187. 2: Cp. esp. 995-1006: the agnosco fratrem of Thyestes is perhaps the most monstrous stroke of rhetoric in all Seneca. Better, but equally revolting, are ll. 1096-1112 from the same play.

188. For other examples of dialogue cp. esp. Medea, 159-76, 490-529 (perhaps the most effective dialogue in Seneca), Thyestes, 205-20; H. F. 422-38. for which see p. 62.

189. Pro M. 61 'Fuit enim quidam summo ingenio vir, Zeno, cuius inventorum aemuli Stoici nominantur: huius sententia et praecepta huiusmodi: sapientem gratia nunquam moveri, nunquam cuiusquam delicto ignoscere; neminem misericordem esse nisi stultum et levem: viri non esse neque exorari neque placari: solos sapientes esse, si distortissimi sint, formosos, si mendicissimi, divites, si servitutem serviant reges.' &c. He goes on to put a number of cases where the Stoic rules break down.

190. Cp. Eurip. Andr. 453 sqq.

191. For still greater exaggeration cp. Phoen. 151 sqq,; Oed. 1020 sqq.

192. Cp. Sen. Contr. ii. 5; ix. 4.

193. Cp. Sen. de Proc. iv. 6 'calamitas virtutis occasio est'.

194. Cp. Sen. Ep. xcii. 30, 31 'magnus erat labor ire in caelum'.

195. Cp. Sen. Ep. xcii. 16 sqq.

196. Ep. cviii. 24.