Seneca · c. 4 BCE – 65 CE
On Benefits 3.25 — Seneca
Translation by Aubrey Stewart (1887)
Seneca, On Benefits 3.25
During the civil war, a slave hid his master, who had been proscribed, put on his rings and clothes, met the soldiers who were searching for him, and, after declaring that he would not stoop to entreat them not to carry out their orders, offered his neck to their swords. What a noble spirit it shows in a slave to have been willing to die for his master, at a time when few were faithful enough to wish their master to live! to be found kind when the State was cruel, faithful when it was treacherous! to be eager for the reward of fidelity, though it was death, at a time when such rich rewards were offered for treachery!
Cite this passage
Seneca, On Benefits 3.25, tr. Aubrey Stewart (1887)
https://whatwouldstoicsdo.com/passage/on-benefits/3.25
Seneca, Dialogues, tr. Aubrey Stewart (1887–1889). Text: Standard Ebooks (CC0). Sources and licences
In plain English
AI-written notesDuring the civil war, a slave disguised himself as his hunted master and let the soldiers kill him so the master could escape. The passage admires such faithfulness and kindness at a time when treachery was richly rewarded and few people even wished their masters to live.
Older wording
- “proscribed”
- — officially marked for death by the state, with a reward for killing
Themes and situations
- Courage
- Virtue and character
- Duty and roles
- Gratitude
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