Latin set text - Messalina is denounced

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  • Created by: liztoomer
  • Created on: 05-04-17 16:51

Messalina is denounced

Igitur domus principis inhorruit,

Therefore the household of the Emperor began to shudder,

maximeque ei qui potentiam habebant timuerunt ne res verterentur:

and those who had  power especially feared that things might be changed:

spem tamen habebant, si Claudio de atrocitate 

nevertheless they had hope that, if they should have persuaded Claudius 

sceleris persuasissent, Messalinam posse opprimi sine quaestione damnatam; 

Claudius about the appalling nature of the crime, Messalina could be crushed, condemned without a trial;  

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Messalina is denounced

sed periculum esse ne ille defensionem audiret, neve clausae aures etiam confitenti non essent.

but [they thought that] there was a danger that he would hear her defence and that his ears would not be shut to [her] even as she was confessing.

Narcissus, occasiones quaerens, *** Caesar diu apud Ostiam moraretur,

Narcissus, who was looking out for opportunities, when Caesar was being delayed in Ostia for a long time,

duas eius paelices largitione et promissis perpulit delationem subire.

by bribery and promises prevailed upon two of his mistresses to undertake the act of informing. 

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Messalina is denounced

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 mistress), when a private interview was granted, fell down at Caesar’s knees and cried out that Messalina had married Silius; 

altera paelice haec confirmante, Calpurnia cieri Narcissum postulat.

with the other mistress confirming these things, Calpurnia demanded that Narcissus be summoned.

qui “discidiumne tuum” inquit “novisti? nam matrimonium Silii vidit populus et senatus et milites;

He said “Do you know about your divorce? For the people and the senate and the soldiers have seen the wedding of Silius;

ac nisi celeriter agis, tenet urbem maritus.”    

and unless you act swiftly, the husband [already] holds the city."

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Messalina is denounced

non solum rumor interea, sed undique nuntii ad Messalinam contendunt, 

Meanwhile not only a rumour, but messengers were hurrying to Messalina from all sides – [messengers]

qui Claudium omnia cognovisse et venire promptum ultioni adferrent.

who were reporting that Claudius knew everything and was coming, ready for revenge.

igitur Messalina Lucullianos in hortos, Silius dissimulando metui ad forum digrediuntur

Therefore they went in different directions – Messalina into the gardens of Lucullus, Silius (concealing his fear) to the forum.

 

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Messalina is denounced

illa tamen, quamquam res adversae consilium eximerent,

She however, although adversity was taking away her ability to plan,

ire obviam et aspici a marito statim constituit, quod saepe ei fuerat subsidium;

decided immediately to go to meet and to be seen by her husband (which had often been a refuge for her);

misitque ut Britannicus et Octavia in complexum patris irent. 

and she sent [orders] that Britannicus and Octavia should go to embrace their father.

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Messalina is denounced

atque interim, tribus omnino comitantibus – tam repens erat solitudo – postquam per urbem pedibus ivit,

And meanwhile, with only three people accompanying [her] – so sudden was her abandonment – after she had gone through the city on foot,

vehiculo, quo purgamenta hortorum eripiuntur, Ostiensem viam intrat.

she entered on the road to Ostia on a cart by which refuse from the gardens was taken away. 

nullam misericordiam civibus commovit quia flagitiorum deformitas praevalebat.

She aroused no pity in the citizens, because the shameful nature of her disgraceful actions was more influential.

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Messalina is denounced

et iam erat in aspectu Claudii clamitabatque ut audiret Octaviae et Britannici matrem.

And now she was in Claudius’ view and she kept shouting that he should listen to the mother of Octavia and Britannicus.

Narcissus tamen obstrepuit, Silium et nuptias referens;

However, Narcissus shouted [her] down, making reference to Silius and the wedding;

simul codicillos libidinum indices tradidit, quibus visus Caesaris averteret. 

at the same time, he handed over writing-tablets, indicators of her lusts – by which he might distract the gaze of Caesar.

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Messalina is denounced

nec multo post urbem ingredienti offerebantur liberi, sed Narcissus amoveri eos iussit.        

And, not much later, the children were presented to [Claudius] as he was going into the city; but Narcissus ordered that they be removed.  

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