The workes of Lucius Annæus Seneca, both morrall and naturall Containing, 1. His bookes of benefites. 2. His epistles. 3. His booke of prouidence. 4. Three bookes of anger. 5. Two bookes of clemencie. 6. His booke of a blessed life. 7. His booke of the tranquilitie of the minde. 8. His booke of the constancie of a wiseman. 9. His booke of the shortnesse of life. 10. Two bookes of consolation to Martia. 11. Three bookes of consolation to Heluia. 12. His booke of consolation to Polibius. 13. His seuen bookes of naturall questions. Translated by Tho. Lodge, D. in Physicke.

CHAP. XXVIII.

THe Gods also (saith he) giue many things to vngratefull men: but these, had they prepared for the good, yet befall they the euill also, because they cannot be separated. And more reason is it to profit the euill for the goods sake, then to abandon the good for the euils sake. So those things thou speakest of the day, the Sun, the entercourse of Winter and Sommer, the temperate sweetenes of the Spring and Autumne, the raines, the water-springs, and the ordinarie blasts of windes, were deuised by the Gods for all men in generall, they could not seuer and se∣parate them, onely for those they intended good to. The King giueth honors to those that are worthie, but he oftentimes yeelde••h publike larges, and pre∣sents of victuals to those that deserue it not. The theefe, the periured man, the adulterer (prouided alwayes that he be a Citizen) receiued the publike larges of wheat, which is monthly giuen to the people of Rome, without respect of his manners, when there is any thing that is to be bestowed simply, as vpon a Cour∣tizen, and not vpon a good Citizen, both the good and bad receiue the same indifferently. God likewise hath giuen some things in generall to all mankind, from whence no man is excluded. For it could not be, that the windes should be fauourable to the good, and contrary to the wicked. It was the good and pro∣fit of all nations, that the seas were open and nauigable, for the good of the mer∣chants traffique, and to extend the Kingdome of mankind. Neither could there a law be prefixed to the raine, that it should not as well water and ouerflow the lands of the wicked and vniust. There are certaine things which are common,

both to the one, and to the other. Cities are built, as well to entertaine the good, as the euill: the monuments of learned mens wits are published and vented a∣broad, to be read as well to the reprobate, as the vertuous. Medicine ministreth helpe euen to the most debauched. No man euer concealed the composition of wholesome medicines, for feare lest the vnworthie should bee healed. Seeke thou a strict account and valuation of persons, in those things which are giuen seuerally vnto a man, as a man worthie, and not in these things which confused∣ly admit the common sort. For there is a great difference betwixt chusing a man, and not repulsing him. The law is open to all men, the murtherers them∣selues enuie the peace, and they which haue stolne another mans goods, reco∣uer their owne. Such as are quarrellers, and readie to strike any man in time of peace, are defended from the enemie with a wall in time of warre. Those that haue most oftentimes offended the lawes, are maintained and conserued with all assurance, vnder the authoritie thereof. In briefe there are some, though of that nature, that they could not be applied to some persons in particular, ex∣cept they were granted vnto all in common. There is no cause therefore, why thou shouldest dispute of these things, whereunto we are publikely induced. That which in my choice and iudgement I would giue to any vertuous man, I will carefully prouide that I cast it not away on such a one, whom I know to be vngratefull.