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1 1 | took place in heaven on the third day before the Ides
2 1 | on the third day before the Ides of October, in the
3 1 | the Ides of October, in the new year which began our
4 1 | fear or favor. I shall tell the unvarnished truth. If anybody
5 1 | free to do as I like since the day when he died who had
6 1 | when he died who had made the proverb true: One must be
7 1 | produce my authority, apply to the man who saw Drusilla going
8 1 | Claudius limping along in the same direction. Willy-nilly,
9 1 | happens in heaven; for he is the superintendent of the Appian
10 1 | is the superintendent of the Appian road, by which you
11 1 | by which you know both the divine Augustus and Tiberius
12 1 | Tiberius Caesar went to join the gods. If you ask this man
13 1 | speak a word. For since the day when he took oath in
14 1 | day when he took oath in the Senate that he had seen
15 1 | should see a man murdered in the middle of the Forum. What
16 1 | murdered in the middle of the Forum. What I have heard
17 2 | 2] Now was come the season when Phoebus had
18 2 | when Phoebus had narrowed the daylight,~Shortening his
19 2 | victorious Cynthia was widening the bounds of her kingdom;~Ugly-faced
20 2 | Winter was snatching away the rich glories of Autumn,~
21 2 | glories of Autumn,~So that the tardy vintager, seeing that
22 2 | and there, was plucking the clusters forgotten.~ I presume
23 2 | understood if I day that the month was October and the
24 2 | the month was October and the day October thirteenth;
25 2 | day October thirteenth; the exact hour I cannot tell
26 2 | put!” you will say. “All the poets are unsatisfied to
27 2 | that they are even tackling the middle of the day: are you
28 2 | even tackling the middle of the day: are you going to neglect
29 2 | Phoebus already had passed the highest point of his circuit,~
30 2 | circuit,~Wearily shaking the reins as his car drew nearer
31 2 | reins as his car drew nearer the evening,~Leading away the
32 2 | the evening,~Leading away the half-spent light on is down-dipping
33 3 | Claudius began to give up the ghost, but couldn’t find
34 3 | character, led aside one of the three Fates and said: “Why,
35 3 | hard-hearted woman, do you let the wretched man be tormented?
36 3 | tortured so long? It is the sixty-fourth year that he
37 3 | you got against him and the nation? For once let the
38 3 | the nation? For once let the prophets tell the truth,
39 3 | once let the prophets tell the truth, who have been taking
40 3 | should make citizens out of the few that are left outside—
41 3 | one was that of Augurinus, the next was Baba’s, the third
42 3 | Augurinus, the next was Baba’s, the third Claudius’. “I will
43 3 | that one who has been in the habit of seeing so many
44 4 | having spoken she wound up the thread on his spindle neglected,~
45 4 | neglected,~Breaking off the royal days of his stupid
46 4 | charmingly ordered,~Crowning the locks on her brow with a
47 4 | Spun to a thread that drew the admiring gaze of her sisters.~
48 4 | her sisters.~Changed was the common wool, until as a
49 4 | metal most precious,~Golden the age that was winding down
50 4 | too labored; and bringing the finest of fleeces,~Gayly
51 4 | her hands, for sweet was the duty allotted.~She, in her
52 4 | her eagerness, hastened the work, nor was conscious
53 4 | conscious of effort;~Lightly the soft strands fell from the
54 4 | the soft strands fell from the whirling point of her spindle,~
55 4 | of her spindle,~Passing the life of Tithonus, passing
56 4 | life of Tithonus, passing the lifetime of Nestor.~Phoebus
57 4 | anticipation,~Joyously plied the plectrum, or aided the work
58 4 | plied the plectrum, or aided the work of the spinners:~Kept
59 4 | plectrum, or aided the work of the spinners:~Kept their hearts
60 4 | allotment,~Wrought through the spell of Phoebus’ lyre and
61 4 | but make him a victor~Over the barriers that limit the
62 4 | the barriers that limit the common lifetime of mortals;~
63 4 | Lucifer comes he,~Putting the scattered stars to flight,
64 4 | stars return; or e’en as the Sun,—when Aurora~First has
65 4 | Aurora~First has dispelled the dark and blushingly led
66 4 | and blushingly led forth the morning,—~Brightly gleams
67 4 | morning,—~Brightly gleams on the world and renews his chariot’
68 4 | gentle effulgence,~Graced by the flowing locks that fall
69 4 | too, had a fondness for the handsomest of men, wrought
70 4 | And indeed he did go up the flume, and from that moment
71 4 | after a louder utterance in the locality where he expressed
72 4 | where he expressed himself the more easily: “Oh, dear!
