Stoicism - College of Stoic Philosophers

THE CRITICS AND ENEMIES OF STOICIS-M. 105contumacious bearing of Helvidius, of whom authorsof higher character, hke Tacitus and the youngerPUny, speak with reverence and admiration. Howeverthat may be, Vespasian soon regretted the irrevocableact, but the opposition between the palace and theschool stilllingered on, and under the moody Domitianit led to another ban of exile for the philosophersin general, and to the death of Junius Rusticus,whom Thrasea had spoken of as a saint.But brighter days came in with Trajanand theAntonines. Freedom of thought and speculativestudies were not tolerated only, but encouraged ;special privileges were granted to the teachers, someof whom were treated with marked honour, andinvited to the court ;endowments even were createdand salaried professors named, to represent thegreat historic systems of philosophy.At last Stoicismitself mounted on the throne, and in the person ofMarcus Antoninus seemed to realize the high ideal ofthe king-philosopher which Plato had dreamed ofcenturies before.