Messalina part 3

mirum inter haec silentium Claudii: omnia liberto

The silence of Claudius amid these events was strange. He obeyed the freedman

oboediebat; qui contionem militum in castris paravit. apud

in everything. He (Narcissus) prepared a meeting of the soldiers in the camp. Among

eos praemonente Narcisso princeps pauca verba fecit:

them, with Narcissus forewarning them, the emperor spoke a few words.

continuus dehinc clamor militum nomina reorum et poenas

From then on there was a continuous clamour from the soldiers demanding the names of the

flagitantium. ductus Silius ad tribunal non defensionem,

guilty and punishments. Having been led to the platform, Silius did not attempt a defence

non moras tempavit, sed precatus est ut mors acceleraretur.

or delaying tactics but begged that his death be hastened.

interim Messalina Lucullianis in hortis prolatare vitam,

Meanwhile Messalina prolonged her life in the gardens of Lucullus and

componere preces, nonnulla spe et ira: tantam superbiam

composed prayers, with some hope and anger; even then she displayed

etiam tum gerebat. ac nisi caedem eius Narcissus

such great pride. And if Narcissus had not hastened her execution,

properavisset, vertisset pernicies in accusatorem.

death would have turned on the accuser (i.e. Narcissus).

nam

Claudius domum regressus, ubi cena vinoque incaluit,

For when Claudius, having returned home, was warmed with dinner and wine,

imperavit ut femina misera (hoc enim verbo Claudium

he ordered the wretched woman (for they say that Claudius used

usum esse ferunt) ad causam dicendam postridie adesset.

that word) should be present the next day to plead her case.

quod ubi Narcissus audivit et languescere iram redire

When Narcissus heard this and saw that (Claudius's) anger was weakening

amorem vidit, timebat, si moraretur, propinquam noctem

and his love was returning, he began to fear, if he delayed, the approaching night

et uxorii cubiculi memoriam; igitur prorumpit denuntiatque

and the memory of his wife's bedroom. Therefore he rushed out and ordered

centurionibus et tribuno, qui aderat, exsequi caedem: ita

the centurions and a tribune, who was present, to carry out the killing;

imperatorem iubere.

(he said that) the emperor was ordering it thus.

missus quoque unus e libertis: is

One of the freedmen was also sent; he, having gone on swiftly

raptim in hortos praegressus repperit Messalinam, humi

ahead to the gardens, found Messalina stretched out on the ground.

fusam; adsidebat mater Lepida, quae florenti filiae haud

Her mother Lepida was sitting beside her, who had not been on friendly terms

concors fuerat; sed supremis eius necessitatibus ad

when her daughter was flourishing, but in her final time of need, having turned

misericordiam versa suadebat ne percussorem opperiretur:

to pity, was urging her not to wait for an executioner.

transiisse vitam neque aliud quam mortem decoram

Her life was over and she should not seek anything other than a noble

quaerendum. sed nihil honestum inerat Messalinae animo,

death. But there was nothing honourable in Messalina's mind,

per libidines corrupto; lacrimae et questus inriti

corrupted by her lusts. Tears and useless complaints were

effundebantur, cum impetu venientium pulsae sunt fores

pouring out when the doors were broken open by the force of those arriving

adstititque tribunus. tunc primum Messalina fortunam

and the tribune stood nearby. Then for the first time Messalina understood

suam intellexit ferrumque accepit; quod frustra iugulo aut

her fate and took up a sword. Putting this in vain to her throat or

pectori per trepidantionem admovens, ictu tribuni transigitur.

her chest because she was trembling, she was pierced by the tribune's blow.

corpus matri concessum.

Her body was handed over to her mother.