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. XXXII.

MOreouer I say that lightnings presage things that are to come,* 1.1 not ministring onely a signe of one or two things, but oftentimes they foretell the whole order of succeeding Fates, yea, and that by e∣uident decrees, and farre more manifest then if they were writ∣ten. But this is the difference betwixt vs and the Tuscans, who exactly vnderstand this diuination by lightning. We holde opinion, that be∣cause the clouds entershock and scatter one another, therfore the lightning bur∣steth forth. They thinke that the clouds are rudely driuen the one against the other, to this end, that lightning should issue, and be darted on the earth. For whereas they referre all things vnto God, they are of this opinion that they signifie not because they are made, but that they are made, to the end they should signifie; yet are they ingendered by one and the same reason, be it that either they ought to signifie by a deliberate purpose, or by a consequence: how then signifie they except they be sent from God? How? In such sort as birds who take not their flight to meet vs, yet in flying eyther on the right or on the left hand they haue presaged somewhat. And these, sayest thou, God moueth. Thou makest him too idle, and a minister of small matters, if in some men hee dispose their dreames, in beasts their entrailes, yet are these things ordered by diuine assistance. But the feathers of birds are not gouerned by God, neyther formeth he the entrailes of beasts vnder the axe. The order of the destinies is expressed vnto vs by other more certaine meanes, who euery where publisheth signes of that which shall come to passe long before they happen, whereof some are familiar vnto vs,* 1.2 the rest are vnknowne. All whatsoeuer is done is a signe of something that is to come. Those things that are casuall, and incertaine with∣out reason, admit not diuination. The thing that hath order hath prediction also. Why therefore is this honour giuen vnto the Eagle, that she should pre∣sage the matters of greatest importance, or to the Crow, or to a few other birds, and that the chattering of all others hath neyther signification or presage? Be∣cause

there are many things that are not as yet reduced into Art, and other things which a man cannot reduce, because they are too farre estranged from our acquaintance. But there is no liuing creature that foretelleth not some∣what, eyther by his motion or encountrie. All things are not obserued, but some things are noted. Diuination serueth him that will obserue the same. It therfore appertaineth vnto him that hath addicted his mind thereunto. Those things which a man respecteth not, may notwithstanding containe some certi∣tude. The Chaldeans in their obseruations respected nothing else but the in∣fluence of fiue Planets. What thinkest thou? Iudgest thou that so many thou∣sand starres shine to no purpose? And what is that which deceiueth these Cal∣culators of Natiuities, but they subiect themselues I know not how to some small number of starres, whereas all they that shine ouer our heads, haue some influence and power ouer vs? It may be that the more neerer Planets doe dart their beames more effectually vpon vs, and that they which haue a more swift∣er motion touch vs in one sort, and other liuing creatures in another. But the fixed stars, and those that for their swift course haue an answerable motion to that of the first mouer, and seeme not to stirre, are yet without force and effect in our respects. To speake of these things orderly, we must regard both the one and the other, and know that which is proper both to the one and to the other. But there is no lesse difficultie to know that which they can, as to doubt whe∣ther they haue any power or no.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lightnings are foretokeners of that which is to come.
• * 1.2

  Whether euery thing that is s••ene and vn∣derstood ••ath a signification.