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. III.

* 1.1THou askest mee what remedie I thinke necessary against this per∣plexitie. It shall be good (as Athenodoras counsaileth vs) to de∣taine our selues in affaires of estate, and to serue the common-weale. For as some spend the day in taking the sunne, and in ex∣ercises•• and care of their bodies, and as it is profitable ••or wrast∣lers to employ the most part of their time in exercising their armes and strength wherevnto they haue onely dedicated themselues; so is it requisite for vs who prepare our minds to the managing of publique affaires to bee alwaies in acti∣on. For hee that hath resolued himselfe to become profitable to his Citizens, yea, vnto all men at one time doth two things, handling (according to that in∣deauour that is giuen him) both the p••blique and his perticular affaires. But b••cause (saith he) in this so mad ambition of men, where so many detractors wrest all things to the worst; simplicity is scarce secure, and there will bee al∣waies more lets then succesfull euents, w•• ought to retire our selues from the managing of publique affaires; considering this that a well se••led heart hath the meanes to shew it selfe in his priuate house. It fareth not so with men who for the most part haue their actions secret and hidden, as with Lyons and other bruit beasts, who are locked vp in their grates to restraine their furie; yet in such sort ought a man to seeke out solitude, that wheresoeuer hee remaineth in quiet, he may desire that the vigor of his mind, his speech and action may serue euery one in perticular and all in generall. For not onely hee alone serueth the Common-weale that produceth the Candidates to sue for offices, that defen∣deth the accused, who giueth his aduise as touching the affaires of peace and warre, but also that other that instruct youth, that in so great want of good ma∣ners informeth mens minds with vertue that layeth hold on, and restraineth those who are addicted to auarice and dissolution, or at least wise that hinde∣reth them from passing further, and who in his priuate house procureth the publique good. Who doth more, either the Iudge in a Cittie that with his as∣sistant pronounceth a briefe sentence in a processe that straungers and Citizens haue before him: or he that teacheth what iustice is, that sheweth what piety, wisedome, purenesse, contempt of death are, and how excellent a goad a good conscience is? If then thou employest thy time in studie, thou hast not lost, these honours that are due to the execution of thy charge concerning the pub∣lique,

neither shalt thou be exempted from the same. Neither is he a souldier that standeth in the front of the battell and defendeth both the right and left wings: but he also that gardeth the gates, and standeth sentinel in a place though not so daungerous, yet necessary, and keepeth his watch that hath the gouern∣ment of the Ammunition house; which charges though they bee not bloudy, yet haue they (that execute them) their pay as well as the rest. If thou shalt re∣tire thy selfe to thy studies, thou shalt auoyd all care that tortureth mans life, thou shalt not be troublesome to thy selfe nor vnprofitable to others; thou shalt get thee many friends, and the better sort of men will accept thee. For vertue, although shee be poore and abiect, yet is shee neuer obscured, but she sheweth the beames of her brightnes a farre off, and whosoeuer is capable will acknow∣ledge, and follow her steps. For if we renounce all conuersation and flie from humane societie, and liue onely to our priuate respect, this solitude depriued of all honest occupation will find nothing at last whereto to addict her selfe; we shall beginne to build some houses, and to ouer-turne others; we shall t••rne the sea out of his place; we shall cause the riuers to alter their courses, and dispence the time very euilly, which nature gaue vs to bestow well. Sometimes we are too sparing, sometimes ouer-prodigall, some of vs imploy the same in such sort that we can yeeld no account thereof, others haue none left them. And there∣fore there is nothing more shamefull to see an old man (that to approue that he hath liued long time in this world) can produce no other witnes but the num∣ber of his yeares. For mine owne part (my dearest Serenus) mee thinkes that Athenodoras submitted himselfe too much to times, and fled from them ouer∣hastilie. I confesse well that we ought somtimes to retire our selues but leasure∣ly, and with a secure retreat, our ensignes displaied, and without empeachment of our worldly dignitie. They are more valiant and more assured then their Conquerours that make a faire and honest retreat. So in my opinion ought ver∣tue to behaue her selfe, and if the inconstancy of worldly affaires disturbe all, and taketh away from a vertuous man the meanes to doe good; yet for all this ought he not to turne his back, nor to cast away his weapons to saue himselfe by flight, and to thrust himselfe in a secret place, as if there could bee any corner where fortune could not find him out: but he ought to be lesse busie in affaires, and find out some expedient with iudgement to make himselfe profitable to his Countrie. Is it not lawfull for him to beare armes? let him aspire to some publique charge: must he not liue priuately? let him plead. Is he put to silence? let him helpe his Citizens by his priuate counsell. Is it dangerous for him to en∣ter the iudgement place? let him shew himselfe a faithfull friend, a gracious companion, a temperate guest in houses, in Theaters, at feasts. If hee haue lost the office of a Citizen? let him vse that of a man. And therefore with a great mind haue we not shut our selues within the walls of one Citty, but haue thrust our selues into the conuersation of the whole world, and haue professed that the world is our Countrey, that wee might giue vertue a more spacious field to shew herselfe in. Is the Tribunall shut against thee, art thou not admitted to plead, or to assist the common Counsels of the Citty? looke backe and see what great Nations and peoples are behind thee, neuer shall so great a part bee kept from thee, that a greater be not left thee. But beware that all this proceed not ••rom thine owne error: for thou wilt not vndertake a publique charge except thou be a Consull, a Pritanes, an Embassador, a supreame Dictator. What if thou wilt not be a Souldier except thou bee a Commander or a Tritane? although that others haue the vaunt-gard, and fortune hath put thee in the rere-ward,

