Moral Letters to Lucilius Section 7

Non opus erat suasore illi, sed adiutore; servi parere nolebant. Primum detraxit illis metum et indicavit tunc familiam periculum adire, cum incertum esset, an mors domini voluntaria fuisset; alioqui tam mali exempli esse occidere dominum quam prohibere.

il suffit qu’on s’ennuie de vivre. » Marcellinus n’avait pas besoin qu’on l’excitât, mais qu’on l’aidât à mourir, en quoi ses esclaves lui refusaient l’obéissance. Le stoïcien commença par dissiper leurs craintes, en leur apprenant que des esclaves ne couraient de risque qu’autant qu’il ne serait point certain que la mort du maître eût été volontaire ; que d’ailleurs il était d’aussi mauvais exemple d’empêcher son maître de mourir que de l’assassiner.

Marcellinus did not need someone to urge him, but rather someone to help him; his slaves refused to do his bidding. The Stoic therefore removed their fears, showing them that there was no risk involved for the household except when it was uncertain whether the master’s death was self-sought or not; besides, it was as bad a practice to kill one’s master as it was to prevent him forcibly from killing himself.