Latin Messalina Literature Text 2/10

Front 1

iam Messalina propter faciliatatem adulteriorum ad novas libidines versa est.

Back 1

Now messalina, because of the ease of her adaultery, turned to new pleasures.

Front 2

Silius, sive fatali insania an ipsa pericula remedium immentium periculorum ratus, abrumpi dissimulationem urgebat: quippe non exspectandum, dum princeps sensceret.

Back 2

Silius, whether because of predestined madness or thinking that dangers themselves were a cure for the threatening dangers, was insisting that concealement be thrown off: indeed it was not necessary to wait untik the emperor grew old.

Front 3

se caelibem, orbum, nuptiis et adoptano Britannico paratum.

Back 3

He himself (silius) was unmarried, childless and prepared for marriage and to adopt Britannicus.

Front 4

eandem Messalinae potentiam mansuram esse, addita securitate, si praevenirent Claudium, qui insidiis incautus sed ad iram celer esset.

Back 4

The same power would remain for Messalina, with added security, if they forestalled Claudius, who was not suspicious of a plot but was quick to anger.

Front 5

Messalima, nom amore in maritum, sed verita ne Silius summa adeptus se sperneret, diu haesitavit; sed tandem persuasum.

Back 5

Messalina, not because of love for her husband, but feaeing that Silius, having obtained supreme power, might reject her, hesitated for a long time; but finally she was persuaded.

Front 6

nomen enim matrimonii concupivit ob magnitudinem infamie.

Back 6

For she longed for the name of marriage, because of the magnitude of its outrageousness.

Front 7

nec ultra morata quam dum sacrificii gratia Claudius Ostriam proficesceretur, cuncta nuptiarum sollemnia celebrat.

Back 7

Having delayed no longer than until Claudius set out to Ostia for the purpose of a sacrifice, she celebrates all the ceremonies of marriage.