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. IIII.

THou confessest (saith he) that sometimes we are not obliged and indebted to him, of whom we haue receiued a benefit: Ergo, it is taken from vs. There are many causes which discharge vs of the obligation, whereby we are tied for the good we haue recei∣ued, not for that it is violently taken from vs, but because it is corrupted by another meanes. A certaine man defendeth mee, being ac∣cused and guiltie of some capitall crime, and afterwards vseth infamous vio∣lence to my wife, and rauisheth her; he hath not taken away the good that hee did me, but opposing an equall iniurie to the same, he dischargeth mee of my debt; and if he hath hurt me more then he profitted me before, the good turne is not only extinguished, but I haue free libertie both to complaine, and to re∣uenge, where, in comparison of the benefit, the iniurie ouer-weigheth it: so the benefit is not taken away, but ouerpressed and drowned. What? are not some fathers so hard hearted and wicked, that it is both lawfull and rightfull to loath and shunne them, and not to acknowledge them? haue they therefore taken from them that which they gaue them? nothing lesse, but the impietie of suc∣ceeding times, hath taken away the commendation of euery former office and kindnes: the benefit is not taken away, but only the thankes, which ought to be acknowledged for the same, and it is brought to passe, not that I haue it not, but that I owe it not. If a man lend me money, and afterwards burne my house, his debt is satisfied by my damage; I haue not paid him, & yet I owe him nothing. Euen so stādeth the case here: though a man hath done me some friendly good turne, though he hath dealt with me somewhat liberally, yet if afterwards he many wayes vse me proudly, contumeliously & cruelly, he hath left me at that stay that I am, as free from him, as if I had neuer receiued any thing at his hands, for the fault is his owne, and he himselfe hath violated his owne benefits. The Land-lord cannot constraine his tenant to pay his rent (although the deeds re∣maine in force vncancelled) if he treade downe his corne, fell downe his fruit-trees, not because hee hath receiued that which hee couenanted, but for that he himselfe is the cause that his tenant cannot satisfie him. So is the creditour oftentimes endamaged towards his debter, if he take more for some other pre∣text, then that which he lent did amount vnto. The Iudge sitteth not betweene the creditour and debter to say only this, Thou hast lent him money: what then? thou hast driuen away his cattell, murthered his seruant, taken possession

of his land, which thou neuer payedst for; when all these things shall bee well considered of and valued: depart thou a debter, who camest a creditour. There is therefore a iust rating and valuation betwixt benefits and iniuries to be made. Oftentimes the bene••it remaineth, and we are not obliged to satisfie the same, if he that gaue it repented himselfe afterwards, if he say he was vnhappy in that he gaue the same, if when he gaue he sighed, or bent his browes, if he beleeue he hath lost and not giuen: if he hath done it for his owne profit, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 least not for mine? if hee hath not ceased to insult, bragge and boast euery where, and make his benefit bitter and distastfull to the receiuer. The benefit therefore re∣maineth, although it be not due, euen as certaine moneyes are due, but not ex∣acted, because the creditor hath no law to recouer them.