Seneca - College of Stoic Philosophers

84 SENECAinformer under Claudius, and the chief instrumentof Messalina's cruelty. He it was who, at theinstance of the Court, brought the charges whichproved fatal to Julia, daughter of Drusus, ValeriusAsiaticus, Lupus, and many others. He had, infact, been the Fouquier Tinville of the worst yearsof Claudius ;and as such was particularly odiousto the humane Seneca to whom the death of noRoman citizen during his term, of power has beenimputed by any historian. After the death ofClaudius and the change of system, Suilius showedno penitence for his misdeeds— preferring, saysTacitus, the reputation of a criminal to the attitudeof a suppliant. In the year 58 he was prosecutedunder the lex Cincia for having acceptedfees as an advocate beyond the legal limit. Thecharge itself was unfair, for the law was obsoleteand had been habitually disregarded but his;adversaries were resolved that Suilius should notaltogether escape the penalty of his misdeeds, andtheir impatience would not suffer them to awaitthe issue of the indictment for peculation andoppression in his government of Asia which, alsoto diffi-brought against him, could not, owingculties in collecting evidence, be proceeded withfor a year. Suilius, in no wise abashed, retortedby accusations against Seneca which, reportedby Tacitus, and repeated with amplifications byDion or his abbreviator, Xiphilinus, have been acceptedwith too ready a credence by later historians.Seneca [he said], who had been most justly exiledby Claudius, could never forgive that prince's friends.He had passed his life in futile controversies that amused