De clementia

About This Book

"Soon after Nero's accession in 54 CE, his tutor, the philosopher Seneca (c. 4 BCE-65 CE), addressed to his young pupil an essay called De Clementia in which he offered advice on how to behave in his new role. In it Seneca urges Nero to exercise clementia, that is, to think very hard before using his absolute power to execute any of his opponents or rivals and instead to err on the side of generosity and so to inspire gratitude and affection rather than hatred. In the opening sentence of the work, Seneca cleverly states that he is presenting the treatise to Nero as a 'mirror' (speculum) of himself. In other words, this is the Roman version of the 'Mirror of Princes' familiar to us from later eras." "This is the first full philological edition of the De Clementia in English. It includes the text with apparatus criticus, a new translation, a substantial introduction, and detailed commentary on matters of textual criticism, literary criticism and issues of socio-political, historical, cultural, and philosophical significance. The notes illuminate Seneca's language and thought through extensive citation of parallel passages from his other writings, from those of other imperial Latin authors, and from other relevant works, including kingship treatises and panegyrical texts." "The introduction includes discussion of Seneca's life, relationship with Nero, writings, and philosophy; the date, genre, scope, structure, and argument of De Clementia; the concept of clementia; kingship theory in Greek literature and Republican Rome; Stoic views on kingship and clementia; the relationship between De Clementia and De Ira; kingship in Seneca's tragedies; and the afterlife and influence of De Clementia."--Jacket.