Seneca - College of Stoic Philosophers

146 SENECAthe duty he owed to humanity must alwaystake precedence of an obUgation to a singleindividual.But [he adds] although this is so, and althoughfrom the time when by violating every human rightand so making it impossible for himself to be wrongedby any man, he has made me free to do what I willagainFi; him, yet I shall still reckon myself bound todischarge my debt so far as may stand with my pubhcduty. I must not add to his power for evil ;I must notincrease his destructive forces or confirm those he has.But if without injury to the commonwealth Imayreturn his kindness, I will do so. I would save hisinfant son from death, for that could not injure thevictims of his cruelty but I would not contribute a;penny to the support of his mercenaries. If he hankerafter marbles and fine raiment, that can do no mischiefto any man, and I will help him to them ; soldiers andarms I will not supply. If he entreat me as a greatkindness to send him comedians and women, and othersuch delights which may temper his brutaUty, I willfind them for him willingly. Though I will not supplyhim with triremes and ships of war, he shall haveluxuriously fitted boats of pleasure for his amusement.But if I despair altogether of his amendment, the samehand shall at one blow discharge my debt to him andconfer a benefit on all mankind, for to such a naturedeath is a remedy, and to speed his departure the onekindness I can do him.^These words were written after Seneca's retirementand shortly before the outbreak of the conspiracyof Piso, with the aims of which, whetheror not, he must unquestionably havehe knew of itsympathised.Bythat time Nero had sunk into^De BeneJ. vii. 20.