doe thy deuoire in that place, fight with thy voyce, thy exhortation, and thy courage. He also that hath his hands cut off in fight, findeth some meanes to animate his companions, who standeth onely and encourageth them with cry∣ing. So must thou doe if fortune hath drawne thee from the first ranke of pub∣lique charge, yet stand thou and helpe with thy crying. If thy mouth bee stop∣ped, yet stand; and helpe with thy silence. The industry of a good Citizen is neuer vnprofitable, for by his hearing, by his sight, by his contenance, by his becke, by his obstinate silence, and by his very gate, he may profit. Euen as cer∣taine holesome drugs by their onely smell (without either touch or tast) doe comfort greatly; so vertue, whether it be sowed or locked in it selfe, whether it be by authority, or by accident, whether shee bee constrained to scantle her sailes, or to be idle or mute, confined in a straight, or lodged at large, spreadeth a farre and vnperceiued, performeth some great and profitable good. In briefe, she serueth in whatsoeuer estate and countenance shee bee considered. What? thinkest thou that the example of a man that liueth retired and to purpose, is of little vse? I say, that it is an act of a singuler vertue to know how to forsake af∣faires, and to repose himselfe, when as the actiue liue being hindered by diuers accidents, or by the condition of estate cannot effect his designes. For neuer see we affaires brought to that extreamity but that a vertuous man hath the means to do somewhat that is good. Canst thou find a Citty more wretched then that of the Athenians was, at such time as thirty Tyrants rent it in pieces. They had put to death Thirteene hundred of the most nobles and most vertuous in the Cittie, and for all that cruelty ceased not thus but incensed it selfe, and aug∣mented daily. In that Citie which was adorned with the most venerable Coun∣sell of the Arcopagites, where there was a Senate and an assembly of people wor∣thy of so worthy an assembly of Senators; there were gathered daily a mise∣rable troope of murtherers, and a wretched court of tyrants, too small to con∣taine them. Could this Citie be in repose wherein there were so many tyrants as there were Souldiers? There was not any hope for these poore Citizens to recouer their libertie, nor any remedie whatsoeuer against such a multitude of mischiefes. For where is it that this poore Citie might find so many Harmodians? Notwithstanding (all these miseries) Socrates was in the middest of them, who comforted the mournfull Fathers, and exhorted those that despaired of the Common-weale, and reproued the rich (who feared their goods) for the ouer∣late repentance of their dangerous auarice, and to those that would follow him, beare about a worthy example, whilest amongst the thirtie tyrants hee walked confident and free. Yet this man did the Athenians murther in prison, and hee that safely insulted ouer the troopes of tyrants, his libertie could not a free City endure and hearken to, to the end thou mayest know, that a wise man hath an occasion to shew himselfe in an afflicted Common-weale; and how in a flouri∣shing and blessed state many enuie, and a thousand other disarmed Citties doe raigne. Howsoeuer therefore the Common-wealth is disposed, howsoeuer fortune permitteth, so either may we enlarge or contract our selues, prouided alwaies that we be stirring, and suffer not our selues being chained with feare to be dulled and astonished. Nay he shalbe truely a man who (when as daungers are eminent euery waies, and when as swords and chaines thunder in his eares) neither breaketh his fortune, nor hideth it. Curius Dentatus was woont to say, That he had rather be dead then liue. It is the last of all euills to depart from the number of the liuing before thou diest. But thou art to endeauour, that if thou light on such a time wherein thou canst not intermeddle with the Common-weale

without danger, to vsurpe more time for thy repose and studie, and no o∣therwaies then in a dangerous nauigation make saile towards the hauen, neither exspect thou, vntill such time as affaires leaue thee, but dis-ioyne thou thy selfe from them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  For a first reme∣dy ••e r••qui••eth th••t t••e mi••d sh••u••d b•• o••cupi∣••d ••n ••••m•• ••oca∣tion w••••ch mi••••t ••e pro••itable to oth••rs.