73 4(1)| Greek quotations in the original are in the translation
74 4(1)| quotations in the original are in the translation indicated by
75 4 | know; at any rate he was in the habit of hurting everything. ~
76 4(2)| This is euphemistic to the point of incomprehensibility.
77 4(2)| of incomprehensibility. The actual Latin (‘vae me, puto,
78 5 | danger that things which the universal joy had impressed
79 5 | universal joy had impressed upon the memory will slip from it;
80 5 | happened in heaven: it is on the authority of the narrator.
81 5 | it is on the authority of the narrator. The news was brought
82 5 | authority of the narrator. The news was brought to Jupiter
83 5 | limped with his right foot. The messenger said he had asked
84 5 | noise; he didn’t recognize the man’s language, but he wasn’
85 5 | who had travelled all over the world and was supposed to
86 5 | to be acquainted with all the nations, to go and find
87 5 | man it was. Hercules at the first sight was a good deal
88 5 | monsters. When he beheld the aspect of this unknown specimen,
89 5 | creature but more like that of the monsters of the deep, hoarse
90 5 | that of the monsters of the deep, hoarse and inarticulate,
91 5 | said: ~ Hence from Ilium the winds have among the Cicones
92 5 | Ilium the winds have among the Cicones cast me. ~ But the
93 5 | the Cicones cast me. ~ But the following verse would have
94 5 | There their city I wasted; the people I slaughtered. ~
95 6 | would have imposed upon the guileless Hercules, had
96 6 | shrine and come with him. All the other divinities he had
97 6 | good many miles between the Xanthus and the Rhone.”
98 6 | between the Xanthus and the Rhone.” At this point Claudius
99 6 | away to punishment. With the familiar gesture of his
100 6 | that was steady enough for the one purpose of decapitating
101 7 | have come to a place where the mice gnaw iron. Tell me
102 7 | mice gnaw iron. Tell me the truth, quick, or I’ll knock
103 7 | truth, quick, or I’ll knock the silliness out of you.” And
104 7 | more terrifying, he struck the attitude of a tragedian
105 7 | said: ~ “Declare at once the place you call your natal
106 7 | trying to say?~Where is the land or race to own your
107 7 | remember when afar I sought~The triple-bodied king’s domains,
108 7 | whose famous herd~From the western sea I drove to the
109 7 | the western sea I drove to the city of Inachus,~I saw a
110 7 | each day opposite,~Where the broad Rhone pours by in
111 7 | waters go,~Silently laves the borders of its quiet pools.~
112 7 | its quiet pools.~Is that the land that nursed you when
113 7 | and boldly enough. All the same, he was inwardly a
114 7 | inwardly a good deal afraid of the madman’s blow. Claudius,
115 7 | s blow. Claudius, seeing the mighty hero, forgot his
116 7 | Rome, here he didn’t have the same advantage; a cock is
117 7 | you, Hercules, bravest of the gods, would stand by me
118 7 | would stand by me before the others, and if any one had
119 7 | For if you recall, I was the one who held court before
120 7 | temple all day long during the months of July and August.
121 7 | had there, listening to the lawyers day and night; and
122 7(3)| Perhaps here Claudius begins the persuasion which proved
123 7(3)| effective with Hercules. The break which follows in the
124 7(3)| The break which follows in the MSS., if due, as is supposed,
125 7(3)| due, as is supposed, to the loss of even only one leaf
126 7(3)| even only one leaf from the archetype from which they
127 7(3)| seem to have included in the gap more incidents than
128 7(3)| than have been suggested in the various attempts to fill
129 8 | have made an assault upon the senate-house; nothing is
130 8 | there is something in him of the Stoic god, now I see. He
131 8 | Saturn, whose festival month the Saturnalian prince kept
132 8 | Saturnalian prince kept going the whole year long, he wouldn’
133 8 | son-in-law, just because the man preferred that his sister,
134 8 | sister, prettiest of all the girls, so that everybody
135 8 | since at Rome,’ you say, ‘the mice live on dainties.’
136 8 | chamber, and now ‘he searches the regions of heaven.’ He wants
137 8 | temple in Britain; that the barbarians worship him and
138 9 | ordinary persons are staying in the senate-house it is not permitted
139 9 | rubbish. I want you to observe the rules of the Senate. What
140 9 | to observe the rules of the Senate. What will this person,
141 9 | is, think of us?” ~ When the said individual had been
142 9 | sent out, Father Janus was the first to be asked his opinion.
