For clearly the adoption had been spurned, all the senators’ decree, the command of the people was among his household being taken away;
ac nisi pravitas tam infensa docentium arceatur, eruptura in publicam perniciem.
And [that] unless the perverseness [and] such danger of his teachers was taken away, disaster would erupt in the public.
commotus his quasi criminibus optimum quemque educatorem filii exilio aut morte adficit datosque a noverca custodiae eius imponit.
Disturbed by these almost charges he [Claudius] bestowed exile or death on the best of his son’s tutors and yielded him to the guardians appointed by his stepmother.
42
Nondum tamen summa moliri Agrippina audebat, ni
Agrippina did not yet dare to attempt [to take] the height [of power] however, unless
praetoriarum cohortium cura exolverentur Lusius Geta et Rufrius Crispinus, quos
Lusius Geta and Rufrius Crispinus could be removed from command of the praetorian guard, who
Messalinae memores et liberis eius devinctos credebat.
She believed were [still] devoted to the memory of Messalina and her children.
igitur distrahi cohortis ambitu duorum et, si ab uno regerentur, intentiorem fore disciplinam adseverante uxore,
Therefore, with his wife asserting [that] the ambition of the two of them was tearing apart the guard and that, if it was commanded by one, discipline would be stricter,
transfertur regimen cohortium ad Burrum Afranium, egregiae militaris famae,
power over the guard was transferred to Burrus Afranius, of distinguished military fame,
gnarum tamen cuius sponte praeficeretur. suum quoque fastigium Agrippina extollere altius:
Having however knowledge of who had spontaneously put him in charge. To extol her greater power to everyone:
carpento Capitolium ingredi, qui honos sacerdotibus et sacris antiquitus concessus
She [began] to enter into the capital in a carriage, which honour, given to priests and sacred things by antiquity
veneratio nem augebat feminae, quam imperatore genitam, sororem eius qui rerum potitus sit et coniugem et matrem fuisse, unicum ad hunc diem exemplum est.
Augmented the reverence of a woman, who was daughter of a commander, had been sister and wife and mother to the one who had power over things [an emperor], a unique example to this day.
inter quae praecipuus propugnator eius Vitellius, validissima gratia, aetate extrema (adeo incertae sunt potentium res) accusatione corripitur,
During these [events] her preeminent champion Vitellius, in his great power and extreme age (so uncertain are the fates of the powerful) was accused,
deferente Iunio Lupo senatore. is crimina maiestatis et cupidinem imperii obiectabat;
By the senator Junius Lupus. He was accusing the crimes of treason and desire for power;
praebuissetque auris Caesar, nisi Agrippinae minis magis quam precibus mutatus esset,
And Caesar may have lent an ear, had Agrippina not with threats rather than with pleas converted him,
ut accusatori aqua atque igni interdiceret. hactenus Vitellius voluerat.
To forbid the accuser from fire and water [exile him]. This was all Vitellius had wanted.
43
Multa eo anno prodigia evenere. insessum diris avibus Capitolium, crebris terrae motibus prorutae domus,
Many portents happened that year. Dire birds settled on the Capitoline hill, houses were demolished by frequent earthquakes,
ac dum latius metuitur, trepidatione vulgi invalidus quisque obtriti; frugum quoque egestas et orta ex eo fames in prodigium accipiebatur.
And as fear spread wider, by the trepidation of the common people all the weak were crushed; a shortage of crops too and the famines that arose from it were taken as portents.
nec occulti tantum questus, sed iura reddentem Claudium circumvasere clamoribus turbidis,
Nor were all the complaints secret, but [people] surrounded Claudius, administering justice to the rowdy protests,
pulsumque in extremam fori partem vi urgebant, donec militum globo infensos perrupit.
And having been pushed into the farthest part of the forum pressed on him with force, until he broke through the aggressive mob with a circle of soldiers.
Quindecim dierum alimenta urbi, non amplius superfuisse constitit, magnaque deum benignitate
Supplies for fifteen days for the city, not enough for more, it was decided [there was] and by the great kindness of the gods
et modestia hiemis rebus extremis subventum. at hercule olim Italia legionibus longinquas in provincias commeatus portabat,
And a mild winter the extreme case was relieved. Yet, by Hercules, once Italy bore supplies for legions in far away provinces,
nec nunc infecunditate laboratur, sed Africam potius et Aegyptum exercemus, navisbusque et casibus vita populi Romani permissa est.
