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. XXXIX.

That diuers, and they diuersly haue written in Philosophy. That we ought to be stirred vp, and enkindled by example. That Nature hath this scope to call vs to high things. In which there is no plebeian felicitie, neither pleasure, because they are either fraile or hurtfull.

THe Commentaries thou demandest at my hands carefully dispo∣sed and reduced into an abridgement, I will truely compose. But see whether an ordinarie Oration be not more profitable, then this which is now commonly called a Breuiarie, and in times past when we spake Latine, a Summarie. The one is more necessarie for him that learneth, the other for him that vnderstandeth; the one teacheth, the other remembreth. But of both these I will ••econcile both the one and the other. It needeth not now that thou exact at my hands, either this or that au∣thoritie. He is vnknowne that brings his Proctor with him. I will write what thou willest; but after mine owne manner. In the meane time thou hast ma∣ny, whose writings I know not whether they bee sufficiently digested or no. Take in hand the list of the Philosophers. This very sight will compell thee to rouse thy selfe, and if thou seest how many haue laboured for thee, thou thy selfe likewise wilt desire to be one of them. For a generous minde hath this ex∣cellent impression in it, that it is inkindled and incited to honest things. There is no nobly minded man, that is delighted with base and contemptible things: he only seeketh after and extolleth those things, which make shew of greatnes and worthines. Euen as the flame directly mounteth vpward, neither may be diuerted nor depressed, or lose his actiuitie: so is our spirit in continuall motion, by so much the more stirring and actiue, by how much it is more vehement and mightie. But happie is he that hath imployed the viuacitie hereof in matters of better estimate: he shall settle himselfe in a place exempted from Fortunes command or iurisdiction: his felicities he shall temper, his aduersities conquer, and contemne those things that draw other men to admiration. It is the effect of a great minde to contemne great things, and rather to affect the meane, then bee infected with excesse. For these are pro••itable and permanent, the other

hurtfull, because superfluous. So too great fertility layeth the corne, so boughes ouer-loaden are broken, so too much fruitfulnesse neuer endeth in maturitie. The like also be falleth those mindes that are broken, and corrupt with immo∣derate felicitie, because ••hey are not onely imployed to other mens iniurie, but also to their owne. What enemie so outragious against any man, as is some mens voluptuousnesse against themselues? whose impotencie and mad lust thou mayest pardon for this one reason, because they suffer that which they of∣fended in. Neither vndeseruedly doth this furie vexe them; for it is necessari••, that desire should extend it selfe aboue measure, that hath falsi••ied the medio∣critie of nature: for naturall affection hath his end, but vaine things, and such as spring from an excessiue lust, are interminable. Profit measureth things necessa∣rie; how wilt thou confine sup••rfluities? They th••refore drowne themselues in pleasures, which they cannot shake off, in that they are brought into a cu∣stome: and for this cause are they most miserable, because they are growne vn∣to those termes, that those things which were superfluous vnto them, are made necessarie; they therefore s••rue their pleasures, and enioy them not, and loue their owne mischiefe, which is the worst of all mischiefe. And then is infelicitie consummat••, whereas such things as are dishonest, not onely doe delight, but al∣so please: and then is the remedy hopelesse, where such things as were disho∣nest, are reputed for common custome.