The Murder of Agrippina

Translation

Meanwhile, when the danger to Agrippina became widely known, as if it had happened by chance, as each person had heard about it, they ran down to the shore. Some climbed onto the projecting moles, others the nearest boats; others waded into the sea as far as their body allowed; certain people stretched out their hands; the whole shore was filled with complaints, prayers, and the shouting of people repeatedly asking different things or giving uncertain replies; a huge crowd flocked to the scene with torches, and when it became generally known that she was safe, they prepared as if to give thanks, until they were scattered by the sight of an armed and threatening column of soldiers. Anicetus surrounded the villa with sentries, and having broken open the door, dragged aside those slaves who got in his way, until he reached the doors of the bedroom; few stood near it, the rest were scared stiff by dread of those bursting in. There was a modest light in the bedroom and one of the maids, while Agrippina was more and more anxious because no one had come from her son, not even Agerinus: the appearance of a happy event would be different; as it was, now there was solitude, sudden noises and signs of utmost calamity. Then, as the maid was leaving, having declared "Are you also deserting me?", she looked around at Anicetus, accompanied by Herculeius, captain of a trireme, and the marine centurion Obaritus: and so, if he had come to visit, he should take back the news that she had recovered, but if he had come to commit an outrage, she believed nothing about her son; matricide had not been ordered. The assassins surrounded the bed, and the trireme captain was the first to strike her head with a club. Then, as the centurion drew his sword for the death blow, stretching out her womb, she shouted "Strike my belly!" and was finished off with many wounds.