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. XVI.

IT were an endlesse matter for me, if I should gather together those plentie of examples, whereby it might appeare that there are great and precious things, which cost vs very little. What then? why is it that I owe some great matter to my Physitian and Master, and faile in the satisfaction of that which they haue worthily deserued? Because, of a Physitian and Schoole-master they become our friends, and oblige vs not by the Art they sell vs, but by their gracious and familiar good will. To the Phy∣sitian therefore (who doth no more then touch my purse, and numbreth me a∣mongst one of those his patients, whom he ordinarily walketh to, and visiteth, prescribing me without any particular affection, what I ought to do, and what I ought to eschew:) I owe no more, and am no whit indebted: because he visiteth mee not as a friend, but for that I had enioyned him to come vnto me: neither haue I cause to reuerēce my Master, if he hath made no more accoūt of me, then of one of his ordinarie schollers, if he thought me not worthie of priuate & pe∣culiar care; if he haue neuer setled his thoughts vpon me, and when generally he imparted his knowledge to the rest of his schollers, I rather gathered from him, then learned of him. What is the cause then, why I should owe so much vnto these? Not because that which they sold is more worth then we bought, but because in particular they haue giuen vs something ouer-plus. This Physi∣tian bestowed more labour on me then he was bound to doe, he had more care of me then of his reputation and credit, he not onely contented not himselfe to prescribe me remedies, but also vouchsafed to apply and minister them. In the meane while hee sate carefully by mee, and succoured mee, and preuented the suspected time, and rigor of my accesse, no office distasted him; no paine disliked him, if he had seene me bemoane my selfe, he was sorrowfull. Amongst all those that called him, he had a particular care of me, he implied no other time in visi∣ting the rest of his sicke patients, then such wherein my infirmitie remitted and gaue him oportunitie. To this man I am not tied, as to a Physitian, but as to a friend. Againe, that other Schoole-master tooke great care and paines in tea∣ching and instructing me; and besides those lessons and common lectures which he communicated to all particularly, he reformed me in some points of impor∣tance, he quickened my spirits by good exhortation, and sometimes by praises he animated mee in my studies, and sometimes by admonitions discussed my sloth. Furthermore (if I may so speake it) he by the hand of his industrie drew out and whetted my hidden and heauie wit, too much drowned in the prison of my bodie, neither lingeringly and subtilly dispensed hee his knowledge, to the end I might haue longer vse and need of him, but desired, if he might, to com∣municate vnto me at one instant, all that which he knew. Vngratefull am I, ex∣cept I loue him as one of my most gratefull and truest friends.