AULUS had judged rightly that he would not be admitted to Nero's presence.
They told him that Caesar was occupied in singing with the lute-player, Terpnos,
and that in general he did not receive those whom he himself had not
summoned. In other words, that Aulus must not attempt in future to see him.
Seneca, though ill with a fever, received the old general with due honor; but
when he had heard what the question was, he laughed bitterly, and said, -- "I can
render thee only one service, noble Plautius, not to show Caesar at any time that
my heart feels thy pain, or that I should like to aid thee; for should Caesar have
the least suspicion on this head, know that he would not give thee back Lygia,
though for no other reason than to spite me."
He did not advise him, either, to go to Tigellinus or Vatinius or Vitelius. It might be
possible to do something with them through money; perhaps, also, they would
like to do evil to Petronius, whose influence they were trying to undermine, but
most likely they would disclose before Nero how dear Lygia was to Plautius, and
then Nero would all the more resolve not to yield her to him. Here the old sage
began to speak with a biting irony, which he turned against himself: "Thou hast
been silent, Plautius, thou hast been silent for whole years, and Caesar does not
like those who are silent. How couldst thou help being carried away by his
beauty, his virtue, his singing, his declamation, his chariot-driving, and his
verses? Why didst thou not glorify the death of Britannicus, and repeat
panegyrics in honor of the mother-slayer, and not offer congratulations after the
stifling of Octavia? Thou art lacking in foresight, Aulus, which we who live happily
at the court possess in proper measure.
Thus speaking, he raised a goblet which he carried at his belt, took water from a
fountain at the impluvium, freshened his burning lips, and continued, -- "Ah, Nero
has a grateful heart. He loves thee because thou hast served Rome and glorified
its name at the ends of the earth; he loves me because I was his master in youth.
Therefore, seest thou, I know that this water is not poisoned, and I drink it in
peace. Wine in my own house would be less reliable. If thou art thirsty, drink
boldly of this water. The aqueducts bring it from beyond the Alban hills, and any
one wishing to poison it would have to poison every fountain in Rome. As thou
seest, it is possible yet to be safe in this world and to have a quiet old age. I am
sick, it is true, but rather in soul than in body."
This was true. Seneca lacked the strength of soul which Cornutus possessed, for
example, or Thrasea; hence his life was a series of concessions to crime. He felt
this himself; he understood that an adherent of the principles of Zeno, of Citium,
should go by another road, and he suffered more from that cause than from the
fear of death itself.
But the general interrupted these reflections full of grief.
"Noble Annaeus," said he, "I know how Caesar rewarded thee for the care with
which thou didst surround his years of youth. But the author of the removal of
Lygia is Petronius. Indicate to me a method against him, indicate the influences
to which he yields, and use besides with him all the eloquence with which
friendship for me of long standing can inspire thee."
