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. VII. His Manners, and first his Abstinence, his Truth, his Safetie, and Pietie.

BVt his very manners refu••e this obiection of his ri∣ches, and iustifie his vse, and not ab••se of them. For what hath he offended in pride, excesse, and pompe? Let them tell vs it, and wee will be silent. What was he happily lauish, eyther in his diet or feasting? Let vs heare him∣selfe professing openly; When as I heard Attalus declayming a∣gainst vices,* 1.1 errours, and the infirmities of life, oftentimes ha••e I had compassion of mankinde, and haue bel••••••ed that hee 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sublimed and raised aboue human•• ••each. When he beganne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 traduce our pleasures, to praise a chaste bodie, a sober ••able, a pure minde; not onely from vnlawfull pleasures, but al••o ••ro•• superfluous, I tooke a liking to temper mine appetite and bel•••• Of these instructions some haue sithence dwel•• with me my L••∣cillius; for I came with a great alac••itie to all thing••. Afterwards being reduced to a ciuill life, I stored vp som•• few of these ••hy good beginnings. Hereupon for all my life time after, I renoun∣ced all Oysters and Mushromes. Euer since for my whole life time I haue abstayned from iniunction; since that ••••me my sto∣macke hath wanted wine, neyther haue I euer since, vouch sa••ed to bath my selfe. Where was euer any such frugalitie in any other place, or by what name is it called? And this haue I written of, in my commendation of Seneca, so let vs no•• repea••e it he••re, now as touching the rest of his life it was both serious and seuere.* 1.2 The Court corrupted him not, neyther inclined he v••••o flatterie, a vice almost familiar, and allied to such places. No: hee vnto Nero. Suffer me to stay here a little longer with thee, not to flatter thine eares, for this is not my custome: I had rather offend thee by truth, then please thee by flatterie. And beeing now readie to die, in Tacitus hee willed them to make knowne to the Prince,* 1.3 That his minde was neuer inclined vnto flatrerie••••, a••d that this was knowne to no man better then to Nero w••o had more

often made vse of Senecaes libertie then hee had experience of his seruitude. Moreouer, what exaction and examination of his manners and life? Againe he himselfe, I vse this power, and daily examine my selfe when the light is out and my wife is silent, which is now priuie to my custom. I examin the whole day that is past by my selfe, and consider both mine actions and wordes. I hide nothing from my selfe, I let nothing slip: for why should I feare any of mine errours? When as I may say, See that thou doe this no more, for this time I pardon thee. Can the studie of wise∣dome appeare eyther more greatly or more cleerely? Finally, how often appeareth his pietie and submission towards God? I will set downe one thing that I gathered from him.* 1.4 If thou beleeuest me any waies, when I discouer my most inward affections to thee, I am thus formed in all occurrents, which seeme either diffi∣cult or dangerous. I obey not God, but I assent vnto him; I fol∣low him from my heart, and not of necessitie. There shall no∣thing euer befall mee that I will grieue at, or change my counte∣nance for when it happeneth. I will pay no tribute vnwillingly, and many such like obserued by me in my Manuduction or Phi∣siologie. Yea, some of that vnstained pietie that Tertullian and the Auncients call him Ours. I haue in my Fragments set downe some of his counsailes, let them make vse of them. Furthermore, Otho Frigensis affirmed, that Lucius Seneca was not onely worthie to be reputed a Philosopher, but also a Christian. And for these his eminent vertues sake, euen in that age there was a great good opinion held of him, yea and they destinated him to the Empire. Tacitus plainly writeth that this was set abroach,* 1.5 that the Empire should be deliuered to Senecaes hands, as to one that was guiltles, being chosen, by reason of the excellency of his vertues, to the highest dignitie. O Rome thou wert vnworthy of this felicitie; neyther did God respect thee so well otherwise.

* 1.6If all the people might haue leaue to speake, What one of them (how desolate soeuer) Would feare or doubt to honor Seneca Farre more then Nero.

Yet some there are that doubt of the realitie of his vertues, and thinke them rather words and ostentation. Did he not therefore

in his death make it manifest how slightly hee esteemed all hu∣mane things, how he addicted himselfe to God?

Notes

• * 1.1

  Epist. 108.
• * 1.2

  11. de Com∣ment.
• * 1.3

  15. Annal. 3. de Ira.
• * 1.4

  Epist. 96.
• * 1.5

  15. Annal.
• * 1.6

  Iuuenal Sa∣tyr. 10.