Then for the first time she
understood her fate and put her hand to a dagger. In her terror she was
applying it ineffectually to her throat and breast, when a blow from the
tribune drove it through her. Her body was given up to her
mother. Claudius was still at the
banquet when they told him that Messalina was dead, without mentioning
whether it was by her own or another's hand. Nor did he ask the question,
but called for the cup and finished his repast as usual. During the days
which followed he showed no sign of hatred or joy or anger or sadness, in a
word, of any human emotion, either when he looked on her triumphant accusers
or on her weeping children. The Senate assisted his forgetfulness by
decreeing that her name and her statues should be removed from all places,
public or private. To Narcissus were voted the decorations of the
quæstorship, a mere trifle to the pride of one who rose in the height
of his power above Pallas and Callistus.
