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Seneca on Trial: the Case of the Opulent Stoic Author(S): Anna Lydia Motto Source: the Classical Journal, Vol Seneca on Trial: The Case of the Opulent Stoic Author(s): Anna Lydia Motto Source: The Classical Journal, Vol. 61, No. 6 (Mar., 1966), pp. 254-258 Published by: The Classical Association of the Middle West and South, Inc. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3294099 Accessed: 26/10/2008 15:05 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp. JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained prior permission, you may not download an entire issue of a journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use content in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commercial use. Please contact the publisher regarding any further use of this work. Publisher contact information may be obtained at http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=camws. Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright notice that appears on the screen or printed page of such transmission. JSTOR is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1995 to build trusted digital archives for scholarship. We work with the scholarly community to preserve their work and the materials they rely upon, and to build a common research platform that promotes the discovery and use of these resources. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. The Classical Association of the Middle West and South, Inc. is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Classical Journal. http://www.jstor.org SENECA ON TRIAL: THE CASE OF THE OPULENT STOIC MANY CRITICS HAVE DEVOTED their efforts It is strange but unfortunately true that to expounding the inconsistencies be- immense fortune gives rise to immense tween Seneca's actions and his words, with- suspicion. Even a man of most upright out presenting any concrete evidence for character is often suspected of dishonesty such belief. Hypotheses, conjectures, and if he possesses exorbitant wealth. The phi- suppositionsof widest extent uttered in baf- losopher who preaches his doctrine in fling generalities, without specific refer- shabby cloak with unkempt hair is more ences to the philosopher's writings, form apt to be respected by his fellow men than the bulk of their indictment. In support the one who glitters amidst prosperity and of their imaginative theses, they cite Dio power.3 Oddly enough, opposition to Sen- Cassius as final authority, though somehow eca's wealth is expressed even by one critic they have never been motivated to in- who is willing to acknowledge that Seneca's vestigate Dio's source or to evaluate his riches were honorably acquired.4 Is it not, statements truly. then, wealth per se that such a critic is Among these many charges brought condemning? against Seneca and forever recurring from No great effort need be expended in century to century is the crucial one con- discovering the origin and source of the demning his monetary hypocrisy; to these charges that have circulated against Seneca detractors, Seneca epitomizes the Stoic down the ages. According to Tacitus (Ann. teacher whose preaching is controverted by 13.42), these accusations were first promul- practice; for them, here is the millionaire gated in A.D. 58 by one P. Suillius, who philosopher, bawling for poverty. became angered by the revival of the Cin- That Seneca amassed an enormous for- cian Law, which forbade advocates to plead tune is attested by several ancient sources.1 for pay. Feeling that Seneca, as Nero's Juvenal (Sat. 10.16) refers to him as minister, was the prime mover in this en- praedives, "very rich," and the philosopher deavor to constrain him personally, Suillius himself in his writings is not reticent about therefore launched a fierce attack against his own great wealth. So large and numer- the philosopher-statesman,assailing him as ous were his villas and gardens that they foe to all the friends of Claudius. His as- were said to rival those of the emperor sault contained these charges: Nero.2 3 That Seneca was repelled by this popular type of phi- losopher is seen by Ep. 5.1-6. Cf. Horace Sat. 1.3.133-6; 1Suet. Nero 35; Juv. 10.16; Tacitus Ann. 13.42; 14.52, 2.3.16, 35. 53, 56; 15.64; Dio Cassius 61.10; 62.2, 25. 4 F. W. Farrar, Seekers after God (London 1874), pp. 2 Tacitus Ann. 14.52. 