On the Shortness of Life, Section 4

Seneca — The Senator

While Augustus was conquering the Alpine regions and crushing enemies within the Roman empire itself, while he was pushing the borders beyond the Rhine, Euphrates, and Danube rivers, back in Rome conspirators like Murena, Caepio, Lepidus, Egnatius, and others were sharpening their swords to kill him. He had barely escaped their plot when his failing health was shaken by his own daughter and all the young nobles who had sworn loyalty to her cause by sleeping with her. Then came Paulus and Mark Antony's mistress — a second threat that Rome had to fear. When he cut out these cancers from his own family, new ones grew in their place. The empire was like a body with too much blood — it was always bursting somewhere. This is why he longed for peace and quiet. All his hard work was driven by hopes and dreams of leisure. The man who could grant anyone's wish just wanted to rest.

Seneca — The Senator Original

While he was pacifying the Alpine regions, and subduing the enemies whom he found in the midst of the Roman empire, while he was extending its boundaries beyond the Rhine, the Euphrates, and the Danube, at Rome itself the swords of Murena, Caepio, Lepidus, Egnatius, and others were being sharpened to slay him. Scarcely had he escaped from their plot, when his already failing age was terrified by his daughter and all the noble youths who were pledged to her cause by adultery with her by way of oath of fidelity. Then there was Paulus and Antonius's mistress, a second time to be feared by Rome: and when he had cut out these ulcers from his very limbs, others grew in their place: the empire, like a body overloaded with blood, was always breaking out somewhere. For this reason he longed for leisure: all his labours were based upon hopes and thoughts of leisure: this was the wish of him who could accomplish the wishes of all other men.