?'

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

'For the people, the senate and the soldiers have seen Silius' marriage; and unless you act quickly, the husband holds the city.' (POLYSYNDETIC TRICOLON EMPHASISES HOW PUBLIC THE AFFAIR HAS BECOME. MARITUS EMPHATICALLY POSITIONED TO SHOW THAT SILIUS HAS REPLACED CLAUDIUS, AND HOW SERIOUS THIS CRIME IS)

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

Meanwhile not only rumour, but messengers from all sides were hastening to Messalina, (UNDIQUE HIGHLIGHTS URGENCY)

qui Claudium omnia cognovisse et venire promptum ultioni adferrent.

to report that Claudius had found out everything and was coming ready for revenge. (CONTENDUNT IS HISTORIC PRESENT, EMPHASISING PANIC + SUSPENSE)

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 conceal his fear (SET IN 2 CLAUSES WHICH SHOWS THEY’RE GOING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS)

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

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

(NOW THE SECRET IS OUT, MESSALINA FOCUSES ON GETTING HER OTHER HUSBAND ON SIDE - IMMEDIATE SHIFT IN PRIORITIES. SHE AIMS TO MANIPULATE HIM WITH HER APPEARANCE)

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

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

(VERB AT START OF CLAUSE EMPHASISES THAT M WANTS THIS DONE QUICKLY. SHE DISTRACTS CLAUDIUS BY REMINDING HIM SHE IS THE MOTHER OF HIS CHILDREN)

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

And meanwhile, with only three companions - so sudden was the isolation- (OMNINO AND SOLITUDO EMPHASISE HER SOLITUDE)

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

after she went through the city on foot, she entered the Ostian road in a cart, by which the rubbish of the garden was being taken away (P ALLITERATION SHOWS TACITUS’ HARSH DISGUST AT M, AS HER STATUS IS NOW DIMINISHED. INTRAT IS A HISTORIC PRESENT, MAKING HER ENTRACE MORE DRAMATIC)

nullam misericordiam civibus commovit quia flagitiorum deformitas praevalebat.

She aroused no pity in the citizens, because the hideousness of the scandal prevailed (NULLAM EMPHATICALLY POSITIONED AT START TO EMPHASISE COMPLETE LACK OF PITY. ALLITERATION OF C AND Q SOUNDS SHOW THAT PEOPLE DISLIKE HER. POWERFUL VIVID WORDS ‘flagitorum deformitas’ HAVE A CONDEMNATORY TONE)

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

And now she was in sight of Claudius and demanding loudly that he listen to the mother of Octavia and Britannicus. (IMPERFECT TENSE SUGGESTS SHOUTING IS REPEATED, M IS GUILT TRIPPING)

Narcissus tamen obstrepuit, Silium et nuptias referens;

Narcissus, however, shouted her down, recalling Silius, and their marriage; (PERFECT TENSE SUGGESTS HE’S DEFINITVE AND SUCCINCT)

simul codicillos libidinum incides tradidit, quibus visus Caesaris averteret.

At the same time he handed over a writing tablet as proof of her lusts, by which he might direct the glances of Caesar. (THE FACT THIS IS HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY INTENSIFIES THE SCENE. NARCISSUS IS TRYING TO AVERT CLAUDIUS FROM BEING DISTRACTED BY MESSALINA’S APPEARANCE)

nec multo post urbem ingredienti offerebantur liberi,

And not long afterwards, his children were presented to him as he was entering the city, (CHILDREN WERE JUST COMMODITIES AND WERE BEING USED, SUGGESTED BY PASSIVE)

sed Narcissus amoveri eos iussit.

but Narcissus ordered them to be removed. (HE IS IN COMMAND AND KIDS HAVE NO CHOICE)

mirum inter haec silentium Claudii:

Amidst these events Claudius' silence was remarkable: (ENCLOSING ORDER: SILENCE AND SURPRISING ENCOMPASS EVERYTHING AS A BRACKET. CLAUDIUS IS LETTING NARCISSUS TAKE CONTROL)

