Seneca's morals abstracted in three parts : I. of benefits, II. of a happy life, anger, and clemency, III. a miscellany of epistles / by Roger L'Estrange.

CHAP. XXI. The Contempt of Death makes all the Miseries of Life Easy to us. (Book 21)

IT is a hard Task to Master the Na∣tural Desire of Life, by a Philoso∣phical Contempt of Death; and to convince the World, that there is no hurt in't, and crush an Opinion that was brought up with us from our Cra∣dles. What help? What Encourage∣ment? What shall we say to Humane Frailty, to carry it Fearless through the Fury of Flames, and upon the Points of Swords? What Rhetorick shall we use to bear down the Universal Con∣sent of People to so dangerous an Er∣ror? The Captious, and Superfine Subtilties of the Schools will never do the Work: They speak many sharp things, but utterly unnecessary, and void of Effect. The Truth of it is,

there is but one Chain that holds all the World in Bondage, and that's the Love of Life. It is not that I pro∣pound the making of Death so Indif∣ferent to us, as it is whether a Mans Hairs be Even, or Odd: For what with Self-Love, and an Implanted De∣sire in every thing of Preserving it self, and a long Acquaintance betwixt the Soul, and Body; Friends may be loth to part, and Death may carry an Ap∣pearance of Evil, though in truth it is it self no Evil at all. Beside that, we are to go to a strange Place, in the Dark, and under great Uncertainties of our Future State: So that People Dye in Terror, because they do not know whither they are to goe, and they are apt to Phancy the worst of what they do not understand: and these Thoughts indeed are enough to startle a Man of great Resolution•…•…, without a wonderful Support from Above. And moreover our Natural Scruples, and Infirmities are assisted by the Wits, and Phancies of all Ages, in their Infamous, and Horrid Descripti∣ons

of another World: Nay, taking it for granted, that there will be a Reward, and Punishment, they are yet more affraid of an Annihilation, than of Hell it self.

BUT, What is it we fear? Oh! 'Tis a terrible thing to Dye. But, is it not better Once to Suffer it, a 1.1 than always to Fear it? the Earth it self suffers both With me, and Before me. How many I∣slands are swallow'd up in the Sea? How many Towns do we Sail over? Nay, How many Nations are wholly Lost, either by Inundations, or Earth∣quakes? And, Shall I be afraid of my little Body? Why should I, that am sure to Dye, and that all other things are Mortal, be fearful of coming to my last Gasp my Self? It is the Fear of Death that makes us Base, and trou∣bles, and destroys the Life that we would preserve: That Aggravates all Circumstances, and makes them For∣midable. We depend but upon a Flying Moment. Dye we must; but

When? VVhat's that to us; It is the Law of Nature; the Tribute of Mor∣tals, and the Remedy of all Evils. 'Tis only the Disguise that affrights us; as Children that are Terrify'd with a Visor. Take away the Instruments of Death, the Fire, the Axe, the Guards, the Executioners, the VVhips, and the VVracks: take away the Pomp, I say, and the Circumstances that ac∣company it, and Death is no more than what my Slave yesterday Contemn'd: The Pain is nothing to a Fit of the Stone; if it be Tolerable, it is not Great; and if Intolerable, it cannot last long. There is nothing that Na∣ture has made Necessary, which is more Easie than Death: VVe are longer a coming into the VVorld, than going out of it; and there is not any Minute of our Lives, wherein we may not Reasonably Expect it. Nay, 'tis but a Moments VVork, the parting of the Soul, and Body. VVhat a shame is it then to stand in Fear of any thing so Long, that is done so Soon?

NOR is it any great matter to b 1.2 overcome this Fear: For we have Examples as well of the meanest of Men, as of the great∣est that have done it. There was a Fellow to be expos'd upon the Theatre, who, in disdain, thrust a Stick down his Own Throat, and Chok'd himself: And another on the same Oc∣casion, pretending to nod upon the Chariot, as if he were asleep, cast his head betwixt the Spokes of the Wheel, and kept his Seat till his Neck was broken. Caligula, upon a dispute with Canius Iulus; do not flatter your self, sayes he, for I have given Order to put you to Death. And I thank your most Gracious Majesty for it, sayes Ca∣nius, giving to understand perhaps, that under his Government, Death was a Mercy: For he knew, that Cali∣gula seldome fail'd of being as good as his Word in that Case. He was at Play when the Officer carry'd him away to his Execution, and beckon∣ing to the Centurion, Pray, sayes he,

