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. III.

NEyther was this Alexanders errour onely, whom happy temerity inforced beyond the tract of Bacchus and Hercules, but of all those whom fortune hath made greedy by ouer-glutting. Run ouer and reckon vp Cyrus and Cambyses, and all the progenie of the Kings of Persia, whom wilt thou finde contented and satisfied with his Empire? that ended not his life in thinking on some further proiect? Neyther is this to be wondred at, what so falleth into a couetous hand, is forth∣with exhausted and hidden: neither skilleth it much, how much thou throngest into that which will neuer be satisfied. The wise-man is onely he that is Ma∣ster of all things, neyther costeth it him much to keepe them. He hath no Em∣bassadors to send beyond the Seas, nor campes to pitch in his enemies country, nor garrisons to dispose in conuenient fortresses, he needes no legions or troups of horsemen. Like as the immortall gods, without the assistance of any armes, do gouern their Kingdoms, & entertain their greatnes in all assurance, without disturbance, or forsaking the place high & eminent wherin they repose: euen so the wiseman executeth and gouerneth his offices, although they haue a large extent without tumult, & beholdeth all other mankind, being himselfe the po∣werfullest and best of all vnder himself. Mock him as thou li••test, yet is it a matter worthy of a generous spirit, after thou hast in mind diligently considered both East and West, whereby also thou mayest penetrate into the remote and most retired solitudes, when as thou hast beheld so many liuing creatures, such afflu∣ence of all things which beautifull nature most blessedly lauisheth, to break into this discourse, beseeming a god, All these things are mine. So commeth it to passe that he desireth nothing, because there is nothing which is not his.