IS: Lesson - Reading Passage, Part 2
Io, Saturnalia! Part 2 and Conclusion
The story continues. Before continuing, a reminder that you can use the IS Reading Help Links to an external site.. handout to access the full Latin text along with notes on vocabulary and grammar. Some additional notes will be included as well. If you see a word or phrase highlighted in bold, check below the passage for additional information.
Remember back to the previous story section: after his meeting with Anna, Pseudolus fretted over Maecenas' wherabouts. Maecenas, meanwhile, was meeting with Livia, when Livia's slave (Hermanes) told them about Anna and Pseudolus meeting. Maecenas explained that he was helping in the investigation, but only to keep an eye on Pseudolus. Back at Maecenas' house, Anna drank a cup of poisoned wine.
What will be the outcome of Pseudolus' meeting with Livia?
Chapter 7: Io, Saturnalia! part 2: Pseudolus meets with Livia
When Pseudolus arrived at Livia's house at the predetermined time, he entered the atrium. A young slave girl, while greeting him, led the magister into the study. He immediately saw Maecenas looking upset and Livia smiling.
Livia exclaimed, "Greetings, Pseudolus, wise magister! Thank you so much. Your presence is the cause of great joy for me. Come! Speak to me! Give me what I want and I will do the same for you. What do you think you know?"
| Pseudolus offers up his defense, claiming he never believed that she was the killer. |
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Pseudolus demittens, “O,” respondit, “magna Domina. Doctissima feminarum et amicissima mihi, modo duas res scio: aliquis Marcellum necavit et ob venenum perivit. Quoque audivi: turba vulgaris te accusat. Illa non est res cui credo. Necesse non est personae potenti, simili tibi, iuvenem interficere. Maecenas mecum certe concurrit. Scientia tua et gratia utilis mihi esse poterat. Me iuva: veritas te Tiberiumque modo proteget.” Notes:
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Livia nodded. She thought for a moment, then said:
| Livia responds to Pseudolus. Maecenas receives terrible news. |
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“Bene," inquit, "certe narras! Nihil tibi debita, veritatem communicabo. Marcellum non interfeci neque eum occidi. Neque eram invida eius neque vita extensa periculum mihi esse visa est. Augustus mihi dixit: Marcellus non erat heres eius. Vere, nemo est heres Augusti: haec est tamen res publica! Cur aliquem qui comminatio Tiberio meo non est interficere debeo? Vives, Pseudole, nam es bonus et amplus magister, sed sub imperio meo vives. Ero clara: nemo in hac domo Marcellum interfecit. Fortasse aliquem iuveniorem contemplare debes: dixistine etiam uxori mortui?” Priusquam Pseudolus respondere poterat, nuntius, qui cameram silenter incesserat, in aurem Maecenatis susurrabat. Maecenas, qui miravit, exclamavit, “Quid? Quomodo esse poterat? Anna est mortua? Non. Non. Livia, scisne de hoc?” Livia, albe crescens, “Minime," respondit, "Maecenas, minime! Promitto: nihil cum hoc facere habui. Annam optime admiravi.” Maecenas annuit. “Necesse," inquit, "est mihi domum recedere.” Indicans Pseudolum, patronus extendit, “Nos, Pseudole, non iam sumus socii. Informationem a me non iam sumes. Vere, te iterum videre numquam cupio.” Verbis dictis, Maecenas decessit. Notes:
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Guiding Questions
Use the following context clues to help read the final paragraphs correctly. Also, don't forget to check your reading log for additional notes on vocabulary and grammar, if you need any help!
- What does Livia think of Pseudolus’ ability to speak?
- What does Livia say plainly about her role in the death of Marcellus.
- Livia explains that Augustus did not make Marcellus his heres. How does she defend this position?
- In what way will Pseudolus live going forth?
- At the end of this section, Maecenas leaves. How would you characterize his feelings in this moment? What does he do/say to Pseudolus?
Chapter 7: Io, Saturalia! conclusion
Livia iterum cum dolore in voce dixit, “Una cetera res, Pseudole: tu Saturnalicius princeps creatus es. Necesse est tibi sententias miseras deponere: populus principem gaudentem exspectabit. Noli fallere eos! Redde ad me mox. Num nihil magis de me aut Tiberio a meis aucipibus audiem?” Pseudolus annuit et, felix esse vivus, celeriter decessit.
Notes:
- Saturnalicius princeps: the King of Saturnalia
- creatus es: you have been elected. creare, when used to mean “elect” acts as a linking verb, meaning the person elected and the position are both placed in the nominative case.
Investigation Notes: Part 2 and Conclusion
Pseudolus goes to Livia’s house. Livia greets Pseudolus warmly, while quickly pivoting to the point of the meeting.
- Do you get the impression that Livia and Pseudolus have met? What reason would they have had to know each other?
- What is the tone of Livia’s quote? Is she being friendly, threatening, something else?
- What word(s) does Pseudolus use to flatter Livia? Why does Pseudolus feel it is so important to flatter Livia?
- What is Livia’s truth? What evidence does she use in support?
- Consider all of Livia’s interactions from this passage (both part 1 and 2). Has your view of Livia changed from previous sections? Does Livia seem to be more dynamic or less than you previously believed? Consider how the passage depicts her behavior and her decisions.
- In this passage, we see Pseudolus again encounter a very powerful person. How does Pseudolus handle his encounter with Livia? What is his main motivation in the investigation of Marcellus’ death, at this point?
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