Messalina Flashcards
(43 cards)
Messaline novo quasi insano amore incensa est.
Messalina was fired with a new and almost mad love.
‘incensa est’ - fire metaphor shows the extremity of her love.
‘insano’ shows extreme nature of her love
‘insano amore incensa est’ enclosing word order suggests that these are not the typical values that love should have.
Nam in C. Silium, iuventutis Romanae pulcherrirum, ita exarserat ut Iuniam Silanam, nobilem feminam, matrimonio eius exturbaret liberoque adultero ptiretur.
For she had burned with love for C. Silius, the most handsome of the Roman youth, to such an extent that she drove out Junia Silana, a noble woman, from her marriage and got possession of an unrestricted adulterer.
Result clause + continued fire imagery highlights the extremity and violence of Messalina’s actions.
‘pulcherrimum’ - use of superlative
‘liberoque adultero’ - juxtaposition brings out irony as Silius is being forced into it
neque Silius flagitii aut periculi nescius erat: sed intellexit exitium, si abnueret, fore certum et, si consentirent, nonnullam facinoris celandi spem esse; simulque se magna praemia accepturum.
And Silius was not unaware of the disgrace or the danger: but he understood that ruin would be certain if he rejected her, and if he agreed there was some hope of concealing the crime; and at the same time, he would receive great rewards.
‘neque Silius flagitii aut periculi nescius erat’ - litotes + double negative highlights Silius knows what hes doing.
Repitition of ‘si’ makes Silius’ choices more vivid
‘fore certum’ - suggests that it is the only possibility if he rejects her - implies Messalina abuses her power and Silius has no chance.
‘nonnullam facinoris celandi spem esse’ - enclosing word order + use of abstract noun
igitur placuit neglegere futura praesentibus frui.
Therefore it pleased him to ignore future events and enjoy the present circumstances.
‘neglegere futura praesentibus frui’ - chiasmus + demonstrates Silius’ lack of focus on the consequences.
illa non furtim sed multis cum comitibus ventitat domum, egredienti adhaeret, dat opes honoresque; postremo servi, liberti, paratus principis apud adulterum seape videbantur.
She visisted the house frequently, not secretly, but with many companions, clung to him when he went out, gave him wealth and honours; finally, slaves, freedmen, the furnishings of the emperor were often seen at the adulterer’s house.
‘non furtim sed mutlis cum comitibus’ - variatio emphasise vividness and the recklessness of Messalina
‘ventitat’ - frequentative verb and historic present emphasises vividness
‘adhaeret’ - metaphorical use of verb emphasises her passion for him and how obvious they are being
‘honorosque’ - shocking as something only the emperor can do
Asyndetic ascending tricolon of posessions seen at Silius’ house in ‘servi, liberti, paratus principis’ emphasises how obvious they are and how close they have become.
at Claudius matrimonii sui ignarus.
But Claudius was unaware of the state of his own marriage.
Silius, sive fatali insania an ipsa pericula remedium imminentium periculorum ratus, abrumpi dissimulationem urgebat:
Silius, whether because of his fateful madness or thinking that the dangers themselves were a cure for the imminent dangers, urged the concealment to be cast aside:
‘Silius … ratus’ - variatio presents both reasons for the decision making which makes it more vivid.
‘insania’ - abstract noun
‘pericula … periculorum’ polyptoton increases vividness and sense of danger.
‘abrumpi dissimulationem urgebat’ - emphatic choice of verb + promoted to beginning of clause
iam Messalina propter facilitatem adulteriorum ad novas libidines versa est.
Now Messalina, because of the easiness of the adulteries, turned to new lusts.
‘novas libidines’ - implicit reference to her shocking behaviour increases the vividness and a sense of judgement.
quippe non exspectandum, dum princeps senesceret.
certainly, they should not wait for the emperor the grow old.
‘quippe non exspectandum’ - gerundive of obligation and forceful words
se caelibem, orbit, nuptiis et adoptando Britannico paratum.
He was single, childless, ready for marriage and adopting Britannicus.
Ascending tricolon makes reasons sound convincing.
eandem Messalinae potentiam mansuram esse, addita securitate, si praevenirent Claudium, qui insidiis incautus sed ad iram celer esset.
For Messalina, the same power would remain, with added security, if they forestalled Claudius, who was oblivious to treachery, but swift to anger.
‘praevenirent’ - diction choice foreshadows that someone is going to do something soon.
‘insidiis incautus’ - alliteration highlights Claudius’ weaknesses.
Messalina, non amore in maritum, sed verita ne Silius summa adeptus se sperneret, diu haesitavit; sed tandem persuasem.
Messalina hesitated for a long time, not because of love towards her husband, but fearing that Silius if he obtained supreme power, might reject her, but finally she was persuaded.
