$ V. We further learn from Tacitus, "That Agrippina obtained for Seneca a revocation from exile, and with it the prætorship: favours which fhe fuppofed would be well pleafing to the public, on account of his fignal eloquence "and accomplishments; befides her own private views, viz. the education of "her fon Domitius (Nero) under fuch a master, and the use they should make "of his counfels, both to obtain the empire and to govern it." Seneca was therefore prætor, Ann. U. C. DCCLII. But it is not fo certain that he attained to confular dignity: though some contend for it (»), and mark the year U. C. DCCCXV: for in the beginning of that year, as we learn from the indisputable authority of Tacitus, Nero's affection began to cool: he had withdrawn his wonted affability from Seneca, and the various efforts of his calumniators daily encreased; whereupon Seneca himself addreffed the Emperor in a fpirited oration, imploring a retreat, and offering to refund his treafures. Nero neither permitted the one, nor accepted the other. Seneca however changed the methods, and Symptoms of his former power, stopped the ufual conflux of a leveé; avoided any train of attendance abroad, and his appearance there was exceeding rare; as if by ill health or the study of philofophy he was confined at home. This indeed is not acting like a new conful, or even a candidate, and his death followed foon after. We shall therefore reft this matter here, and only obferve further, that he was undoubtedly the governor and tutor of the young prince, who behaved himfelf exceeding well fo long as he was attentive to the good counfels and admonitions of Seneca, and his coadjutor, Burrus. "A torrent of flaughter, fays "Tacitus, had now enfued, had not Afranius Burrus and Annæus Seneca pre"vented it. These were the governors of the Emperor's youth; two men, though engaged in partnership of power, yet by a rare inftance well united: "different in their accomplishments, but of equal weight and authority. Burrus, his inftructor in arms, and the gravity of manners; Seneca in the precepts of eloquence and polite addrefs. In this office they helped and fupported each other, the easier to manage between them the dangerous age of "the prince; or if he rejected the pursuits of virtue, to restrain him at least " within the bounds of guiltless pleasures." But to go on with Seneca.. () According to Ulpian-" In the time of Nero, in the octaves of the kalends of September, avhen Annæus Seneca and Trebellius Maximus were confuls, it was ordained.”—And in the common Fasti, U. C. DCCCXIV. Coff. P. Murius Celfus, et L. Afinius Gallus, quos excep. ex Kal. Jul. L. Annæus Seneca, et Trebellius Maximus. But they who compiled the Fafti, fuppofe thefe confuls only fubftitutes, (for ordinary they were not.) So in Aufonius,-Dives Seneca, nec tamen conful; the rich Seneca, yet not conful. S VI 4 erratum perte DCCLXXXII. § VI. With regard to his private life; I find, or rather collect, fays Lipfius, that Seneca was fome time in Ægypt; on account that his uncle was there in the office of præfect: for he writes to his mother, fetting forth the example of his aunt, of which he was an eye-witnefs. Hence it is that he intermingleth many things fo curiously concerning Egypt, and the Nile, especially in his books of Natural Questions. Perhaps too he went to the coafts of India by the Red Sea, which qualified him to comment on the writings of Pliny, relating thereto. But being at Rome, we learn that he there took to him a wife, though her name is not mentioned; by whom he had a fon called Marcus, whom, writing to his mother Helvia, with great praise and affection he styles his dearest boy; and, among other good wishes, prays, Sic dulci Marcus qui nunc fermone fritinnit So may fweet Marcus, prattling now, and young, In Ep. 56, he speaks of one Harpeftè, his wife's fool, left as an hereditary burthen upon the family. This then must relate to a former wife, as he married Paulina after his return from exile, a lady of great ability, who vouchfafed to take him in his old age, when he had a place at court. This is what Dio, or whoever it is that writes under this name, objects to him, viz. bis marrying a young wife in his old age. He feems to have been happy, however, as in Ep. 104; This I told my Paulina, who always defires me to take care of my health, remembering that in this old perfon of mine there lives a much younger in participation of it. And she certainly loved her husband, as he boafts in many places; and that unfeignedly; which the expreffed at his death; being defirous, as far as was in her power, to accompany him therein. But of this hereafter. § VII. As fo much has been faid with regard to his immenfe wealth, it will be requifite to communicate a few things relating thereto; and we will take them on his own confeffion, according to Tacitus: Thou haft encompased me about (Jays Seneca to Nero) with an accumulation of imperial benignity and grace, beyond all expreffion and limits, and with wealth without measure or end; infomuch that I often reafon thus with myself: "where is that philofophic fpirit, which profeffes "to be fatisfied with a fcanty lot, and humble neceffaries? Is Seneca that man? " he who thus enclofes and adorns fuch fpacious gardens; he who travels in pomp through a variety of feats in Rome, all contrived for magnificence and luxury?” All this is very great without having recourfe to the exaggeration of either friends or enemies. There is no doubt, but that with regard to fine gardens and pleafure 3 fure-houses, he had divers, well stocked and ornamented, as taken notice of by Juvenal Senecæ prædivitis horti; the gardens of the very rich Seneca. He mentions fome of his feats himfelf, as the Nomentanum, Albanum, and Baianum. He had likewife a houfe within the city, which many years retained the name of Seneca's house, in the tenth region. His rich furniture alfo His rich furniture alfo may be fuppofed to have created great envy (o). But it must be remembered, that Seneca, before he came to court, had a great patrimonial revenue. And no wonder he encreafed it in fo plentiful a court, and amidst so great felicity of the Roman state. Yet it cannot be denied, but that, when at court, and in his old age, he bitterly inveighs against this fort of madnefs, and feverely reprehends all manner of luxury and extravagance, as you may read