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.

The Argument of IVSTVS LIPSIVS.

THe time wherein this Booke was written is vncertaine (except it were af∣ter CAIVS gouernment;) but for the goodnesse thereof it is not to bee doubted. O subiect of an excellent and profitable Argument. The Argument is, that our Life is not short, but that wee make it short, eyther by not vsing it, or by abusing it, or vainely vsing it: this dedu∣ceth hee thus: First, wee are bond••laues to vices, wherein wee consume and loose our yeares: Secondly, wee are vnprofitably busied in triuiall matters, and such as wee call offi∣ces: Thirdly, wee sinne eyther in opinion or presumption, and this maketh that life short which wee thinke to bee long; we despise things present, we dispose the future, as though wee had them in great and assured abundance: and for the most part wee are intang∣led with vaine or forraine pleasures, and loose our liues as it were in sport: such as this vntill the tenth Chapter; thence diuideth he time into three parts, into that which is past, into the present, and into the future, and teacheth vs how euilly and foolishly wee behaue our selues in euery one of them: hee inueigheth against fruitlesse occupations, a∣gainst delights, against excesse, against idle retirements, and superfluous study of know∣ledge. Hence he discourseth pertinently; and would to God hee might eyther allure or change the learning louers of this time. That onely that time is well spent, which is im∣ployed in the study of wisdome, whereby our life is truely lengthned: the common sort thinke otherwayes, for they estimate the same by fortune, and according to her smiles, so thinke they that our life is shortned or lengthned: In prosperity they wish for death, in aduersity they feare it. In the end he exhorteth PAVLINVS, and what he saith to him,

let euery man apply to himselfe, and grow maturely wise, and retire himselfe into the hauen of life, which is an honest repose. This vow I, thus will I endeuour.

CHAP. I.

THe greater part of men (good friend Paulinus) complaineth of the hard dealing of nature with vs, who hath brought vs forth to liue so short a while, and yet of the time allotted vs, that the moments should so sodainly and swiftly runne a∣way, as wee see they doe: insomuch as besides some few amongst vs, the rest are then most com∣monly bereft of life, when indeed they beginne but newly euen then to liue; nor doth the popu∣lous or foolish people onely lament this euill (so generall as it is counted) but euen many famous men haue likewise thought and lamented in like manner this our misfortune; whence springeth that especiall complaint of the greatest amongst Physitians, that our life is short, and their art very long: where hence also Aristotle takes occasion to quarrell; (although it scarce beseeme so wise a man as hee so to doe) with dame Nature, who (saith he) hath allotted some beasts, some fiue, some ten hundred yeeres, and man who is created to so many weighty purpo∣ses, hath a terme of life prefixed him so much shorter as wee see: whereas in∣deed we haue no scantnesse or scarsity of life, but wee rather loose much of our life; for long enough and large enough is life allowed vs, were it spent in grea∣test matters, or were it all spent in good matters; but when wee haue by riot and negligence once lost it, when it is once spent and gone, and we cannot shew any good wee spent it in, at length need driuing vs to make an end thereof; wee see that now it is spent, which wee did not feele to spend, before in deed it was very well nigh wholy spent: so that wee had not giuen vs so short a life, as wee will make it, but such we made it as it is; nor had we giuen vs so little life, but so prodigall and lauish wee are. Euen as a Princes ample Patrimony, if it come in Hucksters hands, goeth away in a moment, which if it were the hundreth parte thereof, and were well husbanded, would yet by good vsage, encrease rather then proue but scarce, euen so our age if it bee well employed, will proue very faire and long enough.

CHAP. II.

WHy then complaine wee of nature, shee hath dealt well with vs, and thy life, if thou know how in good thinges well to spend it, shall appeare long enough. One is wholly possessed with ••••sa∣tiable auarice, another is as busie as a Bee in labours, euery •••••• n••••••lesse and superfluous: a third drinkes out his dayes, a fourth is idle, a fifth liues gaping after preferments, which yet are in the will of ano∣ther to bestow; a sixth, is led euen round about the world, by a desire to buy and sell, with hope to gaine; and some there are that continually haue their minds on warrefarre, neuer minding either the perils of other men, or regar∣ding

their owne, as some there are also that wilfully enthrall themselues to such Potentates, as scarsly euer giue them any thanks for so doing, but delight yet in their folly, many likewise spend their dayes in affecting others fortune, & detesting of their owne; and diuers men doe nothing but delight them∣selues with changeable, vnconstant, neuer pleasing fantasies, still attempting new deuices, as also some like nothing, wherein to spend their time, but con∣suming in their idlenesse, doe nothing but still accuse their fate and fortune: so that true I find the best saying which the Poet euer writ by him as an O∣racle: A little part of our life it is we liue; for indeed the whole course of mans age, is not life but time rather, in which almost howerly new vices so assaile vs, as wee neither can recouer our selues, nor so much as lift our eyes to see what is decent and truth in things wee thinke of, but if once wee beginne to take footing, new desires anew assaile vs, and keepe vs downe: no, they can∣not so much as recall themselues to mind, but if happily they bee quiet, yet as in the sea after a storm is fully passed, yet remaineth there a wallowing, and con∣tinuall rowling, so beate they still vp and downe, nor haue they perfect rest from their desires. And here perhaps yee thinke I speake of such men onely, whose fancies all men gaze at, and talke of too, but looke on them, whose felicity all men most maruell at, and you shall see, that euen these men are cloyed with their good fortune: of which sort many account wealth a burthen, many ha∣uing also a goodly gift of eloquence and vtterance, spend themselues in delight to heare themselues speake: and many weare away, euen surfetting with selfe pleasing delights and pleasures: and how many I pray you know you that haue scarce any time almost to breath for continuall sutors to them? goe but ouer them all from the lowest to the highest, hee sues, hee helpes, hee is in danger, he defendeth him, and another iudgeth him; euery one, to bee short, spendes himselfe vpon others: and enquire of these mens liuing, whose names and per∣sons all the world talkes of and knowes, and you shall see them distinguished by these particulars: hee is wholly at the deuotion of such a one, another alto∣gether depends of him: and none of them all is his owne man, or intends his owne businesse. And here I finde a fond complaint made by some men, they mislike forsooth the coines of their superiours, who are not oft at leysure, when they would sue or doe their duties to them; and dareth any man complaine of the pride of another, who himselfe is neuer at leasure to bee sued of himselfe? The great man be he neuer so proud, yet sometimes at the length he giues the accesse; hee giues the audience at some time, he cals thee at last, and thou canst vouchsafe to looke into, nor giue hearing to thy selfe.

CHAP. III.

