Seneca - College of Stoic Philosophers

THE QUINQUENNIUM NERONIS 67prince serenely — contemplating the vast massesof his subjects so various in race and character,so ready for internecine strife, kept in peace onlyand thus speaking toby their common allegiance ;himself :From out the host of mortal beings I have beenchosen and thought worthy to do the work of the godsupon the earth. I have been given the power of lifeand death over all the nations. To determine thecondition and to control the destinies of every raceand of every individual is my absolute prerogative.Whatever Fortune has to give, through my work shegives it from; my rephes as from a fountain peoplesand cities draw their happiness. There is no prosperityin all the world save by my favour and allowance. Thesecountless swords, sheathed by my peace, at a sign fromme would leap from their scabbards. It is in my power,were I so minded, utterly to destroy or expatriate wholenations ;their liberties are mine to give or to withhold ;kings at my word become slaves ;the brow of whom Iwill I encircle with a diadem ;cities come into being orare lost according to my will. In this supreme positionneither anger, nor the natural impetuosity of youth,nor the foolish stubbornness of men hardly to be borneby the most patient of tempers, nor even that direambition so common in princes drawing them on todisplay their power by terror-striking acts, have evermoved me to inflict a single unjust punishment. Thehumblest blood is precious to me ; my sword lies buriedin its sheath ; if a suppliant has nothing else to plead,yet as a man he will find favour in my sight. My severityI keep concealed ; my clemency in the open and readyfor use. I have rescued the laws from the obscurityand neglect into which they had fallen, and I observethem as if I too had to render an account of my actions.I have been touched by the youth of one prisoner, by theage of another ;the rank of some, the helplessness of