will you bear me Witness, when I am dead, and gone, that I had the better of the Game. He was a Man exceeding∣ly belov'd, and lamented: And for a Farewell, after he had Preach'd Mo∣deration to his Friends: You, sayes he, are here disputing about the Immortality of the Soul, and I am now a going to learn the Truth of it; If I discover any thing upon that Poynt, you shall hear on't. Nay, the most Timorous of Crea∣tures, when they see there's no escap∣ing, they oppose themselves to all Dangers; the Despair gives them Courage, and the Necessity overcomes the Fear. Socrates was Thirty dayes in Prison after his Sentence, and had time enough to have Starv'd himself, and so to have prevented the Poyson; but he gave the World the Blessing of his Life as long as he could, and took that Fatal Draught, in the Meditati∣on, and Contempt of Death. Mar∣cellinus, in a Deliberation upon Death, call'd several of his Friends about him: One was Fearful, and Advis'd what he himself would have done in

the Case: Another gave the Counsel which he thought Marcellinus would like best; but a Friend of his that was a Stoick, and a stout Man, reason'd the Matter to him after this manner. Mar∣cellinus, do not trouble your self, as if it were such a mighty business that you have now in hand; 'tis Nothing to Live; all your Servants do it, nay, your very Beasts too; but, to Dy Ho∣nestly, and Resolutely, that's a great point. Consider with your self, there's nothing pleasant in Life, but what you have tasted already, and that which is to Come is but the same over again; And how many Men are there in the World, that rather chuse to Dye, than to suffer the Nauseous Tediousness of the Repetition: Upon which dis∣course he fasted himself to Death. It was the Custome of Pacuvius to So∣lemnize, in a kind of Pagentry, every day, his own Funerals. When he had Swill'd, and Gourmandiz'd, to a Luxu∣rious, and Beastly Excess, he was car∣ry'd away from Supper to Bed, with this Song and Acclamation, He has

Liv'd, he has Liv'd. That which he did in Lewdness, would become us to do in Sobriety, and Prudence. If it shall please God to add another Day to our Lives, let us thankfully receive it, but however, it is our Happiest, and Securest Course, so to compose our selves to Night, that we may have no Anxious Dependence upon to Mor∣row. He that can say, I have Liv'd this Day, makes the next clear again.

DEATH is the worst that either the c 1.3 Severity of Laws, or the Cru∣elty of Tyrants can impose up∣on us; and it is the Utmost extent of the Dominion of Fortune. He that is fortify'd against That, must consequently be Superior to all other Difficulties that are but in the Way to't. Nay, and in some Oc∣casions, it requires more Courage to Live, than to Dye. He that is not prepar'd for Death, shall be perpetu∣ally troubled, as well with vain Ap∣prehensions, as with real Dangers. It is not Death it self that is Dreadful,

but the Fear of it that goes before it. When the Mind is under a Consterna∣tion, there is no State of Life that can please us, for we do not so much en∣deavour to Avoid Mischiefs, as to Run away from them: and the greatest slaughter is upon a flying Enemy. Had not a Man better breathe out his Last once for all, than lye Agonizing in pains, Consuming by Inches, losing of his Blood by Drops, and yet how ma∣ny are there that are ready to betray their Country, and their Friends? and to prostitute their very Wives, and Daughters, to preserve a Miserable Carkass? Madmen, and Children have no apprehension of Death, and it were a shame that our Reason should not do as much toward our security, as their Folly. But, the great matter is to Dye Considerately, and Chearfully, upon the Foundation of Virtue; For Life, in it self, is Irksome; and only Eating, and Drinking, and Feeling in a Circle.

