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. XXVIII.

* 1.1NEither as yet can we attayne to that strict innocence of the lawes. We haue done some things, and thought other things. We haue desired some things and haue followed others. We are innocent in some affaires, because we could not effect them. Thinking hereupon, let vs be more fauourable to those that offend. More attentiue to those that reproue vs, and let vs not be displeased with our selues (for with whom will we not be angrie, if we be displeased against our selues?) aboue all things let vs beware to be angrie with the gods. For it is not by their ordinance, but by the law whereunto all mortall men are subject, that we suffer all these incommodities which befall vs. But sicknesses and sorrowes doe as∣sault vs. They that dwell in a rotten house must seeke to flie out of it by some waies. When it shall be told thee that any one hath spoken euill of thee, be∣thinke thy selfe whether thou hast not begon it first, examine thy selfe by how many thou hast spoken. Let vs thinke, say I, that other men doe vs no injurie, but that they requite vs with the like, and that some doe it of malice, some by constraint, and others through ignorance, and that they likewise who willing∣ly and wittingly doe wrong; take not an occasion by the injurie we haue done, to doe vs another. Either is he fallen through the sweetnesse of his vrbanitie, or hath done somewhat, not with an intent to hurt vs, but because he could not haue attained his desire except hee had repulsed vs. Oft-times flatterie offen∣deth vs whilst shee flattereth; whosoeuer shall remember himselfe how often times men haue had an euill opinion of him, and interpreted the many good seruices and offices hee hath done for injuries, how many men hee hath loued whom he hated before time, he will not be displeased vpon the first, especially if vpon euery injurie that is done vnto him, he say vnto himselfe. These faults likewise haue I my selfe committed. But where wilt thou finde a Iudge that is so vpright? He that coueteth euery mans wife, and thinketh it a sufficient cause for him to loue her, because shee is a stranger will not admit another man to court his. He that will haue another man keepe promise vpon a prefixed day, is no master of his word, the perfidious man persecuteth him that is a lier, and the informer cannot abide that another man should bring him in question. He will not haue his seruants credit touched who is negligent of his owne re∣putation. Other mens sinnes are before our eies, our owne behinde our backs.

Thence commeth it that the Father more riotous then his Sonne, yet repro∣ueth him bitterly for his lauish expence, he seuerely taxeth another mans ex∣cesse, who is himselfe prodigall and hath no hold of his monie: the Tyrant is displeased against the murtherer, and he that is sacrilegious punisheth theft. The greater part of men are angrie with sinners,* 1.2 but not with the sinne. We shall be more moderate if we examine our selues, if we take couns••ile of our selues, and examine whether we our selues haue not committed the like, whe∣ther we haue erred in the same manner? Is it fit for vs to condemne the same? Delay is a soueraigne remedie against displeasure, neither require thou her in the beginning to pardon thee, but to judge thee. If shee delay and admitteth any intermission, the furie thereof is abated. Striue not to attempt her all at once, her first assaults are most sharpe, but thou shalt get the day of her, if thou dismember her by little and little.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The fi••th is t•• th••••ke 〈◊〉〈◊〉 how m••ny sorts men a••e guilty befo••e God and M••n.
• * 1.2

  The sixth is to take time and be••hinke our selues b••fore wee be angrie.