Stoicism - College of Stoic Philosophers

98 STOICISM.Rome, who were known to frown at all his frivolouspursuits, and sternly to reprobate his cruel caprices.There were philosophic circles in the society of Rome,to which Cornutus gave the tone, and where asympathizing audience heard the young Persius readhis satires, applauding in them many a causticreference to the vices in high places and the frivolousfashions set by Nero's court. The common-placesof the Porch were charged with all the bitterness ofpersonal contempt, and informers were not slow totrace or to imagine the political allusions in many adiatribe upon the follies of the age.When cringing spirits fawned and flattered, andwhims in thehumoured or encouraged the despot'ssenate or the council chamber, the Stoics at leastprotested by their silence or withdrawal from thescene ; they were thought, some of them, to be Republicansat heart, they were known, at least, to be thecentre of a sort of constitutional opposition, howevermild and faint its efforts ; if there were to be a cryof revolution, it would come most likely from theirranks, and among them, asthe noblest and the mostrespected, a national leader would be found, such asa Plautus or a Thrasea, to whom men turned withwondering looks to see how far their toleration wouldbe carried. It was rumoured that some of themobserved in solemn state the birthdays of Brutus orof Cassius, who had murdered the first Csesar; othersspoke of Cato as the noblest model for a Roman,and such sentiments might one day prompt them topass from theory to vigorous action. At last a wide-