EW Tacitus: Annals XIV

Gaio Vipstano C. Fonteio consulibus diu meditatum scelus non ultra Nero distulit,

When Gaius Vipstanus and Gaius Fonteius were consuls, Nero deferred no longer a crime he had been considering for a long time,

vetustate imperii coalita audacia et flagrantior in dies amore Poppaeae,

his boldness having taken root due to the length of his reign, and day by day he was more passionately in love with Poppaea,

quae sibi matrimonium et discidium Octaviae incolumi Agrippina haud sperans crebris criminationibus,

who, having no hope of marriage for herself and divorce for Octavia while Agrippina was unharmed, with frequent accusations

aliquando per facetias incusaret principem et pupillem vocaret,

sometimes attacked the emperor through jokes and called him a ward,

qui iussis alienis obnoxius non modo imperii, sed libertatis etiam indigeret.

who, dependent on the orders of others, lacked not only power but even freedom.

cur enim differri nuptias suas? formam scilicet displicere et triumphales avos.

For why was her marriage being put off? Clearly her beauty and her ancestor with his triumphs displeased him.

an fecunditatem et verum animum?

Or was it her fertility and her true soul?

timeri ne uxor saltem iniurias patrum, iram populi adversus superbiam avaritiamque matris aperiat.

It was feared that as a wife at least she might open Nero's eyes to the oppression of the senators, the anger of the people against the arrogance and greed of his mother.

quod si nurum Agrippina non nisi filio infestam ferre posset, redderetur ipsa Othonis coniugio:

But if Agrippina could not put up with a daughter-in-law unless they were hostile to her son, let her be returned to her marriage to Otho:

ituram quoquo terrarum, ubi audiret potius contumelias imperatoris quam viseret periculis eius immixta.

she would go anywhere in the world where she could hear the insults towards the emperor rather than view them while herself tangled up in his perils.

haec atque talia lacrimis et arte adulterae penetrantia nemo prohibebat,

No one prevented these and other such (attacks), made penetrating by the tears and skill of the adulteress,

cupientibus cunctis infringi potentiam matris et credente nullo usque ad caedem eius duratura filii odia.

since all desired the power of the mother to be weakened and none believed that the hatred of her son would endure all the way to her murder.

Tradit Cluvius ardore retinendae Agrippinam potentiae eo usque provectam, ut medio diei,

Cluvius reports that Agrippina was carried so far in her passion for retaining power that in the middle of the day,

cum id temporis Nero per vinum et epulas incalesceret, offeret se saepius temulento comptam et incesto paratam;

at that time when Nero was growing heated on account of wine and fine food, she would offer herself to him rather often in his drunken state, all dressed up and ready for incest;

iamque lasciva oscula et praenuntias flagitii blanditias adnotantibus proximis,

and, the provocative kisses and caresses that foretold of a scandal to come,with those closest to them now noticing

Senecam contra muliebris inlecebras subsidium a femina petivisse, immissamque Acten libertam,

Seneca sought support from a woman against the enticements of a woman and the freedwoman Acte was sent in,

quae simul suo periculo et infamia Neronis anxia deferret pervulgatum esse incestum gloriante matre,

anxious both on account of her own danger and the notoriety of Nero, to report that the incest was common knowledge since his mother was boasting of it,

nec toleraturos milites profani principis imperium.

and the soldiers would not put up with the authority of an impious emperor.

Fabius Rusticus non Agrippinae sed Neroni cupitum id memorat eiusdemque libertae astu disiectum.

Fabius Rusticus related that it was desired not by Agrippina but by Nero and that it was thwarted by the cunning of that same freedwoman.

sed quae Cluvius, eadem ceteri quoque auctores prodidere, et fama huc inclinat,

But other authors have also recorded the same facts as Cluvius, and rumour is in agreement with this,

seu concepit animo tantum immanitatis Agrippina,

whether Agrippina conceived of such a great monstrosity from her mind,

seu credibilior novae libidinis meditatio in ea visa est quae puellaribus annis stuprum cum Lepido spe dominationis admiserat,

or whether the consideration of a new lust seemed more believable in one who had committed debauchery with Lepidus in her girlish years in the hope of power,

pari cupidine usque ad libita Pallantis provoluta et exercita ad omne flagitium patrui nuptiis.

for similar reasons had prostrated herself even at the whim of Pallas, and had been practised in all manner of depravities by marriage to her uncle.

Igitur Nero vitare secretos eius congressus, abscedentem in hortos aut Tusculanum vel Antiatem in agrum laudare, quod otium capesseret.

