Stoicism - College of Stoic Philosophers

78 STOICISM.CHAPTER VII.THE CRITICS AND ENEMIES OF STOICISJI UNDERTHE EARLY EMPIRE,As in the middle and the higher classes of societyat Rome in the first century of the Empire the moi-altone became more serious and sad, men turned, aswe have seen, with enthusiasm to the doctrines ofthe Porch as to a religious creed, and literature is fullof the testimony both of friends and foes to the widespreadand enduring nature of the movement. Satiresoon found out the weak points of the system whichmight be assailed with most advantage, and mademerry with Varro over the pedantry of phrase andverbal quibbles, or amused itself with Horace at theparadox that all crimes were of equal dye, and thatit therefore was as great a fault to spoil a neighbour'sgarden-stuff as to commit a robbery in holy places.To the votary of moderation, trying to reduce tactand good sense to a system,it seemed a very properjest to hear the Stoics talk in their pretentious wayof the wise man who was master of all learning, highand low, and every virtue, blessing, and accomplishmentto boot. And so, perhaps, we might conceivea scholar and gentleman of Corinth who had strayedunawares into the midst of the little Christian flockwhile the letters of St. Paul were being read, finding