Latin - Messalina - Adultery 1

Messalina novo et quasi insano amore incensa est.

Messalina was on fire with a new and almost crazy love.

nam in C. Silium, iuventutis Romanae pulcherrimum,

For she was so inflamed with love for Gaius Silius, the most handsome of the young Romans,

ita exarserat ut Iuniam Silanam, nobilem feminam, matrimonio eius exturbaret

that she drove out Iunia Silana, a noble woman, from her marriage

liberoque adultero potiretur.

and took possession of the freed adulterer.

neque Silius flagitii aut periculi nescius erat:

Nor was Silius unaware of the scandal or danger:

sed intellexit exitium, si abnueret, fore certum

but he understood that if he refused, death would be certain

et, si consentiret, nonnullam facinoris celandi spem esse;

and, if he were to consent, there was some hope of concealing his crime;

simulque se magna praemia accepturum.

and at the same time he would receive great rewards.

igitur placuit neglegere futura praesentibus frui.

Therefore he decided to ignore the future and enjoy the present.