1
igitur
2
domus
3
principis
4
inhorruit
,
65
maximeque
7
ei
8
qui
10
potentiam
9
habebant
11
timuerunt
12
ne
13
res
14
verterentur
:
3
spem
1
tamen
2
habebant
,
4
si
6
Claudio
7
de
8
atrocitate
9
sceleris
5
persuasissent
,
10
Messalinam
11
posse
15
opprimi
13
sine
14
quaestione
12
damnatam
;
1
sed
3
periculum
2
esse
4
ne
5
ille
7
defensionem
6
audiret
,
98
neve
13
clausae
10
aures
14
etiam
15
confitenti
11
non
12
essent
.
1
Narcissus
,
3
occasiones
2
quaerens
,
4
cum
5
Caesar
7
diu
8
apud
9
Ostiam
6
moraretur
,
11
duas
13
eius
12
paelices
14
largitione
15
et
16
promissis
10
perpulit
18
delationem
17
subire
.
1
exim
2
Calpurnia
(3
id
5
alteri
6
paelici
4
nomen
),
7
ubi
9
datum
9
est
8
secretum
,
11
ad
12
genua
13
Caesaris
10
provoluta
16
nupsisse
15
Messalinam
17
Silio
14
exclamat
;
1
altera
2
paelice
4
haec
3
confirmante
,
5
Calpurnia
8
cieri
7
Narcissum
6
postulat
.
Section 4 Translation: Therefore the emperor's household shuddered, and particularly those who held any power feared lest the state be overturned. 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. But there was a danger that Claudius might listen to her defence or that his ears might not be closed to her, even if she confessed. 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. Then Calpurnia (that was the name of one of the two concubines), when she was given a secret audience, fell down at the knees of Caesar and shouted that Messalina had married Silius; when the other concubine confirmed this, Calpurnia demanded that Narcissus be summoned.
Passage Analysis
What Happens
The imperial household is in panic. Narcissus seizes his opportunity while Claudius is away at Ostia, bribing two of the emperor's concubines to reveal Messalina's marriage to Silius. Calpurnia dramatically falls at Claudius's feet and delivers the shocking news that Messalina has married Silius. When the other concubine confirms this bombshell revelation, Calpurnia demands that Narcissus be summoned immediately to provide more details.
Historical Context
Ostia was Rome's port city, about 15 miles from the capital. When emperors travelled there on business, it created opportunities for palace intrigue back in Rome. Concubines (paelices) held unofficial but influential positions in the imperial household - their testimony carried weight precisely because they had intimate access to the emperor. The gesture of falling at someone's knees was a traditional Roman form of supplication, used when making desperate pleas. For imperial staff to fear "the state being overturned" shows how Messalina's actions threatened not just her marriage but the entire political system.
Questions to Consider
Why does Tacitus emphasise the fear throughout the palace rather than just focusing on Narcissus's plan?
How does Narcissus manipulate the situation to his advantage - what does this reveal about his character?
What does the use of concubines as informants tell us about imperial court dynamics and power structures?
How does the physical gesture of falling at Caesar's knees add drama and authenticity to the revelation?
Why might the courtiers fear that Claudius would listen to Messalina's defence - what does this suggest about his character?