Seneca - College of Stoic Philosophers

104 SENECAinfluence for good. It is to the credit of both menthat the friendship and union between them hadremained throughout unbroken by any sentimentof rivalry or jealousy ; and, while the militaryforce was under the command of Burrhus, Nerodid not venture to rid himself of Seneca. Burrhuswas succeeded in the command of the Praetoriansby Tigellinus,the most profligate and corrupt ofNero's associates, with whom as a concession topublic opinion was joined as a colleagueRufus— Feniusan honest man, liked by the soldiersand respected by the people on account of theintegrity with which he had administered thedistribution of corn. But Rufus was given noreal power, while Tigellinus, on the other hand,who had cultivated a good understanding withPoppaea, acquired a predominant influence overthe emperor, whose worst impulses he encouraged.After the death of Burrhus the enemies ofSeneca redoubled their attacks, to which they perceivedthat the emperor was beginning to listen withscarcely veiled satisfaction. With the exaggerationcustomary in all ages when the fortunes ofpublic men are in question, they dwelt on theextent of his revenues too vast for a subject, thenumber of his villas, and the beauty of his gardens,almost surpassing in magnificence, so they said,those of the emperor himself. They accusedhim, probably with more justice, of depreciatingNero's skill as a charioteer, and of openly deridingthe celestial voice. They insinuated that heclaimed a monopoly of eloquence, that so soonas Nero had begun to write poetry his own poetical