Seneca - College of Stoic Philosophers

DECLINE OF SENECA'S INFLUENCEloicontrary to the laws and institutions of our ancestors,and I have raised no opposition. This was not becauseI doubted at any time the wisdom and right policy ofour ancient institutions, or supposed they could bealtered except for the worse ; but, in the first place,because I would not in my zeal for the old order appearto attach too much importance to my own opinion ;and, in the second place, because a continual course ofopposition in matters of lesser moment isapt to weakenthe force of our resistance at times when the highestinterests of the commonwealth are threatened. Considerwhat has just happened, A man of consular rank hasbeen killed in his own house by a treacherous slave.No one interfered to save him or revealed the plot,and that although the law under which the whole familybecame responsible for his safety had not yet been calledinto question. Pass then, in the name of heaven, youract of indemnity. Whose rank will protect him whenthe prefecture of the city is of no avail ? How manyslaves shall we need for our defence when four hundredcould not secure the safety of Pedanius ? . , . Somethere are who are not ashamed to pretend that theassassin was avenging the wrongs he had sufferedbecause he was himself being robbed. Let us say atonce, then, that Pedanius was justly slain ! Would youhave me find arguments for enforcing a law establishedlong ago by wiser men than we ? Well, then, I willsuppose that it is a question of passingit for the firsttime, and I ask you whether it is credible that a slaveshould have formed the intention of kiUing his masterand given no hint to any of his design by a single rashor threatening word ? He concealed his plot very successfullyforsooth ;no one saw his weapon he passed;the guard he opened the doors of the bed-chamber ; ;he passed in bearing a torch he committed the murder; ;and no one was aware of what he was doing! It is impossible.Our ancestors mistrusted the , , . dispositionof slaves, even when born in their own houses or on theirestates and therefore bound to them by lifelong ties