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they happen to acci ue. The author plea is his own cause with great abili ty, as weli as justiaesse of argument. His vindication is in many paris hight y beauti fui, and ac- compani ed with admirabie sentimonis res pedi ing the moralobligations to a virtuous lise. The conclusion of this disco ut se bears no similari ty, in poliat of Composition, to the preceding paris, and is evidently spuriotis.
The preceding discoui se is followed by one u pon the Reti rement of a Wise Man. The beginning of this tract
Epicureans, vi Z. whether a Wise mala ought to concern
himself with the a Tairs of the public. Lolli these sects of philosophers maintained that a lite os reti rement was in ostsultable to a wi se mala, but they disse led with respeet to the circumstances in whicli it might be pro per to devia te si omthis conduet; one party considering the deviation as prudent, when there exissed a just motive sor fuch condia et,
and the other, when there was no forci ble reason againstit. Seneca regariis both illese opinions as founded ii ponprincipies inade quate to the ad vancement holh of publicand private happiness, whicli ought ever to be the ultimate object of morat speCulation. The last of the author's discourses, ad tremed io AEbucius, is on Benestis, and continued through se ven boolis. He begins with lamenting the frequency of ingratitudeamongst maiahilid, a vice which he severely censures. Aster sonae preliminary considerations respecting the nature of Benenis, he proceeds to stlow in What muniter, and on whom, they ought to be conferred. The greater
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part of these books is employed on the solution os absit ad
questions relative to Beneliis, in the manner of Chrysippus ; where the author states eXplicitly the arguments On both sicles, and Dorn the fuit consideration of them, deduces rational conclusions.
The Episties of Seneca consist of one hundred and weyty-four, ali on morat subjects. His Natural QuestionseXtend through seven books; in which he has collected the hypotheses of Aristolle and other ancient writers These are followed by a whimsical effusion on the deathos Caligula. The rem ainder of his works comprisesse ven Persuassive Discourses, sive books of Controversies, and ten books containing Extracts of Declamations.
Froin the multiplici ty of Seneca's productions, it is evident, notwissistanding the luxurious life he is seid tohave led, that he was greatly devoted to literature ; a propensity Whicli, it is probabie, was confirmed by hisbanis lament during almost eight years in the istand of
Corsica, Where he was in a great degree secluded from CVery Other re urce of amulament to a cultivaled minit. But with whatever splendor Seneca's domestiC economymay have been supported, it seems highly improbabie mat
Vantageous, not only froin the imperial profusion common at that time, but froni many contingent emoluments whicli his extensive interest and patronage would natu-
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could jus ly attach to his conduct, in maintaining an elegant hospitali ty. The imputation os tu Xury was thrownupon him from two quarters, viz. by the dissolute companions os Nero, to whom the mention os such an ex- ample servedas an apology for their own eXtreme dissipatiori; and by those who envied hi in for the assiuence and dignity which he had acquired. The charge, hori ever, is supported only by vague assertion, and is discredi ted by every Consi deration whicli ought to have weight in determining the reality of humata character s. It seems totallyinconsistent with his habits of literary industry, with the virtuous sentiments which he every where strenuousymaintains, and the esteem With which he was regarded by a numero us acquaintance, as a philosopher and a mo-yali si . The writings of Seneca have been traduced almos equalty with his manner of living, though in both he has a Claim to indulgerice, frona me famion of the times. Heis more studious of minute embellissimenis in style than the wi iters of the Augus an age; and the di lactics rain, in which he mos ly prosecutes his sui edis, has a
tendenCy to render hi in sententiolis : but the expression ofhis thoughis is nei ther ens ebled by decoration, nor involved in obscuri ty by concisenes s. . He is not more richin artificiat ornament than in morat admonition. Seneca has been charged with depreciating former uri ters, torender himself more conspicuous ; a charge Malch, si faras appears frona his writings, is founded rather in negati vethan positive testimony. He has not endeavored to est abiisti his fame by any assectation of singulari ty in doctrine; and while he passes over in silence the names of illustrious authors, he avails himself with judgement of the most valvabie stores with whicli they had enriched philosophy.
