Narcissus's Warning

Translation

However, the charges were that she had attacked the emperor's wife with curses and that, with her bands of slaves insufficiently restrained throughout Calabria, she was disturbing the peace of Italy. On account of these charges death was decreed, with Narcissus strongly opposing. He, suspecting Agrippina more and more, was reported to have declared among his close associates that his own destruction was certain, whether Britannicus or Nero gained power; but Caesar had deserved so well of him that he would sacrifice his life for his service. Messalina and Silius had been convicted; equal grounds for accusation existed again if Nero should rule; if Britannicus succeeded, the emperor had nothing to fear: but the whole household was being shaken by the stepmother's plots, a greater disgrace than if he had kept silent about the shamelessness of his former wife. And indeed shamelessness was not absent even now with Pallas as her adulterer, so that no one might doubt that she held honour, modesty, her body - everything - cheaper than power. Saying these things and more, he would embrace Britannicus, praying that he reach the strength of manhood as quickly as possible, now stretching out his hands to the gods, now to Britannicus himself: let him grow up, drive out his father's enemies, and even avenge the killers of his mother.