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Seneca - College of Stoic Philosophers

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THE CONSPIRACY OF PISO 157<strong>of</strong> the conspiracy was due. On the day beforethat fixed upon for the execution <strong>of</strong> the plot,after a long conference with his fellow-conspiratorNatalis, he returned home, signed his will, andcomplaining <strong>of</strong> the rustiness <strong>of</strong> the dagger whichhe had withdrawn from the temple, ordered hisfreedman Milichus to sharpen it. There followeda dinner <strong>of</strong> unwonted splendour and numerouslyattended, when it was evident to all that thehost had something on his mind, and the gaietywhich he affected appeared forced and unnatural.Afterwards he emancipated his favourite slaves,and gave presents <strong>of</strong> money to others ; and,lastly, he bade Milichus prepare bandages forwounds, and all that was necessary for stoppingthe flow <strong>of</strong> blood. All these circumstances rousedthe suspicions <strong>of</strong> Milichus. The hope <strong>of</strong> rewardwith the fear lest his treachery might be anticipatedby the inferences <strong>of</strong> some other observerfrom the same tokens, in which case his fidelitywould be <strong>of</strong> no service to his master and dangerousto himself, overcame his sense <strong>of</strong> obligation tothe patron to whom he owed his freedom, andled him early the next morning to report hissuspicions to the emperor. Scevinus was seizedand brought to the palace. There he answeredsome <strong>of</strong> thebroken down had not Milichus recalledthe charges with boldness, denyingacts imputed to him, and explaining others withsuch plausibility that the charge would havethe conferencewith Natahs and suggested that thelatter should be arrested and examined as toits subject. This was done, and Natalis and

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