Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

POWER OF THE GREEK PHILOSOPHY 34!able instance given us by Seneca in the case of themost sagacious of princes, Augustus, will serve toindicate the part which they played. In his Consolationto Marcia, Seneca bids her to follow theexample of her friend, the Empress Julia. In thefirst outburst of her grief for the loss of her sonDrusus, she sought consolation from Areus, " herhusband's philosopher." And she found him of greatservice ; more than the Eoman people, whose sorrowshe would not increase by her own ; more than LAugustus, who was already overthrown by losing oneof his supports ; more than the affection of her sonTiberius, who by redoubling his devotion to her soughtto compensate for his brother's loss. And the influenceof Areus upon a woman so chary of her confidencewas grounded on this, that up to that day he hadbeen the constant companion of her husband, towhom not only their public acts were made known,but, both as to husband and to wife, their " deepheart-courses and its motive seeds." l This instancestanding at the head of Csesarean history will showthe wonderful vantage-ground occupied during thisperiod by philosophers in the eclipse of the influencewhich reasonably and properly belongs to religion.If we add to this confidential position in the bosomof the great Eoman families the means of propagatingtheir doctrine given by the possession of the greatprofessorial chairs in large cities, accompanied withample revenues and high consideration, we can estimatewhat opportunities were afforded to the pro-1 Seneca, Ad Marciam, 4. Areus says of his intercourse withAugustus, " Assiduus viri tui comes, cui non tantum quse in publiciimemittuntur nota, sed omnes sunt secretioreg animorum vestrorumniotus." I venture to translate the last words by a beautiful linefrom Father Newman's poems.