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. XXV.

TO this sort of vngratefull men, and such as refuse benefits, not be∣cause they desire them not, but for that they would not remaine indebted, they are like, who contrariwise will be ouer-gratefull: who wish that some aduersitie and mishap may befall those to whom they are obliged, to the end they may haue an argument and occasion, to let them know how neeedfull they are of the benefit, and what desire they haue to make restitution. The question is, whether such sort of men doe well to desire and wish the same, and whether their desire be honest? These kind of thankefull men, in my iudgement, resemble them very much, who, in∣••lamed with lasciuious loue, doe wish their louer banishment, to the end they might accompanie h••r in her distresse and departure: or wish to see her in ne∣cessitie, to the end they might relieue her miserie: or to see her sicke, to the end they might sit by her, and tend her: and finally, which vnder profession of loue, do wish whatso••uer her enemie would haue wished vnto her. Assuredly the issue of this foolish loue and capitall hate are wel-neare all one. Into this very inconuenience do they fall, who wish that their friends were in miserie, to the end they might afterwards relieue them, and make way to bene••iting, by doing them wrong, whereas it w••r•• much better vtterly to desist, then to seeke occasi∣on to doe a curtesie by meanes of wickednesse. What if a Master of a Ship should pray the goddes to send them cruell stormes and tempests, that by the danger his Arte might be held more gratious? What if an Emperour should beseech the goddes, that a great multitude of enemies might besiege his camp, and with sudden assault fill full the Trenches,* 1.1 and raze downe the Rampiers, and (to the great amaze of his armie) aduance their colours euen in the verie ••ntrance of his Fortifications, to the end he might receiue more honour and glorie, in succouring his armie in this great danger, and at that verie instant,

when his whole campe imagined the field to be lost, and the armie discomfor∣ted: all these conuey their benefits by a detestable way, who call the Gods to plague him, whom they themselues would profit, and to hate them, whom they themselues would relieue. Inhumane and peruerse is the nature of this gratefull minde, which wisheth euill vnto him, whom hee cannot honestly for∣sake.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Non sunt facien∣da mal••, vt inde cuenirin•• bona.