Seneca - College of Stoic Philosophers

20 SENECAin his use of words, but unconcerned ;his soleinterest was the profit of his hearers/ Senecaends his description by adding that Fabianus'lectures were admirably calculated to elevate themind of a well-disposed youth and to spur himon to imitate so excellent an example, withoutcausing him to despair of success.^Such were the instructors of the young Senecaunder the principate of Tiberius. His healththroughout life was delicate. While still younghe was brought to great misery by an affectionof the lungs, which he calls suspirium.^Wasted to a shadow [he afterwards wrote], I wasoften tempted to cut short my life, but the old age ofthe kindest of fathers still held me back. I reflectedthat I ought to consider not so much with what fortitudeI could die, but how impossibleit was that he couldbear my loss with fortitude. Therefore I bade myselflive ;for there are times when it is a mark of courage evento live. I will tellyou what were then my consolations,observing first that these were also the most useful of medicines,for certain it is that whatever elevates the soul doesgood to the body. My studies saved me. It was toPhilosophy that I owed the power to rise from my bedand the recovery of my health — and this is the leastof my obligations to her. My friends watched with me :their encouragements and their conversation contributedmuch to my restoration. There is nothing, my dearestLucilius, like the affection of friends to assist and renewa sick man ; nothing that so certainly beguiles us fromthe expectation and the fear of death. ^1Ep. loo.^'Satis enim apte dici suspirium potest.Brevis autem valde,et procellae similis, impetus est intra horam fere desinit' {Ep. :liv.),»Ep. 78.