‘non amore in maritum’ - sarcastic reference emphasises the little love she shares for her husband also showing Tacitus’ dissapproval.
‘Silius summa adeptus se sperneret’ sibilance draws attention to this option for forestalling their marriage - a bad option for a bad character.
nomen enim matrimonii concupivit ob magnitudem infamiae.
For she craved the title of marriage because of the magnitude of the outrageousness.
‘matrimonii’ - variatio as he often uses ‘nuptiae’ draws attention to Messalina’s bad intentions.
‘magnitudinem infamiae’ - use of two polysyllabic abstract nouse draws attention to the outrage and makes it more vivid.
nec ultra morata quam dum sacrificii gratia Claudius Ostiam proficisceretur, cuncta nuptiarum sollemnia celebrat.
And not delaying any further than until Claudius set out for Ostia for a sacrifice, she celebrated all the rites of marriage.
‘celebrat’ - historic present
igitur domus princeps inhorruit, maximeque et qui potentiam habebant timuerunt ne res verterentur
Therefore, the Emperor’s household shuddered, and particularly those who held any power feared lest the state be overturned.
‘inhorruit’ - personification increases vividness
spem tamen habebant, si Claudio de atrocitate sceleris persuasissent, Messalinam posse opprimi sine quaestione damnatam
nevertheless they had some hope that if they convinced Claudius about the enormity of the crime, Messalina could be condemned without a trial and overthrown.
‘atrocitate sceleris’ - polysyllabic abstract nouns draw attention to the enormity of the crime and increase the vividness.
‘opprimi sine quastione damnatam’ - emphatic presentation of their hopes for Messalina’s downfall
sed periculum esse ne ille defensionem audiret, neve clausae aures etiam confitenti non essent.
But there was a danger that he might listen to her defence or that his ears might not be closed to her even if she confessed.
‘nerve clausae aure … non essent’ - vivid choice of language
Narcissus, occasiones quaerens, cum Caesar diu apud Ostiam moraretur, duas eius paelices largitione et promissis perpulit delationem subire.
Narcissus, looking for opportunities, since Caesar was delaying for a long time at Ostia, compelled two of his concubines by means of largesse and promises, to submit an accusation.
Exim Calpurnia (id aleri paelici nomen), ubi datum est secretum, ad genua Caesaris provoluta nupisse Messalinam Silio exclamat
Then Calpurnia (that was the name of one of the two concubines), when she was given a secret audience, prostating herself at the knees of Caesar, shouted that Messalina had married Silius
‘nupisse Mwssalinam Silio exclamat’ - historic present + meaning of shouting increases the vividness. Messalina is the subject which demonstrates she has instigated the affair and marriage.
altera paelice haec confirmante, Calpurnia cieri Narcissum postulat
When the other concubine confirmed this, Calpurnia demanded that Narcissus be summoned.
‘postulat’ - historic present + vivid meaning of demanding
qui ‘discidiumne tuum’ inquit ‘novisti? nam matrimonium Silii vidit populus et senatus et milites; ac nisi celeriter agis, tenet urbem matitus’
He said, “Do you know about your divorce? For the people, the Senate and the soldiers have seen Silius’ marriage; and unless you act quickly, the husband controls the city/”
The use of direct speech makes it more vivid.
‘populus et senatus et milites’ - polysyndetic tricolon (everyone, but Claudius knew)
‘tenet’ the use of a present verb instead of a future verb in this conditional clause conveys the immediate sense of threat and the need for action from Claudius.
‘maritus’ - delay of maritus in sentence highlights how this word now refers to Silius and not Claudius.
non solum rumor interea, sed undique nuntii ad Messalinam contendunt, qui Claudium omnia cognovisse et venire promptum ultionni adferrent.
In the meantime, there was not only rumour, but from all sides messengers were hastening to Messalina, to report that Claudius had found out everything and was coming eager for revenge.
‘non solum’ - variatio conveys how quickly the news has travelled
‘Claudium omnia ognovisse et venire promptum ultioni’ - chaismus
igitur Messalina Lucullianos in hortos, Silius dissimulando metui ad forum digrediuntur.
Therefore Messalina and Silius departed in different directions, she to the Gardens of Lucullus, he to the forum to hide his fear.
illa tamen, quamquam res adversae consilium eximerent, ire obviam et aspici a marito statim constituit, quod seape ei fuerat subsidium; misitque ut Brittanicus et Octavia in complexum patris irent.
She however, althought the unfavourbale circumstances were taking away time for deliberation, immediately decided to meet and be seen by her husband, which had often been a help to her; and she sent instructions that Britannicus and Octavia should go to embrace their father.
‘marito’ - refers to Claudius even though she just married Silius