HOW many are there that betwixt the d 1.4 Apprehensions of Death, and the Miseries of Life, are at their Wits End what to do with themselves? wherefore, let us fortifie our selves against those Calamities, from which the Prince is no more exempt than the Beggar. Pompey the Great had his head taken off by a Boy, and an Eunuch (young Ptolomy, and Photinus.) Caligula com∣manded the Tribune Daecimus to kill Lepidus; and another Tribune (Chae∣reas) did as much for Caligula. Ne∣ver was any Man so Great, but he was as Liable to suffer Mischief, as he was Able to do it. Has not a Thief, or an Enemy your Th•…•…ote at his Mercy? Nay, and the meanest of Servants has the Power of Life, and Death over his Master, for whosoever contemns his own Life, may be the Master of Ano∣ther bodies. You will find in Story, that the Displeasure of Servants has been as Fatal, as that of Tyrants: And what matters it, the Power of him we

Fear, when the thing we Fear is in every Bodies Power? Suppose I fall into the hands of an Enemy, and the Conque∣ror Condemns me to be led in Tri∣umph: It is but carrying me thither whither I should have gone without him; that is to say, toward Death, whither I have been marching ever since I was born. It is the Fear of our Last hour that disquiets all the Rest. By the Justice of all Constitu∣tions, Mankind is condemn'd to a Ca∣pital Punishment: Now how despica∣ble would that Man appear, who be∣ing Sentenc'd to Death in Common with the whole World, should only Petition, that he might be the last Man brought to the Block? Some Men are particularly afraid of Thunder, and yet extremely careless of Other, and of greater Dangers: as if That were all they have to Fear. Will not a Sword, a Stone, a Feaver, do the work as well? Suppose the Bolt should hit us, it were yet braver to Dye with a Stroke, than with the Bare Apprehension of it: Beside the Vanity of Imagining, that Heaven

and Earth should be put into such a Dis∣order only for the Death of one Man. A Good, and a Brave Man is not mov'd with Lightening, Tempests, or Earth∣quakes: but perhaps he would volun∣tarily plunge himself into that Gulph, where otherwise he should only fall: the cutting of a Corn, or the swallow∣ing of a Fly, is enough to dispatch a Man; and 'tis no matter how great That is, that brings me to my Death, so long as Death it self is but Little. Life is a small matter; but 'tis a mat∣ter of Importance to Contemn it. Na∣ture that Begot us, expells us, and a better, and a safer Place is provided for us. And what is Death, but a Ceasing to be what we were before; we are kindled, and put out; to Cease to Be, and not to Begin to Be, is the same thing? We Dye daily; and while we are growing, our Life de∣creases: every moment that passes, takes away part of it: All that's past is Lost: Nay, we divide with Death the very Instant that we Live. As the last Sand in the Glass does not Mea∣sure

the Hour, but finishes it; so the Last moment that we Live does not make up Death, but concludes. There are some that Pray more earnestly for Death, than we do for Life; but it is better to receive it chearfully when it Comes, than to hasten it before the time.

BUT, What is it that we would live any longer for? c 1.5 Not for our Pleasures; for those we have tasted over and over, even to Satiety: so that there's no point of Luxury that's New to us; But a Man would be loth to leave his Country, and his Friends behind him. That is to say, he would have them go First; for that's the least part of his Care. Well! But I would fain live to do more Good, and discharge my self in the Offices of Life: As if to Dye were not the Duty of every Man that Lives. We are loth to Leave our pos∣sessions; and no Man Swims well with his Luggage. We are all of us equal∣ly Fearful of Death, and Ignorant of

Life: But, What can be more shame∣ful, than to be Sollicitous upon the Brink of Security? If Death be at Any time to be Fear'd, it is Allwayes to be Fear'd; but, the way never to Fear it, is to be often thinking of it. To what end is it to put off, for a lit∣tle while, that which we cannot avoid? He that Dyes, does but follow him that is Dead. Why are we then so long afraid of that which is so little a while a doing? How miserable are those Peo∣ple that spend their Lives in the Dis∣mal Apprehensions of Death? For, they are beset on all hands, and eve∣ry Minute in Dread of a surprize. We must therefore look about us, as if we were in an Enemies Country; and Consider our Last hour, not as the Pu∣nishment, but as the Law of Nature; The Fear of it is a Continual Palpi∣tation of the Heart, and he that over∣comes That Terror, shall never be troubled with any Other. Life is a Navigation; we are perpetually wal∣lowing, and dashing one against ano∣ther; Sometimes we suffer Shipwrack,

but we are Alwayes in Danger, and in Expectation of it. And, what is it when it comes, but either the End of a Journey, or a Passage? It is as great a Folly to Fear Death, as to Fear Old Age. Nay, as to Fear Life it self; for he that would not Dye, ought not to Live, since Death is the Condition of Life: Beside, that it is a Madness to Fear a thing that is Certain; for where there is no Doubt, there is no place for Fear.

