OCR GCSE Latin - translation of Messalina and Pliny (prose set text) Latin to English

1st section, 1st half:

Messalina novo et quasi amore incensa est. nam in C. Silium, iuventutis Romanae pulcherrimum, ita exarserat ut luniam Silanam, nobilem feminam, matrimonio eius exturbaret liberoque adultero potiretur.

Messalina was fired with a new and almost mad love. 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 Silana, a noble woman, from her marriage and got possession of an unrestricted adulterer.

1st section, 2nd half:

neque Silius flagitii aut periculi nescius erat: sed intellexit exitium, si abnueret, fore certum et, si consentiret, nonnullam facinoris celandi spem esse; simulque se magna praemia accepturum. igitur placuit neglegere futura et praesentibus frui.

Silius was not unaware of the disgrace or the danger: but he realised that ruin would be certain, if he refused and, if he agreed, there would be some hope of concealing the deed; and at the same time he would receive great rewards. Therefore he decided to ignore the future and enjoy the present.

2nd section, 1st half:

illa non furtim sed multis cum comitibus ventitat domum, egredienti adhaeret, dat opes honoresque; postremo servi, liberti, paratus principis apud adulterum saepe videbantur. at Claudius matrimonii sui ignarus.

She visited the house frequently, not secretly but with many companions, she clung to him when he went out, she gave him wealth and honours; finally, slaves, freedmen, the furnishings of the emperor were often seen at the adulterer's house. But Claudius was unaware of (the state of) his own marriage.

2nd section, 2nd half:

iam Messalina propter facilitatem adulteriorem ad novas libidines versa est. Silius, sive fatali insania an ipsa pericula remedium imminentium periculorum ratus, abrumpi dissimulationem urgebat: quippe non exspectandum, dum princeps senesceret.

Now Messalina, because of the easiness of the adulteries, turned to unusual lusts. Silius, whether because of his fateful folly or thinking that the dangers themselves were a cure for the imminent dangers, pressed for the concealment to be set aside: certainly, they should not wait for the emperor to grow old.

3rd section, 1st half:

se caelibem, orbum, nuptiis et adoptando Britannico paratum. eandem Messalinae potentiam mansuram esse, addita securitate, si praevenirent Claudium, qui insidiis incautus sed ad iram celer esset. Messalina, non amore in maritum sed verita ne Silius summa adeptus se sperneret, diu haesitavit; sed tandem persuasum.

He was single, childless, ready for marriage and adopting Britannicus. For Messalina, the same power would remain, with added security, if they forestalled Claudius, who was oblivious to treachery but swift to anger. Messalina hesitated for a long time, not because of love for her husband, but afraid that Silius having obtained supreme power, would spurn her; but finally she was persuaded.

3rd section, 2nd half:

nomen enim matrimonii concupivit ob magnitudinem infamiae. nec ultra morata quam dum sacrificii gratia Claudius Ostiam proficisceretur, cuncta nuptiarum sollemnia celebrat.

For she craved the title of marriage because of the magnitude of the ignominy. Not delaying any further than until Claudius set out for Ostia for a sacrifice, she celebrated all the rites of marriage.

4th section, 1st half:

igitur domus principis inhorruit, maximeque ei qui potentiam habebant timuerunt ne res verterentur: spem tamen habebant, si Claudo de atrocitate sceleris persuasissent, Messalinam posse opprimi sine quaestione damnatam; sed periculum esse ne ille defensionem audiret, neve clausae aures etiam confitenti non essent.

Therefore the emperor's household shuddered, and particularly those who held any power feared lest the state be overturned; however they had hope that if they persuaded Claudius about the enormity of the crime, Messalina could be condemned without a trial and overthrown; but there was a danger that Claudius might listen to her defence or that his ears might not be close to her, even if she confessed.

4th section, 2nd half:

Narcissus, occasiones quaerens, cum Caesar diu apud Ostiam moraretur, duas eius paelices largitione et promissis perpulit delationem subire. exim Calpurnia (id alteri paelici nomen), ubi datum est secretum, ad genua Caesaris provoluta nupsisse Messalinam Silio exclamat; altera paelice haec confirmante, Calpurnia cieri Narcissum postulat.