NOr thinke thou any man any whit beholding to thee for these thy curtesies, for in doing them thou didst not meane so much to saue another, as thou wast not willing, or at leasure rather to saue thy selfe: and if all the wits that euer were renowned for a∣ny thing would intend this one point; yet can they not all of them sufficiētly wonder at the blindnes of mans mind in this one false ioy folly: Wee suffer not our lands to be vsurped of another, and bee the controuersie about neuer so little a quantity, or circumstance of our possessions, we take vp stones, and betake vs straightwayes to armour, and yet wee suffer o∣ther

to vsurpe of our life, yea wee put such in possession, as are like to be Lords and Rulers of it: ye see no man willing to part with his money, but with good conditions to another; and yet with how many I pray you doe wee all parte stakes, and make diuidents of our life, euen many times for nothing? euery one is a niggard to part with his Patrimony, and yet most lauish bee wee when we come to losse of time, wherein onely a may honestly shew himselfe a nipcrust. And therefore let vs here a while talke with any one of all these Elders•• we see you are as olde, as a man almost may bee, you are onwards on a hundred yeers, or rather more then so, doe but call your yeeres to a reckoning, and say in sad∣nesse, how much time your creditors, your shee friends, the City mat∣ters and other suitors to you haue spent thereof? your suites about wiuing, breaking your head to frame your seruant; your desire to pleasure friends in euery corner of the towne: how much paine haue these things put you to? then adde what sicknesse your selfe haue beene procurer of, as also what time hasty and vnaduised anger hath possest you, euen in things friuolous; yea what time hath past you to no fruit nor purpose, and you shall see you haue not liued so many yeeres as you make reckoning of: call to mind when you were resolute what to doe in any thing, and how many dayes you euer passed as you deter∣mined, then what fruit you reaped of dayes so spent? what haue you now to shew as the fruit thereof? nay, how many haue stolne peeces of your life, whilst your selfe did not consider or perceiue the want thereof, how much of it haue false ioyes, needlesse griefes, greedy, couetous, pleasant company mispent I pray you? and then count how little of your owne life is left to your ••elfe, and you shall finde you die before you are ready to depart the world.

CHAP. IIII.

WHat is then the reason forsooth you liue, as if you had a warrant to liue for euer? you recke not how little time you liue to your selfe? you count not how much time you spend, while you spend as it were of a full and ouer running reckoning; when as happily that same day spent in another mans pleasure, or to his vse, may chance be to your last; you feare all things as men mortall, yet you long for all things as immortall. You shall heare some men say, were I fifty, I would be∣take mee to my beades, were I threescore, I would meddle no more with worldly matters? yet they haue at all no warrant of longer life then the pre∣sent moment: for who can giue the assurance that thou shalt do, euē iust as thou determinest? shamest thou not to make reckoning how to lead thy life to come, & to point such time for amendment, which almost can serue for nothing? how late is it to beginne to liue then when thou must leaue to liue? or how fond for∣getfulnesse of mortality is it to delay amendment to thy fiftieth yeere of age, & to make account that then thou wilt beginne to liue, when few men vse to a∣spire to such an age. Yee shall often heare great mighty men giue out speeches in praise of rest, of leasure, and quietnesse, they wisht it, they preferre it before all their wealth; yea they wish they might with safety come downe from that high tipe of their authority, and intend the same; for bee all things neuer in such quiet from abroad, yet fortune falleth euen in it selfe, and decayeth as all other things in this mortality.

CHAP. V.

GReat Augustus whome the Gods did more for then euer else for any man, ceased not to pray for rest and exemption out of com∣mon causes; all his speech still came to this end, if he once might come to quietnesse, yea all his labours hee did sawce with this false but pleasant comfort, hee would one day surely liue to him∣selfe, and in one Epistle which hee wrote vnto the Senate, (wherein hee prote∣sted that his rest and quiet priuate life should doe him more good and credite also, then his life already led in renowne and glory) I finde these words inser∣ted. But I know it were more credit for mee so to do, then to say so; howbeit such desire I ha••e thereto, as because I cannot in deede performe it, some pleasure yet I thought to reape, by talking onely of so pleasant a matter. So great a thing was rest in his con∣ceit, as the same because hee could not indeed attaine vnto; yet in worde hee thought to ioy in it, and he that saw euen all things depend of him, being able indeed to make happy or in••ortunate whomsoeuer, or whensoeuer he pleased, tooke great pleasure to remember the day and time, when hee should doe of his owne greatnesse, and become his owne man: hee had tried what sweate and swincke his estate (which all men deemed to be so good and glittering, did cost him to maintaine it: and how much priuy hartburning, and heart aking to it, dayly harboured, being forced to make warre first with the Citizens of Rome, then with his fellow officers, lastly with his kindred, shedding bloud by sea and land in Macedonia, Sicilia, AEgypt, Siria and Asia, coursed almost throughout all Countries, yea and when hee had thus glutted himselfe in a manner with Romane slaughter, hee was forced to turne himselfe against forraine nations: And being likely to quiet some troubles in the Alpes, hauing vanquished other enemies that disturbed this his peaceable and setled Empire, while hee set for∣ward to enlarge the same beyond Rhenus, Euphrates and Danubius, at home euen in the City, Murena, Cepio, Lepidus, and the Egn••tij•• prepared armes against him: yea, and hauing sca••sly fully escaped these their attempts, his daughter Iulia, and many noble young gentlemen (knit in league by reason of their too much familiarity with that loose lewd Lady) beganne to bee terrible vnto the Father, who in their opinion liued somewhat too long: after whom also ••uluia caused her husband Anthonie to take weapon against him, no history sheweth why. All which sores when hee had cut away, with the parties also in which they were, yet s••ill there rose new, not vnlike a body too full of humours, whereof alwayes some one part or other breaketh out continually into a sicknesse: wherefore hee wished to liue in rest, the onely hope and thought whereof, was the onely ease of all his labours, and this one thing was the dayly prayer and desire of him, who was able otherwise to make euery man master of his desires beside himselfe. Marcus Cicero long time tos∣sed vppe and downe betweene Catiline and Clodius, betwixt Pompey and Crassus, who were his open enemies, the rest his doubtfull and vncertaine friends, whilest hee wrestled with the common wealth, and laboured to hold it vp, that now was running more and more to ruine, was at length ouerborne and forced to yeeld to the burthen of it, being neither quiet in prosperity, nor patient in the contrary: this M. Cicero, how often not without cause also doth hee detest that his office borne as Consul, which till then at first, hee neuer cea∣sed to commend without end, which in truth hee did not without cause ex∣toll,

when he spake most of it. What dolefull speeches f••l••e•• hee into in one E∣pistle to Atticus, vpon the newes that Pompey the father was vanq••ished, when his sonne the yonger Pompey ren••ed his fathers quailed quarrell in the parts of Spaine? Aske you, quoth he, what I make here, I keepe my selfe to my Tuscul••ne, now at length halfe become mine owne man: adding also other things in the foresaid let∣ter, wherein both hee bewaileth his time forespent, he complaineth of the pre∣sent, and despaireth of any good in the time to c••me: hee calleth himselfe now halfe his owne, where in truth no Wise man euer could vse so base and slauish a terme, who will neuer bee so little as halfe his owne, but alwayes will be whole his owne, his owne entire, fr••e from others becke and boorde, his owne to vse with little reckoning, what others account therof; for what needeth he regard what others say, who treadeth fortune vnder foot, as euery wise man eyther doth or should do.

