His nephew relates: "He wrote this under Nero, in the last years of his reign, when every kind of literary pursuit which was in the least independent or elevated had been rendered dangerous by servitude."
Hans nevø nævner, at "han skrev dette under Nero i de sidste år af hans styre, da hver eneste form for litterære bestræbelser, som var i det mindste uafhængigt eller ophøjet, var blevet farlig ved slaveri."