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. I.

NOT to render thankes for benefits receiued (my AEbutius Liberalis) is both lothsome in it selfe, and hatefull in all mens opinion.* 1.1 And therefore such as are themselues vngratefull, complaine of vngratefull men: and so are we fashioned and ad∣dressed to the contrarie of that we ought to doe, that there are some who become our Capitall e∣nemies, not only after benefits receiued, but for the very fauours they receiue. I cannot denie but that this hapneth vnto some by reason of the corruption of their nature: to many, because that the interposition of time extinguisheth the remembrance. For those thinges that were fresh in memorie with them, while they were newly done, doe in processe of time weare out of remembrance. Concerning which so••t of men, I know that thou and I haue o∣therwhiles disputed,* 1.2 whereas thou maintainedst that it were better to call them forgetfull than vngratefull. Shall he therefore be excused of ingratitude because he hath forgotten, when as no man can forget, except he be vngrate∣full? There are many sorts of vngratefull men, as there are of Theefes and Mur∣therers, whose fault is one, but in the parts there is great varietie. Ingratefull is he who denieth that hee hath receiued a good turne, which hath beene done

him: Ingratefull is he that dissembleth: Ingratefull is he that maketh not resti∣tution: and the most vngratefull of all is he, that forgetteth a fauour hath beene shewen him. For they, although they requite not, yet are they indebted, and som•• certaine impression of the good turne (hoarded vp in their corrupt con∣sciences) is extant with them. And vpon some cause they may at length di∣spose themselues to gratuitie, if either shame shall put them in minde, or some sodaine desire to proceede honourably: such as for a time is wont to awaken it selfe in men of the worst disposition, if any easie occasion should inuite them. But neuer can hee become thankefull who hath forgotten the whole benefit. And whether thinkest thou him worser, in whom the thankes of a good turne is lost, or him in whom the very remembrance perisheth? Faultie are those eies that feare the light, but blind are they that see not at all. Not to reuerence and loue ones Parents is impietie, and not to acknowledge them is madnesse. Who is more vngratefull than hee, who hauing receiued such a curtesie as hee ought to treasure vp in the formost part of his memorie, and continually medi∣tate thereon, hath laid it so farre a-side, and neglected it, that he groweth whol∣ly ignorant thereof? It appeareth that he neuer bethought him of restitution, that suffered obliuion so farre to vsurpe vpon him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  That which is complained of by all men, is exer∣cised by most me••.
• * 1.2

  He termeth all sinne equall, ac∣cording to the doctrine of the Stoickes, but all the Fathers and Christian religion teacheth other∣wise.