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. XIX.

THey denie that Diodorus the Philosopher and the Epicure who not long since hastened his own death,* 1.1 by cutting his throat with his owne hands, followed not in this act the Doctrine of the Epi∣cures. Some impute this vnto furie, some vnto ••olly, and vaine glorie. He contrariwise content and ••urnished with a good con∣science hath giuen testimonie to himselfe in departing out of this life, and hath prased the repose of his dayes and arriued at the port, pronouncing that which you haue heard, in dispight of your teeth and ••hat which you your selues also must say when your turne commeth.

Long haue I liu'd and fully h•••••• I ended, That race of life that Fortune first commanded.

You dispute of an other mans life, of an other ma••s death, and barke like little Dogges, against the names of great and laudable men, as if you met with men that were vnknowne. For it is expedient for you, that no man should seeme good, because an other mans vertue should not reproch your iniquities. To your great hearts griefe you compare famous things with your absurdities, ne••∣ther perceiue you that this boldnesse of yours woundeth you wounderfully•• For if the Schollers of Vertue ••ee couetous, voluptuous and ambitious, what name shall we allot you, who haue the very name of Vert••••? You obi•••••• that no man doth that which he t••••••heth and that he doth other wise then he spea∣keth. Is this to be wondred at? Considering that they propose great and valo∣rous things, which are aboue all the tempests of the world, and striue to nayle themselues to the Crosse, wherein euery one of you hath planted some nayle: yea, before they are at the place of punishment, they are content to bee tied to any wood that they meete withall. They that doe not chastice and reproou•• themselues by themselues, are so many times tied vnto the Gibbet, as there are passions that draw them hither and thither, and are so ready to out-rage an o∣ther; I would belieue them, were their not some of them that from the gal∣lowes cursed and spit on those that beheld them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A paradox of the Stoickies, who prayse those that murther themselues. The iniquitie of those men that accuse others and yet amend not themselues.