in his books concerning benefits: and in the beginning of his treatife on tranquillity, he profeffedly denies that he took any pleasure in his fine variegated tables, or that he was wont to use them: but the reader is particularly recommended to his book Of a happy Life, wherein his chief point is, to defend himself against the afperfions of his enemies. An admirable treatife, fays Lipfius, and more valuable in this behalf was the calumny itself, being productive of fo excellent a defence. § VIII. His Morals then fufficiently refute this objection concerning his riches, and proclaim his ufe, not abuse of them. He ftands quite clear from. any charge of pride, excess and pomp. And with regard to his diet and manner of living, the reader needs only to be referred to that part of Ep. 108, where: Seneca fpeaks of the falutary lectures he received from Attalus, and the happy impreffion they made upon him, with regard to temperance and frugality. As to the reft of his life, it was both serious and fevere. The court corrupted him not, nor was he inclined to flattery, (a vice almoft familiar and allied to fuch places). No; fo far from it, that he said to Nero, Suffer me to stay a little longer with thee, not to flatter thine ears, (for this is not my custom) I had rather offend thee by truth, than please thee by flattery. And even at the point of death. he defired it might be told the prince, he never had a genius addicted to flattery, as no man better knew than Nero; who from Seneca had felt more frequent proofs of freedom than fervility. We cannot pafs by the commendable cuftom he fpeaks of in his third book of Anger, viz. his nightly felf-examination, with regard both to his words and actions: I conceal nothing from myself, fays he; I let nothing flip; for why should I fear my own errors? It will be eafy for me to say,, (o) Dio objects to him, as having 500 tables of cedar with ivory feet to them, all alike and of equal fize. It may be fo; for in great banquets it was cuftomary to fet a table before every several gueft. But as Dio was no friend to Seneca, he must be read with caution. "See, "See, thou doeft this no more, Seneca; and for this time I pardon thee." the ftudy of wisdom difplay itself in a better or clearer light? Can Lastly, how manifest is his piety and fubmiffion towards God! If you believe me, (says he, Ep. 96) I will lay open to you my inmost thoughts and affections: thus then, when any thing feems adverfe, or hard to me, do I behave myself; I obey not God forcibly, but willingly; I follow him not of neceffity, but with all my mind, and all my foul: nothing can befall me that I will receive either with a heavy heart, or forrowful countenance: I will pay no tribute grudgingly. Many the like obfervations, fays Lipfius, have I collected in my Manuduction, and Phyfiology; and fome indeed of fuch unftained piety as would do honour to the Christian (p). In fhort, fo great an opinion was held of thefe his eminent virtues, that there was a defign, fays Tacitus, of transferring the empire to Seneca, as one exempt from all reproach, and only for the fame and refplendency of his virtues preferred to the fupreme dignity. O Rome, fo great happiness was denied thee by the will of Providence! Or, Libera fi dentur populo fuffragia, quis tam Who fo vile, Nero, if his vote were free, Juv. viii. 211. Whoever doubts the reality of his virtues, let him look upon Seneca in his death, and obferve how flightly he efteemed all earthly things, and with what zeal and ardour he devoted himself to heaven! (p) Next to the gospel itself, fays Sir R. L'Estrange, I do look upon the works of Seneca, as the most fovereign remedy against the miseries of human nature. Happy am I, that, by the bleffing of God, I cannot join with him in the following; and I have ever found it fo, in all the injuries and diftreffes of an unfortunate life: for, old as I am, I never knew an injury, that was not easily to be forgiven; nor a distress, but what was tolerable; and, as the world goes, rather required a contemptuous fmile than a tear. M, An An Extract from Tacitus concerning the Death of Seneca. GRANIUS SYLVANUS, Tribune of a Preterian Cohort, having been ordered to enquire into a converfation, which was fuppofed to have paffed between one Natalis and Seneca, relating to Pifo's confpiracy, being further asked, whether he thought Seneca was determined upon a voluntary death? anfwered, that Seneca bad manifefted no one symptom of fear; and neither in his words nor looks was ought of anguish to be difcovered. Hence he was commanded to return, and carry him the denunciation of death. But this in no wife difmayed Seneca, who called calmly for his will, and as this was prohibited by the centurion, turning to his friends, he told them, "that fince he was disabled from a grateful requital of their benefits, he be"queathed them that which alone was now left him, yet fomething more glo"rious and amiable than all the rest, the pattern of his life: if they retained "the impressions and resemblance, they would thence reap the applause of vir"tuous manners as well as that of persevering in their friendship." He withal repreffed their tears, fometimes with gentle reasoning, fometimes in the stile of authority and correction, and ftrove to recover them to refolution and conftancy. "Where (he often asked) where are now all the documents of philofophy? "where that philofophical principle, for so many years premeditated, against "the fudden encounter of calamities? for to whom was unknown the bloody "nature of Nero? nor, after the butchering of his mother, and the murdering "of his brother, did ought remain, to confummate his cruelty, but to add to "theirs the flaughter of his nurfing-father and inftructor." Having uttered thefe and the like reafonings, directed to the company in general, he embraced his wife; an affecting object, which fomewhat abated his firmness, and foftened him into anxiety for her future lot: he preffed and befought her, "to moderate her forrow, to beware of perpetuating fuch a difmal paffion, but to bear the death of her husband by contemplating his life spent "in a steady courfe of virtue, and to fupport his lofs by all worthy confola"tions." Paulina, his wife, on the contrary, urged her purpose to die with him, and called for the aid of a minifter of death. Upon this declaration, VOL. I. b Seneca |