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.

LEt vs now returne vnto our purpose. That benefit which is giuen to euery man, is gratefull to no man. No man will euer thinke that a Tauerner or Hos••ler entertaineth him as a friend. No man supposeth himselfe to be inuited by him that furnisheth a feast to entertaine a whole Citie. For a man may say, what pleasure hath he done me? he hath fauoured me no otherwise than hee would a stranger, or an enemie, or the basest fellow, or plaier, he might haue met withall. But hee thought me more worthie or better esteemed than any other? nothing lesse: that which hee hath done is but to content his owne humour and infirmitie. If thou desirest that thy presents may be acceptable, make choise of some rare thing. Who will accompt himselfe obliged for a curtesie which is done vnto

euery man? Let no man interpret these thinges in that nature as if I would re∣straine mens liberalitie, and represse them more than reason required. I will not so bound the same that it may not bee generall, or emploied where a man pleaseth; yet my desire is that it should not be extrauagant or misimploied, but iustly intended. A man may so sort his good turnes, and so honestly distribute the same, that they who haue receiued them, although they bee many, may suppose that they are not fauoured in common, but in particular. Let euery man haue some familiar note, whereby he that receiueth may coniecture that he is more inwardly respected by him that bestoweth the benefit. Let vs giue him an occasion to say; I haue not receiued more than that other man, but that which was giuen me came with a freer bountie and good will. I haue re∣ceiued the same present which an other man had, yet I more speedily and rea∣dily than he,* 1.1 where as hee long before had merited the same. Some there are that haue had the same fauours, yet not deliuered with the same gratulatorie speeches, nor presented with the like curtesie from the Benefactor. This man receiued after he had intreated for his benefit, but I, when I was besought to accept the same. Such a man receiued a rich present; tis true: but hee could more easily giue recompence; for being as hee is a man of many yeares, and without heires, he promiseth great hopes to the Benefactor. But that which I receiued is of more esteeme, because that which he hath giuen me is without all hope of restitution. Euen as a Curtizan so diuideth her selfe amongst many, that each one hath a particular insinuation & proofe to be more fauoured than the rest: So he that desireth that his curtesies should be esteemed, ought to be∣thinke him, not only in what sort he may oblige all men vnto him, but how e∣uery one may haue something whereby he may thinke that he is preferred be∣fore the rest. For mine owne part I desire not to restraine any man from distri∣buting his liberalities as him listeth: the more and greater his largesse is, the more honourable and praise-worthy they be; yet wish I notwithstanding that his bountie should be bounded with iudgment. For these thinges that are gi∣uen rashly and without consideration, are neuer well reputed or accompted of. For this cause if any man should thinke that in commanding this, I would by this meanes banish and exterminate liberalitie, and should not afford the same limits large enough; Vndoubtedly hee hath made but little vse and receiued lesse profit of these my instructions. For is there any vertue that I haue more prized? or whereunto I haue more incited men than to that? to whom apper∣taineth these exhortations and instructions more than to me, who by liberali∣tie would establish and assure a firme commerce and societie amongst men?

Notes

• * 1.1

  Meanes to fashi∣on men to acce∣ptance and gra∣tuitie.