Nor is there now infertile labour, but we prefer to work Africa and Egypt, and the life of Rome’s population is dependent on ships and chance.
52
Fausto Sulla Salvio Othone consulibus Furius Scribonianus in exilium agitur, quasi finem principis per Chaldaeos scrutaretur.
In the consulship of Faustus Sulla and Salvius Otho Furius Scribonianus was driven into exile, on the grounds of consulting the emperor’s death with astrologers.
adnectebatur crimini Vibia mater eius, ut casus prioris (nam relegata erat) impatiens.
His mother Vibia was linked to the crime, impatient of her prior fall (for she had been relegated).
pater Scriboniani Camillus arma per Dalmatiam moverat; idque ad clementiam trahebat Caesar,
The father of Scribonius, Camillus, had taken up arms in Dalmatia [against the emperor]; and Caesar considered it down to his mercy,
quod stirpem hostilem iterum conservaret. neque tamen exuli longa posthac vita fuit:
Because he was conserving the hostile family again. The exile did not survive long afterwards however:
morte fortuita an per venenum extinctus esset, ut quisque credidit, vulgavere.
Whether it was of a natural death, or whether he was killed by poison, as each person believed, [was] common talk.
de mathematicis Italia pellendis factum senatus consultum atrox et inritum.
A savage and ineffective decree of the senate drove out astrologers from Italy.
laudati dehinc oratione principis qui ob angustias familiaris ordine senatorio sponte cederent,
Afterwards in a speech by the emperor those who departed from the senate of their own free will due to poverty were praised,
motique qui remanendo impudentiam paupertati adicerent.
And those who remained were [re]moved, having added impudence to poverty.
53
Inter quae refert ad patres de poena feminarum quae servis coniungerentur;
During this he [Claudius] proposed a punishment to the senators for women who married slaves;
statuiturque ut ignaro domino ad id prolapsae in servitute, sin consensisset, pro libertis haberentur.
And it was decided that if [women] had sunk to it, ignorant of the master, [she] should be enslaved, if he had consented, she would be considered a freedwoman.
Pallanti, quem repertorem eius relationis ediderat Caesar, praetoria insignia et centies quinquagies sestertium censuit consul designatus Barea Soranus.
To Pallas, who Caesar declared the author of this proposal, Barea Soranus, consul-elect, recommended the honour of praetorian, and 15,000,000 sesterces be granted to him.
additum a Scipione Cornelio grates publice agendas, quod regibus Arcadiae ortus veterrimam nobilitatem usui publico postponeret
That he should receive public thanks was added by Cornelius Scipio, because he had disregarded his ancient arcadian nobility to the benefit of the public
seque inter ministros principis haberi sineret. adseveravit Claudius contentum honore Pallantem intra priorem paupertatem subsistere.
And allowed himself to be considered among the emperor’s ministers. Claudius assured them that Pallas, content with the honour, would remain in his prior poverty.
et fixum est [aere] publico senatus consultum quo libertinus sestertii ter milies possessor antiquae parsimoniae laudibus cumulabatur.
And the senate decree was inscribed on bronze, heaping praise on the freedman, possessor of three million sesterces, for his old-world frugality.
56
Sub idem tempus inter lacum Fucinum amnemque Lirim perrupto monte, quo magnificentia operis a pluribus viseretur,
At about the same time, at the mountain between lake Fucinum and the river Lirim was bored through, in order that the magnificent work might be viewed by more people,
lacu in ipso navale proelium adornatur, ut quondam Augustus structo trans Tiberim stagno,
On the lake itself, a naval battle was put on as adornment, like that of Augustus on his lake across the Tiber,
sed levibus navigiis et minore copia ediderat. Claudius triremis quadriremisque et undeviginti hominum milia armavit,
But made with light ships, and with smaller forces. Claudius armed triremes, quadriremes, and 19,000 soldiers,
cincto ratibus ambitu, ne vaga effugia forent, ac tamen spatium amplexus ad vim remigii,
With the circumference surrounded by rafts, that there may be no point of escape anywhere, but with enough space for the strength of rowing,
gubernantium artes, impetus navium et proelio solita. in ratibus praetoriarum cohortium manipuli turmaeque adstiterant,
The skill of steering, the assault of the ships, and the usual elements of a battle. Maniples and teams of the praetorian guard placed themselves in the rafts,
antepositis propugnaculis ex quis catapultae ballistaeque tenderentur. reliqua lacus classiarii tectis navibus obtinebant.
