Messalina translation

• Messalina novo et quasi insano amore incensa est.

  Messalina was set on fire by a new and almost insane love.
• Nam in C. Silium, iuventutis Romanae pulcherrimum, ita exarserat

  
  

  For she had burned in such a way for Gaius Silius, the most handsome of the Roman youth,
• Neque Silius flagitii aut periculi nescius erat: sed intellexit, si abnuret, fore certum et, si consentiret, nonnulam facinoris celandi spem esse; simulque se magna praemia accepturum.


  And Silius was not unaware of the sin or the danger but he understood that death if he refused would be certain and if he agreed that there was some hope of the crime being hidden and at the same time that he would receive great award.
• Igitur placuit neglegere futura praesentibus frui.

  Therefore it pleased him to neglect the things that were to come to enjoy the present state of affairs.
• Illa non furtim sed multis cum comitibus ventitat domun, egredienti adhaerat, dat opes honoresque;

  But she came not secretly with many companions to his home, she clung to him going out, she gave him wealth and honours;
• At Claudius matrimonii sui ignarus. iam Messalina propter facilitatem adulteriorum ad novas libidines versa es.

  But Claudius was ignorant of his own marriage. Now Messalina because of the easiness of her adulteries was turned to new pleasures.
• Silius, sive fatali insania an ipsa pericula remedium imminentium periculorum ratus, abrumpi dissimulationem urgebat: quippe non exspectandum, dum princeps senesceret.

  Silius, whether by fatal madness or thinking that dangers themselves were the remedy of threatening dangers, was urging the pretence to be broken off: indeed it was not to be waited until the emperor grew old.
• Se caelibem, orbum, nuptiis et adoptando Britannicus paratum.

  He himself was unmarried, childless, and was prepared for nuptials and for Britannicus to be adopted.
• Eadem Messalinae potentiam mansuram esse, addita securitate, si praevenirent Claudium, qui insidiis incautus sed ad iram celer esset.

  The same power would remain for Messalina with added security if they anticipated Claudius, who was unaware of plots, but quick to anger.
• Messalina, non amore in maritum, sed verita ne Silius summa adeptus se sperneret, diu haesitivat; sed tandem persuasum.

  Messalina, not by love towards her husband but fearing that Silius, obtaining the highest things would spurn her, for a long time hesitated, but at last the thing was argued.
• Nomen enim matrimonii concupivit ob magnitudem infamiae.

  For she desired the name of marriage because of the size of the disgrace.
• Nec ultra morata quam dum sacrificii gratia Claudius Ostiam proficiscetur, cuncta nupitiarum sollemnia celebrat.

  And having delayed not beyond then, until Claudius was setting out for Ostia for the sake of sacrifice, she celebrated all the solemnities of marriage.
• Igitur domus principis inhorruit, maximeque ei qui potentiam habebant timeurunt ne res verterentur:

  Therefore the home of the emperor shuddered and very greatly those who had power feared that things would be overturned:
• spem tamen habebant, si Claudio de atrocitate sceleris persuasissent, Messalinam posse opprimi sine quaestione damnatam;

  however they had hope that, if they persuaded Claudius about the horrendousness of the crime, Messalina could be crushed, condemned without a trial,
• Narcissus, occasiones quaerens, cum Caesar diu apud Ostiam moraretur, duas eius paelices largitione et promissis perpluit delationem subire.

  Narcissus, seeking occasions, when Caesar was delaying for a long time at Ostia, compelled two of his concubines with bribes and promises to undergo an accusation.
• Exim Calpurnia (id alteri paelici nomen), ubi datum est secretum, ad genua Caesaris provoluta nupsisse Messalinam Silio exclamat;

  Then Calpurnia (that was the name of one of the concubines), when a secret meeting was given, falling to the knees of Caesar shouted out that Messalina had married herself to Silius;
• altera paelice haec confirmante, Calpurnia cieri Narcissum postulat.

  with the other concubine confirming these things, Calpurnia demanded that Narcissus be called upon.
• Qui ‘discidiumne tuum’ inquit ‘novisti? nam matrimonium Silius vidit populus et senatus et milites;

  ’Did you know of your divorce?‘ he said ‘for the people and the senate and the soldiers saw the marriage of Silius;
• Non solum rumor interea, sed undique nuntii ad Messalinam contendunt,

  Meanwhile there was not only rumour but messengers from all sides hurried to Messalina,
• Igitur Messalina Lucullianos in hortos, Silius dissimulando metui ad forum digrediuntur.

