The vvoorke of the excellent philosopher Lucius Annæus Seneca concerning benefyting that is too say the dooing, receyuing, and requyting of good turnes. Translated out of Latin by Arthur Golding.

¶The .xxii. Chapiter.

I Haue (sayeth he) that I would haue, and that I desyred. It repentes mee not ne shall repent mée, neither shall fortune (doe the woorst shée cā (bring mee too the poynt that I should say: what ment I? what hathe my good will booted mee? It booteth mee euen vppon the Racke; It booteth mee euen in the fire. For though it should bee put too euery mēbe•• one after another, and consume the bodie aliue by pée••emeale: yet too a man that knowes well by himself, whose hart being good is full fraughted with the streame of a cleere conscience, the fire shalbee welcome where∣through the b••yghtnesse of his good conscience 〈◊〉〈◊〉 foorth. Now also let this argument aforesayd come in place ageine: namely, what is the cause that moueth vs too bee so frendly at the tyme of our death? why wée should wey eche per∣sones desertes? why wee should inforce our memorie too exa∣mine all our former lyfe, and by all meanes indeuer too shewe that wee haue not forgotten anie mannes kyndnesse? At that tyme there remayneth nothing for hope too ••inger vppon: and yet standing at the pi••tes brim, our desyre is too depart this world as freendly as maie bee. Uerely yee may see there is a greate reward of the déede, in the verye dooing of it. And great is the power of honestie too allure mennes hartes vnto it. For the beauty therof surpryseth mens mindes, and rauisheth th••m with singular pleasure in beholding the bryghtnes of h••r light.

But manie commodities ensew of it, and good mē liue more in safetie, yea and (according too the iudgment of good men) more at ease too, where innocencie and a thankfull minde goe with it. For nature had doone vs too muche wrong, if it had made this so greate a good thing, too haue bene miserable, and vncerteine, and barrein.

But looke thus muche further: whither thou couldest finde in thy hart, too make thy way vntoo this vertew, whiche (oftē∣tymes hath a safe and easie passage vnto it) by stones and roc∣kes, or by a passage beset with sauage beastes and Serpentes.