Nero, therefore, began to avoid private meetings with her and he praised when she went away to her gardens or to the country estate of Tusculum or Antium on the grounds that she was engaging in rest.

postremo, ubicumque haberetur, praegravem ratus interficere constituit,

Finally, considering her a most serious problem wherever she was kept, he decided to kill her,

hactenus consultans, veneno an ferro vel qua alia vi.

debating this point only, whether with poison or the sword or some other force.

Placuitque primo venenum. sed inter epulas principis si daretur, referri ad casum non poterat tali iam Britannici exitio;

At first, the poison pleased him. But if it were given at the banquet of the emperor, it could not be ascribed to chance, since such had already been the demise of Britannicus;

et ministros temptare arduum videbatur mulieris usu scelerum adversus insidias intentae;

and it seemed difficult to try to corrupt the servants of a woman vigilant against plots through her own experience of crime;

atque ipsa praesumendo remedia munierat corpus.

and she had fortified her body herself by taking remedies beforehand.

ferrum et caedes quonam modo occultaretur, nemo reperiebat;

No one could find any means by which to conceal a slaughter by the sword

et ne quis illi tanto facinori delectus iussa sperneret metuebat.

and he feared that anyone chosen for such a great crime as that would reject his orders.

obtulit ingenium Anicetus libertus, classi apud Misenum praefectus et pueritiae Neronis educator ac mutuis odiis Agrippinae invisus.

The freedman Anicetus offered a plan, the commander of the fleet at Misenum and the tutor of the boyhood of Nero and hated by Agrippina with a mutual loathing

ergo navem posse componi docet cuius pars ipso in mari per artem soluta effunderet ignaram:

Therefore he explained that a ship could be constructed so that part of it, broken up by design while actually out at sea, would pour her out unaware:

nihil tam capax fortuitorum quam mare; et si naufragio intercepta sit,

He said that nothing offered so much scope for accidents as the sea and if she was swept away by the shipwreck,

quem adeo iniquum ut sceleri adsignet quod venti et fluctus deliquerint?

who would be so unfair as to assign to crime that which the winds and waves have done?

additurum principem defunctae templum et aras et cetera ostentandae pietati.

He said that the emperor would add a temple to the deceased woman and altars and the rest to show his sense of duty

placuit sollertia, tempore etiam iuta, quando Quinquatruum festos dies apud Baias frequentabat.

The ingenious plan pleased him, with the timing itself also an aid, when he was attending the festival of the Quinquatrus at Baiae.

illuc matrem elicit, ferendas parentium iracundias et placandum animum dictitans,

He lured his mother there, repeatedly saying that the tantrums of parents had to be put up with and their spirit had to be placated,

quo rumorem reconciliationis efficeret acciperetque Agrippina facili feminarum credulitate ad gaudia.

so that he might bring about a rumour of reconciliation and so Agrippina might accept it, with the ready credulity of a women for cheerful news.

venientem dehinc obvius in litora (nam Antio adventabat) excepit manu et complexu ducitque Baulos.

After this, going to the shore to meet her as she came (for she was approaching from Antium), he took her by the hand and embraced her and led her to Bauli.

id villae nomen est quae promunturium Misenum inter et Baianum lacum flexo mari adluitur.

That is the name of the house which is washed by an inlet of the sea between the promontory of Misenum and the lake of Baiae.

stabat inter alias navis ornatior, tamquam id quoque honori matris daretur:

A more decorated ship was standing among the others, as though it was given as a tribute to the honour of his mother:

quippe sueverat triremi et classiariorum remigio vehi.

in fact, she had been accustomed to be carried by a trireme and with a crew of sailors from the fleet.

ac tum invitata ad epulas erat ut occultando facinori nox adhiberetur.

And then she had been invited to a banquet, so that the night might be made use of to conceal the crime.

satis constitit extitisse proditorem et Agrippinam auditis insidiis,

There is no doubt that an traitor had come forward and that Agrippina, once she had heard of the plot,

an crederet ambiguam, gestamine sellae Baias pervectam.

doubting whether to believe it, was conveyed in a sedan-chair to Baiae.

ibi blandimentum sublevavit metum: comiter excepta superque ipsum conlocata.

there, flattery relieved her fear: she was courteously received and given the place of honour even above him.

iam plurimus sermonibus, modo familiaritate iuvenili Nero et rursus adductus, quasi seria consociaret,

Now with many different topics of conversation, sometimes with the familiarity of his youth and at other times a serious tone, as if communicating serious things, Nero,

tracto in longum, convictu, prosequitur abeuntem artius oculis et pectori haerens,

having drawn out the banquet for a long time, he pursued her closely as she went, clinging to her more closely with his eyes and to her breast,

sive explenda simulatione, seu periturae matris supremus aspectus quamvis ferum animum retinebat.

either in completing his pretence, or the final sight of his mother, about to die, held onto his soul, however wild it was.