WE are still chiding of Fate, and even those that exact the most Rigorous Justice betwixt Man,* 1.6 and Man, are yet themselves Unjust to Providence. Why was such a One taken away in the Prime of his Years? As if it were the Num∣ber of years that makes Death easie to us, and not the Temper of the Mind. He that would Live a little Longer to Day, would be as loth to Dye a Hun∣dred year Hence. But, which is more Reasonable, for Us to obey Nature, or for Nature to obey us? Go we must

at Last, and no Matter how soon: 'Tis the Work of Fate to make us Live Long, but 'tis the Business of Virtue to make a short Life sufficient. Life is to be measur'd by Action, not by Time; a Man may Dye Old at Thir∣ty, and Young at Fourscore. Nay, the One Lives after Death, and the O∣ther Perish'd before he Dy'd. I look upon Age among the Effects of Chance. How Long I shall Live is in the Power of Others, but it is in my Own how Well. The largest space of Time, is to live till a Man is Wise. He that Dyes of Old Age, does no more than go to Bed when he is weary. Death is the Test of Life, and it is that only which discovers what we are, and di∣stinguishes betwixt Ostentation, and Virtue. A Man may Dispute, Cite Great Authorities, Talk Learnedly, Huff it out, and yet be Rotten at Heart. But let us Soberly attend our Business, and since it is Uncertain When, or Where we shall Dye, let us look for Death in all Places, and at all Times: We can never Study that

Point too much, which we can ne∣ver come to Experiment, whether we know it or no. It is a Blessed thing to dispatch the Business of Life before we Dye; and then to Expect Death in the Possession of a Happy Life. He's the Great Man, that is wil∣ling to Dye, when his Life is pleasant to him. An Honest Life is not a Greater Good than an Honest Death. How many Brave young Men, by an Instinct of Nature, are carry'd on to Great Actions, and even to the Con∣tempt of all Hazards?

'TIS Childish to go out of the g 1.7 World Groning, and Wail∣ing, as we came into't. Our Bodies must be thrown away, as the Secondine that wraps up the Infant, the other being only the Covering of the Soul: We shall then discover the Secrets of Nature; the Darkness shall be Discuss'd, and our Souls Irradiated with Light, and Glory: A Glory without a Shadow; a Glory that shall surround us, and from

whence we shall look down, and see Day, and Night beneath us. If we cannot lift up our Eyes toward the Lamp of Heaven without dazling, What shall we do when we come to behold the Divine Light in its Illu∣strious Original? That Death which we so much dread, and decline, is not a Determination, but the Intermission of a Life, which will return again. All those things that are the very Cause of Life, are the way to Death: We Fear it, as we do Fame, but it is a great Folly to Fear Words. Some People are so impatient of Life, that they are still wishing for Death, but he that wishes to dye, does not desire it; Let us rather wait Gods Pleasure, and Pray for Health, and Life. If we have a Mind to Live, Why do we wish to dye? If we have a Mind to dye, we may do it without talking of it. Men are a great deal more Resolute in the Arti∣cle of Death it self, than they are about the Circumstances of it, For it gives a Man Courage, to Consider, that his Fate is Inevitable; the slow Ap∣proches

of death are the most Trou∣blesome to us; as we see many a Gla∣diator, who, upon his wounds, will direct his Adversaries weapon to his very Heart; though but Timorous perhaps in the Combat. There are some that have not the Heart either to Live, or Dy, and that's a Sad Case. But this we are sure of, The Fear of Death is a Continual Slavery, as the Contempt of it is Certain Liberty.

Notes

• a 1.1

  'Tis a Folly to Fear Death.
• b 1.2

  The Fear of Death is Easily overcome.
• c 1.3

  He that Despi∣ses Death, Fears nothing.
• d 1.4

  All Men must Dye.
• c 1.5

  To what end should we Covet Life?
• * 1.6

  f To Dye is to Obey Nature.
• g 1.7

  'Tis Childish to Dye Lamenting.