Messalina lines 17-26: "Eventually, Messalina decides to marry Silius" (copy)

For my GCSE revision

se caelibem, orbum, nuptiis et adoptando Britannico paratum.

He was single, childless, ready for marriage and adopting Britannicus.

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

For Messalina, the same power would remain, with added security, if they forestalled Claudius, who was oblivious to treachery, but swift to anger.

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

Messalina hesitated for a long time, not because of love towards her husband but fearing that Silius, if he obtained supreme power, might spurn her; but finally she was persuaded.

nomen enim matrimonii concupivit ob magnitudinem infamiae.

For she craved the title of marriage because of the magnitude of the ignominy.

nec ultra morata quam dum sacrificii gratia Claudius Ostiam proficisceretur, cuncta nuptiarum sollemnia celebrat.

Not delaying any further than until Claudius set out for Ostia for a sacrifice, she celebrated all the rites of marriage.