Narcissus, looking for opportunities, since Caesar was delaying for a long time at Ostia, compelled two of his concubines with largesse and promises to submit an accusation. Then Calpurnia (that was the name of one of the two concubines), when she was given a secret audience, prostrated herself at the knees of Caesar, shouted that Messalina had married Silius; when the other concubine confirmed this, Calpurnia demanded that Narcissus be summoned.

5th section, 1st half:

qui 'discidiumne tuum' inquit 'novisti? nam matrimonium Silii vidit populus et senatus et milites; ac nisi celeriter agis, tenet urbem maritus.' non solum rumor interea, sed undique nuntii ad Messalinam contendunt, qui Claudium omnia cognovisse et venire promptum ultioni adferrent.

He said, 'Do you know about your divorce? For the people, the senate and the soldiers have seen Silius' marriage; and unless you act quickly, the husband controls the city.' Meanwhile there was not only rumour but messengers were hastening to Messalina from all sides, to report that Claudius knew everything and was coming eager for revenge.

5th section, 2nd half:

igitur Messalina Lucullianos in hortos, Silius dissimulando metui ad forum digrediuntur. illa tamen, quamquam res adversae consilium eximerent, ire obviam et aspici a marito statim constituit, quod saepe ei fuerat subsidium; misitque ut Britannicus et Octavia in complexum patris irent.

Therefore Messalina and Silius departed in different directions, she to the Gardens of Lucullus, he to the forum to hide his fear. However she, 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; and she sent (instructions) that Britannicus and Octavia should go to their father's embrace.

6th section, 1st half:

atque interim, tribus omnino comitantibus - tam repens erat sollitudo - postquam per urbem pedibus ivit, vehiculo, quo purgamenta hortorum eripiuntur, Ostiensem viam intrat. nullam misericordiam civibus commovit quia flagitiorum deformitas praevalebat.

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. She aroused no pity in the citizens because the hideousness of the scandals prevailed.

6th section, 2nd half:

et iam erat in aspectu Claudii clamitabatque ut audiret Octaviae et Britannici matrem. Narcissus tamen obstrepuit, Silium et nuptias referens; simul codicillos libidinum indices tradidit, quibus visus Caesaris averteret. nec multo post urbem ingredienti offerebantur liberi, sed Narcissus amoveri eos iussit.

And now she was in sight of Claudius and kept shouting that he should listen to the mother of Octavia and Britannicus. However Narcissus 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. 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.

7th section, 1st half:

mirum inter haec silentium Claudii: omnia liberto oboediebat; qui contionem militum in castris paravit. apud eos praemonente Narcisso princeps pauca verba fecit: continuus dehinc clamor militum nomina reorum et poenas flagitantium.

Claudius' silence amid these events was surprising: he obeyed the freedman in every respect. Narcissus prepared a meeting of the soldiers in the camp. In their presence, with Narcissus having advised him in advance, the emperor spoke a few words: then (there arose) a continuous shouting of the soldiers demanding the names of the guilty.

7th section, 2nd half:

ductus Silius ad tribunal non defensionem, non moras temptavit, sed precatus est ut mors acceleraretur. interim Messalina Lucullianis in hortis prolatare vitam, componere preces, nonnulla spe et ira: tantam superbiam etiam tum gerebat. ac nisi caedem eius Narcissus properavisset, vertisset pernicies in accusatorem.

Silius, brought to the tribunal, did not attempt a defence or delay but begged that his death might be hastened. Meanwhile Messalina prolonged her life in Lucullus' gardens and composed on entreaty, with some hope and anger: even then she displayed such great pride. And if Narcissus had not hastened her slaughter, destruction would have turned onto the accuser.

8th section, 1st half:

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 dinner and wine, he ordered that the wretched woman (for they say Claudius used this word) should be present to the next day to plead her case.

