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A MASSACRE OF SLAVES 355
!
Some say that the Praefect had promised him his liberty
'
for a certain sum of money. The slave pinched himself for
years to raise it, and when he brought the money Pedanius
broke his bargain.'
The hearers only shrugged their shoulders.
That happens commonly enough,' said Caecina Tuscus,
'
Nero's foster-brother, who had himself been born a slave.
It only meant,' said Senecio, ' that the Praefect had
'
changed his mind.'
'
Others say,' continued the man, ' that Pedanius had a
favourite, who had been also a favourite of Vibius, who was
driven wildly jealous.'
'
The notion of a slave presuming to have a favourite '
lisped the effeminate Quintianus. What ' next ?
' '
How many slaves had Pedanius ? asked Petronius.
Four hundred.'
'
Is that all ? said Tigellinus.
'
It is
lucky that he had
'
'
no more. They will be executed, every one of them that's
one comfort. Let us thank the gods for the Silanian law.'
They saw Seneca approaching them ;
and it was evident
that he had heard the news, for his face wore a look of sorrow
and alarm.
How say you, Seneca ? asked Lucan ;
is the Silanian
'
' '
law to be carried out, and are all Pedanius's four hundred
slaves to die ?
'
What
'
'
I should hope not,' said the philosopher, indignantly.
!
are we to butcher this multitude, of whom three
hundred and ninety-nine are probably innocent ? The Silanian
law is fit for barbarians. Every good feeling within us
abhors the cruel wrong of murdering young and old, innocent
and guilty, in one promiscuous massacre.'
'
But that the Prsefect of Rome should be murdered by one
'
of his own slaves ! murmured his hearers.
'
By one of his own slaves but maddened, report says, by
an intolerable wrong.'
' '
Wrong ? '
answered Vestinus, in surprise. Are not, then,
'
our slaves our chattels ? Has a slave rights
?
'He has the rights of a human being,' answered Seneca.
'
Are not our slaves of the same flesh and blood as we ?
'
Has not a slave feelings
? Has not a slave passions
?
'
Yes ; very bad passions,' said young Vedius Pollio.
'