Messalina is denounced 1

igitur domus principis inhorruit,

Therefore the household of the emperor shuddered,

maximeque ei qui potentiam habebant timuerunt ne res verterentur:

And those who had the power were very greatly afraid that there would be a coup:

spem tamen habebant,

however, they had hope that,

si Claudio de atrocitate sceleris persuasissent,

If they persuaded Claudius about the enormity of her crime,

Messalinam posse opprimi sine quaestione damnatam;

Messalina could be overcome and, condemned without trial;

sed periculum esse ne ille defensionem audiret,

But they believed that there was a danger that he would hear her defence,

neve clausae aures etiam confitenti non essent.

And that his ears would not be closed even if she was confessing.

Narcissus, occasiones quaerens,

Narcissus, searching for opportunities,

cum Caesar diu apud Ostiam moraretur,

since the Emperor was delaying for a long time at Ostia,

duas eius paelices largitione et promissis perpulit delationem subire.

Induced his two concubines with bribery and promises to undertake the accusation.

exim Calpurnia (id alteri paelici nomen),

Next Calpurnia (that was the name of one of the courtesans)

uni datum est secretum,

When a private interview was granted

ad genua Caesaris provoluta nupsisse Messalinam Silio exclamat;

having fallen down at Caesar's knees, shouted that Messalina had married Silius;

altera paelice haec confirmante,

when the other concubine confirmed this,

Calpurnia cieri Narcissum postulat.

Calpurnia ordered Narcissus to be summoned.

qui 'discidiumme tuum' inquit 'novisti?

He said, "Did you know about your divorce?

nam matrimonium Silii vidit populus et senatus et milites;

For the people and the senate and the soldiers saw the marriage of Silius;

ac nisi celeriter agis, tenet urbem maritus.'

And unless you act swiftly, her husband holds the city."