Noctem sideribus inlustrem et placido mari quietam quasi convincendum ad scelus dii praebuere.

the gods provided a night bright with stars and peaceful with a calm sea, as if to provide proof of the crime.

nec multum erat progressa navis, duobus e numero familiarium Agrippinam comitantibus,

The ship had not advanced far, with two of the household accompanying Agrippina,

ex quis Crepereius Gallus haud procul gubernaculis adstabat,

of whom Crepereius Gallus was standing by, not far from the rudder,

Acerronia super pedes cubitantis reclinis paenitentiam filii et recuperatam matris gratiam per gaudium memorabat,

Acerronia, leaning over the feet of the reclining woman was recalling with joy the repentance of the son and the recovered influence of the mother,

cum dato signo ruere tectum loci multo plumbo grave, pressusque Crepereius et statim exanimatus est:

when, on a given signal, the roof of the place, heavy with a great amount of lead, collapsed and Creperius was crushed and died at once:

Agrippina et Acerronia eminentibus lecti parietibus ac forte validioribus quam ut oneri cederent protectae sunt.

Agrippina and Acerronia were protected by the sides of the couch, which were projecting and by chance too strong to give way under the weight.

nec dissolutio navigii sequebatur, turbatis omnibus et quod plerique ignari etiam conscios impediebant.

Nor did the break-up of the ship follow, since everyone was confused and because the ignorant majority were hindering even those who were knowing.

visum dehinc remigibus unum in latus inclinare atque ita navem submergere;

After this, it seemed a good idea to the crew to lean over on one side and sink the ship in this way;

sed neque ipsis promptus in rem subitam consensus,

but there was not ready agreement among them on the sudden plan,

et alii contra nitentes dedere facultatem lenioris in mare iactus.

and others straining in the opposite direction gave the opportunity for a more gentle descent into the sea.

verum Acerronia, imprudentia dum se Agrippinam esse utque subveniretur matri principis clamitat,

But while Acerronia, with a lack of forethought, was shouting again and again that she was Agrippina and that help should be given to the mother of the emperor,

contis et remis et quae fors obtulerat navalibus telis conficitur:

she was finished off with poles and oars and the naval weapons that chance presented.

Agrippina silens eoque minus adgnita (unum tamen vulnus umero excepit) nando,

Agrippina, being silent and hence less recognised (she however received one wound to her shoulder),

deinde occursu lenunculorum Lucrinum in lacum vecta villae suae infertur.

by swimming, then by having met some small boats, having been carried into the Lucrine lake, was brought to her villa.

illic reputans ideo se fallacibus litteris accitam et honore praecipuo habitam,

There, reflecting that it was for this reason that she had been summoned with a false letter and treated with such singular honour,

quodque litus iuxta non ventis acta, non saxis impulsa navis summa sui parte veluti terrestre machinamentum concidisset;

and so on the fact that the ship, next to the shore, not driven by the winds, not dashed against the rocks, had collapsed in the top part of itself, just like a mechanism on dry land;

observans etiam Acerroniae necem, simul suum vulnus aspiciens, solum insidiarum remedium esse, si non intellegerentur;

also noting the killing of Acerronia, glancing at the same time at her own wound,and she reflected that the only solution to the plot was if they were not understood;

misitque libertum Agerinum qui nuntiaret filio benignitate deum et fortuna eius evasisse gravem casum;

and she sent her freedman Agerinus, to announce to her son that, thanks to the good will of the gods and his good fortune, she had escaped a serious disaster;

orare ut quamvis periculo matris exterritus visendi curam differret;

to beg him, despite being most concerned at the danger to his mother, to put off the effort of visiting;

sibi ad praesens quiete opus.

that what she needed was rest for the time being

atque interim securitate simulata medicamina vulneri et fomenta corpori adhibet;

Meanwhile, with feigned carefreeness she applied medicines to her wound and poultices to her body;

testamentum Acerroniae requiri bonaque obsignari iubet, id tantum non per simulationem.

she ordered the will of Acerronia to be signed and her goods sealed up, this act only was not attributable to pretence.

At Neroni nuntios patrati facinoris opperienti adfertur evasisse ictu levi sauciam et hactenus adito discrimine, ne auctor dubitaretur.

