Note 16 — Chapter VIII

Among the personal indications of the author we note the great freedom and independence of his life and character. In his mode of expressing this freedom and independence he reminds us of Horace, who seems to have imitated him in his view of life as well as in his writings. Thus, Lucilius declares his indifference to public employment, and his unwillingness to change his own position for the business of the Publicani of Asia, just as Horace declares that he would not exchange his leisure for all the wealth of Arabia16. Like Horace, he speaks of the joy of escaping from the storms of life into a quiet haven of repose17, or inculcates contentment with one's own lot18 and immunity from envy19, and the superiority of plain living to luxury20. Like Horace, while holding to his independence of life, he put a high value on friendship, and strove to fulfil its duties21. Like him, while condemning excess and weakness, he did not conform to any austerer standard of morals than that of the world around him. Like Horace, too, in his later years, he seems to have been something of a valetudinarian22, and to have had much of the self-consciousness which accompanies that condition. On the whole the impression we get of him is that of an independent, self-reliant character,—of a man living in strong contact with reality, taking all the rubs of life cheerfully23,—enjoying society, travelling24, the exercise of his art25,—a warm friend and partisan, and a bold and uncompromising enemy,—not professing any austerity of life, but knowing and following the course which gave his own nature most satisfaction26, while, at the same time, upholding a high standard of public duty and personal honour27.