Whole Latin Prose translation

Tacitus’ Messalina

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

She visited the house frequently, not secretly, but with many companions, clung to him when he went out, gave him wealth and honours; finally, slaves, freedmen, the furnishings of the emperor were often seen at the house of the adulterer. But Claudius was unaware of the state of his own marriage. Now Messalina, because of the easiness of the adulteries, turned to unusual lusts. Silius, whether because of his fateful folly or thinking that the very dangers were a cure for the imminent dangers, pressed for the concealment to be cast aside: certainly, they should not wait for the emperor to grow old.

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 toward her husband, but fearing that Silius, if he obtained supreme power, might spurn her; but finally, she was persuaded. For she craved the title of marriage because of the magnitude of the disgrace. Not delaying any longer than until Claudius set out to Ostia for a sacrifice, she celebrated all the rites of marriage.

Therefore, the emperor’s household shuddered, and particularly those who held any power feared lest the state be overturned, nevertheless, they had some hope that if they convinced 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 closed to her, even if she confessed. Narcissus, looking for opportunities, since Caesar was delaying a long time at Ostia, compelled two of his concubines by means of bribery 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, throwing herself at the knees of Caesar, shouted that Messalina had married Silius; when the other concubine confirmed this, Calpurnia demanded that Narcissus be summoned.

He said “Do you know about your divorce? For the people, and the senate, and the soldiers have seen Silius’ marriage; and unless you act quickly, the husband controls the city.” In the meantime, there was not only rumour, but from all sides messengers were hastening to Messalina, to report that Claudius knew everything and was coming eager for revenge. Therefore, Messalina and Silius departed in different directions, she to the gardens of Lucullus, he to the forum to hide his fear. She, however, 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 embrace their father.

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 city was being taken away. She aroused no pity in the citizens, as the hideousness of the scandals prevailed. And now she was in sight of Claudius and kept shouting that he should listen to the mother of Octavia and Britannicus. Narcissus, however, 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 were being presented to Claudius as he was entering the city, but Narcissus ordered them to be taken away.

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, after a previous warning by Narcissus, the emperor spoke a few words: then there arose a continuous shouting of the soldiers who demanded the names of the guilty and punishments. Silius, brought into the tribunal, did not attempt a defence or delaying tactics, but begged that he might be killed quickly. Meanwhile, Messalina prolonged her life in the gardens of Lucullus, composed a petition, 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.

For when Claudius, having returned home, was heated with the meal and wine, he ordered that the wretched woman (for they say this is the word Claudius used) should be present the next day to plead her case. When Narcissus heard this and saw that Claudius’ anger was abating and that his love was returning, he began to fear the approaching night, if he delayed, and the memory of his 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 this is what the emperor was ordering. One of the freedmen was also sent; he, having gone swiftly to the gardens before the rest, found Messalina lying on the ground;

Sitting beside her was her mother Lepida, who has not been in harmony with her daughter when she was flourishing, but in her final hours of need, having turned to pity, she advised her not to wait for an assassin: her life was past, and she should not seek anything other than a noble death. But there was nothing honourable in Messalina’s mind, which was corrupted by her lusts; tears and futile complaints were pouring forth, when the doors were struck by the force of those arriving and the tribune stood nearby. Then for the first time Messalina recognised her fate and took up the sword; applying this in vain to her throat or chest because of her panic, she was pierced by the tribune’s blow. The body was granted to the mother.

Pliny’s avunculus meus

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 allot the rest of the time to his studies. Often after food (which, after the custom of his forefathers during the day was light and easy on the stomach), in summertime, if there was any free time, he would lie in the sun, a book would be read, he would make notes and take extracts from it. 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 afterwards, as if it were on another day, he would study till dinner time. Over dinner, a book would be read and notes taken, but hastily.

These things took place during the middle of the toils and noise of the city. In his country retreat, only bath time was taken away from 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). On a journey, as if released from all other anxieties, 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 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 at Rome also. I recall that I was rebuked by him because I walked: he said, “You could not have wasted these hours”; for he thought that all time, which was not spent on studies, was wasted. Farewell.