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. VIII.

* 1.1FVrthermore, Iustice cannot endure any iniustice, for contrary things cannot bee vnited together: but an iniury cannot be done but vniustly. It followeth therefore, that a man cannot doe in∣iury to a wise man; neither oughtest thou to wonder that no man can doe him iniury, since there is not any man that can bring him any profite: for a wise man wanteth nothing which he can receiue in way of gift, and an euill man can bestow, nothing on a wise man: for hee must haue it before he giue it; but hee hath nothing which a wiseman would bee glad hee should bestow vpon him. Therefore no man can eyther hurt or profite a wise man. As the immortall gods neither desire to bee aided, neither can be hurt; no more also can a wise man, who is neighbor to the Gods, and like vnto God, exept in this that hee is subiect to death. Tending and walking towards those things that are high, gouerned, assured, permanent, peaceable, impregnable, gracious, and created for the good of all men; assisting himselfe and others, hee will couet no base thing•• he bewaileth nothing because that in all accidents hee dependeth on reason, and marcheth with a diuine thought. Hee cannot receiue iniury by any meanes I say, not onely in that respect, that hee is a man no not from fortune her selfe, which as often as shee encountreth with vertue, neuer retireth but to her disaduantage; if wee entertaine that great euill with a wil∣ling

and constant heart, in respect whereof the most rigorous laws of the world can doe nothing, and the most cruell tyrants can doe nothing, wherein fortune seeth all her Empiry consumed. In briefe, if wee know that death is not an euill thing, lesse cruell shall wee deeme an iniurie to bee, more couragiously shall we endure all other euils, such as are lesse displeasures, ignominies, banishments, the death of our parents and quarrels; for although all these incommodities inuirona wise man, yer stifle they him not, nay more, hee grieueth not at any of their assaults. And if hee patiently endure the iniuries of Fortune, how farre more easily suffereth hee these of the rich and mighty sort, who are but the in∣struments of fortune.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The fi••th, since a Wise man wā∣teth nothing, hee can receiue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 iniury•• for his felicity is com∣pleate, a mere Stoicall Para∣dox••; ••he Chri∣st••an expected a greater comple∣ment.