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On the whole, he is an author Whose principies may beadopted not only with sasely, but great advantage; and his
writings in rit a degree os consideration, superior to whatthey have hi therio ever ei oyed in the literary worid. Seneca, bestides his prose works, was the author offome tragedies. The Medea, the Troas, and the Hippo--θtus, are ascribe d to him. His fallier is sald to have viri, ten the Hercules P rens, T Feses, Agamemnon, and He eules intinus. The three rem aining tragedies, the The-b is, dipus, and Ooctavaa, usu atly publisbed in the fame collection with the seven preceding, are supposed to bothe productions of Ottier authora, but of whom, is UnCertain. These severat pieces are written in a neat style; the plois and characters are conducted with an attentionto probabili ty and nature; but none of them is so fomcible, in poliat os tragical disti esse, as to excite in thereader any great degree of emotion. Petronius was a Roman knight, and apparently of considerable fortune. In his youeh he se enas to have givengreat application to polite literature, in
weli as an elegance of composition. Eui lyinitiated in the gaieties of falli tonable li , he contracteda habit of voluptuous ness, whicli rendered him an accommodating companion to the di1lipaled and the luxurious. The Court of Claudius, enti rely governed for me time by Μessalina, V as then the residerace of plea-sure ; and here Petronius falled not of making a conspicuous appearance. More delicate, however, than sensual , he rathcr joined in the dissipation, than indulged in the vices of the palace. To interrupi a Coui se of life too uniform to afford hi in perpetuat satisfaction, he accepted
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of the Proconsul illip of Bithynia, and went to that province, where he dis charged the duties of his ossice with great applause. Upon his return to Rome, Nero, Whohad succeeded Claudius, made him Consul, in recompense of his services. This new digni ty, by giving him
frequent and easy accesse to the em peror, Crea ted an inti-maCy between them, which was increased to friendmi pand esteem on the side of Nero, by the elegant entertain-ments osten gi ven him by Petronius. In a stiori time, this gay voluptuary became so much a favori te at court, that . nothing was agrceable but what was approved by Petronius; and the authori ty which he acquired, by being um- Pire in wliatever related to the economy of gay dissipation, procured hi in the titie of Arbiter, as one who was fovereignjudge. Things continued in this state whil si the em peror Lept with in the bouiads of moderation; and Petronius ad edas Intendant of his pleas ures; ordering him shOws, games, comedi es, music, feasts, and ali that could contribute toma e the ho urs of relaxation pase agieeably: seas ning, at the sanae time, the innocent delights which he procured for the em peror, with every possibie Chario, to prevent bim stom seehing after lacti as might prove pernicio us both tomorais and the Republic. Nero, howeVer, giving Wayto his own disposition, which was naturalty vi Cio iis, at tengili changed his conduet, not only in regarii to the go- verninent of the empire, but of himself: and liste: n ng toother counseis thara those of Petronius, gave the entire
retias to his passions, whicli afterwariis plura ged him in
ruin. The em peror's ne favori te was Tigellinus, a manos the most profligate morais, who omitted nothing that could grati sy the inordinate appetites of his prince, at theexpence of ali decenCy and virtve. During this period, Petronius gave vent to his indignation, in the satire transmitted under his nam e by the titie of Sauricon. But his stolai retii ement from couri secured him not frona the artis; ces
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tifices of Tigellinus, who labored with ali his power todes troy the man whom he had industriousy supplanted in
the em peror's favor. With this vlew he insinuated to Nero, that Petronius was too intimately connected with Mevinus not to be en gaged in Piso's conspiracy ; and, to support his calumny, caused the emperor to he present atthe examination of one of Ρetronius's flaves, whom heliad secretly suborned to swear against his master. Asterthis transaction, to deprive Petronius os ali means of juiatii ying himself, they threw into prison the greater part of his domestics. Nero embra ed with joy the oppu)rtuni ty
ter i ed ordei s for arresting Petronius. As it required, however, sonae time to deliberate, whether they should put a person of his consideration to death, without more evident proosse of the charges preferred against him, he felisuch disguist at living in the power of so detestabie and caprici ous a tyrant, that he re ived to die. For this pur- posse, mali ing Choice of the fame expedient which hadbeen adopted by Seneca, he caused his velias to be opened: but he closed them again, for a litile time, that he mightenjoy the conversation of his frientis, who came to see him in his lasi moments. He desi red them, it is sa id, to en-tertain him, not with disco urses on the immortali ty of thes ut, or the consolations os philosophy, but with agreeable tales, aud poetic galantries. Dis dat ing to imitate the
made him their heir, and stussed their testaments with en-Comiums on the tyrant and his favori te, he brohe topieces a goblet os preci ous stones, o ut of which he had commonly drank, that Nero, who he knew would seigeupon it aster his death, might not have the pleris ure ofusing it. As the only present sultable to such a prince, hosent him, under a s ealed cover, his Sauricon, writtera puris
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NERO CLAUDIUS CAESAR. 493posely against him ; and then brohe his signet, that it
tion against the person in whose custody it 1hould be
