Lucius Annæus Seneca, the philosopher, his booke of the shortnesse of life translated into an English poem.

L. A. SENECA OF THE Shortnes of Life . Cha. 1 MOst men ( Paulinus ) make it Natures crime , That we are borne to a small part of time , Which doth so speedily , so swiftly run , That life with most is in the entrance done ; Nor doe the Rude and Ignorant alone Vnder this common conceiv'd evill groane ; But it hath drawne ( out of an inward sence ) Complaints from men of greatest Eminence ; Hence did the chiefe Physitian exclaime , That Art is long , Life short to learne the same ; And Aristotl ' expostulate with Nature ( More then a Wiseman ought ) to the brute creature As most indulgent , since some kind appeares To live five hundred , some a thousand yeares , Whilst man to High and Noble things design'd Is to a farre lesse terme of life confin'd . The time we have 's not short ; but much we lose , Our life , if of the whole we well dispose , Is long enough , and of a large extent To bring great things to their accomplishment : But when it is not vertuously imploy'd ▪ But with excesse or idlenes destroy'd ▪ Death vs at length surprising , life is spent Before we have perceived how it went ; Life is not given , but made short ; nor poore Can we be said , but prodigall of store ; For as great Riches falling in the power Of a lewd Spend-all vanish in an houre , And meanes though small , committed to the care Of a good Husband , soone increased are ; So life well us'd is long enough ; Cha. 2 Why then Is Nature charg'd to have dealt ill with men ? Some to infatiat Auarice are bent ; Others to fruitlesse labours are intent ; This drenched is with Wine ; that , dull'd with Sloth , This mans ambiton leaves him to the Wrath And will of others ; that , in hope of gaine Seekes Lands , and Seas his Traficke to maintaine ; Some take delight in Warre , busy'd about Other mens Ruines , while their owne they doubt ; Some into willing servitude are brought , Which an ingrate dependency hath wrought ; Many doe either earnestly affect Other mens fortunes , or their owne neglect ; Most , unresolv'd whereto themselves t' apply , Through vaine and selfe displeasing levity Fall still upon new proiects ; some againe Misliking every course of life , remaine Yawning till death ; so that , what hath beene said And as an Oracle delivered By that great Poet , we for truth may give , 'T s the least part of Life that wee doe live : The rest is onely Time not Life ; they 're ty'd And compassed by vice on every side , They cannot raise themselves , nor lift their eyes To behold truth , and from their strong Lusts rise ; They never will find leasure to retire Into themselves ; or if some good desire They chance to have , 't is like , but at the best The Sea , that though Winds cease , is not at rest ; Their passions will afford them noe repose ; Nor would I have thee thinke I speake of those Notoriously bad ; they whom the World Calls happy , are into like evils hur'ld ; How many mens great Riches have beene found An heauy weight to presse them to the ground ? Many to boast their Eloquence so strayne Themselues , they dye by Rupture of a Veine ? How many have we seene grow pale and wan With their continuall pleasures ? many a man Compass'd with troopes of Suiters , is thereby Deprived quite of his owne liberty ; Nay run through all degrees ; one goes to law , Another Pleades the cause ; this stands in awe Of Power which threatens death , that him defends An other will be Iudge , and make them friends ; But none doth to himselfe himselfe redeeme ; We mutually are wasted ; those that seeme Of greatest note , doe with a fond respect Court one another , and themselves neglect ; It is a folly therefore beyond Sence , When great men will not give us Audience To count them proud ; how dare we call it pride When we the same have to our selves deny'd Yet they how great , how proud so ere , have bin Sometimes so courteous as to call thee in , And heare thee speake ; but thou couldst nere afford Thy selfe the leasure of a looke or word ▪ Cha. 3 THou shouldst not then here in another blame , Because when thou thy selfe do'st doe the same Thou wouldst not be with others , but we see Plainely , thou canst not with thine owne selfe be ; Not all the wits that are , should they conspire , This humane blindnes could enough admire ; They will have none to meddle with their Farmes , And if their bounds be question'd are in Armes ; But yet will suffer others to incroach Vpon their lives , and to their great reproach , They will not sticke officiously to call Such as will at the length be Lords of all ; To share his money no man can abide ; Their lives twixt many all men will devide ; In keeping their Estate strict care they use ; But , come t' expence of time , th' are most profuse ; Of what alone ( though in it selfe a vice ) Is an especiall vertue , Avarice ; With some old man let 's thus expostulate ; Thou hast , we see , run through lifes u●most date , Attain'd perhaps , an hundred yeares or more , But tell us now ; how much from that great store Thy Creditor hath got , thy Mistris , Friend , Thy Clients , or the Iarre ( that hath no end ) Betweene thy wife and thee ? how much is spent In chastising thy Slaves ? in Complement , And Visits through the towne ? adde here the cure Of maladies , thou didst thy selfe procure , Time lost in doing nothing ; and behold Thou hast farre fewer yeares then thou hast told : Consider well what day hath beene imploy'd As thou determin'st , how thou