GCSE set text - messelina
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- Created by: liztoomer
- Created on: 10-06-16 12:01
Messalina novo et quasi insano amore incensa est.
Messalina was set on fire as it were by her new insane love.
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nam in Silium, iuventutis Romanae pulcherrimum, ita exarserat ut Iuniam Silanam, nobilem feminam, matrimonio eius exturbaret liberoque adultero potiretur.
For she had been inflamed with love for Gaius Silius, the most handsome of the Roman young men, in such a way that she drove out Iunia Silana, a noble woman, from her marriage and had a lover who was free from attachment
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neque Silius flagitii aut periculi nescius erat: sed intellexit exitium, si abnueret, fore certum et, si consentiret, nonnullam facinoris celandi spem esse; simulque se magna praemia accepturum.
Nor was Silius unaware of this scandal or the danger: but he understood that, if he declined, death would be certain and if he agreed he realised that there would be not none (some) hope of concealing the crime; and at the same time he would receive
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igitur placuit neglegere futura praesentibus frui.
Therefore, it pleased him to neglect the future and enjoy the present.
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illa non furtim sed multis cum comitibus ventitat domum, egredienti adhaeret, dat opes honoresque; postremo servi, liberti, paratus principis apud adulterum saepe videbantur.
She kept coming to his house not secretly but with many companions; she clutched on to him as he was going out, she gave wealth and honours to him; finally, the slaves the freed men, the trappings of the emperor were often being seen at the house of
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at Claudius matrimonii sui ignarus.
Claudius was unaware of the state of his marriage.
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iam Messalina propter facilitatem adulteriorum ad novas libidines versa est.
Now Messalina turned towards new sexual pleasures because of the ease of her adulteries.
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Silius, sive fatali insania an ipsa pericula remedium imminentium periculorum ratus, abrumpi dissimulationem urgebat:
Silius whether by a fatal insanity or thinking that the dangers themselves were a remedy for imminent dangers, he urged the concealment to be broken off.
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quippe non exspectandum, dum princeps senesceret.
Indeed, they should not wait for the emperor to grow old.
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se caelibem, orbum, nuptiis et adoptando Britannico paratum.
He himself was unmarried, childless and prepared for marriage and to adopt Britanicus.
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eandem Messalinae potentiam mansuram esse, addita securitate, si praevenirent Claudium, qui insidiis incautus sed ad iram celer esset
The power of Messalina would remain the same with added security if they anticipate what Claudius would do. Claudius was unaware of a plot but was quick to anger
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Messalina, non amore in maritum, sed verita ne Silius summa adeptus se sperneret, diu haesitavit; sed tandem persuasum.
Messalina not because of love for her husband, but fearing that he would reject her, hesitated for a long time; but finally she was persuaded
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nomen enim matrimonii concupivit ob magnitudinem infamiae.
For she longed for the name of marriage, because of the magnitude of the disgrace.
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nec ultra morata quam dum sacrificii gratia Claudius Ostiam proficisceretur, cuncta nuptiarum sollemnia celebrat.
Having not delayed beyond the point when Claudius was setting out to Ostia for the sake of making a sacrifice, she celebrated all the religious ceremonies of a wedding.
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igitur domus principis inhorruit, maximeque ei qui potentiam habebant timuerunt ne res verterentur:
Therefore, the household of the emperor shuddered, and especially those who had power feared that things might change.
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spem tamen habebant, si Claudio de atrocitate sceleris persuasissent, Messalinam posse opprimi sine quaestione damnatam;
However, they had hope that, if they could have persuaded Claudius of the enormity of the crime, Messalina could be crushed having been condemned without a tria
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sed periculum esse ne ille defensionem audiret, neve clausae aures etiam confitenti non essent.
But they thought that) there was danger that he might listen to her defence, and that his ears might not be closed to her even though she is confessing
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Narcissus, occasiones quaerens, cum Caesar diu apud Ostiam moraretur, duas eius paelices largitione et promissis perpulit delationem subire.
Narcissus, who was looking for opportunities, while Caesar was being delayed for a long time at his home in Ostia, prevailed upon two of his mistresses with bribes and promises to undertake the denunciation.
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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 courtesan), when a private interview was given, With the other courtesan confirming these things
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altera paelice haec confirmante, Calpurnia cieri Narcissum postulat.
having fallen down at the knees of Claudius, exclaimed that Messalina had married Silius. Calpurnia demands that Narcissus be
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qui “discidiumne tuum” inquit "novisti? nam matrimonial silii vidit populous et senatus et milites; ac nisi celeriter agis, tenet urban maritus"
summoned. He asks 'Do you know about your divorce? For the people and the senate and the soldiers have seen Silius' marriage; and if you do not act quickly, her husband holds the city.'
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“novisti? nam matrimonium Silii vidit populus et senatus et milites; ac nisi celeriter agis, tenet urbem maritus.”
For the people and the senate and the soldiers have seen the wedding of Silius; and unless you act swiftly, the husband [already] holds the city.”
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non solum rumor interea, sed undique nuntii ad Messalinam contendunt, qui Claudium omnia cognovisse et venire promptum ultioni adferrent.
