Seneca - College of Stoic Philosophers

96 SENECAtheir emperor personally contributingto theirfavourite amusement, were loud in their plaudits ;while the ministers found to their distress thatin endeavouring to direct and control they hadonly fanned the flame of Nero's folly. To coverhis shame he persuaded the hoblest youth of Rometo follow his example, and rewarded with largesums of money those of them whose poverty ifnot their will consented.But though Nero had performed before thepublic as a charioteer, he did not as yet ventureto appear in the theatre as a singer oractor. For mimes, for all exhibitions of aman's person or physical accomplishments witha view to the public entertainment, the Romanshad a contempt unparalleled in any nation ancientor modern. Self-exposure of any kind theycondemned as a violation of that pudor whichthey ranked so high among the virtues. Nerowas a poet and musician as well as a singer. Hecould sing his own poems to the accompanimentof his own lyre and music of his own composition,and he was resolved not to hide his talents. Withthis end in view he instituted the juvenalia,or festivals of the youth, to consist of musicaland dramatic performances. These were privatelycelebrated from time to time in the emperor'spalace gardens, and were accompanied by muchprofligacy and debauchery. They were attendedby the Court, together with men and women ofnoble birth and of all ages, manyof whom sharedin the performances. Here, for the first time,Nero appeared on the boards in costume, lyre