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. XIII.

TO this it may be answered,* 1.1 Why so artificially discoursest thou on these things, which considered apart may be maintained, but if they be compared cannot? Change of place is tolerable if thou onely change thy place: pouertie is tolerable, if ignominy be ta∣ken from it, the which alway is wont to oppresse mens mindes. To him who would terrifie me with a troupe of euils, thus would I answer; If thou haue force enough against euery part of fortune; the like mayest thou haue against all. When vertue hath once hardned the mind she maketh him in∣vincible. If auarice dismisse thee, which is the most violent plague of mankind, ambition will neuer leaue thee at rest.* 1.2 If thou beholdest thy last houre, not as a punishment, but as a lawe of nature, into that breast whence thou hast driuen the feare of death, there is no feare of any thing that dare enter. If thou think∣est that the honest desires of marriage, was not allotted man to feed his lust, but to encrease his family. He that is not violated with this secret mischiefe infixed in his bowels, euery other desire will ouerpasse and touch him not. Reason not onely ouerturneth vices one after another, but all of them together: she fight∣eth at once, and ouercommeth the enemie at one stroake. Thinkest thou that a wise-man that is grounded in vertue, and estranged from vulgar opinions is shaken by ignominie? Death is more ignominious then one simple ignominie; yet Socrates with the same countenance and resolution entered the prison, wherewith he in times pastalone brought the thirti•• tyrant•• into order, and tooke the ignominie from the place by his entry:* 1.3 for that could not seeme to be a prison wherein Socrates was lodged. What man is he so brutish, that will say or thinke that Marcus Cato was disgraced, at such time as he demanded the Praetorship, and afterwards the Consulate? It was a disgrace both to the Prae∣tor and Consulate who were honoured by Cato. No man can be despised by an∣other man, except he first be contemned by himselfe. An humble and abiect minde becommeth subiect to this contumely; but whosoeuer encourageth himselfe against these terrible accidents, and ouercommeth those euils where∣with

other hearts are ouerturned, reputeth his afflictions to be his ornaments. When we are thus affected, that nothing moueth more admiration in vs then to see a man couragious in his miseries. Aristides was sent by the Athenians, and commanded to be put to death, who made all those hang downe their head•• and mourne that saw him in that estate, not as if they had executed a iust man, but iustice her selfe; yet was there one amongst them that spit in his face: this might he haue taken heauily, because he knew that no man that had modestie would haue done it, yet wiped he his face, & smilingly beheld the Magistrates, and said thus, Admonish this man, that hereafter he open not his mouth so vncleanely. This were enough to humble outrage it selfe. I know that some will reply, that nothing is so hardly dis-jested as contempt, and that death seemeth more plea∣sing then the same. To these I answere, that oftentimes exile is exempted from these incommodities. If a man of note fall vpon the ground, yet is he alwayes the same, and as great; neyther is contemned any more, then when as the ruin•• of sacred Temples are troad vpon, which as well both the religious as the stan∣ders by doe adore. Thou canst not therefore finde any want of thy sonne that is taken from thee, whom during his aboade with thee, thou neuer thoughtest to appertaine vnto thee.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An obiection, that ignominy annexed with pouerti•• is a thing very odious
• * 1.2

  His opinion 〈◊〉〈◊〉 touching death, proceeding from the ignorance of the fall of the first man.
• * 1.3

  Examples to confirme hi•• answer.