CHAP. VI.

LIuius Dr••sus, one of the ancestors of Liuia, Augustus his Empresse, a hote spirited, and a very vehement fiery humord man, hauing put new common wealthes in the peoples head, and stirde a new the old tumults of the two brethren, the Gracchi being manned almost with all the power that Italie could make, hauing not yet well weighed the end of things, which now hee could not accomplish to his desire; nor had he yet the liberty to leaue in the middest, hee fell in detestation of his owne vnquiet state from the day of his birth till then, and is saide to haue vttered these very words: I am only he I think that neuer yet had leaue to play, no not when I was a boy: for indeed being vnder age, and comming but as children did into the Senate with his father, he presumed to speake to iudge in the behalfe of diuers men, and laide his credite on the matter in so vehement a sort, that it was saide, many iudgements were giuen wholly as it pleased him. Whether would not so young an aspiring humor, if it had continued, for well a man may coniecture, so soone ripe a stirring head must needes grow in time to the great hurt, publike or priuate, some where or other, and therefore too too late hee made complaint, he had neuer yet leaue to play, who was of a child so trou∣blous, and importunate to the State where hee liued, as hee was. Some make question if he did not kill himselfe or no: for a wound hee had in his groine, which was his death: what time though some men doubted, whether he had slaine himselfe or no, yet all men thought it high time for him so to bee dis∣patched. It were needelesse here to reckon more of this same humor, who be∣ing in the eye of other men most fortunate and h••ppy, notwithstanding gaue true testimony against themselues, in great hatred and mislike of all that euer they had done; but with these complaints of theirs, they did neyther alter o∣thers, nor amend themselues: for the words sometime brake from them, to the sense I haue said: yet their desires kept on the old vnconstant course, and were no changelings, which sort of life assuredly might it possibly continue a thou∣sand yeere or more, yet will it seeme in the end to haue beene but very small, and of no continuance, and all these seu••rall conceits, what age or great account of time wll they not consume? Surely these few yeeres allotted vs, albeit na∣ture thinke them long, & reason amplifie the course of them, yet must it needs seeme quickly gone, for wee take no holde of them, wee stay them not, nor lay

we hands on them, being things more quicke in riddance then any thing else in all the world: yea, we suffer them to passe, as if they were scarce worth the ••oo∣king after, or else were easie to be recouered; so that in conclusion, all men doe confesse, the busied man can neuer doe any thing well: he cannot learne to liue to himselfe, nor to be freed from the vnprofitable cares of this world; for his minde being in a manner, as we see it is, possest with such vnprofitable labours, it is not apt for any good thing, but despiseth it, as the stomacke doth mislike with meate that is alreadie ouerladen. And yet better can he learne any other thing almost in all the world, then intend to learne to li••e; which is almost the hardest knowledge that you can deuise.

CHAP. VII.

OTher Artes haue their professors enough in euery corner; which arts some boyes haue learned so perfectly and well, as they could teach them for a need. To liue a man must learne euen all his life long: & that which happily you wil rather wonder at, all our life we may learn in the end how to die. And of so many great men as despised all lets & stops, despising riches, Offices and all voluptuousnes, doing nothing all their life long, but learning stil to liue; yet diuers were there amongst them, that departed this mortalitie, confessing they had not then as yet come to the knowledge: so farre off are these our busie brains from attayning therunto. So that trust me, very wise is he, and a man aboue the common case and capa∣citie of men he must needs be assuredly, that spends amisse no iot of all his daies; and therefore longest is his life, who spends all his life, be it much or be it litle, in his owne affaires, and hath neyther mis-spent with folly, nor lost by idlenesse a∣ny houre thereof, and much lesse hath intended any other men or matters, then himselfe and his, deeming nothing in this world worth exchanging of his leisure for it; which his leisure he did spare as a thing most precious. And to this man I say his life was long enough, whereas on the contrary part, those men may well complaine of scarcitie, who spend much time in matters popular, to their fruit none at all, or very little, and yet they vnderstand not their own losse. Oftentimes you shall heare great men (whom good fortune is a burden to) midsert their route of suiters, causes, actions and other miseries (which great port makes notwithstanding to seeme felicities) cry o••t, I cannot be suffered to liue to my selfe? All these men that seeke thy helpe to doe them pleasure, draw thee from thy selfe. That defendant, how many daies did he bereaue thee off? and how many daies that other standing to be Consul; as also that olde Gentlewo∣man, who hath troubled thee with the proouing so many of her husbands Wills? As also that olde Gentleman, whom thou visitest in his sicknesse, which he doth yet but counterfeit, to set greedy mindes on edge, to long for that hee leaueth: and that great friends of thine, who yet reckes not otherwise of such friends as thou art, then onely to be credited by thy courting and attending him. And hauing cast thy dayes in this manner of account, see how few dayes and how foolish a remainder of them comes to thy share. He that now hath got the Office he was long a suiter for, is by and by contented to be rid of it, and saith, Oh when will this geere come to an end? Another sues to the Senate, that hee may be at cost to prouide Playes for the people, and was wondrous ioyfull then when leaue was giuen him, then so to spend his money; and yet shortly after he

cryeth, Oh when shall I be rid of them? A third, whom euery Clyent seekes to re∣taine in counsell, who fils the barre when he commeth, and leaues euery Court empty at his returne, saith, Oh when will this tearme be at an end? Thus euery man sets life at naught, whiles he desireth things future, and is glutted with the pre∣sent; but he that turneth euery moment to some good purpose, that disposeth of eueryday, as he would of all his life, this man doth neyther feare nor wish for to morrow: for what is there wherein any houre can breed him new delight? He knowes that all is vanitie: he hath had his wishes his bellie full; for the rest let fortune doe as her selfe shall please; his rest, his stocke is safe. This man may haue his daies inlarged I confesse, but lesse they shall not be, nor indeed inlarged otherwise, then more meat may be set before him who is now already filled and can eate no more.

CHAP. VIII.