With bulwarks placed before them, from which catapults and ballistae might be operated. The rest of the lake was occupied by marines in protected ships.
ripas et collis montiumque edita in modum theatri multitudo innumera complevit, proximis e municipiis et alii urbe ex ipsa,
The hills, shore, and mountain heights formed a sort of amphitheatre, filled with an innumerable crowd, from nearby municipalities, and some others from the city [of Rome] itself,
visendi cupidine aut officio in principem. ipse insigni paludamento neque procul Agrippina chlamyde aurata praesedere.
Wanting to watch, or as courtesy to the emperor. Himself in military cloak, and not far away Agrippina in a gilded Chlamys [Greek cloak] presided.
pugnatum quamquam inter sontis fortium virorum animo, ac post multum vulnerum occidioni exempti sunt.
Although the battle was fought between criminals, [they fought] with the strong spirit of [free] men, and after much bloodshed, they were exempted from being killed.
57
Sed perfecto spectaculo apertum aquarum iter. incuria operis manifesta fuit, haud satis depressi ad lacus ima vel media.
But with the conclusion of the spectacle, [the tunnel] was opened allowing water to run free. Carelessness in the construction manifested, it had been depressed hardly enough to the middle of the lake, let alone the bottom.
eoque tempore interiecto altius effossi specus, et contrahendae rursum multitudini gladiatorum spectaculum editur,
And therefore after an interval to dig deeper the canal, and to bring back a crowd, a spectacle of gladiators was organised,
inditis pontibus pedestrem ad pugnam. quin et convivium effluvio lacus adpositum magna formidine cunctos adfecit,
A deck was set for foot-soldiers to fight. And in fact a banquet was set up at the outflow of the lake, [which] led to widespread panic,
quia vis aquarum prorumpens proxima trahebat, convulsis ulterioribus aut fragore et sonitu exterritis.
Due to the fact that the bursting forth of the water took away the close [bits], shook the further ones, or with a crash and sound frightened.
simul Agrippina trepidatione principis usa ministrum operis Narcissum incusat cupidinis ac praedarum.
At the same time, Agrippina, making use of the emperor’s trepidation, accused Narcissus, as minister of the construction, of greed and of fraud
nec ille reticet, impotentiam muliebrem nimiasque spes eius arguens.
He did not remain silent, denouncing her as an uncontrollable woman, and of having excessive ambition.
58
D. Iunio Q. Haterio consulibus sedecim annos natus Nero Octaviam Caesaris filiam in matrimonium accepit.
In the consulship of Decimus Junius, and Quintus Haterius, Nero, 16 years old, married Octavia, Caesar’s daughter.
utque studiis honestis et eloquentiae gloria enitesceret, causa Iliensium suscepta Romanum Troia demissum
That he might shine in honourable study and the glory of eloquence, he took up the cause of Ilium, the Trojan descent of the Romans
et Iuliae stirpis auctorem Aeneam aliaque haud procul fabulis vetera facunde executus perpetrat,
And Aeneus as originator of the Julian line, and other things hardly far from fable, having described eloquently, he gained
ut Ilienses omni publico munere solverentur. eodem oratore Bononiensi coloniae igni haustae subventum centies sestertii largitione.
That Ilium be absolved of all public burdens. Also by his oratory the colony of Bononia which had been drained by a fire was granted a subvention of 10 million sesterces.
reddita Rhodiis libertas, adempta saepe aut firmata, prout bellis externis meruerant aut domi seditione deliquerant;
Rhodians were also given freedom, having often been captured or fortified, as they had distinguished themselves in [our] external wars or disgraced themselves in insurrections;
tributumque Apamensibus terrae motu convulsis in quinquennium remissum.
And Apamea was remitted from paying tribute for five years, on account of earthquakes.
59
At Claudius saevissima quaeque promere adigebatur eiusdem Agrippinae artibus,
Yet Claudius was driven to bring out the greatest cruelty by the arts of the same Agrippina,
quae Statilium Taurum opibus inlustrem hortis eius inhians pervertit accusante Tarquitio Prisco.