143 9 | elected afternoon consul for the first of July, being a very
144 9 | fluently, because he lives in the Forum; but the stenographer
145 9 | lives in the Forum; but the stenographer could not follow,
146 9 | He said a good deal about the importance of the gods,
147 9 | about the importance of the gods, and that this honor
148 9 | god, but now you have made the distinction a farce. And
149 9 | personalities rather than with the case, I move that from this
150 9 | among all those who eat the fruit of the corn-land or
151 9 | those who eat the fruit of the corn-land or those whom
152 9 | corn-land or those whom the fruitful corn-land feeds.
153 9 | contrary to this decree of the Senate shall be made, called,
154 9 | a god, is to be given to the hobgoblins, and to get a
155 9 | to get a thrashing among the newly hired gladiators at
156 9 | newly hired gladiators at the next show.” ~ The next to
157 9 | gladiators at the next show.” ~ The next to be asked his opinion
158 9 | his opinion was Diespiter the son of Vica Porta, who was
159 9 | him an admonitory touch on the ear. Accordingly he expressed
160 9 | in these words: “Whereas the divine Claudius is by blood
161 9 | Claudius is by blood related to the divine Augustus and no less
162 9 | Augustus and no less also to the divine Augusta, his grandmother,
163 9 | in wisdom, and it is for the public interest that there
164 9 | move that from this day the divine Claudius be a god,
165 9 | that this event be added to the Metamorphoses of Ovid.” ~
166 9 | Metamorphoses of Ovid.” ~ The opinions were various, and
167 9 | Claudius seemed to be winning the vote. For Hercules, who
168 9 | saw that his iron was in the fire, kept running to this
169 9 | my turn. One hand washes the other.” ~
170 10 | 10] Then the divine Augustus arose at
171 10 | divine Augustus arose at the point for expressing his
172 10 | opinion, and discoursed with the utmost eloquence. “I call
173 10 | my feelings nor conceal the distress that shame makes
174 10 | distress that shame makes all the greater. Was it for this
175 10 | wars? For this did I found the city on a basis of law,
176 10 | desperation I must take to the phrase of that most clever
177 10 | But why should I enumerate the many great men? I have no
178 10 | And so I will pass over the former and describe these.
179 10 | gratitude to me by slaying the two Julias, my great-granddaughters,
180 10 | great-granddaughters, one by the sword, the other by starvation,
181 10 | great-granddaughters, one by the sword, the other by starvation, and
182 10 | you condemned any one of the men and women whom you put
183 11 | 11] It’s not the way in heaven. Here is Jupiter,
184 11 | whom ~ Snatching him by the foot, he hurled from the
185 11 | the foot, he hurled from the heavenly threshold; ~ and
186 11 | don’t know,’ you say? May the gods be hard on you! It
187 11 | never ceased to follow up the dead-and-gone C. Caesar.
188 11 | dead-and-gone C. Caesar. The latter had killed his father-in-law;
189 11 | son-in-law besides. Gaius forbade the sons of Crassus to be called
190 11 | Magnus; this man returned him the name, but took off his head.
191 11 | Crassus, Magnus, Scribonia, the Tristionias, and Assario;
192 11 | Look at his body, born when the gods were angry. And finally,
193 11 | avenge my injuries. This is the resolution which I have
194 11 | from his tablet: “Since the divine Claudius has killed
195 11 | and that he be got out of the way as soon as possible,
196 11 | There was a division of the house, and this resolution
197 11 | was carried. Without delay the Cyllenian dragged him by
198 11 | Cyllenian dragged him by the nape of his neck off from
199 11 | neck off from heaven toward the lower regions, ~ “Whence
200 12 | While they were going down the Via Sacra, Mercury inquired
201 12 | joyful and in high spirits. The Roman people walked about
202 12 | grief was plainly heartfelt. The real lawyers were coming
203 12 | of them, when he had seen the pettifoggers getting their
204 12 | up and said, “I told you the Saturnalia wouldn’t last
205 12 | lift up woful voices;~Let the Forum echo with sorrowful
206 12 | ever was braver,~Not in the whole world.~He in the quick-sped
207 12 | in the whole world.~He in the quick-sped race could be
208 12 | race could be victor~Over the swiftest; he could rebellious~
209 12 | with his flying~Missiles the Persian, steadiest-handed,~
210 12 | steadiest-handed,~Bend back the bow which, driving the foeman~
211 12 | back the bow which, driving the foeman~Headlong in flight,
212 12 | Conqueror he of Britons beyond the~Shores of the known sea:~
213 12 | Britons beyond the~Shores of the known sea:~Even the dark-blue-shielded
214 12 | Shores of the known sea:~Even the dark-blue-shielded Brigantes~
215 12 | he to bend their necks to the fetters~That Romulus forged,
216 12 | himself~To tremble before the Roman dominion.~Mourn for
217 12 | Roman dominion.~Mourn for the man than whom no one more
218 12 | quickly~Was able to see the right in a lawsuit,~Only
219 12 | Only at hearing one side of the quarrel,—~Often not either.