ANd therefore neuer say, This man hath liued long: his white head, his wrinckled face imports the same; for whether he liued long or no thou knowest not: but long indeed I confesse, thou s••est that he hath beene. For how canst thou say that he hath sailed much, whom a cruell tempest takes immediately, as soone as he is out of the hauens mouth, & after much hurly-burly, much trauersing his way, and beating vp and downe, it brings him euen the selfe-same way backe to the hauen that euen now he went out of? This man hath not much sailed, but much hath he beene beaten. And here I often maruell much, when I see some men so earnestly desire rest and respite, the men that they desire it of being both so easie to be intreated, and so vnable to hinder it or keepe them from it: the thing in whose respect they wish for rest and leisure so greatly as they doe, doth much concerne them, I meane both the requester and the granter: the thing it selfe is Time, and yet they wish f••r it so coldly, or rather so indifferently, as if it were a thing of no value at all; so little doe they weigh the thing which yet in∣deede is most precious. And indeed this one thing greatly d••ceiueth them, be∣cause time is not subiect to their senses, nor is it easie by eye to iudge thereof; and therefore no man accounts more of it then of a very base matter, or rather a thing worthy no mans money. Euery new-yeares tide our Romanes vse to receiue gifts and presents of mightie men, in respect whereof they binde them∣selues to dance attendance on the giuers, to bestow their labour, their paine and diligence at anothers deuotion all the yeare after; no man valuing the time hee must bestow: for the same they vse and abuse many times so lauishly, as if in∣deed it cost them nothing. But if the meanest man amongst them should ch••nce to be sicke, if de••th come neerer then they were aware of, see what suit straight they make to the Physitian: or if they feare the punishment of death by law, see if they doe not offer gladly all the wealth they are worth, to redeeme their life, so diuers and so different be their desires•• And if it were as easie to say what yeares each man hath in future time to liue, as it is easie to tell you how many he hath liued already: how would some men tremble that should see so few yeares remaining; and how chary would they be in bestowing them? And yet notwithstanding contrariwise, it is an easie matter to order that we see is cer∣taine and more cause haue we to be charie of that, which we know not how soone it will be plenty. Nor are wee yet to thinke they know not what a jewell

this time is which we speake of: for their common words of courtesie to their best friends, are these; I would goe, I would ride, I would spend a moneth to pleasure thee: & indeed so they do for other men, though they perceiue it not, or rather they loose so much of their owne, without eyther turning it to their friends behoofe, or perceiuing the losse thereof in them••elues; which makes them take the losse in better part, because they do not feele it. Howbeit no man will restore thee thy time againe. Thy dayes shall s••ill go on as they haue done hitherto, nor canst thou euer either recall time spent, or cause it for time present to cease to spend: no, thy dayes shall make no more noyse then yet they haue done; nor shall they giue more warning of their swiftnes now then euer. Time shall slide and still say nothing as it hath done alwayes. It is not like the proro∣gation of our dayes, and of an Office, neyther Prince nor people can giue it thee the second time, but euen as it begun from the first moment, so shall it still con∣tinue. Ye shall take vp Inne at no place, how then? forsooth thou art occupi∣ed and thy life hasts away, and death shal come euen then when thou least drea∣mest of it; and wilt thou, or haue thou no will to it, thou must yet needes in∣tend it.

CHAP. IX.

CAn any mortall man, be he neuer so wise and politicke, tell vs how we may more throughly intend our selues then yet we doe? or prescribe vs how to liue hereafter more our owne then yet wee are? Nay, themselues with losse of life are long occupied in tel∣ling how themselues will liue, and (God wot) long they be about their owne conceits; and indeede the greatest losse of our life is delay, which weares away the first day, bereauing vs of present time whilst it promiseth vs thing•• future. Nor is there any greater impediment why wee liue not out of hand then expectation, which hangeth alwayes on to morrow: so thou loosest this day and determinest what shall become of that which fortune is wholly Ladie of, while it passeth and slippeth from thee that thou art Lord of. What hopest thou, what gapest thou for? All that is to come is vncertaine, and there∣fore liue out of hand: for the greatest Poet that euer was•• as it were by inspira∣tion, giues thee wholsome councell,

Our happiest dayes doe passe from vs poore mortall men First, and before the rest.

And therefore why delayest thou? Why stayest thou? Life flieth if thou lay not handes vpon it; and if thou doe lay handes vpon it, yet neuerthelesse it fly∣eth; and therefore striue thou alwayes with the swiftnesse of time, and be as swift in vsage and turning it to profite, as thou wouldest be quicke to draw wa∣ter out of a Riuer that thou knewest would n••t continue in his running. And in this, well saith the Poet, he calleth them not happy yeares, but happy daies, thereby hitting vs in the teeth with our inf••nite conceit of time to come. Why doest thou in security and in such dispatch of time so leisurely dreame of mo∣neths and yeares, yea, and draw thy yeares also (to please thy fancie withall) so long in such a number? He talketh with thee of dayes, and of dayes also now fleeting. Nor is it doubt, but as he saith, each most happie day leaues vs first

mortall men, who are dayly more and more busied each day then other, whom age breakes in vpon, not hauing yet put off our childish affections, to the which wee come vnready and vnarmed for it, for we haue nought ready for it, but it lights vpon vs vnawares, before wee dreamt of it, nor did we feele it comming day by day as wee should, but it fares with vs like those men whome a tale or some pleasant matter read, or other meditation deceiueth in their iourney, so that they know & see they are come to their iorneyes end, before they thought that halfe their way was spent thitherward, euen so this daily quicke race of our life, which as well wee passe on sleepe, as we doe awake, it shewes not it selfe to vs, whiles wee bee occupied, but in the end when it is gone.

CHAP. X.

ANd that I saide, if I would follow by peecemeale as I might; I could finde great reason why to proue the busied mans life shor∣test as I saie. Fabianus was wont to say (who was none of these great formall talkatiue Philosophers, but one of those formed former aged, true and plaine Philosophers) We should fight against affections, not by slight but by might, not by easie & gentle venues, but with all the ••orce we can make. We should striue to beat downe their senseles Army, for touching would not helpe the matter, they must bee strongly set on: yet to shew these men their error, I will not onely inueigh at them in bitter manner, but I will striue plainely and sensiblie to teach them this their folly. All our life is diuided into three parts, that is, that was, and that is to come, that wee doe God knowes is short, that we shall doe is doubtfull, that wee haue done is out of doubt: for in this la••t indeed, dame fortune hath lost her force, nor cā it now be pur in the power of any thing to make vndone; & yet this time the busied man hath wholy lost; for he hath no leaue to look back, or if once he haue leasure, yet small pleasure takes he to record a thing past, which he hath such reason to repent him of: for little lust he needs must haue to cal to mind time mispēt, which he dares not now vnfold again, for feare the faults, which at the time vnder colour of delight hee was content to commit, by new handling become more manifest, & shew themselues in their kind; and indeed no man doth willingly straine himselfe to looke backeward but such an one as doth all thinges vnder guard, and in awe of his owne con∣science, which is neuer deceiued. Hee that hath in many things desired with ambition, despised with disdaine, conquered with insolency, cousined with subtlety, scraped to him with couetousnesse, mispent by prodigality, this man must needs bee much afraid to recall himselfe to memory. And yet this recapi∣tulation of time past and spent, is the time already shriued, already past all chance, and feare of change, free from fortunes counterbu••••es, out of danger eyther of penury, of feare or sicknesse; this cannot bee distempered, nor taken from vs, but remaineth our perpetuall and impregnable possession: dayes are present neuer more then one and one, and they by moments also: but of time past many monethes, many yeeres at your commandement, are ready prest at a becke; they are content you looke on them, you handle them, and hold them, which the busied man is neuer well at leasure to performe: none but the quiet carelesse man can fetch a vagary leasurely throughout all parts of his life; the busied mind is (in a manner) ringde and yokte for rowting; he cannot bow nor bend, nor intend to looke backe, and such mens liues sinke into a bottomlesse