8th section, 2nd half:

quod ubi Narcissus audivit et languescere iram redire amorem vidit, timebat, si moraretur, propinquam noctem et uxorii cubiculi memoriam; igitur prorumpit denuntiatque centurionibus et tribuno, qui aderat, exsequi caedem: ita imperatorem iubere. missus quoque unus e libertis: is raptim in hortos praegressus repperit Messalinam, humi fusam;

When Narcissus heard this and saw that (Claudius') anger was abating and that his love was returning, he began the memory of the wife's bedroom; therefore he burst forth and ordered the centurions and a tribune, who was present, to carry out the slaughter: (he said that) the emperor was making this order. One of the freedmen was also sent; he, having gone swiftly to the gardens before the rest, found Messalina lying on the ground;

9th section, 1st half:

adsidebat mater Lepida, quae florenti filiae haud concors fuerat; sed supremis eius necessitatibus ad miserationem versa suadebat ne percussorem opperiretur: transiisse vitam neque aliud quam mortem decoram quaerendum.

Sitting beside her was he mother Lepida, who had not been in harmony with her daughter when she was flourishing but in her final (hours of) need, having turned to pity, advised her not to wait for an assassin: her life was over and she should not seek anything other than a noble death.

9th section, 2nd half:

sed nihil honestum inerat Messalinae animo, per libidines corrupto; lacrimae et questus inriti effundebantur, cum impetus venientium pulsae sunt fores adstititque tribunus. tunc primum Messalina fortunam suam intellexit ferrumque accepit; quod frustra iugulo aut pectori per trepidationem admovens, ictu tribuni transigitur. corpus matri concessum.

But there was nothing honourable in Messalina's mind, corrupted by her lusts; tears and futile complaints were pouring forth, when the doors were struck by the attacks of those arriving and the tribune stood nearby. Then for the first time Messalina understood her fate and took up the sword; applying this to her throat or chest in vain because of her panic, she was pierced by the tribune's blow. The body was granted to the mother.

PLINY

1st section, 1st half:

ante lucem ibat ad Vespasianum imperatorem (nam ille quoque noctibus utebatur), deinde ad officium sibi delegatum. reversus domum reliquum tempus studiis dabat. saepe post cibum (qui veterum more interdiu levis et facilis erat) aestate, si quid otii erat, iacebat in sole, liber legebatur, adnotabat excerpebatque.

Before dawn, he used to go to the emperor Vespasian (for he also used the nights), then to the duty assigned to him. Having returned home, he would give the remaining time to his studies. Often after food (which during the day, by the custom of our ancestors, was light and easy [on the stomach]) in the summer, if there was any leisure time, he would lie in the sun, a book would be read and he would make notes and take extracts.

PLINY

1st section, 2nd half:

nihil enim legit quod non excerperet; dicere etiam solebat nullum librum esse tam malum ut non aliqua parte prodesset. post solem plerumque aqua frigida lavabatur, deinde gustabat dormiebatque minimum; mox quasi alio die studebat in cenae tempus. super cenam liber legebatur adnotabatur, et quidem cursim.

For he read nothing from which he would not take extracts; indeed, he used to say that no book was so bad that it was not useful in some part. After sunbathing he generally bathed in cold water, then had a snack and slept for a very short time; soon, as if it were another day, he would study until dinnertime. Over dinner, a book would be read and notes taken, but hastily.

PLINY

2nd section, 1st half:

haec inter medios labores urbisque fremitum. in secessu solum balinei tempus studiis eximebatur (cum dico 'balinei,' de interioribus loquor; nam dum destringitur tergiturque, audiebat aliquid aut dictabat).

These things took place among the middle of the toils and noise of the city. In his country retreat, only bath time was taken away from his studies (when I say 'bath' I am talking about the inner rooms; for while he was being scraped and wiped down, he would listen to something or dictate).

PLINY

2nd section, 2nd half:

in itinere quasi solutus ceteris curis, huic uni vacabat: ad latus notarius cum libro et pugillaribus, cuius manus hieme manicis muniebantur, ut ne caeli quidem asperitas ullum studii tempus eriperet; qua ex causa Romae quoque sella vehebatur. repeto me correptum ab eo, quod ambularem: 'poteras' inquit 'has horas non perdere'; nam perire omne tempus arbitrabatur, quod studiis non impenderetur. vale.

On a journey, as if released from all other cares, he had time for this alone: at his side there would be a secretary with a book and writing tablet, whose hands were protected with mittens in the winter, so that not even the harshness of the weather might take away any study time; for this reason he rode in a sedan chair in Rome also. I recall that I was rebuked by him, because I walked: he said 'You could have not wasted these hours'; for he thought that all time was wasted, which was not spent on studies. Farewell.