PHYSICAL SCIENCE 



the yoke of the savage Domitian, and knew what life under 

 a tyrant meant. But withal he was too acute an observer 

 and too impartial a critic to be blinded by any mere 

 sentimental sympathy. He understood and appreciated 

 Seneca, to whose genuine worth his testimony is the most 

 enduring tribute. 



The age of Seneca, whose " life almost coincides with 

 the Julio-Claudian tyranny," has been made to re-live for 

 us in Professor Dill's Roman Society from Nero to Marcus 

 Aurelius, which ought to be studied by those who desire 

 to understand more of Seneca as statesman, philosopher, 

 and man. 1 In addition to a short account and criticism of 

 the Quaestiones Naturales (pp. 300 et sqg.\ the chapter 

 (Book III. ch. i. pp. 289-333) on "The Philosophic Director" 

 is particularly illuminating. The following tribute from 

 it may fittingly close our brief sketch : 



"The man who approaches Seneca thinking only of 

 scandals gleaned from Tacitus and Dio Cassius, and 

 frozen by a criticism which cannot feel the power of 

 genius, spiritual imagination, and a profound moral experi- 

 ence, behind a rhetoric sometimes forced and extravagant, 

 had better leave him alone. The Christianity of the 

 twentieth century might well hail with delight the advent 

 of such a preacher, and would certainly forget all the 

 accusations of prurient gossip in the accession of an 

 immense and fascinating spiritual force. The man with 

 any historical imagination must be struck with amazement 

 that such spiritual detachment, such lofty moral ideals, so 

 pure an enthusiasm for the salvation of souls, should 

 emerge from a palace reeking with all the crimes of the 

 haunted races of Greek legend" (pp. cit. p. 295). 



II. WRITINGS 



Seneca was a voluminous writer. Most of his works 

 partake more or less of a philosophical character. In a 

 class by themselves may be placed the ten tragedies, 



1 Mr. Henderson's The Life and Principate of the Emperor Nero should 

 also be studied. 