pit or gulfe: but euen as it doth not profite thee to haue powred to thy be∣hoofe neuer so much in quantity of any thing whatsoeuer, neuer so good in quality, if thou haue not wherein to holde it and preserue it: so little booteth it thee, how long time thou hast to liue, if thou hast not wherein to holde it, or bestow it; but lettest time flit away through thy fancy shaken, chinked and tot∣tered desires. Now the present time is short, and so short, that some men thinke it in a manner nothing, for it is euer flitting: it runneth, it huddles forward, and it ceaseth (in a manner) before it come, nor doth it otherwise make stay, then the world or the starres, whose neuer resting rowling, neuer stands in one place long: and yet this onely present time belongs to the busied man, which it selfe is yet so short as it cannot haue hands laid on it, & yet it amongst so many mat∣ters slippes away ere we are aware of it.

CHAP. XI.

AT a word, wilt thou see how little while they liue: no more but see how desirous they bee still to liue yet longer? olde layed vp, aged Syers, yet cease not still to begge one yeere, yet more and more: yea their conceit still runneth, they are yonger then they seeme for; they feed themselues with leasing, and such a pleasure they take to belie their age, as if their destiny and death would come so much the later for their false belying it; and let any weakenesse giue them but neuer so little a warning of their mortalities; how fearefully they die, not as if they did depart, but as if will they, nill they, they were pulled out by the eares, then they crie; what fooles were wee that tooke no pleasure in life, then they vow, they will liue at hearts ease, then they see how in vaine they sought for that they could not enioy: then they acknowledge all their labour was to small effect: but they that liue to themselues in seuerall, tending to no mans businesse be∣sides, what lets vs to account their liues large enough? none of it is lost or mis∣spent, here and there in other matters none of it is hazarded at fortunes com∣mand: nought is lost by negligence, nought is giuen away by largesse to other mens vses, nought is lost as superfluous, but euery iot or moment of it is coun∣ted good reuenue: and therefore life thus spent, bee it neuer so little, is enough, nor will a wise man feare at any time without feare to die. But here you aske mee whom I call the busied man? thinke not I meane onely such as eyther are attended on by great troupes of suitors, with great pompe and countenance, or with some shew of base and seruile nature, waite all day vpon others, who for duties sake are called abroad to attend at others dores, or such as doe waite all the weeke long vpon the owtred, to gaine a penny at that vnseemely sale. No, some mens best leasure euen at home in their gardens of sport and pleasure, e∣uen a bed, or where else a man may be said to bee at rest and leasure; yet is it all consumed (as I said) with businesse, yea themselues are a trouble vnto themselues, whose life I call not leasureable, or full of leasure, but an idle kinde of busines rather.

CHAP. XII.

CAllest thou him at quiet, who with great care seekes in all corners for the mettall that was made at the burning of Corinth? and spends the more part of his time in searching out amongst rustie copper, to see if he can light on any of it? or annoints his seruants whom hee keeps to get prizes at wrastling? or is suruaying eyther his sheepe or his land, or other reuenues? or sayest thou, he is at leasure, that euery day spends an howre or two in the Barbers shop, cutting euery day down again that grew the night before? deuising vpon euery haire he hath, whether it be better to cut it, or let it grow? cha∣sing like a yong Emperour, if the Barber were but neuer so little negligent, or lesse curious, because he thoght he had a man of discretiō in hand to cut, who are straight wayes in great rage, if neuer so little of their loue-locks be nipped away? or if euery knot therof fall not round in a ring? of which sort of curious fools, some had rather see disorder in the common wealth they liue in, then in their haire? & had rather see their locks kept faire, then regard their own health? and care more to be accounted a neat nice fellow, then to haue the voyce for honesty? doest thou say that this man is at rest and leasure? so wholy busied and occupied betweene the combe & the glasse? or that he is so, that spends his time in making, hearing, & learning songs, forcing his voyce, (which of nature is best and easiest so to be kept when it is full and plaine) into a kinde of warbling or relishing against nature? whose singers are euer going, as if they stil were tinning, or striking time in a song: who bee they vsed in a matter of ne∣uer so great importance, yea, sometimes sad and sorrowfull, yet are euer and anon resounding some peece of a song or other? these men (say I) haue not leasure, but are busied with a needles & thriftles labour, whose time of feasting, I count not time of pleasure or vacation; I see them still so carefull how their Plate and their seruices, and their seruants may in decent manner become the feast, where hence they seeke the name of fine neat fellows, & so curiously they regard this fond humor of their own, as they neyther eate nor drinke in quiet for it. Nor account I them their owne men, who all day long iog vp and down from this friend to that in their coaches and wa∣gons, and will not misse an howre of their dayly gaddings in them, but haue their ser∣uants to aduertise them, it is now time to bath, to swim, to sup; yea so much they giue themselues ouer vnto this idle vaine, that of themselues they know not, or will seeme to be ignorant when themselues are an hungred?

CHAP. XIII.

IT were long to run ouer these fellows one by one, whose liues haue bin spent either at Tables, or at Ball, or in basting themselues against the sunne; I cannot call them leasurable, whose pleasures put them to such pain and businesse. As for them that spend their dayes in vnpro∣fitable studies, no man doubts, but that with much a doe, they doe nothing, of which sort there are many now amongst vs Romanes. It was the Gre∣cians old disease to beat their brains in finding out how many Rowers Vlysses ship had? whether Ilias or Odyssea were formost written? or whether one man writ them both? and many such like questions, which whether you keepe the knowledge of thē to your selfe or no, they neither greatly benefit your conscience to keepe them, nor seem you betterscholler to know them, but rather somewhat busier or more curi∣ous then others. And euen this vain desire to learne things needles possesseth now the Romanes also. When I was last in Rome, I heard a learned man reckon vp, what things each Roman Captain had first been author of; Duilius first did winne in fight by sea: Curius Dentatus first did lead Elephants in triumph; and these things though they tend not to true glory in deed, yet they belong in some sort to matters politike. Such knowledge will not profit much; yet doth it leade vs forward in a sort with a

