TACITUS Tacitus describes how Claudius ordered the death of his wife Messalina "He told their guards and their commander to kill Messalina. A freedman was chosen to carry out the deed. Rushing ahead of the officers, he found her cowering on the ground with her mother sitting nearby. She had often disapproved of her daughter but was now overcome by pity. 'Life has passed,' she said, 'and there is nothing left but to seek an honourable death.' But there was no honour in that spirit so corrupted with lust. The doors gave way to the oncoming attack. The commander stood before her in silence as he delivered the fatal blow." (Tacitus, Annales xi.37-38)