Messalina

Messalina burned with a new and almost insane love. For she was so inflamed with love for Gaius Silius, a very handsome young man, that she drove out Junia Silana, a noble woman, from her marriage and took possession of her lover without his wife. And Silius had not been unaware of the danger or scandal; but he understood that he would face certain death, if he refused, and if he agreed, there would be some hope of hiding his crime; and at the same time he would receive a great reward. Therefore he was happy to ignore the future and to enjoy the present. She comes to his home not secretly but with many companions, she clings to him leaving, and she gives wealth and honours to him; finally slaves, Freedman and the furnishings of the emperor was being seen at the house of the lover. But Claudius was unaware of the state of his marriage.

Now Messalina, on account of the ease of adultery, turned to new pleasures. Silius, whether by fatal madness or thinking the dangers themselves were a cure for the imminent dangers, was urging her to throw off the concealment: for obviously it must not wait until the emperor has grown old. He himself, unmarried and childless, prepared for marriage and to adopt Britannicus. The same power would remain for Messalina, with added security, if they forewarned Claudius, who was unsuspicious of a plot but would be quick to anger. Messalina, not by love for her husband, but fearing that Silius, having received the highest powers, would reject her, hesitated for a long time; but was finally persuaded. For she longed for the name of marriage because of the magnitude of her ill repute. And having not delayed any longer than until Claudius had set out for Ostia for the sake of sacrifices, she celebrated all the ceremonies of marriage.

Therefore the household of the emporor shuddered, and most of all, those who were having power, were fearing lest their situation change: However they were having hope that, if they convinced Claudius of the enormity of the crime, they would be able to crush Messalina, having been condemned without a trial; but there would be a danger that he would hear a defence, or that his ears would be close even to a confession. Narcissus, seeking opportunity, since Caesar would be delayed for a long time at Ostia, persuaded two of his courtesans to undertake the inofmring, with bribery and promises. Then Calpurnia (the name of one of the courtesans) when she had been given the secret, having fallen to her knees of Caesar, exclaimed that Messalina was married to Silius; with the other courtesan confirming this, Calpurnia demanded him to summon Narcissus. He said ‘Did you not know about your divorce? For the people and the senate and the soldiers saw the marriage of Silius; and unless you act quickly, that husband will hold your city.’

Meanwhile not only rumours, but messengers from all directions hurried to Messalina, who reported that Claudius knew everything and was coming ready for revenge. Therefore Messalina and Silius separated, her to the gardens of Lucullus and he to the forum, by concealing their fear. However she, although misfortune had taken away her plans, decided to go and be seen by her husband immediately, because he had often been her means of salvation; and she sent orders that Britannicus and Octavia should go into the embrace of their father. And meanwhile, with only three people accompanying her - so sudden was her desertion - afterwards she went through the city on foot and she entered the road to Ostia on a cart, by which garden waste was take away. She evoked no pity from the citizens because the appealing nature of her scandal prevailed.

And now Messalina was in the sight of Claudius and she was demanding loudly that he listen to the mother of Britannicus and Octavia. Narcissus however shouted against her, recalling Silius and the marriage; at the same time he handed over letters, proof of lust, which diverted the attention of Caesar. And not much later the children, entering the city, were being brought forward, but Narcissus ordered them to be removed.

Among all this, Claudius was strangely silent; he was obeying his Freedman in all things; who organised an assembly of soldiers in the camps. From them, having been foreworned by Narcissus, the emperor said a few words; from then on there was continuos shouting from the soldiers, demanding the name of the guilty and their punishments. Silius having been led to the platform, tried no defence, no delaying, but prayed that death would be hastened.

Meanwhile Messalina tried to prolong her life in the gardens of Lucullus, to compose prayers, some with anger and some with hope: she displayed such great arrogance even then. And unless Narccisus had hurried her execution, the ruin would have turned onto her accuser. For Claudius, having returned home, when he had grown warm with dinner and wine, ordered that the miserable woman (for they say that Claudius used this word) be present on the next day to speak her case. When Narcissus heard this and saw anger grow weak and love return he was afraid that, if he delayed, the following night would come with the memory of his wife's bedroom; therefore he rushed out and ordered the centurions and the tribune, who had been there, to carry out the execution, such had the emporor ordered. Also one of the Freedman had been sent out: he hurriedly found Messalina, having proceeded into the gardens, sprawled on the ground; Her mother Lepida sat beside her, who had not been on friendly terms with her prosperous daughter, but having been turned to pity by her enormous need she was urging that she should not wait for the executioner; she said that her life was over and she sought nothing other than a proper death. But nothing honest was in the mind of Messalina, having been corrupted by lust; tears and useless laments were being poured out, when by force the gates had been broken down and the tribune stood by her. Then for the first time Messalina understood her fate and accepted the sword; bringing it close to her neck or breast in vain through fear; she was being stabbed by the thrust of the tribune. Her body was handed over to her mother.