I ragguagli di Parnasso, or, Advertisements from Parnassus in two centuries : with the politick touch-stone / written originally in Italian by that famous Roman Trajano Bocalini ; and now put into English by the Right Honourable Henry, Earl of Monmouth.

The LXXVIII. ADVERTISEMENT.

Learned Seneca, seeing that his late Reformation of his for∣mer too splendid way of living, was ill taken by the U∣niversality of Pernassus, distributes his immense riches in a work which was greatly commended by all men.

IT is certainly a thing worthy much consideration, that the Works of the Learned Anneus Seneca, so full of holy Precepts, and of so excel∣lent instructions for the life of man, as they make their Author to appear a man of singular goodness, yet he daily grows so much less in esteem in Pernassus, as he is not much valued by the greatest part of the Ver∣tuosi of this Court: Which Seneca perceiving, and fearing lest the a∣bundance of his Servants, his rich apparel, store of Plate, and the great∣ness of his Wardrobe might lessen his reputation, not only with those that were his rivals, and did envy him, but even with his loving and learned friends, shut up his dores not long since; sold all his Apparel, Plate, and Wardrobe, and dismist at once three parts of his Family; a resolution which was infinitely commended by all the Literati of this Court, and which renew'd Seneca's reputation which was almost lost; but it soon began to decrease again; for those quick-ey'd Cou•…•…tiers, who being careless of their own behaviours, busie themselves wholly in prying into other mens carriages, quickly learnt, that Seneca had bet∣tered his Estate by the sale of his personal Estate; so as what he thought should have bettered his reputation in the world, did much impair it.

Wherefore it being by this accident clearly made known that the my∣stery of hypocrisie, which is so easily practised amongst shallow-pated people, is impossible to be made use of with safety to reputation in Courts which are full of men, who erring more in knowing too much, then in not knowing how men are naturally given, judge not by mens words, but by their deeds. Which made Seneca perceive at last it was not harder to make an Iron Clock without a File, then to be able to use Hypocrite amongst great Wits, without danger of being discovered to

be a Pillary bird. And perceiving likewise that the profession of affe∣cted goodness won but little credit in a man who was very rich, and ava∣ritious withal; that he might not see the death of those his writings, which had given him so long and so honourable a life, he put on an ho∣norable resolution, which was totally to give over the way of appear∣ance, which he had been long accustomed to, and to betake himself to realities, which only occasion the reputation of true goodness. It is whispered in Court that this alteration was occasioned, for that Apollo being told by Seneca's rivals, that though this Philosopher did no lon∣ger use Plate at his Table, yet he fed more deliciously then ever; his Majesty said, that the true Reformation of good men, consisted not in the not using of Silver Vesse's at their Tables, and in the eating of fat Capons notwithstanding in earthen dishes; wherefore Seneca much moved with this sharp repremand, resolved he would be no longer scorn∣ed for spending so immense a wealth only upon his belly and his back, divided his whole Estate, consisting of three millions and a half, into four equal parts, wherewith he founded as many publick Hospitals, and indowed them with rich Revenues, and ordered that the four sorts of fools wherewith the world did abound, should be therein commodi∣ously cured.

The first was to be for those foolish people who throw away their Estates, waste their wits, and lose their reputations in seeking for the Philosophers Stone; fools that are indeed to be pittied, for whom all good people ought to pray:

The second for those ignorant hiddy giddy people, who Data opera seek for riches by Exorcisms and Inchantments.

The third was for the cure of such idle fools, worthy of punish∣ment: who not caring to know things past, by the reading of Histo∣ry, foolishly imagin they may arrive at the knowledg of foretelling things to come, by Astrology.

The fourth was for the advantage of such simple folks, who having wasted all their Estates, and not having one farthing left, do notwith∣standing still proudly boast of their Noble Families.