In this paragraph Seneca exposes the folly of trying to prove a truth by means of logical tricks, and offers a caricature of those which were current among the philosophers whom he derides. ↩
Literally, “or if or if not,” words constantly employed by the logicians in legal instruments. For the latter cf. Cicero, Pro Caecina, 23. 65 tum illud, quod dicitur, “sive nive” irrident, tum aucupia verborum et litterarum tendiculas in invidiam vocant. ↩
Literally, “to those who sit studying the praetor’s edicts.” The album is the bulletin-board, on which the edicts of the praetor were posted, giving the formulae and stipulations for legal processes of various kinds. ↩
In certain actions the praetor appointed a judge and established a formula, indicating the plaintiff’s claim and the judge’s duty. If the statement was false, or the claim excessive, the plaintiff lost his case; under certain conditions (see last sentence of Seneca in paragraph 8) the defendant could claim annulment of the formula and have the case tried again. Such cases were not lost on their merits, and for that reason the lawyer who purposely took such an advantage was doing a contemptible thing. ↩
Virgil, Aeneid, IX 641. ↩
Probably the birthplace of Lucilius. ↩
The Pythagorean. For his views on vegetarianism, and their influence on Seneca, see Letter CVIII, paragraph 12 ff. ↩
Source unknown; perhaps, as Hense thinks, from the Hortensius. ↩
An intentional equivocation on the part of Cicero, who intimates that he will “lose no time” in reading them. ↩
Virgil, Aeneid, VIII 385 f. ↩
An example of syllogistic nonsense, quoted also by Gellius, XVIII 2. 9. See also Letter XLV, paragraph 5. ↩
I.e., the timbers of the ship. Compare the same figure in Letter XXX, paragraph 1. ↩
Euripides, Phoenissae, 469 ἁπλοῦς ὁ μῦθος τῆς ἀληθείας ἔφυ. ↩
Etna was of especial interest to Lucilius. Besides being a Govenor in Sicily, he may have written the poem Aetna. For Seneca’s own curiosity regarding the mountain compare Letter LXXIX, paragraph 1 ff. ↩
Not far from Naples, and across the bay from Puteoli. It was a fashionable and dissolute watering place. ↩
Situated at the mouth of the westernmost branch of the Nile, and proverbial in Latin literature for the laxity of its morals. ↩
There is considerable doubt whether symphonia was vocal or instrumental music. The passage probably refers either to glee-singers (as in Venice today) or to bands of flute-players playing part-music. Cicero (Verrem III 44. 105) mentions them as providing entertainment at banquets. ↩
See Letter LXXXVI. ↩
The Egyptians used the word φηλητής in the sense of “knave” or “footpad.” The word is found in the “Hecale” of Callimachus. Hesychius defines it as equal to κλώψ “thief.” It was pronounced in the same way as φιλητής “lover,” and in late Greek was spelt in the same way. ↩
Frag. 192 Usener. ↩
I.e., that of Metrodorus, who had the happier nature. ↩
I.e., a representative of this school or that. Seneca’s reply is, in effect, “Upon no present school; go to the ancients.” ↩
Circulatores were travelling showmen who performed sword-swallowing and snake-charming feats, or cheap stump speakers who displayed their eloquence at the street-corners in the hope of a few pence. The word is also found in the sense of “pedlar.” ↩
This and what follows, to the beginning of the next paragraph, are the words with which a true philosopher is supposed to address his hearers. ↩
The scratching of the head with one finger was for some reason regarded as a mark of effeminacy or vice; cf. the charge brought against Pompey, Plutarch, Moralia, 89 E and Ammianus, 17. 11 quod genuino quodam more caput digito uno scalpebat … ut dissolutum. Compare also Juvenal, IX 133 scalpere caput digito. ↩
The poetical name for Naples; perhaps it was once a town near by which gave a sort of romantic second title to the larger city. Professor Summers thinks that this poetical name, together with tua, indicates a reference to a passage from the verse of Lucilius. Perhaps, however, tua means nothing more than “the place which you love so well,” being in the neighbourhood of Pompeii, the birthplace of Lucilius. ↩
An islet near the mouth of the bay wherein Baiae was situated. Puteoli was on the opposite side of the bay from Baiae. ↩
Aeneid, VI 3. This was the usual method of mooring a ship in ancient times. ↩
Aeneid, III 277. ↩
Compare Letter LXXXIII, paragraph 2. ↩
Ulysses took ten years on his journey, because of seasickness; Seneca will need twice as many. ↩
That is, they are so swollen that left and right look alike. ↩
Literally “on sufferance,” whenever other matters permit. Cf. Pliny, Epistulae VII 30 precario studeo—“subject to interruption from others.” ↩
I.e., asthma. Seneca thinks that the Latin name is good enough. ↩
Celcus (IV