petty pleasant discoursing vanity. Grant we also them leaue to search what man ••irst perswaded the Romans to go to sea. One Claudius forsooth it was, whom they ther∣fore called Caudex, because any building much of boords, was then called in Latine Caudex, and bookes of Record, are also at this day called Codices, and boates or ••ray∣ers that carry any thing vp and down the Tiber, are and haue been euer since named Caudicariae. Be it also not amisse to know, that Valerius Coruinus was the first that wan Messana, and therupon had the name of Messana, added in reward of his prowesse, which by little alteration of a letter or two is now called Messala; the originall wher∣of euery man is not acquainted with. Beare we also with him, that searcheth how L. Sulla first let Lions loose to fight in our Romane Circ••s or Parrish Garden, what time K. Bocchus sent him dart-flingers to kill them loose, or as our Forresters now speake to hunt them of force, where before time they were alwayes presented tyed. Let vs not likewise enquire, if it were to the purpose, that Pompey caused those (who were condemned) to fight in the same Parke with eighteen Elephants. This princi∣pall person in Rome (who amongst the ancient Chiefetaines of warre is renowned by reason of his bounty, and singular mildnesse in manners) hath supposed it would be a memorable sp••ctacle to cause mee to die after some new fashion. It is a little matter to make them fight, and to be wounded in diuers places, he must haue them crushed vnder the insupportable weight of these great and huge creatures: it had beene better to haue buried such a history, for feare lest afterward some other great Lord hearing the recitall thereof, should conceiue a liking to practise the like inhu∣mane and barbarous action. O how much doth great ptosperity ouerspread our vn∣derstanding with darknes! Pompey reputed himselfe equall with the gods, at such time as he exposed so many troups of poor men to sauage beasts, that were brought from forrain countries, & when he caused a mortall fight to be performed between creaturs so different, shedding much bloud in the presēce of the Roman people; whē as he him selfe an on after was to be reduced to that necessity to shed others: but hee himself also (deceiued by the disloialty of the councel of AEgypt) was stabbed by one that had serued vnder him & then vnderstood that at last how vaine that surname of Great was, which was attributed vnto him by others.

CHAP. XIIII.

BVt to return vnto my purpose, & to shew in other recitals the superflu∣ous diligence of others, the same discourse aboue mentioned, reporteth that Metellus hauing conquered the Carthaginians in their quarrels for Sicilia, was the only man that euer led 120. Elephants captiues before his chariot: he tolde also, how Sylla was the last Romane that enlarged the common or void ground without the wals of Rome (which was not suffered to be done amongst our ancestors for any conquest or land gotten in any Country, but only in Italy, though Syllas conquests, were all of them out of Italy we know, which point was yet more worth the knowledge, then how the hill Auentinus was with∣out the compasse of this ground, I speake of without the wals; for one of these two reasons, eyther for that the people seuered themselues from the Senate into this hill, when the Senators would haue made a law, that no Patritius or Senators child shold mar••ic with him or her that was not so, or for that the vultures, (whose flight Ro∣mulus obserued, when he built this City) did not compas in this hill with the other six. Many more curious points did this man declare, which if hee did not inuent, yet did he little better; for grant all these nice points to be written in good sooth, yet I pray you what amisses doe any of them mend? whose desires doe they minish? or who by them is made eyther more couragious, or iuster, or more liberall? mine old friend Fabianus was wont to doubt, whether it were better bee ignorant, or to know such vanities. But I take them to bee leasurable, that study diuine wise∣dome,

which no time present can consume, nor no time to come diminish, and wholly exercise themselues in celestiall contemplation; for such men do not onely vse their owne time well, but they also adde thereto the ages spent be∣fore they were borne, and enioy them also as their owne, yea all the famou•• Recorders of most sacred opinions, were after a sort, as it seemeth euen borne for them, and in a manner prepared the way for them how to liue the better. Which worthy writers bring vs with much ••ase and little labour to most wor∣thy matters brought by them out of darkenesse into light, yea they keepe vs not from things done or said in any age ere wee were borne, they admit vs vnto all things, yea if wee lust by the greatnesse of an heroicall minde to passe the narrow bounds of mans weake reach, wee haue time inough to doe so if wee list our selues. Why then leaue we not this brittle transitory time of life, and why betake wee vs not wholly (at least in minde and cogitation to these infinite and euerlasting matters, which we haue in common with better natures. These men that run continually courting and waiting alwayes vpon great men, trou∣bling others & themselues in their so doing, when they haue gone a madding, and dan••d attendance at al mens dores, not leauing any great man vnwaited on, when they haue done their dayes labour in saluting them, how many I pray you can they haue visited of so infinit & busie a number of great men in Rome? Among which great mighty ones, how many are there, whom for because, that either they were a sleepe, or otherwise occupied, or not at leasure to intend them, they could not therefore be admitted to speake with all? how many are there, who after that they haue long been waited for, come out, and sodainly looke vpon them, and are gone againe? nay; how many are there that shunne to take their way through such troupes, as come to waite vpon them to the hall or Senate? and rather take som•• backe-wayes through some secret by-corner, and leaue them all, as if it were not much more vnseemely, and worse manners of the twaine in this sort, rather to cosen them by auoiding them when they were once admitted then absolutely to keepe them out before they came; and yet how many are there that hauing scarsly slept out their yesterdayes surfet; yet breake their sleepe poore soules themselues to waite till it please another to rise, like forsooth for their paines to bee saluted in some rechlesse or proud sort, by their names of the great men, aft•••• hee hath had the same a thousand times put into his head by some prompter or other: but indeede if wee will needes dance attendance with fruit, I tell you they waite wisely that dayly court Zeno, Pythagoras, Democritus, and the rest the pillars of good learning; that endeauor to make Aristotle, and Theophrastus well known vnto them. None of these but will be alwayes at leasure to intend thee: none but will dismisse thee a man happier for thy selfe, and more in loue with him for his company, then thou wast at thy first comming. They will not let thee go•• empty, when∣soeuer thou wilt goe, come at midnight or at midday, any man may speake with them. None of these will force thee to die before thy time, as great Prin∣ces doe of their most faithfull seruants, but euery one will instruct thee how to die; none of these will spend or take away any ••ot of thy dayes, but are all ra∣ther ready to bestow their time on thee; thou needest not feare what thou saiest in their company; yea no enemy of thine ••an suspect th•••• for being of∣ten with them.

CHAP. XV.