220 12 | Often not either. Where is the judge now~Willing to listen
221 12 | Willing to listen to cases the year through?~Thou shalt
222 12 | through?~Thou shalt be given the office resigned thee~By
223 12 | thee~By him who presides in the court of the shades,~The
224 12 | presides in the court of the shades,~The lord of a hundred
225 12 | the court of the shades,~The lord of a hundred cities
226 12 | gather great gains by shaking the dice-box.”~
227 13 | stay longer to look on. But the Talthybius of the gods laid
228 13 | on. But the Talthybius of the gods laid a hand on him
229 13 | could recognize him, across the Campus Martius, and between
230 13 | Campus Martius, and between the Tiber and the Arcade went
231 13 | and between the Tiber and the Arcade went down to the
232 13 | the Arcade went down to the lower world. The freedman
233 13 | down to the lower world. The freedman Narcissus had already
234 13 | receive his patron, and as the latter was approaching he
235 13 | he ran up, all sleek from the bath, and said: “What’s
236 13 | Narcissus skipped out. All the way being down hill, the
237 13 | the way being down hill, the descent was easy. And so,
238 13 | Cerberus, or as Horace says, “the beast with the hundred heads.”
239 13 | Horace says, “the beast with the hundred heads.” Narcissus
240 13 | wouldn’t like to meet in the dark. And with a loud voice
241 13 | Among them were C. Silius the consul-elect, Iuncus the
242 13 | the consul-elect, Iuncus the ex-praetor, Sextus Traulus,
243 13 | ordered to execution. In the middle of this company of
244 13 | company of singers was Mnester the dancer, whom Claudius had
245 13 | Claudius had made shorter for the sake of appearances. To
246 13 | appearances. To Messalina—the report that Claudius had
247 13 | gathered; first of all, the freedmen Polybius, Myron,
248 13 | anywhere unprepared; then the two prefects Justus Catonius
249 13 | and Rufrius Pollio; then the Emperor’s friends Saturnius
250 13 | all your friends? Come to the court of justice. I’ll show
251 14 | 14] He led him to the bar of Aeacus, who conducted
252 14 | of Aeacus, who conducted the trial under the Cornelian
253 14 | conducted the trial under the Cornelian law against assassins.
254 14 | assassins. He asked that the court would enter the name,
255 14 | that the court would enter the name, and recorded the accusation:
256 14 | enter the name, and recorded the accusation: Senators killed,
257 14 | other persons, as many as the sands on the seashore. No
258 14 | as many as the sands on the seashore. No one was found
259 14 | was found as counsel for the accused until at length
260 14 | of his, a man skilled in the Claudian tongue, and asked
261 14 | Pedo Pompeius spoke for the prosecution with loud shouts.
262 14 | prosecution with loud shouts. The attorney for the defense
263 14 | shouts. The attorney for the defense wanted to begin
264 14 | Everybody was struck dumb by the novelty of the procedure.
265 14 | struck dumb by the novelty of the procedure. They said the
266 14 | the procedure. They said the thing never happened before.
267 14 | more unjust than new. Over the nature of the penalty there
268 14 | new. Over the nature of the penalty there was a long
269 14 | should be given to any of the old ones, lest Claudius
270 14 | should sometime hope for the same in his turn. It was
271 14 | devised some vain task and the hope of gratifying some
272 15 | clattering dice-box,~Both of the dice escaped him by way
273 15 | dice escaped him by way of the hole in the bottom.~Then
274 15 | him by way of the hole in the bottom.~Then when he gathered
275 15 | Over again they gave him the slip, and kept him pursuing,~
276 15 | trickily sliding through with the same old deception,—~Tiresome
277 15 | when poor Sisyphus reaches the top of his mountain~Vainly
278 15 | rods, and with his fists. The man was adjudged to C. Caesar;
279 15 | presented him to Aeacus; the latter delivered him to
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