Apokolokyntosis. Or A mockery upon the death and deification of Claudius Cæsar Written in Latine by Lucius Annæus Seneca the philosopher. Imprimatur, Junii 17. 1664. Roger L'Estrange.

To the READER.

THis Book is Intituled ΑΠΟΚΟΛΟΚΥΝΤΟΣΙΣ, wherein Seneca exceedingly derides the pretended Deification of Claudius Caesar, and, by the way, scoffs at the whole Apotheofis of the Romans and Graecians, upon occasion of that of Claudius, who fell into a lingring Consumption by eating Mushroms, his u∣sual dish, poysoned with Coloquintida, by the instigati∣on of his Wife Agrippina, but by the subtlety of a Noble woman, Mistris of that Art. Claudius Son of Drusus Germanicus, succeeding Caius in the Empire of Rome, is recorded to have been a Prince no lesse Cruel than Foolish; insomuch that his Mother Antonia was wont to call him a Monster of Men, whom Nature had begun•• not perfected: and when she tax'd any man of much foolishnesse, would say, He was more sottish than her Son Claudius. His Grandmother Augusta alwayes thought him most despicable, would never admonish him but by messages, or by short & sharp Letters. His Sister Livilla, when she heard he was to be Emperour, would openly la∣ment the deplorable condition of the People of Rome. This man Lucius Annaeus Seneca hath here painted forth in his proper colours; and perhaps was the more bitter, in revenge of the banishment he sustained under him: though afterward Agrippina, being then marri••••

••o Claudius, that she might not be famous only for wick∣••d acts, interceded for Seneca, and obtained not onely ••is release, but his preferment to the Praetorship; con∣••eiving it would be no lesse grateful to the Publick, in ••egard of his fame for Learning, then advantageous to ••er, intending to use his help in the Education of her Son Domitian, and his advice in advancing him to the Empire; for she believed (as Tacitus sayes) he would be a friend to her in respect of that benefit, and an ene∣••y to Claudius in regard of that injury. This may serve ••o declare the Authour's scope in writing this facetious Tract; which is so opposite to the usual gravity of Se∣••eca, that it hath been doubted by some to be his: but ••he unquestionable assertions of so many ancient testimo∣••ies must needs remove that scruple. And because the Book hath never yet worn an English Livery, but hath ••een totally omitted by the Translator of the rest of his Works, as a Tract more busy and difficult, interwoven ••ith various and acute verses, it was the rather under∣••aken for satisfaction of some private Friends, without ••hought of troubling the World with it. The Copies ••hich are transmitted to us do without all doubt so differ ••rom the Original, that they will scarce admit of sense ••n many places; and they who attempt the reconciliati∣••n do but quarrel among themselves: yet in the most dif∣••••cult passages the present Translator makes use of some ••f their Castigations, not with much approbation, but for ••ant of better, being unwilling to be too laborious in ••••ifles.