Seneca - College of Stoic Philosophers

CHAPTER VITHE QUINQUENNIUM NERONIS, A.D. 54-59The first business of the Senate in the new reignwas to decree a public funeral to Claudius, andhis apotheosis. On the day of the funeral Neromade a speech composed for him by Seneca.^So long as he spoke of the antiquity, triumphs,and honours of the Claudian race, of the unbrokenprosperity in external affairs that distinguished thereign of Claudius, and of the taste of that prince forletters and the arts, he was heard with approval ;but when he went on to praise the late emperor'swisdom and foresight his hearers could not restraintheir laughter ; though the speech,' adds Tacitus'with characteristic ambiguity, ' like all Seneca'scompositions, was of remarkable elegance andcharm, for indeed there was something in theman's turn of mind which was exactly fitted tothe taste of that generation/ It isprobable thatthe failure of this part of his speech did notgreatly displease the imperial orator for in;spiteof the magnificence of the funeral ceremonies,the memory ofClaudius and the apotheosis itself1It was observed that he was the first of the emperors whosespeeches were written for him by others. ».,