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.

EPIST. C.

His iudgement of PAPIRIVS FABIANVS the Philosopher, and of his writings.

THou writest to me that thou hast very diligently read ouer those books of Fabianus Papirius, intituled of things Ciuill, but that they answered not thine expectation. And afterwards, forgetting thy selfe that the question was of a Philosopher, thou accusest his composition. But put case it be so as thou say••st, that in stead of well couching his words, he saith all that commeth to memorie: first of all, this discourse hath his grace, and it the proper ornament of a stile, little faultie: for I think there is a great difference whether it escapeth or floweth. Now in this also which I am to speake, there is a great difference: Fabianus seemeth not to me to speake much, but to speake to the purpose. To speake truth his stile is fluent, but not inforced, although it be currant enough. He confesseth openly, and letteth vs see that it is not an affected and laboured stile, but such a one as a man may know it was Fabianus writing. He pretended not to confront his discourse, but to reforme manners: he laboured not to tickle the eare, but to teach & instruct the minde. Furthermore, at such time as he discoursed thou shouldest not haue leasure to consider the parts of his discourse, so much would the summary of the whole rauish and detaine thee. And ordinarily that which is pleasing to vs, be∣ing pronounced Viua voce readily and presently, is not so pleasing vnto vs, being couched in writing. But this also is a great matter, to settle and occupie the sight vpon a book, although a diligent contemplation might find out matter worthy reprehension. If thou ask my opinion, more great is he that rauisheth our iudge∣ment then he that deserueth it. Such a one is more assured, and if I erre not, may

more boldly promise his writings perpetuitie. A laboured discourse becomes not a Philosopher. What shall becom of a generous and resolute heart? when shall hee make proofe of himselfe, if hee be afraid of wordes? Fabianu•• was not n••gligent in his discourse, but secure. Thou shalt finde nothing in him that is base and impertinent. The wordes are chosen but not affect••d, neither couch∣ed according to the custome of this time, or disordered. They are words that haue their weight, that haue an honest and magnificent sense, although they be ordinary & vulgar, they are neither constrained nor doubtfull in a sentence, but graue & profound. We shall neither s••e any thing that is curtalled & short∣ned, nor any structure vnfit, nothing that is not polished, as the eloquence of this time requireth. Examine this discourse euery way, and when thou hast be∣held it on euery side, thou shalt ••inde no straights emptie. Although it haue no Marbles of diuers colours, nor diuiding or currents of waters running thorow chambers, nor little clossets of sparing and abstinence, nor whatsoeuer else disso∣lutenes, not contenting himselfe with a simple & conuenient decency, hath in∣uented and mixed together, yet is the house well builded. Let vs now speake of stru••ture and composition, for all men are not of accord herein. Some of harsh will haue it smooth, some are so much affected to rashnesse & austerity, that if a clause do happily end in a pleasing cadence, they purposely dissipate the same, and interrupt the clauses expresly, lest they should be answerable to expectati∣on. Read Cicero, his composition is one, he obserueth his foot, his speech is poli∣shed, smooth & not effeminate. Contrariwise, Asinius Pollio's discourse is vneuen and skipping, and such as will leau•• thee when thou least expectest it. To con∣clude, in Cicero all things end, in Pollio th••y fall, except a few which are tyed to one certaine kind of custom and example. Besides, in thine opinion thou sayest, that all things in his discourse are humble & scarce vpright, of which vice in my iudgement he is freed: for they are not humble but pleasing, and are formed in an equall and composed manner, not tied together but vnited, they want this rhetoricall vigour nor those points, and sudden darted sentences. But exa∣mine the whole body, although it be not farded it is honest and wel ••ashioned. His speech hath no grace: bring me one whom thou mayest prefer before Fabi∣anus. If thou producest Cicero, who hath almost written as many books in Philo∣phy as Fabianus, I will giue place; y••t is not that presently little that is lesse then the greatest. Say that it is Asinius Pollio, I will yeelde; but to return•• thee an answere: To be after these two•• is too very high when the qu••stion is of elo∣quence. Name me Liuie beside these, for he also hath written Dialogus, which a man may as wel cal Philosophical as Historical: other books likewise, wherin he treateth expresly o•• Philosophie; to him likewise will I giue place, yet consi∣der how m••ny he exceedeth, who is ouercome by three, & they the three most eloquent. But he performeth not al, his speech is not strong, although alate; it is not violent nor headlong, although abundant in words; it is not perspicuous but pure. Thou desirest a sharpe declamation against vices, a confident discourse against dangers, a bould speech against aduersitie, an inuectiue against am∣bition. I will haue wickedness•• chidden, lust traduced, impatience bridled. Let the termes of an Orator bee stinging, of a tragique Poet stately, of a Co∣micke familar and plaine. Wilt thou haue him countenance a small matter with words? He hath addicted himselfe to the gentlenesse o•• things he drawes our eloquence, and makes it follow after him, as the shadow doth the bodie. Vndoubtedly all his words shall not be well placed and exactly couched toge∣ther; neither in euery clause shall there bee a part that may quick••n and a∣waken

men. I dare promise that diuers periods shall escape him to no purpose, and that somtimes his discourse shal slip away without mouing, but in al places his wordes shall be agreeable, neyther shall there be any pause that will be dis∣pleasant. In a word, he will make thee know that he beleeued whatsoeuer he wrote. Thou shalt see that his intention was to make thee know what he ap∣proued, and not to flatter thee: he demandeth nothing but thy good, and sear∣cheth for nought else but to see thee endowed with a good conscience. It is not applause which he desireth. I doubt not but his writings are such, and though I remember not their intents in generall, yet hau•• I b••fore mine eyes some pas∣sages of the same, not in that I haue read them ouer lately, but for that I haue s••ene them in times past, and long since. At such time as I heard him, his wordes in my iudgement were such, not solid but full and natural, which might allure a young and well dispos••d man to vertue, and giue him hope to attaine the true end; which manner of teaching in my opinion, is more effectuall then any other, for that of another kind maketh the auditors to lose their harts, and taketh away their hope, which impresseth no other desire in them, but to imi∣tate and follow the same. In briefe, Fabianus abounded in wordes without the commendation of euery seuerall part; but all his discourse in generall was ex∣quisit and magnificent.