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. XIIII.

YEt would I haue this man tell me who hath laid such thicke plan∣chars on the heauen, what reason there is that we should beleeu•• him that the heauen is of this thicknesse. What is the cause he should cary so many solid bodies thither, and detaine them there? Againe, that which is of so great thicknesse, must needs be of a great waight. How therefore may heauie things remaine suspended in the hea∣uens. How commeth it to passe that this heauie burthen faileth not, and brea∣keth not himselfe through his waight? For it cannot be that the force of so great a burthen, as he setteth downe, should hang and depend on so slight staies. Neither can this likewise be spoken, that outwardly there are some supporters that vphold it from falling; nor likewise that in the middest there is any thing opposed, that might entertaine or containe such an impendent bodie. No man likewise dare be so bold as to say that the world is carried and whirled about infinitly, and that it falleth, but that it appeareth not whether it fall or no, be∣cause the precipitation thereof is eternall, hauing no end wherein it may ter∣minate. Some haue spoken thus of the earth, when as they had found no rea∣son why a waight should consist in the aire; It is alwayes falling say they, but it appeareth not whether it fall or no, because, that is infinite into which it fal∣leth. What is it then, whereby thou wilt proue that only fiue starres moue not, but that there are many, and in many regions of the world? Or if it be law∣full to answere this without any probable argument. What is the cause why some man should not say, that either all the stars are moued or none? Againe, that troope of stars that wander heere and there, helpe thee nothing. For the more they be, the oftner should they fall vpon others: but comets are rare, and for this cause are wonderfull. Moreouer, all ages will beare testimony against them, which haue both obserued the rising of those stars, and haue communi∣cated them with posteritie.

Notes

• An exact refu∣tation of Arte∣midorus hi•• Paradoxes.
• Another Para∣dox inclosed in diuers absurdi∣ties.