53-4. SENECA ON TRIAL 255 1) The bookworm Seneca, who had he was a flagrant seeker after young boys spent his time in idle studies and in the as well. Also, the adultererwith Nero's own company of inexperienced juveniles, natu- Mother (61.10). rally envied those who (like Suillius) 2) Although ever criticizing the wealthy, served the public, and the larger, good. Senecawas most busy acquiring300,000,000 2) In the reign of Claudius, while Suil- sesterces; moreover, he absolutely required lius nobly served Germanicus as quaestor, the possession of five hundred citrus- Seneca was seducing Germanicus'daughter. wood tables, while, in addition, each and 3) Could Suillius' humble acceptance of every one of these tables stood upon ivory a grateful client's fee possibly equal Sen- legs; and with them all he served banquets eca's defilement of an imperial princess? (61.10). 4) Moreover, what philosophy, what in- 3) Seneca's usury not only drained the tellectual genius, had spurred Seneca, provinces, but also incited a rebellion in all within the span of a mere four years, to of Britain. He had forced upon the mis- amass 300,000,000 sesterces? And why had fortunate islanders 40,000,000 sesterces, so many testaments irresistibly been drawn money that these people in fact did not in his favor? What doctrine inspired him want; then with the most sudden harshness to lend money to Italy and the provinces at recalled his loan in its entirety8 (62.2). such exorbitant interest? And so this singular line of criticism de- These accusations, Suillius hoped, would velops, extending down to our own day: break Seneca's power and influence.5 Suil- lius was right;6 within the year, Seneca was 1670: John Milton9: made to discover the ominous effects of . .. Seneca, in his books a philosopher, having these ill effects that were to drawn the Britons unwillingly to borrow of very attacks,7 him vast sums upon fair promises of easy increase steadily throughout his lifetime, loan, and for repayment take their own time, that, in fact, were ultimately to cut this on a sudden compels them to pay in all at life short. And still, Suillius' success was once with great extortion. Thus provked .. the Icenians not done; it was larger than this-larger, [sic] by heaviest suffering . ... rise up in arms. doubtless, than even he could have dared to in the suspect. For, curiously enough, 1837: Thomas B. that is 2000 Macaulay10: long, unfolding panorama years The business of a philosopher [like Seneca] was of history, Suillius' bold wish has been to declaim in praise of poverty with two mil- continuously, repeatedly granted. lions sterling out at usury, to meditate epigram- By A.D. 200, we find Dio Cassius (or matic conceits about the evils of luxury, in which moved the of his epitomizer Xiphilinus) transmitting gardens envy sovereigns. these same accusations, embellished, how- ever, by more striking exaggeration and 1874: F. W. Farrar1l: more in are And in Seneca we see some of the most glowing lively gossip. Here, essence, of the of combined his recriminations: pictures nobility poverty with the most questionable avidity in the pur- 1) Seneca was not merely the seducer suit of wealth. Inconsistency is written on of the poor Julia, Germanicus' daughter; the entire history of his life, and it has earned him the scathing contempt with which many 5R. Waltz, Vie de Seneque (Paris 1909), p.389: "Suil- writers have treated his memory. lius esp6rait bien ameuter assez de mecontents de d'en- vieux pour troubler la quietude de Seneque et ebranler son autorite. Quel triomphe pour ce veteran de la delation, 8 It is interesting to note that Tacitus (Ann. 14.30-39), s'il reussissait a mettre en peril l'homme le plus consid6re who gives a detailed account of the rebellion in Britain, du siecle!" makes no mention of Seneca's name nor of any usury. 6 Tacitus Ann. 13.42: .. haud tamen sine invidia 9 The history of Britain, Bk.2, from The prose works oJ Senecae. ... John Milton, vol. 5, tr. C. R. Sumner (London 1868), 7 In fact, Nero's own attitude towards Seneca was con- p.208. siderably altered. See W. H. Alexander, "The Tacitean 10 "Lord Bacon," in Critical and historical essays (New 'non liquet' on Seneca," Univ. of Calif. publ. in class. York 1875), p.390. philol. 14,8 (1952) 322. " Op. cit. (n.4), pp.150, 148. 256 ANNA LYDIA MOTTO 1887: C. T. Cruttwell12: Suillius had plundered the provincials and He ... in the short space of four years amassed embezzled public moneys during his quaes- an enormous fortune .... Seneca is a lamentable in Asia. these instance of variance between precept and ex- torship Since, however, ample. charges of criminality abroad would have required at least a year for investigation, it 1949: H. J. Rose"3: was decided to try him for crimes at home. Of [Seneca's] works the writer finds it hard Witnesses were found to his testify against to judge fairly, owing to the loathing which Suillius for numerous deaths which he had personality excites.
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