Seneca - College of Stoic Philosophers

THE QUINQUENNIUM NERONIS 65and an ability which won for them universalapplause.^ It was something when in the strangecourse of human destiny supreme power over thecivilised world had fallen into the hands of avicious and worthless youth, not only to havesaved five years from the wreck, but even to havemade them memorable for their excellence. Thatthis feat was accomplished by Seneca cannotbe denied, though the means he employed to retainand confirm his power unquestionably needdefence.The steps taken at the end of the year (54)to repel a Parthian invasion of Armenia, andthe appointment of Corbulo, an able general,whose sole claim to promotion lay in his meritsto the chief military command there, increasedthe confidence felt in the administration, andwere taken as signs that the era of appointmentsby favour and intrigue was at an end. TheSenate wished to erect gold and silver statues tothe emperor, and to call the month of Decemberby his name, but he modestly declined thesehonours. Nor would he listen to delators whobrought accusations of disaffection against knightsand senators.The year 55, the second of the reign, wasmarked by fresh acts of a wise indulgence towhich the Romans had been unaccustomed sincethe early years of Tiberius. The young emperorpledged himself to a policy of conciliation innumerous speeches in which the world recognisedthe hand of Seneca. These speeches, adds Tacitus,1Dion, Ixi. 4.