Meanwhile not only a rumour, but messengers were hurrying to Messalina from all sides – [messengers] who were reporting that Claudius knew everything and was coming, ready for revenge
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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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illa tamen, quamquam res adversae consilium eximerent, ire obviam et aspici a marito statim constituit, quod saepe ei fuerat subsidium; misitque ut Britannicus et Octavia in complexum patris irent
She however, although adversity was taking away her ability to plan, decided immediately to go to meet and to be seen by her husband (which had often been a refuge for her); and she sent [orders] that Britannicus and Octavia should go to embrace thei
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atque interim, tribus omnino comitantibus – tam repens erat solitudo – postquam per urbem pedibus ivit, vehiculo, quo purgamenta hortorum eripiuntur, Ostiensem viam intrat
And meanwhile, with only three people accompanying [her] – so sudden was her abandonment – after she had gone through the city on foot, she entered on the road to Ostia on a cart by which refuse from the gardens was taken away.
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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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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.
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Narcissus tamen obstrepuit, Silium et nuptias referens; simul codicillos libidinum indices tradidit, quibus visus Caesaris averteret.
However, Narcissus shouted [her] down, making reference to Silius and the wedding; 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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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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mirum inter haec silentium Claudii: omnia liberto oboediebat; qui contionem militum in castris paravit.
The silence of Claudius amidst these things was remarkable: in everything he was obeying the freedman.
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apud eos praemonente Narcisso princeps pauca verba fecit: continuus dehinc clamor militum nomina reorum et poenas flagitantium.
And he prepared an assembly of soldiers in the camp. In their presence, with Narcissus giving [them] a warning in advance, the Emperor uttered a few words; thereafter, [there was] constant shouting from the soldiers, who were demanding the names of t
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ductus Silius ad tribunal non defensionem, non moras temptavit, sed precatus est ut mors acceleraretur.
. After Silius was led to the platform, he attempted no defence, no delays; but he prayed that his death should be speeded up.
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interim Messalina Lucullianis in hortis prolatare vitam, componere preces, nonnulla spe et ira: tantam superbiam etiam tum gerebat. ac nisi caedem eius Narcissus properavisset, vertisset pernicies in accusatorem.
Meanwhile Messalina was prolonging her life in the gardens of Lucullus, [and] was formulating entreaties, with no little hope – and anger: such great arrogance did she bear even at that time. And if Narcissus had not hurried on her killing, she would
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nam Claudius domum regressus, ubi cena vinoque incaluit, imperavit ut femina misera (hoc enim verbo Claudium usum esse ferunt) ad causam dicendam postridie adesset.
For Claudius returned home and, when he became heated with dinner and wine, he ordered that the pitiable woman (for they say that Claudius used this word) should be present on the next day to plead her case.
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When Narcissus heard this and saw that anger was calming down [and] love returning, he feared – if he should delay – the next night and the memory of the wife’s bedroom;
quod ubi Narcissus audivit et languescere iram redire amorem vidit, timebat, si moraretur, propinquam noctem et uxorii cubiculi memoriam;
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igitur prorumpit denuntiatque centurionibus et tribuno, qui aderat, exsequi caedem: ita imperatorem iubere.
therefore he rushed forth and ordered the centurions and a tribune who was present to carry out the killing: [he said that] the emperor was giving this order.
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missus quoque unus e libertis: is raptim in hortos praegressus repperit Messalinam, humi fusam; adsidebat mater Lepida, quae florenti filiae haud concors fuerat;
One of the freedmen was also sent: having gone on swiftly ahead into the gardens, he found Messalina stretched out on the ground; sitting beside her was her mother Lepida, who had not been on friendly terms with her daughter when she was prospering –
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sed supremis eius necessitatibus ad misericordiam versa suadebat ne percussorem opperiretur: transiisse vitam neque aliud quam mortem decoram quaerendum.
but, turned towards pity by her troubles at the last, she was urging her not to wait for the assassin: [Lepida said that] life had passed away, and nothing other than a becoming death was to be sought.
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sed nihil honestum inerat Messalinae animo, per libidines corrupto; lacrimae et questus inriti effundebantur, cum impetu venientium pulsae sunt fores adstititque tribunus.
But there was nothing honourable in Messalina’s mind, which had been corrupted by her lusts; tears and useless laments were being poured out, when the doors were driven in by the charge of the men who were coming and the tribune stood there.
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tunc primum Messalina fortunam suam intellexit ferrumque accepit; quod frustra iugulo aut pectori per trepidationem admovens, ictu tribuni transigitur. corpus matri concessum.
Then for the first time Messalina understood her situation and accepted a sword: [but] while she was putting this to her throat or her breast in agitation, she was run through by a blow from the tribune. Her body was granted to her mother.
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
nam in Silium, iuventutis Romanae pulcherrimum, ita exarserat ut Iuniam Silanam, nobilem feminam, matrimonio eius exturbaret liberoque adultero potiretur.
Back
For she had been inflamed with love for Gaius Silius, the most handsome of the Roman young men, in such a way that she drove out Iunia Silana, a noble woman, from her marriage and had a lover who was free from attachment
Card 3
Front
neque Silius flagitii aut periculi nescius erat: sed intellexit exitium, si abnueret, fore certum et, si consentiret, nonnullam facinoris celandi spem esse; simulque se magna praemia accepturum.
Back
Card 4
Front
igitur placuit neglegere futura praesentibus frui.
Back
Card 5
Front
illa non furtim sed multis cum comitibus ventitat domum, egredienti adhaeret, dat opes honoresque; postremo servi, liberti, paratus principis apud adulterum saepe videbantur.
Back
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