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. XX.

* 1.1DIOGENES APOLLONIATES saith, that som thunders proceede from fire, some are caused by winde. The fire produceth those which he foregoeth and foretelleth: the winde those that yeeld a clap without lightning. I confesse that the one is caused and is without the other sometimes: notwithstanding in such sort, that their power is not separated, but that the one may bee produced by the other. For who would denie that the violent winde in stirring vp a vehement noise, could not likewise make a fire? And who likewise will not confesse this, that the fire may sometimes breake the cloudes, and yet not enforce his passage, if after hee hath trauersed some, hee is stayed and extinct by a more greater assembly of other cloudes. It followeth then that the fire conuerteth it selfe into winde, and that it looseth his light and clearenesse when it burneth and enflameth that vpon the earth which shee hath followed: adde hereunto now, that it must needes bee, that the violence of lightning pusheth forth the winde, and sen∣deth it before him, and draweth it likewise after him when hee cleaueth the ayre by so waighty a stroke•• And therefore it is that all things before they feele the stroke of the thunder, tremble being shaken by the assault of the wind which the fire driueth before him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The examinati∣on of Diogenes Apolloniates his opinion.