Messalina - Section 3: The Secret Wedding

1 se 2 caelibem , 3 orbum , 5 nuptiis 6 et 7 adoptando 8 Britannico 4 paratum . 2 eandem 1 Messalinae 3 potentiam 4 mansuram 4 esse , 5 addita 6 securitate , 7 si 8 praevenirent 9 Claudium , 10 qui 13 insidiis 12 incautus 14 sed 16 ad 17 iram 15 celer 11 esset . 1 Messalina , 4 non 5 amore 6 in 7 maritum , 8 sed 9 verita 10 ne 11 Silius 13 summa 12 adeptus 15 se 14 sperneret , 3 diu 2 haesitavit ; 1 sed 2 tandem 3 persuasum . 3 nomen 1 enim 4 matrimonii 2 concupivit 5 ob 6 magnitudinem 7 infamiae . 1 nec 3 ultra 2 morata 4 quam 5 dum 10 sacrificii 9 gratia 6 Claudius 8 Ostia 7 proficisceretur , 12 cuncta 14 nuptiarum 13 sollemnia 11 celebrat .
Section 3 Translation: He was single, childless, ready for marriage and adopting Britannicus. The same power would remain for Messalina, with added security, if they forestalled Claudius, who was oblivious to treachery but swift to anger. Messalina hesitated for a long time, not out of love for her husband, but fearing that Silius, having obtained supreme power, might reject her; but finally she was persuaded. For she craved the title of marriage because of the magnitude of the disgrace. Not delaying any further than until Claudius set out for Ostia for a sacrifice, she celebrated all the rites of marriage.

Passage Analysis

What Happens

Silius argues that the plan makes perfect sense: he is single and has no children, so he's ready for marriage and could adopt Britannicus (Claudius's son) to become his heir. Messalina would keep all her current power but gain extra security if they act first against Claudius, who doesn't notice plots against him but gets angry quickly once he finds out. Messalina hesitates for a long time - not because she loves Claudius, but because she fears that once Silius has ultimate power, he might dump her. Eventually she's persuaded. Tacitus tells us she wanted to go through with an actual marriage ceremony because of how outrageous and scandalous it would be - she seems to enjoy the sheer audacity of it. She doesn't wait long - as soon as Claudius leaves Rome to go to Ostia for a religious sacrifice, she performs a complete wedding ceremony with Silius.

Historical Context

In Roman politics, adoption was a common way for powerful men without sons to choose their heirs. By adopting Britannicus, Silius would become the boy's legal father and could claim the right to rule through him. Roman marriages required proper ceremonies to be legally valid - Messalina conducting a full wedding while still married to Claudius would be bigamy, a serious crime. Ostia was Rome's main port, about 15 miles from the city, where emperors often went to oversee important religious ceremonies related to trade and grain supply. Messalina chose this moment because Claudius would be away from the capital and surrounded by religious duties, making it harder for him to react quickly. The phrase "magnitude of the disgrace" shows how Messalina was motivated partly by the thrill of doing something so shocking and forbidden - it wasn't just about love or politics, but about the excitement of breaking the biggest taboo possible.

Questions to Consider

  • Why does Messalina hesitate - what does this tell us about her feelings for Silius?
  • What does it mean that she wants marriage "because of the magnitude of the disgrace"?
  • How does Tacitus present Claudius's character - what are his strengths and weaknesses?
  • Why is the timing of the wedding significant - what does this show about Messalina's planning?
  • What would adopting Britannicus achieve for Silius politically?
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