OF these thou mayest obtaine whatsoeuer thou wilt; nor will they be in the fault if thou take not of them as much as thou art able: Oh how happy is that olde man that hath spent all his dayes in the seruice of them! hee is sure of secret friends with whom he may consult in great things or small, whose counsaile he may aske euery houre at his pleasure, from whom truth he shall heare with∣out vpbrayding, praise without flatterie, and whom well he may imitate with∣out note of apishnesse. We say commonly we could not chuse of whom wee would be borne; but of such we came as our fortune was we should come: but in this case yet we may chuse of whom we will be borne. These worthy wits and write••s haue their stocke and families; chuse of which thou wilt be, and thou shalt be not onely of his name, but his successor also for his wealth and liuelyhood, which is also commonly the more ample, among the more it is di∣uided: these will leade thee to eternity, and will lift thee vp so high, as whence no man liuing shall bee able to remoue thee. And this is onely the way to stretch out thy mortalitie, yea, to change it into immortalitie if any there be. Honours and other monuments, what euer either ambition hath by Law esta∣blished, or cost hath built, do quickly perish. Time weares out all things, yea, and soonest weareth those things which it hath made hallowed; only wisdom can∣not be hurt nor impaired any way. No time present can consume it, nor time to com diminish it, the longer it lasteth the more it is still regarded; for enuy touch∣eth onely things neere in memory•• and more absolutely do we reuerence things farther off. And so we see the wise-mans life is large enough, he is not inclosed as others are, but is onely freed from the lawes, that otherwise mankinde is streightned withal: yea, all time doth yeeld vnto him, as it yeeldeth we conf••sse to the gods themselues. Time is past: this consideration doth him good. Time is come: this he vseth. Time will come: he preuenteth it; and thus compa∣ring time with time, makes his life very long, whereas their life is very short, who forget the time past•• neglect that is p••esent, and ••eare the time to come: which when it once is come, too late poor•• ••••en they finde, they were all very busie in doing nothing.

CHAP. XVI.

NEyther art thou to thinke that by this argument it is approued that they leade a long life, because sometimes they call vpon death. Imprudencie vexeth them with vncertain affections, and such as assault and encounter thos•• which they feare: they ther∣fore oftentimes wish for death, because they feare it; neither is that an argument likewise whereby thou shouldest be perswaded that they should liue long•• because the day seemeth oftentimes long vnto them, because whilst the appointed houre of supper time commeth they complaine that the houres steale on slowly. For if at any time occupations faile them, they storme because they are left without businesse and idle: neither know they how they may dispose or inlarge the same. They therefore intend some occupation, and all the time that is betweene, is grieuous vnto them, in such sort vndoubtedly

as when a day is proclaimed wherin the sword-players are to skirmish, or when as any appointed time of any other, eyther spectacle or pleasure is expected, they long and labour to outstrip the houres. The delay of all that which they hope for is long vnto them. But that time which they loue is short and head∣long, and becommeth likewise more short by their fault, for they flie from one delight to another, and cannot settle themselues vpon one sort of pleasure. The dayes are not long vnto them, but displeasant and tedious. Contrariwise, how short thinke they the nights to be, which they lose in embracing their harlots and drunkennesse? From thence grew the furie of those Poets, who fed and flattered mens errors with fables, who fained that Iupiter being bewitched with the pleasure of his adulterous embraces, redoubled the night: What other thing is it then to animate wickednesse to make the gods the authors of them, and to giue an excusable license to an infirmitie by the example of diuinitie? But can these men finde the nights other then very short, that they buy at so high a price? They lose the day in expectation of the night, and the night through the feare of the day. Their pleasures are accompanied with feares, burried with diuers disquiet perturbations; their greatest ioy is drowned in carefull thought. How long shall this continue? Because of this passion Kings haue bewailed their power; neither did the greatnesse of their fortune delight them, but the end that was to ensue terrified them. When that most insolent Persian King spread his army along the fields, whose number he could not tell, and scarcely could he tell what quantitie of ground would well containe it; it is said he wept, considering that within one hundred yeares there should not one of all that number be left aliue: but he himselfe that wept was euen the man that hastened all their deaths, as indeed afterwards proued, when as what by Land, what by Sea, what in sight, and what in flight, euery mothers sonne al∣most, very shortly after miscarried, whom hee feared should not liue an hun∣dred yeares.

CHAP. XVII.

MOreouer, their ioyes are full of feares, they build them not on sure ground, but by the same vanitie they rise, by the same they fall. And what will you thinke of those their times, which in their own confession are vnhappie, if these whereof they vaunt themselues, and in which they take themselues to be more then men, be scarcely perfect? Euery highest tipe of happinesse is full of feare; nor may we well in truth lesse build on any fortune then that which is happiest. One free Citie needeth another to maintaine it, and hauing once that we desired, we are forced straight wayes to desire anew, to haue wherewith to maintaine the for∣mer state: for euery thing that fortune giueth is vncertaine; and the higher al∣waies that felicitie is, the neerer euer is it to a downfall and ruine. And no man can take pleasure in the state he knoweth assuredly shall shortly fall; and ther∣fore most vnhappy, not onely short is their life who with much adoe procure that which with much more labour they must possesse, with much trouble compassing the thing they desire, but with much more care continuing the thing once gotten; all which while no care is had of time, of preciou•• time, that neyther shall nor can be recouered againe. Olde businesse breeds new busines, one hope bringeth forth another, this high desire makes way for an higher then

it to follow it, and so no end is sought of the miseries we are in, though euerie day we change the matter which procureth miseries. Our owne preferments proue euen burdens to vs; others honours haue cost vs time to procure them for them: nor haue we so soone left to sue for our selues, but immediately we are suters in the same case for others. We will pleade no more as Counsellors as it were to day; to morrow we are admitted to the Bench as Iudges; the third day happily called to the Councel-table. Marius is no sooner dismissed out of warre, but at home he is in suite for the Consulship. Quintius is dismissed of his Dictatorship to day, not long after he is called from the Ploughes thereto a∣gaine. Yong Scipio scarce fit for such a charge, is sent against the Carthagini∣ans as it were to day; he conquereth Hanniball and Antiochus, is made Consull and getteth his brother to be made next after him, and so from dignitie to dig∣nitie: and if himselfe be not the hinderance, in time he shall be dignified no lesse then Iupiter, yea, and after that by his industry Rome was deliuered from the feare of Haniball, and he returned home to his wife and children, he was straight∣wayes occupied in ciuill factions and suits for offices: and rather then he would satisfie himselfe with ordinary preferments, he chose wilfully to goe into exile and was proude thereof; as if forsooth when happy and fortunate businesse be∣gan to faile him, he would rather busie himselfe in vnfortunate proceedings then it should be said he wanted busines; so farre we are from enioying the lei∣sure and pleasure which yet we euery day desire and wish for.

CHAP. XVIII.

