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. IX.

WHence grow wee therefore so obstinate in our complaints, if this that is done, bee not by the commandement of nature. It is be∣cause wee thinke that euill shall neuer encounter vs, except then when wee feele the same: but as if wee had a letter of exempti∣on, and that wee were entred into a way more plaine then other men; the sinister accidents of our neighbours cannot teach vs that our danger is as great as theirs. We see so many dead bodies passe before our dores, and so many mourners that attend them with bitter teares, but in stead of thinking our death, wee shape out in our thought a mans garment for our young chil∣dren, wee runne to the warres, and already husband the inheritance and succes∣sion of our fathers. Wee see so many rich men sodainely become poore; yet neuer sinketh it into our hearts, that our riches may as easily slip out of our hands, as these did from them. Our fall therefore must bee the greater, be∣cause wee feele not that wee are subiect to slippe, but then when we are falne and brought vnto the lowest. Those things that are long time foreseene, assault vs more leasurly. Wilt thou know how thou art exposed to all strokes, and that those weapons that haue wounded thee, haue be••ne enforced against thee? Suppose that being disarmed, thou mountest vpon some wall, or some place well defenced by the enemy, hard to bee s••aled, and that thou expectest to be rescued, sodainely wounded, that tho•• makest a certaine account that those ar∣row••s, those stones, those darts that flie in th•• aire ar•• aimed at thee, when thou shalt see that they fall on one side, or behinde thy backe, then maiest thou cry; O fortune thou shalt not deceiue me, neither shalt thou surprise me, ey∣ther secure or negligent. I know thy designes, thou wouldest haue strucken me, but hast wounded another. But what man is he that euer considered his goods as if they should perish? who is he amongst vs that durst be so bold, as to thinke on his exile, his pouerty or sorrow? who is he, that if he bee admonished to thinke vpon his parents security, refuseth it not as a direfull and ominous pre∣sage,

and that prayeth not that this mishappe may sooner fall vpon the head of his enemy, or of that his vntimely Counsellor and admonisher? I thought not that this should come to passe, Thinkest thou that which thou knowest is incident vnto many, and that thou seest befall other men, cannot happen to thee: I hard an excellent verse and worthy Publius;

That which be fortunes one may fall to many.

This man hath lost his children, and thou maiest lose thine. That man i•• con∣demned, and thine innocency is vnder the stroke. This error deceiueth vs; this maketh vs effeminate, whilest we suffer those things which we neuer fore∣see that wee could succour. He taketh away the power of present euils, who foreseeth the future.

Notes

• The tenth, The common condition of all manki••d should m••ke vs resolute otherwi••e af∣fl••ctions would very hardly be disgested.
• The ele••enth, A••flictions that a••e for seen are sl••ght.
• The tw••lfth, That which may befall any man may also be for∣tune vs.

  When it is come, let vs endure it.