Chapter 4 Flashcards
Placuit sollertia, tempore etiam iuta, quando Quinquatruum festos dies apud Baias frequentabat. illuc matrem elicit, ferendas parentium iracundias et placandum animum dictitans, quo rumorem reconciliationis efficeret acciperetque Agrippina, facili feminarum credulitate ad gaudia.
The ingenious plan pleased Nero, helped even by the time when he was attending the festival of Minerva in Baiae. He lured his mother out there, saying again and again that the angers of parents ought to be tolerated and their kinds pacified so that he might achieve a rumour of reconciliation and Agrippina might accept for the easy credulity of women for pleasures.
venientem dehinc obvius in litora (nam Antio adventabat) excepit manu et complexu ducitque Baulos. id villae nomen est, quae promunturium Misenum inter et Baianum lacum flexo mari adluitur.
After this, going to meet her coming onto the shore (for she was arriving from Actium), he welcomed her with his hands and an embrace and led her to Bauli. This is the name of the villa, which is washed over by an inlet of the sea between the promontory of Misenum and the lake of Baiae.
stabat inter alias navis ornatior, tamquam id quoque honori matris daretur: quippe sueverat triremi et classiariorum remigio vehi. ac tum invitata ad epulas erat, ut occultando facinori nox adhiberetur.
The ship was standing more magnificent among others as though it were also being given in honour of the mother: for in fact she had been accustomed to sailing by trireme and a crew of marines. And then she had been invited to the feast so that night might be used to hide the crime.
satis constitit extitisse proditorem, et Agrippinam auditis insidiis, an crederet ambiguam, gestamine sellae Baias pervectam. ibi blandimentum sublevavit metum: comiter excepta superque ipsum collocata.
It was well known that an informer had arisen and Agrippina, having heard the plot, wavering as to whether she believed it, was carried to Baiae by means of a sedan chair. There, flattering words calmed her fear: she was received in a friendly way and was above Nero himself (in seating arrangements).
iam pluribus sermonibus, modo familiaritate iuvenili Nero et rursus adductus, quasi seria consociaret, tracto in longum convictu, prosequitur abeuntem, artius oculis et pectori haerens, sive explenda simulatione, seu pe[ri]turae matris supremus adspectus quamvis ferum animum retinebat.
Now Nero drew out the dinner for a long time with several conversations: at one time, with the familiarity of youth and at others, with gathered brow as if communicating important things and he accompanied her as she left, clinging more tightly to her chest and her eyes whether to give more substance to the pretence orbecause the final sight of his mother about to die restrained his heart, however savage.
