Stoicism - College of Stoic Philosophers

142 STOICISMher tortures, he might himself sinK into irresolution,he persuaded her to retire into another chamber.Even at the last moment his eloquence failed himnot ;he summoned his secretaries, and dictated muchto them which, as it has been published for all readersin his own words, I forbear to paraphrase. ... Asthe tedious process of death still lingered on, hebegged Statius Annaeus to produce a poison with whichhe had some time before provided himself. It wasbrought to him, and he drank it in vain, chilled as hewas throughout his limbs and his frame closed againstthe efficacy of the poison. At last he entered a poolof heated water, from which he sprinkled the nearestof his slaves, adding the exclamation, * I offer thisliquid as a libation to Jupiter the deliverer.' He wasthen carried into a bath, with the steam of which hewas suffocated, and he was burnt without any of theusual funeral rites. So he had directed in a codicilof his will, when even in the height of his wealth andpower he was thinking of his life's close." ^A recent writer speaks of the dislike which Tacitusseems to feel for the character of Seneca. In thispassage at least there is nothing to support thequestionable statement, nor is there in the rumour towhich he refers in the next chapter, that the conspiratorshad intended that the empireshould behanded over not to Piso, for whom they had scantesteem, but to Seneca " as a man singledsplendid virtues by all persons of integrity."out for his' " Annals," xv. 63. Translation of Church and Brodribb.