What Happens

Messalina falls desperately in love with Gaius Silius, who is described as the most handsome young man in Rome. Her passion is so intense that she forces his current wife, Junia Silana (a noblewoman), to divorce him so that she can have him for herself. Silius knows this affair is both scandalous and dangerous - he could be executed for adultery with the emperor's wife. However, he realises he has no real choice: if he refuses Messalina, he will certainly be killed, but if he agrees, he might be able to keep the affair secret. He also knows there will be rich rewards for keeping Messalina happy. So he makes a fateful decision to ignore what might happen in the future and simply enjoy the present benefits.

Historical Context

Messalina was the third wife of Emperor Claudius and known for her many affairs and scandalous behaviour. In Roman law, adultery was a serious crime, especially when it involved the emperor's wife - it could be seen as treason. Upper-class Roman marriages were often arranged for political reasons, so divorce was relatively easy if the husband agreed. Junia Silana was from an important family, but even noble women had little power against the emperor's wife. Roman men like Silius faced an impossible situation when pursued by powerful women - refusing could mean death, but accepting could also lead to execution. The emperor Claudius was often portrayed as weak and unaware of his wife's behaviour, which made Messalina feel she could act without consequences.

Questions to Consider

• Why does Tacitus describe Messalina's love as "almost insane" - what does this suggest about her character?
• What does Silius's dilemma reveal about power and choice in Roman society?
• How does the phrase "ignore the future, enjoy the present" set up what will happen next?
• What does this episode show us about the position of women in Roman marriages?
• Why might Tacitus have chosen to start the story with this love affair?