Moral Letters to Lucilius Section 5

Deinde eiusdem arrogantiae proverbium iactatur, totidem hostes esse quot servos. Non habemus illos hostes, sed facimus. Alia interim crudelia, inhumana praetereo, quod ne tamquam hominibus quidem, sed tamquam iumentis abutimur. Cum ad cenandum discubuimus, alius sputa detergit, alius reliquias temulentorum toro subditus colligit.

Voici encore un adage inventé par ce même orgueil : Autant de valets, autant d’ennemis. Nous ne les avons pas pour ennemis, nous les faisons tels. Et que d’autres traits cruels et inhumains sur lesquels je passe, et l’homme abusant de l’homme comme d’une bête de charge !

Finally, the saying, in allusion to this same high-handed treatment, becomes current: “As many enemies as you have slaves.” They are not enemies when we acquire them; we make them enemies. I shall pass over other cruel and inhuman conduct towards them; for we maltreat them, not as if they were men, but as if they were beasts of burden. When we recline at a banquet, one slave mops up the disgorged food, another crouches beneath the table and gathers up the left-overs of the tipsy guests.