§3Claudius animam agere coepit nec invenire exitum poterat.
Claudius began to breathe his last, but he could not find a way out.
Tum Mercurius, qui semper ingenio eius delectatus esset, unam e tribus Parcis seducit et ait: "Quid, femina crudelissima, hominem miserum torqueri pateris? Nec unquam tam diu cruciatus cesset? Annus sexagesimus quartus est, ex quo cum anima luctatur.
Then Mercury, who had always been delighted by his talent, led one of the three Fates aside and said: "Why, most cruel woman, do you allow this wretched man to be tortured? Shall he never cease being tormented after so long? It is now the sixty-fourth year since he has been struggling with his soul.
Quid huic et rei publicae invides? Patere mathematicos aliquando verum dicere, qui illum, ex quo princeps factus est, omnibus annis, omnibus mensibus efferunt.
Why do you begrudge him and the state? Allow the astrologers at last to tell the truth, who, ever since he became emperor, have been burying him every year, every month.
Et tamen non est mirum si errant et horam eius nemo novit; nemo enim unquam illum natum putavit.
And yet it is no wonder if they err and nobody knows his hour; for nobody ever thought he was born.
Fac quod faciendum est:
"Dede neci, melior vacua sine regnet in aula. '""
Sed Clotho
"ego mehercules"
inquit
"pusillum temporis adicere illi volebam, dum hos pauculos, qui supersunt, civitate donaret (constituerat enim omnes Graecos, Gallos, Hispanos, Britannos togatos videre) sed quoniam placet aliquos peregrinos in semen relinqui et tu ita iubes fieri, fiat. "
Aperit tum capsulam et tres fusos profert: unus erat Augurini, alter Babae, tertius Claudii.
Do what must be done: 'Deliver him to death, and let a better man rule in the empty palace.'" But Clotho said: "By Hercules, I wanted to add a tiny bit of time to him, until he could present those few remaining people with citizenship (for he had resolved to see all Greeks, Gauls, Spaniards, and Britons dressed in the toga), but since it is pleasing that some foreigners be left for seed, and you thus order it to be done, let it be done." She then opened a small box and produced three spindles: one was of Augurinus, the second of Baba, the third of Claudius.
"Hos"
inquit
"tres uno anno exiguis intervallis temporum divisos mori iubebo, nec illum incomitatum dimittam.
"These three," she said, "I will order to die in a single year separated by short intervals of time, nor will I send him away unaccompanied.
Non oportet enim eum, qui modo se tot milia hominum sequentia videbat, tot praecedentia, tot circumfusa, subito solum destitui.
For it is not fitting that he, who just now saw so many thousands of people following him, so many preceding him, and so many crowded around him, should suddenly be left alone.
Contentus erit his interim convictoribus. "
"
Haec ait et turpi convolvens stamina fuso
abrupit stolidae regalia tempora vitae. At Lachesis redimita comas, ornata capillos,
Pieria crinem lauro frontemque coronans,
candida de niveo subtemina vellere sumit
felici moderanda manu, quae ducta colorem
assumpsere novum.
He will be content with these companions for the time being." "She spoke these words, and winding the threads on her ugly spindle, she snapped the royal span of his stupid life." But Lachesis, her locks bound, her hair adorned, crowning her tresses and forehead with Pierian laurel, took bright threads from snowy fleece to be guided by her fortunate hand, which, as they were drawn, assumed a new color.
Mirantur pensa sorores:
mutatur vilis pretioso lana metallo,
aurea formoso descendunt saecula filo.
The sisters marvel at the spinning: the cheap wool is changed into precious metal, golden ages descend from the beautiful thread.
Nec modus est illis, felicia vellera ducunt
et gaudent implere manus, sunt dulcia pensa.
Nor is there any limit to them, they draw the happy fleeces and rejoice to fill their hands; these are sweet tasks.
Sponte sua festinat opus nulloque labore
mollia contorto descendunt stamina fuso.
Of its own accord the work hastens, and with no labor the soft threads descend from the twisting spindle.
Vincunt Tithoni, vincunt et Nestoris annos.
They surpass the years of Tithonus, they surpass also those of Nestor.
Phoebus adest cantuque iuvat gaudetque futuris,
et laetus nune plectra movet, nune pensa ministrat.
Phoebus is present and helps with his song, rejoicing in the future, and now happily moves the plectrum, now tends to the spinning.
Detinet intentas cantu fallitque laborem.
He keeps them intent with his song and beguiles their labor.
Dumque nimis citharam fraternaque carmina laudant,
plus solito nevere manus, humanaque fata
laudatum transcendit opus.
And while they praise too much their brother's lyre and songs, their hands spun more than usual, and the praised work surpassed human fate.
"Ne demite, Parcae"
Phoebus ait "vincat mortalis tempora vitae
ille, mihi similis vultu similisque decore
nec cantu nec voce minor.
"Do not take away, O Fates," Phoebus said, "let him surpass the span of mortal life, he who is like me in face and like me in beauty, and not inferior in song or voice.
Felicia lassis
saecula praestabit legumque silentia rumpet.
He will guarantee happy ages to the weary and break the silences of the laws.
Qualis discutiens fugientia Lucifer astra
aut qualis surgit redeuntibus Hesperus astris,
qualis cum primum tenebris Aurora solutis
induxit rubicunda diem, Sol aspicit orbem
lucidus, et primos a carcere concitat axes:
talis Caesar adest, talem iam Roma Neronem
aspiciet.
Just as Lucifer, dispersing the fleeing stars, or as Hesperus rises among the returning stars, or as when Aurora, the darkness first being dissolved, ruddy, has ushered in the day, the bright Sun looks upon the earth, and urges on his first chariots from the barrier: such Caesar is present, such a Nero Rome will now behold.
Flagrat nitidus fulgore remisso
vultus, et adfuso cervix formosa capillo. "
"
haec Apollo.
His shining face burns with a gentle glow, and his beautiful neck with flowing hair." Thus Apollo spoke.
At Lachesis, quae et ipsa homini formosissimo faveret, fecit illud plena manu, et Neroni multos annos de suo donat.
But Lachesis, who herself also favored this most beautiful man, did it with a full hand, and gave many years to Nero from her own store.
Claudium autem iubent omnes
"
χαίροντας, εὐφημοῦντας ἐκπέμπειν δόμων. "
Et ille quidem animam ebulliit, et ex eo desiit vivere videri.
But as for Claudius, everyone ordered "to send him forth from the house, rejoicing and speaking good-omened words." And he indeed bubbled out his soul, and from then on ceased to seem to be alive.
Exspiravit autem dum comoedos audit, ut scias me non sine causa illos timere.
Moreover, he expired while listening to comic actors, so that you may know I do not fear them without cause.
Ultima vox eius haec inter homines audita est, cum maiorem sonitum emisisset illa parte, qua facilius loquebatur:
"vae me, puto, concacavi me. "
Quod an fecerit, nescio: omnia certe concacavit.
His last word heard among men was this, after he had emitted a louder sound from that part by which he spoke more easily: "Woe is me, I think I have befouled myself." Whether he did so, I do not know: he certainly befouled everything.