Seneca - College of Stoic Philosophers

66 SENECAhe put into the prince's mouth either in order todisplay his own talents or else that all might knowin what honourable principles he had trainedthe mind of his imperial pupil. Most of thehistorian's references toSeneca are marked by acertain reserve or unfriendly suggestion as of oneanxious not to be unfair yet resolved to do nomore than bare justice to a man with whom hewas out of sympathy. In this instance it wouldseem, on the face of it, at least as probable thatin interesting Nero's vanity in a reputation forclemency, and engaging him by public professionsto maintain it, Seneca was acting on public groundsas that he was merely endeavouring to win applausefor himself.It was at this time that he addressed to theemperor the finely conceived and nobly expressedtreatise De dementia, the firstpart of whichhas been happily preserved to us. In this treatisethe philosopher described the emperor as not onlythe principle of unity that linked together thevast regions of the Empire, but also the mind thatdirected the huge body, the limbs of which itrestrained from mutual destruction. The republic,he said, and Caesar have so grown togetherthat they cannot be torn asunder without thedestruction of both, and the union is such that•Caesar will practise clemency to his subjects forthe same reason that a man is merciful to hisown members. Bleeding or a surgical operationmay be required, but he will shed no blood norinflict any pain that is not inevitably necessaryfor the common good. Seneca pictures the young