  Therefore Messalina separated into the gardens of Lucullus, Silius in a covering up of his fear went apart to the forum.
• sed periculum esse ne ille defensionem audiret, neve clausae aures etiam confitenti non essent.

  but there was a danger that he would listen to her defence or that his ears would not be closed even to her confessing.
• ut Iuniam Silanam, nobilem feminam, eius extuberat liberoque adultero potiretur.


  that she drove out Junia Silana, a noble woman, from her marriage and she obtained the free adulterer.
• qui Claudium omnia cognovisse et venire promptum ultioni adferrent.

  to bring to her that Claudius had found out all things and that he was coming eager for revenge.
• postremo servi, liberti, paratus principis apud adulterum saepe videbantur.

  finally slaves, freedman, preparations of the emperor were often seen at the house of the adulterer.
• ac nisi celeriter agis, tenet urbem maritus.’

  and if you do not act quickly the husband holds the city.‘
• illa tamen, quamquam res adversae consilium eximerent, ire obviam et aspici a marito statim consituit,

  She however, although circumstances going against her, removed her plan decided to go and meet and be seen by her husband immediately,
• quod saepe ei fuerat subsidium; misitque ut Britannicus et Octavia in complexium patris irent.

  which often had been a support to her and she sent that Britannicus and Octavia should go into the embrace of their father.
• atque interim, tribus omnino comitantibus - tam ripens erat solitudio - postquam per urbem pedibus ivit,

  and meanwhile, with three altogether accompanying her - so sudden was her solitude - after she went through the city on her feet,
• vehiculo, quo purgamenta hortorum eripiuntur, Ostiensem viam intrat.

  in a cart, in which the riddings of the gardens were snatched away, she entered the road to Ostia.
• nullam misericordiam civibus commovit quia flagitiorum deformitas praevalebat.

  She moved no pity in the citizens because the deformity of her sins commanded more strength.
• et iam erat aspectu Claudii clamitabatque ut audiret Octaviae et Britannici matrem.

  And now she was in the sight of Claudius and she was making shouts so that he might listen to the mother of Octavia and Britannicus.
• Narcissus tamen obstrepuit, Silium et nuptias referens;

  Narcissus however thundered against her, bringing back up Silius and the nuptials;
• simul codicillos libidinum indices tradidit, quibus visus Caesaris averteret.

  at the same time he handed over little tablets, the evidences of their lusts, with which things he might turn away the gaze of Caesar.
• nec multo post urbem ingredienti offerebantur liberi, sed Narcissus amoveri eos iussit.

  And not much after his children were being offered to him entering the city, but Narcissus ordered them to be moved away.
• Apud eos praemonente Narcisso princeps pauca verba fecit:

  Among those men, with Narcissus warning in advance, the emperor made few words:
• continuus dehinc clamor militum nomina reorum et poenas flagitantium.

  from here there was continuous shouting of the soldiers asking again and again for the names of the defendants and punishments.
• ductus Silius ad tribunal non defensionem, non moras temptavit, sed precatus est ut mors acceleraretur.

  Silius led to the platform did not try a defence, did not try delays, but he prayed that death might come quickly.
• interim Messalina Lucullianis in hortis prolatare vitam, componere preces,

  Meanwhile Messalina was lengthening out her life in the gardens of Lucullus, composing prayers,
• nonnula spe et ira: tantam superbiam etiam tum gerebat.

  with some hope and anger: even then she was bearing such great arrogance.
• ac nisi caedem eius Narcissus properavisset, vertisset pernicies in accusatorem.

  And if Narcissus had not hastened the slaughter of her, destruction would have turned onto the accuser.