tacitus messalina Flashcards
Novo
choice of word, means new, implies that this is not messalina’s first affair
quasi
normally means as if, here means almost
insano
choice of word, means insane, emphasises the love she has for silius is making her insane
incensa est
means burned, creates fire imagery, fire imagery is normally seen in poetry and was not seen in prose prior to the author, emphasise the force of love, emphises passion and uncontrollably
iuventutis
means young man, shows that silisu is old enough to serve in the roman army
pulcherrimum
superlaative, emph beauty and that he isn’t just beauty but he is very beautiful
iuniam siliam
means junia siliam, shows that she was from a noble family and that silius already had a good wife, implies that he was not satisddied and perhaps wants power
nobliem femianm
means noble women, in 13.19 author refers to her as “outstanding for her nobility, beauty and immorality”, is his wife like messalina ?
exturbarent
choice of word, means she drove away, literally translates to put away a wife, emphasise that messaline made silisu and junia divorce
liberoque adultero
juxposition, words wouldn’t normally go together, shows he is free from his marriage but messalina is married to claudius, means unrestricted adulterer
ne and nescius
means not and unaware, double negative emphasies that he had full knowledge of the disgaace and the danger
flagitill
means disgrace, this is moral danger and emphasise that silius is doing things that are morally bad
periculi
means danger, emphasies he will be killed for the affair if it is found out
certum
choice of word, means certain, emphasies that he really has no choice except to go with messalina
nonullam
litottes, choice of word, means some, empjasies how he has some hope
nonulluam facinoris celandi spem
enclosing word order, hope surroundings the conceling of crime, emphasise silius’s hope, means some hope of concealing the crim
magna praemia
means great rewards, vague, what does he want power messalina or wealth? what will he receive
igiitur placium (+ ei)
means was litreally pleasing to him
neglere futura praesentibus frui
chiasmus, neglere - A : neuter pl adj, futura - B : neuter pl adj, praesentibus - B : neuter adj, frui - A : infinitive, emphasies his choice to take the risk, emph loive for her and that fact that he wants more of her, means to ignore future events and enjoy present circumstances
non furtim
means openly, doesn’t care if anyone sees them
ventitat
historic present makes it vivid and emphasies that she does this all the time, means clung to him
adhaeret
choice of word, stuck with him shows oobseshion
saepe
choice of word, emph how often slaves were at the house,makes claudius ignorance ven worse
servi libert paratus
asyndetic tricolon, emphasies the amoint of things she brings from the emperors house, means slaves, freedmamn
paratus principis apud
alliteration of p and r, used to express tacitus, shows unacceptable behaviour from messalina, means furnishing of the emperor
ignarus
emphatically placed at the end of the line, contrasts to silius being aware of danger, shows that it is even more embarrassing because he is unaware that his wife is cheating on him, to make this worse claudius was censor which means he is repsonson;e for morality, means unaware
facilitatem adulteriorum
means easiness of the adulteries,shows that messalina needs something more exciting, this is no longer enoug, more exocity activites/bigamy
at
means but, changes focus from messalina to claudius
novas
means unusal, messalinas acts are so vile that no one has heard such kusts
fatali
choice of word, means fatal, foreshadows the affair that will cause his death
insania
choice of word, means insane, it is like he lost his mind
quippe
choice of word, means certainly, tacitus is being sarcastic, he mocks messalina and silius
dum
normally means while - bc its a purpose clause it means to
caelibem,orbum, nupyiis… paratum
means single childless and ready for marriage, lists all the reasons silus is ready to marry messalina, can’t say the same for messalina because she has a huband already and has kids
addita securitate
means with added security, ablativve absolute, sshe believes that it will be even better than with claudius
praevenirent
mean act in adcance
insidiis incautus
choice of word,means oblivious to the treachory, messalina betrays claudius, relying on him being unaware
add iram celer esset
means swift to anger,had a repitation for this, the risk is anger
non amore in maritum
means not because of love for her husband,sarcasm,not reason why she is heating getting married, doesm’t res[etc c;aidois necuase pf ,amu afaors
concupivt
means craved choice of word, emphasies how much she wants the marriage
nomen… matrimonnii
means title of marriage, emphatically plaved in the middle of the sentence, emphasise that she has to have the title of marriage