But it was brought to Nero as he awaited messengers to say that the crime had been completed, that she had escaped, wounded by a light blow, and so nearly had peril been approached so that the instigator could not be in doubt.

tum pavore exanimis et iam iamque adfore obtestans vindictae properam,

Then, out of his mind with panic and at every moment swearing that she would be there, eager for vengeance,

sive servitia armaret vel militem accenderet, sive ad senatum et populum pervaderet,

whether she armed her slaves or inflamed the soldiery, or if she incited the senate and the people,

naufragium et vulnus et interfectos amicos obiciendo:

by making accusations about the shipwreck and the wound and her murdered friends:

quod contra subsidium sibi? nisi quid Burrus et Seneca;

what help was there for him in response? Unless Burrus and Seneca had anything to offer

quos expergens statim acciverat, incertum an et ante gnaros.

he had summoned them at once, waking them, it was uncertain whether they were aware of what was going on before this point.

Igitur longum utriusque silentium, ne inriti dissuaderent,

Therefore there was a long silence from each of them, so that they did not argue against him pointlessly,

an eo descensum credebant ut, nisi praeveniretur Agrippina, pereundum Neroni esset.

or they believed that the matter had gone so far downhill that, unless Agrippina could be forestalled, Nero would have to die.

post Seneca hactenus promptius ut respiceret Burrum ac sciscitaretur an militi imperanda caedes esset.

After that, Seneca acted more readily, at least as much as to look back at Burrus and to enquire whether the soldiers should be given the order for her murder.

ille praetorianos toti Caesarum domui obstrictos memoresque Germanici nihil adversus progeniem eius atrox ausuros respondit:

He replied that the members of the Praetorians, bound to the whole household of the Caesar and mindful of Germanicus, would dare to do nothing dreadful against his daughter:

perpetraret Anicetus promissa.

that Anicetus should fulfil his promises.

qui nihil cunctatus poscit summam sceleris.

He, with no hestitation, demanded the lead role in the crime.

ad eam vocem Nero illo sibi die dari imperium auctoremque tanti muneris libertum profitetur:

In response to that statement, Nero declared that, on that day his empire had been given to him, and the one who had done him such a great service was a freedman:

iret propere duceretque promptissimos ad iussa.

he should go with haste and take with him men who were the readiest to carry out orders.

ipse audito venisse missu Agrippinae nuntium Agerinum,

He himself, when it was heard that the messenger Agerinus had come, at the dispatch of Agrippina,

scaenam ultro criminis parat gladiumque, dum mandata perfert,

prepared the stage for an accusation of his own initiative and, while he was delivering his message,

abicit inter pedes eius, tum quasi, deprehenso vincla inici iubet,

threw down his sword at his feet, then - as if caught red-handed, he ordered chains to be put upon him,

ut exitium principis molitam matrem et pudore deprehensi sceleris sponte mortem sumpsisse confingeret.

in order to pretend that his mother had plotted the destruction of the emperor and, in shame at the discovery of her crime, she had chosen death at her own hand.

Interim vulgato Agrippinae periculo, quasi casu evenisset, ut quisque acceperat, decurrere ad litus.

Meanwhile, when news of the peril of Agrippina became broadly known, as if it had happened by chance, as each man received the news, they ran down to the shore.

hi molium obiectus, hi proximas scaphas scandere;

Some climbed the barrier of the breakwater, some climbed into the nearest little boats;

alii, quantum corpus sinebat, vadere in mare; quidam manus protendere.

others waded into the sea as far as their bodies allowed; some stretched out their hands;

questibus, votis, clamore diversa rogitantium aut incerta respondentium omnis ora compleri;

the whole shore was filled with complaints, with prayers, with a shout of those asking various questions and those replying with uncertainty;

adfluere ingens multitudo cum luminibus, atque ubi incolumem esse pernotuit,

a huge crowd flowed with lights, and when it was realised that she was safe,

ut ad gratandum sese expedire, donec aspectu armati et minitantis agminis disiecti sunt.

they made themselved ready as if to congratulate her, until they were scattered at the sight of an armed and threatening column of men.

Anicetus villam statione circumdat refractaque ianua obvios servorum abripit,

Anicetus surrounded the house with a cordon and, after the door was broken down, he dragged away those slaves who stood in his way,

donec ad fores cubiculi veniret; cui pauci adstabant, ceteris terrore inrumpentium exterritis.

until he reached the door of her bedroom; a few were standing near it, while the rest had been frightened away in fear of the men breaking in.

cubiculo modicum lumen inerat et ancillarum una, magis ac magis anxia Agrippina,

In her bedroom was a dim light and one of her slave-girls, while Agrippina was ever more anxious,

quod nemo a filio ac ne Agerinus quidem: aliam fore laetae rei faciem;

because nobody came from her son, and not even Agerinus: the appearance of good news would be different;