1-8 8-16

Messalina was on fire with a new and as it were She does not furtively come repeatedly to his house,

insane love. For she had become enflamed with but with many companions; she clings to him

love for C. Silius, the most handsome of the Roman when he went out; she gives him resources and

youth, in such a way that she drove out Junia honours; finally the slaves, the freedmen, the

Silana, a noble woman, from her marriage with property of the emperor were often seen at the

him and took possession of a [now] unencumbered adulterer’s house. But Claudius was ignorant

adulterer. Nor was Silius unaware of the scandal or about his own marriage.

the danger: but he understood that death, if he

Now Messalina on account of the ease of her
refused, would be certain and, if he agreed, that
adulteries turned to new lusts. Silius, whether
there was some hope of hiding the crime; and that
through fatal madness or thinking that dangers
he would at the same time receive great rewards.
themselves were a cure for threatening dangers,
Therefore he decided to neglect the future, to enjoy
urged that concealment should be thrown off:
the present.

16-26 27-33

for obviously they did not need to wait until the Therefore the emperor’s house shuddered, and

emperor should grow old. He said that he was those who had power feared very much that there

unmarried, childless, prepared for a wedding and would be a coup: however, they had hope that, if

to adopt Britannicus. Messalina’s power would they persuaded Claudius about the hideousness of

remain the same, with security added, if they acted the crime, Messalina could be overwhelmed and

before Claudius, who was unsuspicious of plots condemned without trial; but there was the danger

but swift to anger. Messalina, not through love for that he would listen to her defence, and his ears

her husband, but fearing that once Silius had would not be closed even to her confessing.

obtained the highest power he would reject her, Narcissus, seeking opportunities, when Caesar was

hesitated for a long time; but at last she was delaying for a long time at Ostia,

persuaded. For she coveted the name of marriage

because of the scale of the outrageousness. Having

delayed only until Claudius set out for Ostia for

the purpose of a sacrifice, she celebrated all the

ceremonies of marriage.
34-41 42-49

induced two of his concubines by bribery and Meanwhile not only rumour but messengers hurry

promises to undertake the denunciation. Then from all directions to Messalina to report that

Calpurnia (that was the name of one concubine), Claudius had found out everything and was

when an audience was given, fell down at Caesar’s coming ready for revenge. Therefore they

knees and exclaimed that Messalina had married separated, Messalina into the Gardens of Lucullus,

Silius; when the other concubine confirmed this, Silius, to disguise his fear, to the forum. She,

Calpurnia demanded that Narcissus be however, although the disaster prevented

summoned. He said, ‘Have you found out about planning, at once decided to go to meet and be

your divorce? For the people and the senate and seen by her husband, an act which had often been a

the soldiers see Silius’ marriage; and if you do not life-line for her; and she sent orders that

act quickly, her husband holds the city.’ Britannicus and Octavia should go into the

embrace of their father.

49-59 60-7

But meanwhile, with only three people accompanying During all this Claudius’ silence was strange; in

– so sudden was her desertion – after she went everything he obeyed his freedman; that man

through Rome on foot, she embarked on the road prepared the assembly of the soldiers in the camp.

to Ostia in a cart in which the gardens’ refuse was In their presence, with Narcissus giving

taken away. She aroused no pity from the citizens, instructions first, the emperor gave a few words:

because the appalling nature of the scandal carried from then on there was a continuous uproar of

more weight. And now she was in Claudius’ sight soldiers demanding the names of the guilty and

and was shouting repeatedly that he should listen their punishment. Silius was brought to the

to the mother of Octavia and Britannicus. platform and did not attempt a defence or any

Narcissus, however, shouted her down, delaying tactics, but prayed that his death be

mentioning Silius and the marriage; at the same hastened.

time he handed over note-books as proofs of her

Meanwhile Messalina was prolonging her life in
infidelities, by which he might draw away Caesar’s
the Gardens of Lucullus, was thinking up prayers,
attention. And not much later his children were
with some hope and anger:
presented to him as he was entering the city, but

Narcissus ordered them to be removed.

67-74 74-81

such great arrogance was she displaying even then. and the memory of his wife’s bedroom; therefore

And if Narcissus had not hastened her execution, he rushed out and ordered the centurions and

she would have turned the ruin onto her accuser. tribune, who was present, to complete the

For when Claudius had returned home, when he execution: [he said that] thus the emperor ordered.

was warm with dinner and wine, he ordered that One of the freedmen was also sent; he went on

the poor woman (for they say that Claudius used ahead hurriedly into the gardens and found

this word) should be present the next day to plead Messalina, stretched out on the ground; her mother

her case. When Narcissus heard this and saw that Lepida was sitting next to her, who had not been

his anger was dying down and his love returning, on friendly terms with her daughter as she

he feared, if he delayed, the approaching night flourished, but having turned to pity in her

extreme time of need, was urging her not to await

the executioner:

82-9

her life was finished, and there was nothing other

than a fitting death to be sought. But there was

nothing honourable in Messalina’s mind,

corrupted by lusts; tears and useless complaints

were being poured out, when the doors were

broken open by the force of those coming, and

there stood the tribune. Then for the first time

Messalina understood her misfortune and accepted

the sword; while she was putting it to her throat

and breast uselessly because of her trembling, she

was run through by the tribune’s thrust. Her body

was handed over to her mother.