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. (CLAUDIUS IS OBEYING SOMEONE MUCH LOWER THAN HIM. OMNIA EMPHATICALLY POSITIONED TO SHOW C’S COMPLETE SUBMISSION)

apud eos praemonte Narcisso princeps pauca verba fecit:

In their presence, Narcissus warning them in advance, the emperor said a few words. (PLOSIVE ALLITERATION SHOWS CLAUDIUS’ STUTTER + UNCERTAINTY. HE SAYS ONLY A FEW WORDS BECAUSE HE IS OBLIGATED TO - NOT ACTUALLY INTERESTED)

continuus dehinc clamor militum nomina reorum et poenas flagitantium.

from there arose continuous shouting of the soldiers demanding the names of the guilty and their punishment. (CONTINUUS CONTRASTS THE PREVIOUS ‘A FEW’ and HIGHLIGHTS THE OUTRAGE. ALLITERATION OF C CONTRASTS THE P ALLITERATION, SHOWING CONFIDENCE. FLAGITANTIUM IS A PRESENT PARTICIPLE WHICH SHOWS THE SOLDIER’S PERSISTENCE TO FIND THE GUILTY)

ductus Silius ad tribunal non defensionem, non moras temptavit,

Silius, having been led into the tribunal, did not attempt attempt a defence or delaying tactics, (ANAPHORA OF NON EMPHASISES THAT SILIUS IS RESIGNED TO HIS FATE.)

sed precatus est ut mors acceleraretur.

but he prayed that his death might be hastened. (SILIUS JUST WANTS IT OVER AND DONE WITH)

interim Messalina Lucullianis in hortis prolatare vitam,

Meanwhile Messalina prolonged her life in the gardens of Lucullus, ( HISTORIC INFINITIVE OF PROLATARE SHOWS HER DESPERATION AND LACK OF SHAME)

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

and composed letters of appeal, with some hope and anger: even then she was displaying such great arrogance. ( IRA/ANGER SHOWS M’S AUDACITY AS SHE FEELS SHE IS BEING MISTREATED. THE INTENSIFIER TANTAM IS EMPHATICALLY POSITIONED AT FRONT OF CLAUSE)

ac nisi caedem eius !Narcissus properavisset, vertisset pernicies! in accusatorem.

And if Narcissus had not hastened her slaughter, destruction would have turned on the accuser. (CHIASMUS: ABBA NOUN VERB VERB NOUN SHOWS POTENTIAL DANGER TO N AND POTENTIAL VIOLENCE FROM M. THE USE OF HASTENED SPEEDS UP THE NARRATIVE)

nam Claudius domum regressus, ubi cena vinoque incaluit,

For when Claudius, having returned home, grew warm from dinner and wine, (WHEN D

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

he ordered that the wretched woman (for they say that Claudius used this word) (THIS IS THE 1ST TIME C EXPLICITLY CONDEMNS M, BUT IS ONLY THIS DECISIVE WHEN DRUNK, SHOWING HIS WEAKNESS. IT IS MEANT TO BE SHOCKING)

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 declining and his love was returning, (CHIASMUS IS ABAB BALANCE OF HISTORIC INFINITIVES AND ACCUSATIVE NOUNS: EMPHASISES THAT CLAUDIUS COULD FORGIVE MESSALINA. N IS AFRAID THAT C COULD BE SEDUCED)

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

he began to fear the approaching night, if he delayed, and the memory of her wife’s bedroom (REPEATED M SOUND CREATES A SOMBRE, MOURNFUL TONE AS CLAUDIUS REMEMBERS THE LOVE THEY HAD.)

igitur prorumpit denuntiatque centurionibus et tribuno, qui aderat,

therefore he rushed out and ordered the centurions and a tribune, who was present, (HISTORIC PRESENTS ADD VIVIDNESS AND CONVEY SPEED AND VIOLENCE, WHICH SPEEDS UP THE PACE OF NARRATIVE.)

