Letter from Claudia Severa to Sulpicia Lepidina

Briga, 100 AD*

CLAUDIA SEVERA TO HER LEPIDINA GREETINGS
JUST AS I HAD SPOKEN WITH YOU
AND PROMISED THAT I WOULD ASK BROCCHUS
AND THAT I WOULD COME TO YOU
I DID ASK HIM AND HE REPLIED
THAT IT IS ALWAYS WHOLEHEARTEDLY
PERMITTED TO ME TO COME TO YOU WHATEVER WAY I CAN
THERE ARE CERTAIN INTIMATE MATTERS WHICH…
I long to discuss with you. I suspect
my Brocchus wants to send me off so he can take up
with that Barbarian red-head who hangs around the fort
her hair shamelessly loose. She set her sights on Brocchus last September.
And I’m a fool for loving him so much. And is your Cerialis faithful?
How is your little son? I lost my child last month, it just bled out.
Life is either boring or painful, sister.
And if we’re lucky, the future
will make poetry of this, our letters, shopping lists and deaths.
Vindolanda will fall, another Cesar will rule,
and even our children will die. And yet we have to try.
Meanwhile, ON THE 11 OF SEPTEMBER, SISTER
FOR THE CELEBRATION OF MY BIRTHDAY
I GIVE YOU A WARM INVITATION
YOU WILL MAKE THE DAY MORE ENJOYABLE
BY YOUR PRESENCE
GREET YOUR CERIALIS
FAREWELL MY SISTER
MY DEAREST AND MOST LONGED-FOR SOUL