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. XLVI.

He iudgeth of LVCILIVS his Booke, and praiseth it.

I Haue receiued the booke which thou promisedst me, and as if I should reade it ouer at leasure; I opened it, and had onely a will to taste it. But afterwards it so flattered and toled me on, that I thought fit to passe further, which how eloquent it is, thou mayst cōiecture by this, it seemed short vnto me, for that neither of thy time nor of mine, but at first sight it seemed to be either Titus Liuius, or Epicurus: but with so much sweetnesse it detained and allured me, that without all delay I ouer-read it. The Sunne inuited me, hunger admonished mee, the shower threatened me, yet did I reade it ouer, not so much delighted as glad∣ded. And I would say vnto thee, what a wit hath this man? What a minde? What abilitie? If he had pawsed, if he had risen by degrees. Now hath it not beene vehemencie, but a continuate forme, and a composition masculine and

holy, notwithstanding there was a mixture of sweetnesse and grace. Thou art great and vpright, this course I aduise thee to; so proceed thou. The matter also did somewhat, therefore is it to be chosen fruitfull, that may rauish a mans minde and excite him. I will write more of thy booke when I haue reexamined it; but as yet my iudgement is not setled. I seeme but as one that hath heard it, and not ouer-read it. Suffer me likewise to make inquisition. Thou needest not feare, thou shalt heare the truth. O happie man that thou art, that hast no∣thing for which a man should lie vnto thee from so farre off: but that (euen where the cause is taken away) we lye for customes sake.