exsequi caedem: ita imperatorem iubere.

to carry out the slaughter: (he said that) the emperor ordered thus (C IS CALLED IMPERATOR INSTEAD OF PRINCEPS WHICH IS A EUPHEMISM, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HE’S DONE SOMETHING. IUBERE IS A HISTORIC INFINITIVE WHICH EMPHASISES THE POWER OF THE ACTION)

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

One of the freedmen was also sent: he, having gone on ahead swiftly into the gardens, found Messalina (MISSUS EMPHATICALLY POSITIONED TO SHOW HOW QUICKLY SOMEONE WAS SENT TO M)

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

sprawled on the ground; her mother Lepida was sitting beside her, who had not been in harmony with her daughter when she was flourishing; (HUMI BUILDS UNCERTAINTY AS THE PHYSICAL IMAGE MAKES US WONDER IF SHE IS DEAD. THE FLOURISHING WAS WHEN MESSALINA WAS HAVING THE AFFAIR, CONCORS SUGGESTS LEPIDA IS RESPECTABLE BECAUSE SHE DISAGREES WITH ADULTERY)

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

but in her final hours of need, having turned to pity, advised her not to wait for the assassin: (SIBILANCE OF S EMPHASISES TACITUS’ DISGUST, IT’S IRONIC THAT THE MOST RESPECT M CAN EARN IS THROUGH SUICIDE. SUADEBAT IN IMPERFECT SUGGESTS L CONTINUOUSLY ADVISED M)

transiisse vitam neque aliud quam mortem decoram quaerendum.

her life was over and she should not seek anything but a noble death (ALLITERATION OF M CREATES A SOMBRE TONE EMPHASISING THE IMMINENCE OF HER DEATH. THIS IS HER ONLY CHANCE TO GAIN DIGNITY)

sed nihil honestum inerat Messalinae animo, per libidines corrupto;

But there was nothing honourable in Messalina's mind, corrupted by her lusts; (NIHIL EMPHATICALLY POSITIONED AT FRONT TO HEIGHTEN HER LACK OF MORALITY, AUDIENCE HAVE NO RESPECT FOR HER)

lacrimae et questus inriti effundebantur,

tears and futile complaints were pouring forth, (THERE’S NOTHING SHE CAN DO NOW! HYPERBOLIC VERB CHOICE EMPHASISES HER COWARDICE)

cum impetu venientem pulsae sunt fores adstititque tribunus

when the doors were struck by the force of those approaching, and the tribune stood nearby. (IMPETU AND PULSAE SUNT ARE VIOLENT WORD CHOICES SHOWING THE TRIBUNE’S HOSTILITY TOWARDS M. TRIBUNUS ADDS SUSPENSE BY BEING AT THE END)

tunc primum Messalina fortunam suam intellexit ferrumque accepit;

Then for the first time Messalina understood her fate and took up the sword; (PRIMUM SHOWS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SHE’S UNDERSTOOD THE CONSEQUENCES OF ACTIONS - RIGHT BEFORE DEATH.)

quod frustra iugulo aut pectori per trepidationem admovens,

putting it to her throat or chest in vain because of panic, (PLOSIVE ALLITERATION MIMICS THE SOUND OF HER TREMBLING. SHE MOVED HER SWORD JUST BEFORE SHE WAS STRUCK, WE MAY FEEL PITY FOR HER HERE?)

ictu tribuni transigitur. corpus matri concessum.

she was stabbed by the tribune’s final blow. Her body was granted to the mother. (REFERING TO MAS THE BODY DEHUMANISES HER. THIS BRIEF FINAL SENTECE SHOWS HOW QUICKLY EVERYONE GOT OVER HER DEATH. TACITUS DOESN’T WANT TO WASTE WORDS ON HER)