The Sa0rkon os Petronius is one os the mos: Curious productions in the Latin langu age. Novel in iis nature, and without any parallel in the works of antiqui ty, sonae have imagined it to be a spurious composition fabricate labout the time of the revivat os learning in Europe. This conjecture, however, is not more destitute os suppori, than repugnant to the most circumstantiat evidence in ζavor of iis authentici ty. Others, admitting the work to bea production of the age of Nero, have questioned the design with whicli it was writtera, and have Consequently imputed to the author a most immorat intention . Someos the scenes, incidenis, and characters, are Os s O eXtra- Ordinary a nature, that the description of them, without a particular applidation, must have been regareed as extrem ely whimsical, and the work, notwithstanding iis ingenui ty, been doomed to perpetuat oblivion : but historyausti fies the belles, that in the court of Nero, the extra- Vagancies mentioned by Petronius were realis ed to a de-gree which authenticates the representation given of them. The inimitable character of Trimalchio, whicli eYhibiis a person sun k in the most debauched effemina Cy, wasdrawn for Nero ; and we are assured, that there were formerly medals of that emperor, with these words, C. Nero Augusti. I p. and on the reverse, Trimalchio. The various Characters are weli discriminaled, and supportellwim admirabie propriety. Never was lach licentio us essos description uni ted fo such delicacy of coloring. The force of the satire conssi sis not in polgnancy of sentiment, but in the ridicule whicli arises from the whimsical, butcharacteristic
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characteristic and faithsul exhibition of the os ects Intro duced. That Nero was struch with the justiaesse of the reptesentation, is evident froni the displea re whicli heshowed, at sinding Petronius veli acquainted with his infamous excesses. Aster levelling his suspicion at ali whocould poss1bly betray him, he at last si Med on a Senator swise, nam ed Silia, who bore a part in his revelf, and was an intimate friend of Petronius : upon whicli sae was immediately sent into banissiment. Amongst the misceli laneous materia is in this work, are me pieCes of poetry, written in an elegant iaste. A poena on the civit war b tween Caesar and Pompey, is beatitis ut and animaled. Though the Muses appear to have been mostly in aquiescent state from the time of Augustus, we find froni Petronius Arbiter, who eXhibiis the mannens os the capi
Ecce inter pocula quini unt Romuli in saturi, quid dia poemara narrens. PERSIUS, SAT . I.
It was cultiva ted as a Lind of fassiionabie exercise, in mortand desultory attempis, in whicli the clites ambition wasto produm verseS CYtempore. They re publicly recited by thei authors with great ostentation, and a favorableve te Dona an audience, however partiat, and frequently obtained cither by intrigiae or bribery, was construed by thos e frivolous prete ers into a real adjudication os poetical fame.
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with the view of obtaining the opinion of the hearem Con- eerning them, and for whicli pili pose Augus iis had bullitiae Temple of Apollo, was weli calcula ted for me improvement of taste and judgement, as weli as the eXcite-ment of emulation ; but, condu fled as it now was, it tedio a generat degradation os poeti y. Barbaritas in langvage, and a Corruption of taste, were the natural consequences of this praetice, while the judgement of the multitude was either blind or venal, and while public approbation sanctioned the crudities of hasty composition. There arose, however, in this period, sonae candidates forme bays, who carried their e foris beyond the narrow limits whicli custom and inadequale genius presserit,ed tothe poetical exertions of their contemporaries. Amongst these were Lucan and Persius. Lucan was the son of Annaeus Mela, the brother of Seneca, the philosopher. He was boria at Corduba, thsoriginal res1delice of the fami ly, but camee rly to Rome, where his promising ta 'η ἐσienis, and the patronage of his uncte re-
commended hi in to the favon os Nero ; by whom he was ruised to the dignity of an Augur and Quaestor before heliadi attained the usual age. Prompted by the destre os displaying his poetical abilities, he had the imprudence to engage in a competition with his imperiat patrono Thesubjeci: chosen by Nero was me tragical fate of Niobe ;and that of Lucan was Orpheus. The eate Ruth whichthe luiter obtained the victory in the contest, excited thujealous y of the em peror, who resolved uptan deprestingitis rising genius. With tius vieri , he exposed hini dat lyto the mortification of fressi insulis, uiatit at last the
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pired in pronouncing with great emphasis the following lines in his Pharsalia r
Scinditur aetvulseus: nec icut vulnere sanguis Emicuit lentus o ruptis cadis undique venis ;Discari fusiue animi diversa in membra meantis IntercepIus aquis, nullius vita perempti Di fiantri dimissa via. LIB. III.
. Some authors have Did that he betrayed pusillanimityat the liour os death : and that, to save himself from punishment, he accused his mother of Ming involved in tho
that he died with philosophical fortitude. He was thenonly in the twenty-siXth year of his age. Lucan had scarcely reached the age of puberty hei
Achilles. He also composed in his youth a poena on theburning of Rome ; but his only sui viving work is the Pharsalia, maliten On the civit war belween Caesar and Pompey. This poena, consisting of ten books, is uia fi- Distaed, and iis character has been 1riore depreciated than that of any other production os antiqui ty. In the planos the poena, the author prosecutes the different evenis in the civit War, beginning his narrative at the passage of the Rubicon by Caesar. He invokes not the Mus es, norengages any Gods in the dispute ; but endeavors to sup-pori an epic digni ty by vigor of sentiment, and splendoros description. The horrors of civit war, and the im-