She ruined Statilius Taurus of famous wealth and whose gardens she coveted, accused by Tarquitius Priscus.
legatus is Tauri Africam imperio proconsulari regentis, postquam revenerant, pauca repetundarum crimina,
[Who had been] legate to Taurus when he ruled Africa with proconsular power, after they had returned, [he charged him] with the small crime of extortion,
ceterum magicas superstitiones obiectabat. nec ille diutius falsum accusatorem,
But especially with magical superstitions [acts]. And having been falsely accused for such a long time,
indignas sordis perpessus vim vitae suae attulit ante sententiam senatus.
Having endured humiliation he was undeserving of, he took his life, before the senate’s sentence.
Tarquitius tamen curia exactus est; quod patres odio delatoris contra ambitum Agrippinae pervicere.
Tarquitius however was driven from the senate; a point which the senators carried out of hatred for the denouncer, against the ambitions of Agrippina.
65
Ceterum obiecta sunt quod coniugem principis devotionibus petivisset quodque parum coercitis per Calabriam servorum agminibus pacem Italiae turbaret.
But the charges were that she had attacked the emperor’s wife with an enchantment, and that by not curbing enough her army of slaves in Calabria, she had disturbed the peace in Italy.
ob haec mors indicta, multum adversante Narcisso, qui Agrippinam magis magisque suspectans prompsisse inter proximos ferebatur certam sibi perniciem,
On account of these, she was sentenced to death, despite much opposition by Narcissus, who suspecting Agrippina more and more, had remarked to his closest friends that his own destruction was certain,
seu Britannicus rerum seu Nero poteretur; verum ita de se meritum Caesarem, ut vitam usui eius impenderet.
Whether Britannicus or Nero came to power; but Caesar deserved in such a way from him, that he would devote [sacrifice] his life for him.
convictam Messalinam et Silium; pares iterum accusandi causas esse, si Nero imperitaret;
Messalina and Silius had been convicted; there was equal reason for another accusation, if Nero ruled;
Britannico successore nullum principi metum: at novercae insidiis domum omnem convelli,
In the case of Britannicus’ succession there would be no fear for the emperor: but the stepmother had a plot to overthrow the whole house,
maiore flagitio quam si impudicitiam prioris coniugis reticuisset. quamquam ne impudicitiam quidem nunc abesse Pallante adultero,
A much greater disgrace than if he had kept silent about his [Claudius’] previous wife’s immodesty. Although there was no [lack] of immodesty, with the adultery with Pallas,
ne quis ambigat decus pudorem corpus, cuncta regno viliora habere. haec atque talia dictitans amplecti Britannicum,
So that no one could doubt that she held honour, modesty, body, everything cheaper than royal power. With these and such remarks he embraced Brittanicus,
robur aetatis quam maturrimum precari, modo ad deos, modo ad ipsum tendere manus,
And prayed for the age of strength as soon as possible, now to the gods, now to [Britannicus] himself he stretched out his hands,
adolesceret, patris inimicos depelleret, matris etiam interfectores ulcisceretur.
That he might grow up, drive out the enemies of his father, even avenge the killers of his mother.
66
In tanta mole curarum valetudine adversa corripitur, refovendisque viribus mollitia caeli et salubritate aquarum Sinuessam pergit.
In such a mass of worries, he was seized by bad health, and he proceeded to recover his strength with the skies and health waters of Sinuessa.
tum Agrippina, sceleris olim certa et oblatae occasionis propera nec ministrorum egens,
Then Agrippina, long ago certain of the crime, and she hurried to the unexpected opportunity, not lacking in helpers
de genere veneni consultavit, ne repentino et praecipiti facinus proderetur; si lentum et tabidum delegisset,
She consulted on the type of poison, that the deed might not be revealed by a hasty and sudden [type]; if she chose a slow and wasting [type],
ne admotus supremis Claudius et dolo intellecto ad amorem filii rediret. exquisitum aliquid placebat,
Claudius, moved by his finality, and realising the trickery, might return to love of his son. Something sought out pleased [her],
quod turbaret mentem et mortem differret. deligitur artifex talium vocabulo Locusta,
Something that disturbed the mind and delayed death. Such an excellent master named Locusta, was chosen,
nuper veneficii damnata et diu inter instrumenta regni habita. eius mulieris ingenio paratum virus,
Recently convicted of poisoning, and retained for a long time as an instrument by the queen. The venom was prepared by the ingenuity of the woman,
cuius minister e spadonibus fuit Halotus, inferre epulas et explorare gustu solitus.
