5. Messalina 79-101 (primer)

** Space bar; then repeat the Latin, then say the translation**

- igitur digrediuntur - Therefore they separate -

Messalina in hortos Lucullianos ,

Messalina into the gardens of Lucullus

Silius ad Forum metui dissimulando

Silius into the Forum for fear being hidden. [=to show he’s not afraid ]

illa tamen, quamquam res adversae eximerent consilium,

she however, although the desperate situation took away < time for> thinking, statim constituit ire obviam et aspici a marito,

immediately decided to go to meet and be seen by her husband,

quod saepe fuerat ei subsidium;

which often had been for her a great help;

-que misit ut Britannicus et Octavia irent in complexum patris.

and she sent < word> that Britannicus and Octavia should go into the embrace of their father. atque interim, tribus omnino comitantibus

And meanwhile with three < people> in total accompanying [abl abs] – tam repens erat solitudo –

- so sudden was her alone-ness –

postquam ivit pedibus per urbem,

after that she went on foot through the city,

intrat viam Ostiensem vehiculo,

she enters onto the road for Ostia on a cart

quo purgamenta hortorum eripiuntur,

by which litter of the gardens are carried away.

commovit nullam misericordiam civibus

She aroused no sympathy to the citizens

quia deformitas flagitiorum praevalebat.

because the vileness of her misdeeds was too strong.

et iam erat in aspectu Claudii

And now she was in sight of Claudius

-que clamitabat ut audiret matrem Octaviae et Britannici.

and was shouting that he should hear the mother of Octavia and Britannicus.

Narcissus tamen obstrepuit, referens Silium et nuptias ;

Narcissus however interrupted < her>, bringing up Silius and the marriage; simul tradidit codicillos indices libidinum,

at the same time he handed over letters proofs of her sexual misdemeanours,

quibus averteret visus Caesaris .

by which he might turn aside the seeings of Caesar.

nec multo post ingredienti urbem liberi offerebantur,

And not by much afterwards < to him> coming into the city the children were brought forward, sed Narcissus iussit eos amoveri .

but Narcissus ordered them to be moved away.

mirum silentium Claudii inter haec :

An extraordinary silence of Claudius amidst these;

oboediebat liberto omnia ;

he obeyed to his freedman all things;

qui paravit contionem militum in castris.

who organised an assembly of soldiers in the camp.

Narcisso praemonente apud eos, princeps fecit pauca verba :

With Narcissus giving first talk before them, the emperor made a few words.

dehinc continuus clamor militum

At that a non-stop shouting of the soldiers

flagitantium nomina reorum et poenas .

demanding names of the guilty and punishments.

Silius ductus ad tribunal temptavit non defensionem, nec moras ,

Silius having been led to the tribunal attempted not a defending, nor delays,

sed precatus est ut mors acceleraretur.

but he begged that death should be done quickly.