The Death of Claudius

The Death of Claudius - Chapter 26

1a ceterum 3a actae 4a principi 2a grates , 5a quaesitiore 7a in 6a Domitium 8a adulatione ; 1b lex 2b rogataque 3b qua 4b transiret 5b in 6b familiam 7b Claudiam 8b et 9b nomen 10b Neronis . 1c Agrippina 2c et 3c augetur 4c cognomento 5c Augustae . 1d quibus 2d patratis 3d nemo 4d adeo 5d expers 6d misericordiae 7d fuit 8d quem 9d non 10d Britannici 11d fortuna 12d maerore 13d adficeret . 3e desolatus 1e paulatim 2e etiam 5e servilibus 4e ministeriis 8e perintempestiva 10e novercae 9e officia 7e in 6e ludibrium 11e vertebat , 12e intellegens 13e falsi . 1f neque 2f enim 6f segnem 4f ei 5f fuisse 3f indolem 7f ferunt , 8f sive 9f verum , 10f seu 13f periculis 11f commendatus 12f retinuit 14f famam 16f sine 18f experimento .

Chapter 26 Translation: Moreover, thanks were given to the emperor, with more exquisite flattery of Domitius. A law was proposed by which he might pass over to the Claudian family and (adopt) the name of Nero. Agrippina was also enriched with the surname Augusta. When these things were accomplished, no one was so devoid of pity that the misfortune of Britannicus did not fill them with sorrow. Gradually, even deprived of the services of slaves, he made a mockery of the very ill-timed services of his stepmother, recognising their falsity. For they say his character was by no means lazy; whether that is true, or, commended because of the dangers he had faced, he held the reputation without any proof (of it).