Seneca - College of Stoic Philosophers

RETURN FROM EXILE 51and giving his decisions rather on what appearedto him general principles of equity thanin obedience to the letter of the law. He had aloud, hoarse voice, difficult to follow, and thoughhe sometimes showed sagacity on the bench,his judgments were, we are told, rash and unconsidered,and at times in the highest degreeabsurd. He would always decide against theabsent in favour of the present, however involuntarysuch absence may have been, andin his anxiety to finish the greatest amountof business in the shortest possible time wouldoften pronounce judgment after hearing onlyone side of the case. He made no attempt topreserve his dignity. Pleaders would pull himback to the bench by his cloak as he was hurryingoff to his dinner. On one occasion a knight,accused of some offence by the meanest kindof witnesses, was so exasperated by the emperor'sstupidity that he flung his papers at the imperialhead.^ So long, however, as Claudius tried casesopenly no great harm was done. But after atime he was persuaded by his wives and freedmento try political offenders in camera, with hisunworthy favourites as assessors ;and the worstinstances of cruelty and oppression that disgracedhis reign were the result. The opinion of Senecaon these methods of administration may begathered from the pasquinade on the apotheosisof Claudius which he afterwards wrote, andfrom the reforms in the early part of Nero'sreignof which he was the author.* Suet., Claud, xv.