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. XXIII.

WHat?* 1.1 are we not only moued and inforced by accusations, but also trauailed with suspitions? and interpreting wee not the worst of other mens lookes and smiles; are wee not displeased with those that are innocent? We must therefore plead with our selues, the cause of him that is absent, and hold our anger in suspence. For a man may exact the punishment which is delaied, but hee cannot remedie it after it is executed.* 1.2 The Tyrant killer is well knowne, who being apprehen∣ded before his attempt was performed and tortured by Hippias to the end hee should discouer his confederates: hee reckoned vp the names of all the Ty∣rants friends that stood about him, who in his knowledge were most carefull of his prosperitie and life, and when he had commanded euerie one of them to bee slaine, whom he had nominated, he asked him: Is there any more, yet remaining? Thy selfe (said he) only for I haue left none else aliue that is deare vnto thee: Wrath was the meanes that made the Tyrant to lend his assistance to the Tyrant killer, and to murther his owne Guard, with his owne sword•• How more couragiously delt Alexander? who when hee had read his mothers Epi∣stle; wherein he was admonished that he should beware to bee impoysoned by his Physitian Philip, drunke of his presented potion without any affright. Hee had more confidence in his friend, and worthie was hee to enioy so vpright a Physitian, and worthie to make such a one. This praise I in Alexander the more, because no man was more subiect vnto anger, and the rarer gouernment

is in Kings, the more is it to be commended. The like did Caius Caesar who in the Ciuill warres demeaned himselfe so mercifully. For hauing intercepted a packet of diuers letters that were written to Pompey, from those that seemed to haue held the contrarie part, or remained neuters, hee burned them all, and al••hough he were accustomed to keepe a measure in his wrath, yet liked he bet∣ter to admit no meanes. He held it to be a most gratefull meanes of pardon to be ignorant of that wherein euerie man had offended. Credulitie doth much mischiefe and oft times we ought not to giue ••are therevnto because in some∣things it is better to bee deceiued then to distrust.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The second to flie suspitions.
• * 1.2

  See Laertius lib. 9. of the lawes of the Philosophers and Plutarch his liues.