Which was to be administered by the eunuch Halotus, used to bringing in and tasting his food.
67
Adeoque cuncta mox pernotuere ut temporum illorum scriptores prodiderint infusum delectabili boleto venenum,
So well known was everything soon, that authors of that time recorded that the venom was poured onto a delectable mushroom,
nec vim medicaminis statim intellectam, socordiane an Claudii vinolentia; simul soluta alvus subvenisse videbatur.
The force of the drug was not understood immediately, [due to] the inaction or intoxication by wine of Claudius; at the same time, it seemed a loosening of the bowels aided him.
igitur exterrita Agrippina et, quando ultima timebantur, spreta praesentium invidia provisam iam sibi Xenophontis medici conscientiam adhibet.
Consequently, Agrippina was terrified, and since the ultimate [consequence] was feared, with the dislike of her present [actions] rejected, she employed the doctor Xenophon, already in the know before.
ille tamquam nisus evomentis adiuvaret, pinnam rapido veneno inlitam faucibus eius demisisse creditur,
As if to help him in his effort to vomit, it is believed he plunged a feather smeared with a quick poison into his throat,
haud ignarus summa scelera incipi cum periculo, peragi cum praemio.
Hardly ignorant that the greatest crimes are begun with danger, but end with reward.
68
Vocabatur interim senatus votaque pro incolumitate principis consules et sacerdotes nuncupabant,
Meanwhile the senate had been convened, and the consuls and priests were publicly praying for the safety of the emperor
cum iam exanimis vestibus et fomentis obtegeretur, dum quae res forent firmando Neronis imperio componuntur.
With him already covered in robes and poultices, while the things which [were needed] to secure Nero’s power were arranged.
iam primum Agrippina, velut dolore victa et solacia conquirens, tenere amplexu Britannicum,
Now first of all Agrippina, as though conquered by pain and searching for comfort, held Britannicus in an embrace,
veram paterni oris effigiem appellare ac variis artibus demorari ne cubiculo egrederetur.
Calling him the true image of his father’s face, and detaining him by various means, so that he might not leave his room
Antoniam quoque et Octaviam sorores eius attinuit, et cunctos aditus custodiis clauserat,
Antonia and Octavia, his sisters, she held back also, and blocked all the exits with guards,
crebroque vulgabat ire in melius valetudinem principis, quo miles bona in spe ageret tempusque prosperum ex monitis Chaldaeorum adventaret.
And she frequently made it known that the emperor was in better health, that the soldiers might perform well in hope, and that the favourable time as advised by the astrologers might arrive.
69
Tunc medio diei tertium ante Idus Octobris, fortibus palatii repente diductis, comitante Burro Nero egreditur ad cohortem,
Then in the middle of the third day before the ides of October, she suddenly spread the doors of the palace, and Nero came out with Burrus accompanying to the cohort,
quae more militiae excubiis adest. ibi monente praefecto faustis vocibus exceptus inditur lecticae.
Which as custom of the military was present, keeping watch. There with the prefect reminding, he was greeted with cries of fortune [and], taken out in a litter.
dubitavisse quosdam ferunt, respectantis rogitantisque ubi Britannicus esset: mox nullo in diversum auctore quae offerebantur secuti sunt.
It is said some were wavering in what they were doing, looking back, and asking questions about where Britannicus was: soon with no-one offering an alternative leader, they followed.
inlatusque castris Nero et congruentia tempori praefatus, promisso donativo ad exemplum paternae largitionis,
And Nero, having been carried into the camp, and having said a suitable thing at the right time, promised a gift, in the example of his father’s generosity,
imperator consalutatur. sententiam militum secuta patrum consulta, nec dubitatum est apud provincias.
He was hailed as emperor. The decision of the military was followed by a decree of the senators, nor was there doubt in the provinces.
caelestesque honores Claudio decernuntur et funeris sollemne perinde ac divo Augusto celebratur,
And heavenly honours were decreed on Claudius, and his funeral rites were celebrated in the same manner as divine Augustus,
aemulante Agrippina proaviae Liviae magnificentiam. testamentum tamen haud recitatum,
Agrippina rivalling the magnificence of her grandmother Livia. The will was not read at all however,
ne antepositus filio privignus iniuria et invidia animos vulgi turbaret.
That the ill-will and injustice of placing his stepson over his son might not disturb the mind of the people.