deserving the punishment of a pamcide.^^ But it
was no deterrent from composition that theumteriois
bomid by his creed. '^ The EpicoreanSy^ sa^s Cioero,
'^ do not refrain from writing on the sanae topics a£
Epicurus and their old chiefe." On tiie oontmj.
When Philodemus is drawing to the close of anodiei
treatise, the thought occurs to him, that he may he
blamed for undertaking a work on economics. '" II
is enough for me that Metrodorus, as well as Epicnnis
enjoins and advises and administers more diligently
and down to minor points, and even practraes what
he teaches." ^ But there are many points, it "shouk
be added, in which the same writer indicates lu:
divergence from the leaders and teachers of ins sect
It may be asked how was this society maintained i
It was not a class of pupils like &ose whid
gathered round other philosophers. As Seneca says
it was not the school, but the life in common witi
Epicurus, which made Metrodorus and his companioB!
men of note.^ Some of his followers had soggestec
that they should throw all their property into a com
mon fund ; but Epicurus rejected the suggestion o
communism as savouring of distrust and as laying i
restraint on freewill offerings. But though the friend
did not surrender their goods into a club-pioperty, i
number of them paid a voluntary contribution oi
rate to the head of the school : and we have a lette



* Volum, Herculan. Coll. Alter, v. 35 ; pap. 1,427.
* Volum, Herculan, (Oxoa..), i. 104.
