Stoicism - College of Stoic Philosophers

112 STOICISM.the practice, that in the account of the last hours ofPetronius we are told especially that the fastidiousworldling passed away, as he had lived, with frivolousepigrams upon his dying lips, and would not hear aword about the faith or aspirations of the wise.^Consistently enough, in the satirical romance whichhe had probably composed, Trimalchio, the vulgarupstart, gives directions to his servants that when histime draws near no ghostly counsels are to vex hispeace of mind, and no philosopher be admitted to hisdeath-bed.The lively interest in moral questions often led, aswe have seen, the earnest-minded to have constantresource to spiritual guides, to attach them even totheir persons, and to keep them for years together intheir homes. The fashion spread more widely than theactual need, till it became a recognised thing thatevery great mansion must have its professionalmoralist, to be ready with a word in season when theconversation took a serious tone, and to give an air ofproper dignity to the domestic life. But the relationmust have often been a trying one. A Cato with hisenthusiasm for wisdom might treat Athenodorus asan equal or superior ; Augustus was delicate enoughto treat Arius as a friend, and confide every thoughtto his discretion ;and so, perhaps, with many a generousnature the union was very close and tender,and even gained in strength as time wore on. Butthere was a coarseness in the moral fibre of theTac. " Annales," xvi. 19.