Seneca - College of Stoic Philosophers

THE QUINQUENNIUM NERONISthe senators. They decreed that it should beengraved in letters of silver, and read publiclyat the beginning of each new year, hoping tobind the emperor by this recurring publicationto observe the charter of liberties it contained.^Nor were those hopesat first deceived. TheSenate, under the direction doubtless of Senecaand Burrhus, made early use of its recoveredliberties, and Acts were passed dealing with recentabuses. The young emperor himself declared hisintention of walking in the stepsof his ancestor6iAugustus, and seized every opportunity of showingcourtesy, humanity, and liberality. The heaviertaxes were reduced or repealed. Informers werediscouraged, and their fees reduced to a fourth.The ruinous burdens which successful candidatesfor honours had been compelled to endure werereduced within more reasonable limits ;appealswere instituted from the judges to the Senate ;the law against forgery was strengthened;andlawyers' fees were regulated.^These reforms were opposed by Agrippina,who had no wish for the downfall of a systemby which she had profited so largely. But herinfluence was already on the wane. When herpower had been threatened in the preceding reign,she had contrived the death of Claudius in orderto preserve it, but she was now to find that herambition had overleaptitself. At first, indeed,all had gone well. Her violence and imperioustemper intimidated Nero and bent him to herwishes, though he longed»Dion Cassius, Ixi. 3.to shake off a detested*Suet. Nero, x.