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. XI.

* 1.1WRath, saith he, is profitable because she escapeth contempt, and terrifieth euill men. First of all wrath, if it be as much worth as it threatneth, for this very cause, because it is terrible, it is there∣fore hatefull. But it is more dangerous to be feared then to be despised: but if it be without feare, it is more exposed to con∣tempt, and subiect to derision. For what thing is more vaine and ridiculous then for Anger to be in tempest and tumult for nothing? Moreouer, those things that are terrible are not therefore more great; and I would not haue that said by a wise-man which might be said by a sauage beast: that the weapon of a wilde beast is to be feared. What, is not the ague, the gowt, an vlcer euill? Is there therefore any goodnesse in these, or contrariwise are not all things more disdained, filthie and contemptible, in that they are feared? Anger is of her selfe deformed, and not to be feared, yet is it feared by diuers men as a deformed vi∣zard by infants. But why doth not feare alwayes fall vpon the head of him that is the author thereof? Neyther is there any man feared that is himselfe secure. Remember thee in this place of Laberianus verses, which being spoken in the Theater, in the middest of the ciuill warres, no otherwise made all the people attentiue vnto it, then if a speech had beene vttered that testified the publique affection.

He needs must feare many whom many men fe••••••.

So hath nature ordained, that he who thinketh himselfe great, because he is fea∣red, is not himselfe exempt from feare. How much tremble Lions vpon the least noyse? An vnacquainted shadow, voyce, and oder troubleth those beasts which are the fiercest. All those which affright others are a••fraid themselues. There is no cause therefore why any wise-man should desire to be feared.

Notes

• * 1.1

  He prosecuteth the explication of the definition of Anger, which he tearmeth an emotion of the heart, t••nding voluntarily and with iudgement vnto vengeance, shewing that t••is passion as being vnprofitable, ought not to be found amongst wise men, who condemne the e∣motion and the vengea••••e•• and rather n••glect then ••••••re it.