WHy then, good friend Paulinus, exempt thy selfe from this com∣mon errour that possesseth the world; and now thou hast beene busied more then any of thine equals in age or honour, betake thy selfe at length into a hauen of quiet, call to mind what storms thou hast endured, what tempests, partly for priuate matters, and oftentimes for publique affaires thou hast entangled thy selfe withall: thy ver∣tue hath beene tried sufficiently in troublesome vnquiet matters: trie what it can doe in peace, at home in quiet. Thou hast spent the greater, or at least the better of thine age in publique businesse, in causes common to thy wife and children, turne some part thereof to thine owne vse, to thine owne be∣hoofe. I wish thee not to betake thee to an idle, or vnlearned, or vnprofi∣table a vacation, nor would I haue thee to spend the residue of thy worthy nature, in sleepe or other vnseemely common peoples pastime, this I count not rest or quietnesse. Thou shalt finde many greater matters then those that yet thou hast beene conuersant in, to bestow thy repose and leisure in. Thou hast kept the accounts of the Roman Store-houses, which is as much almost as the accounts in a manner of all the world; the same I say thou hast kept with such abstinence as if they had not belonged to thee, with such diligence as if they had beene thine owne reuenues, and yet with such integritie as if thou knewest well it were the wealth of the Citie and State of Rome, and thou to answer for eue∣rie halfe••peny: and in this thine office thou hast won the loue of all men, wher∣in other men could hardly auoide much hatred; and yet trust me, it is a wiser part to be able to giue a good account of thine owne life and liuing, then of all the corne in the countrey. Recall therefore this worthy minde of thine, fit I know for greatest matters; recall it yet from this honourable, yet scarce a happy

service to shew thy selfe at home a while, & remember this was the finall and most principal end of thy creation and first being, that in the end thou shouldest be Surueyor of the Cities corne, thou must propose a more priuate, but yet a higher and better calling: nor will there want any frugall and painefull men to supply thine office; so farre fitter are slow and vnwildie jades, or young and vn∣tamed Colts to beare great burdens, then the trampling and stirring Steede, whose life and actiuitie no man durst euer charge with a lumpish burden. Be∣sides this, bethink thy selfe how much care attendeth thee whilst thou vndergo∣est so great a charge. Thou hast to deale with the bellies of men. A people that endureth hunger is not subiect vnto reason, neither is mitigated by equity, nor pacified by any praiers. It is not long time since that vnder the Emperor Caligu∣la, although now displeased (if dead men haue any sense) to be dead in a few dayes, and to haue left the Roman people aliue, that there was not found suffi∣cient victuals in the Citie for seuen or eight dayes: and whilst this Prince made bridges of boats, and sported himselfe with the meanes and forces of the Em∣pire, the most dreadfull of all other euils, that is to say, famine besieged Rome. His imitation of a furious and forrain King, and vnhappily puffed vp with pride well may cost the ouerthrow and famine of his countrey, and that which fol∣loweth famine the ruine of all things. What minde then had they and care, who had the charge to prouide corne for the common store. They prepared themselues to receiue the stroakes of swords, to be stoned, burned, and to meete with Caligula; yet dissembled they very carefully the cure of this euill, that was hidden in the intrailes of the Citie; for there are some infirmities wherun∣to we ought to applie remedies, without discouerie of the sickenesse, as contra∣riwise diuers men are dead, because they knew they were sicke.

CHAP. XIX.

REtire thy selfe into these hauens more calme, more assured, and more great: thinkest thou that to giue order, that the corne bee more closed vp in the storehouses good and cleane without being spoyled by the malice and negligence of the Porters, in such sort that wet neither seaze or ouerheat it, and consequently, that it returne to his measure and weight, is a thing of as great importance, as when thou approachest the celestiall misteries, and when thou commest to enquire what the nature of the Gods is, there will their condition, their forme, the e∣state of thy soule, and the places where nature shall lodge vs after our decease, what it is that sustaineth the most weightiest of all the workes of nature in the centre of the world, and suspendeth the lighter things aboue, and carrieth fire vp on high, and exciteth the starres in their courses? In briefe, all the rest full of great miracles: will thou forsaking the earth, rowse thy mind and conside∣ration to these things, now, and so long as thy bloud is warme, and vigor strong? thou must aspire to that which is the best. An ardent loue of prayse-worthy sciences, the practise of vertue, the forgetfulnesse of passions, the science to liue and die well, a deepe repast discharged from all worldly affaires, attend thee in such a manner of life. True it is, that the condition of all those that are en∣tangled with worldly affaires is miserable: but yet more miserable is the estate of those men who are not busied in their affaires, but sleepe, walke and eate according to other mens appetites, and are constrained to loue and hate those

things that are most free of all others: if such men would know how short these mens liues are, let them consider how much they rebate of their owne: you enuy not those whom you see attaine vnto charges, and grow in reputation amongst the people. Such aduancements are got with the expence of life, and to obtaine the credite that a man may count the yeare of his name, they vse all the yeares of their life. Some other there are that being desirous to attaine the highest degree of honour, after they haue trauelled long therein, are dead in the middest of their way: and others, which hauing attained the same by in∣finite and euill practises, haue beene seased with this distastfull apprehension, that they haue trauelled much to build them a tombe, and make themselues spoken of after their death: some also conceiuing new hopes in their old yeers, as if they had beene in their prime, haue lost their hearts, and perished in the midst of their vnquiet and vniust attemps and endeauours.

CHAP. XX.

BAse is the man, who being already olde, hath sought to grow in credite amongst the foolish common people, & is dead in spen∣ding himselfe to pleade for meere strangers that would set him on worke: as abiect is he, that being rather weary of life, then of trauell, is falne amidst the affaires which he hath embraced, and because hee that hauing death at his dore, tosseth his papers and affaires to the great contentment of his heire, who long time expected for such a prey, I cannot bury in silence one example that commeth to my memory: T••ranius was an olde man of exact diligence, who alter the ninetieth yeere of his age, be∣ing discharged of his office of commissary of victuals by the Emperour Claudi∣us, got him into his bed, commanded all his seruants to muster about him, and to bewaile him as if hee were dead: the familie lamented the repose of their old master, and continued this sorrow vntill such time as he was restored to his office. Is there so great a pleasure then to die bnsied? there are many that re∣semble this Turanius, they desire to trauell euen at that time when they can no more, they combat against the feeblenesse of their bodies, and thinke not their age troublesome, except it be because it commandeth them to liue in re∣pose. When a Souldier is fifty yeeres old, ••he law constraineth him not any more to beare Armes: a Senator hauing attained to threescore yeeres, is no more bound to attend the Senate; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 more hardly obtaine leaue to repose themselues at their owne hands 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from ••he Law. In the meane while whilest they assaile others, and are assai•••• themselues, whilest one breaketh an others rest, whilest euery one tormenteth himselfe, life slippeth away without pro∣fite, with our pleasure, or any content of the mind, there is no man that repre∣sent••th death vnto himselfe, there is no man that extendeth not his hopes farre o••f. Some likewise there are that dispose of these things which are after life, as of their proud Sepulchres, of inscriptions; and dedicacy of their buildings, of sports, combates, and other solemnities of their ambitious fune∣rals: but vndoubtedly these mens obsequies should be solem∣nized with torches and Tapers, as if they had liued very little.