Grice e Mesalla

Allow me to agsess briefly the Epicurean philosophy within the context of the difficult tines covering the years which witnessed the downfall of the republic and the birth of the principate. In an article entitled 'Epicureans in Revolt' (J.R.S. 31 1941 pp.151-7)

Momigliano takes as a starting point the conversion to Epicureanian in 46 B.C. of Cassius who rapidly came to the conclusion that Julius Caesar had to be eliminated because of what appeared to be his tyrannical tendencies. The author emphasises that during this crucial period the adherents of the philosophy did not maintain a passive political aloofness. While some Epicureans actively supported Julius in a noderate way, a mumber opposed him, among whom were I. Manlius Torquatus, Trebianus, L. Papirius Paetus, M. Fadius Gallus, and, as the eridence suggests, L. Saufeius and Statilius. Monigliano concludes the article with the statement that "On the whole, the events of 44 B.C, prove that Cassius van not an exceptional case among the contemporary Spicureans. The aajority stood for the Republic against Caosarisa." (p.154). Non in the firet chapter ve saw that Horace geens to have felt an antipathy tovarda Mbullus and

his patron Mossalla which can be explained to sone extent by political factors, in particular the strong republican sympathies which the latter still profesaod under the principate. Of Messalla, Monigliano vrites: "Torace in later years wrote of him, 'quanquanSocraticis madet sermonibus', a dubious expression, but the Ciris (whatever its date and author) shows him well acquainted with the

Epicurean circle, and his leader vas, as he proudly proolaimed, Cassius (Tac.Ann 4.34; Dio 47.24.51 Plut,Brut. 40). I suspect then that he vas a definite Epicurean." (p.153). It 18, then, I think possible that Messalla's political persuasions vere coloured by his philosophical thinking and that his intellectual interest in Epicureanism vas not nerely of an ethical nature. Monigliano,

arguing along the lines of Diels, maintains that in a passage of his treatise on the gods (1.25.22ff) Philodenus the Epicurean was

expressing a political viev: "the words reflect the indignation of a man who saw the defenders of the Republic play into the hands of the tyrant." (p.154), Similarly in his treatise on death (35.6.11 ff.) the same philosopher recoends that sen should be ready to face death in the event of political persecution (ibid.). Epicureans vere capable of reacting decisively to political circumstances, this being a major point advanced by Monigliano who maintains for instance that the sane Saufeius mentioned above vas not outside politics absorbed in the 'interrundia' but that he mingled philosophical and political thinking in writings which probably acoount for his being exiled and falliag riotin to the proscriptione, and that Cicero's friendship with a number of Epicureans was based on the faot that adherents of the philosophy possessed political feelings with which he sympathised (pp-152-53). Both democracy and the non-tyrannical state found approval in the Epicurean theory of the social contract though the adherent of the philosophy was generally advised to renain outside politios (p.156). When ve consider Mansalla's resignation fron the office of 'praefectara urbis' on the grounds that the pover with which he vas invested was unconstitutional(incivilis; see Putnam p.8, C.A.H. 10 p.134) I suBpect that republican scruples combined with his adherence to a philosophical mode of thought which preached political aloofness, affected hio decision. "His was a detached involvement" comments Putnam (loc.cit. note 26) on Megsalla's repablican sympathies and resignation from office in 25 B.C., and suggests "political as vell as stylistic sympathy between Messalla and Tibullug" (ibid.). The philosophical overtones in Mbullus' work in uy opinion reflect this sympathy and remind us that both poet and patron had regervations about contributing wholeheartedly to the advancement of the new regine and its ideals.

In the programme olegy it is a detachment from the sort of life which would contribute to the velfare and strength of the state which the poet manifests. His political scepticion in the subject of enquiry in the latter half of this chapter.