hast enioy'd Thy selfe , or hast beene constant to thy ends , Kept thy mind right , what good thine age pretends T' have ever done , how many have bereav'd Thee of thy life when thou hast not perceiv'd , When foolish ioy , vaine hope , greedy desire , And flattering company their shares require , But a small part will to thy selfe belong , And then thou must confesse thou dyest yong . Cha. 4 BVt what 's the cause ? we live , as if for ever We were to live , minding our frailties never ? We husband not our time , but let it fly As if we had a Store-house to supply , When as perhaps , that day set to be past Vpon that thing , or man , will be our last ; As Mortall , all things sordidly we feare , And as Immortall , our Ambitions reare : At fifty Yeares some say they will retire , And at threescore beleeve they shall desire To quit their offices : but who can give Assurance , that we shall to that time live T' effect our purpose ? what vain thought us driues To give our selves the Reliques of our lives ; And that time onely unto goodnesse lend , That otherwise we know not how to spend ? That man hath certainly too late begun To live , that onely lives when life is done ; What madnesse is it to defer our rest . Till fifty ' or threescore yeares ? and thinke it best Then to begin our life , when onely some , And perhaps few , will unto that age come ? The greatest Princes oft have words let fall Wherein they wish , commend , prefer 'bove all A quiet life ; and ( might it safely bee ) Would be content to quit their dignity For though no outward danger should assaile , Yet fortune will against her selfe prevaile . Chap. DIvine Augustus ( t' whom the Gods gave more Then any mortall man ) would oft deplore The misery that waites upon a Crowne , And still desire to lay the burthen downe , His chiefe discourse to this did ever tend , That in a privat life his cares should end ; This hope , though vaine , did sweete contentment give , That at the length he to Himselfe should live : In an Epistle to the Senate sent , Where he desir'd to let them know , hee ment That his so often mentioned retreat , Should be with reservation of his state , Such words I find . But these things rather ought Be done , then said ; yet so farre hath the thought . Of that wisht time prevaild , that though the glad Fruition of the thing hee yet not had , Yet I , in the discourse I thereof make Doe in the meane time no small pleasure take : So did he value rest , that when he could Not compasse it in deede , in thought he would ; He that saw all depend upon his will , And unto men and Nations , good or ill Gave as he list , thought gladly on that day Wherein his greatnesse he should put away ; He found what secret cares , and how much sweat Such farre-renowned Honour did beget ; When first by Citizens , by Collegues next , And lastly by his Kindred deepely vext , He was compeld ( so powerfully withstood ) By land and Sea , to try it out with blood ; Through Macedonia , Aegypt , Cicily , Through Asia , Syria , and the coast thereby He led his Armies forth to forraigne warrs Weari'd with slaughter in our Roman iarres ; While he the Alpes appeas'd , did such reduce As in the Empire liv'd in doubtfull truce ; While beyond Rhene , Danubius , Euphrates , He did his bounds remove , in midst of these Great acts , in Rome it selfe did Lepidus , Muraena , Caepio , and Egnatius Whet all their Swords against him ; and before This threatning danger he had well past ore , His daughter , with so many Nobles bound B'Adultry , as by vow , sought to confound His yet unbroken age ; that once more hee Might feare a woman with her Anthony : And though these ulcers with the members two , He quite cut off , yet others quickly grew ; So bodies still breake out , that are opprest With too much blood ; he therefore sought for rest ; There dwelt his thoughts , to that his hopes aspir'd , That could give others all that they desir'd . When Cicero by the malitious fewde Of Catalines , and Clodians persude , By Pompey and Crassus greiv'd , those foes profest , These doubtfull friends , could not find any rest In the perplexed State , which he desir'd To save from ruine , he at length retir'd ; No lesse inconstant in adversity Then he was active in prosperity ; His Consulship that he did so commend , Though not without a cause , yet without end , How did he then detest ? what heavinesse Writing to Atticus did he expresse ? Old Pompey vanquisht , and his Sonne in Spaine , His broken troopes now gathering up againe , Dost thou demand what I doe heere ? ( quoth hee ) In Tusculanum I remaine halfe free : He further addes where he bewailes time past , Condemnes the present , and despaires at last Of what 's to come ; did Cicero but call Himselfe halfe free ? a Wise man never shall Descend so low ; but halfe he cannot be , Vnbound , intirely himselfe , hee 's wholy free ; For being above fortune , nothing can Be ever thought to be above that man . Cha. 6 WHen Livius Drusus one of a bold spirit , Did strive the Grachi's mischiefe , to inherit And to obtrud new Lawes , followed by all Th' Italian rout , scarce weighing what might fall , Finding no hope to compasse his designe , Which he with safety could not then decline , He curs'd his life , who ( as he oft would say ) Was th' onely boy that nere had leave to play ; He durst presume though yet but one of those , That wore the Robe of Youth , to interpose For guilty men , and in such earnest sort That he did many sentences extort ; What would not that ambition undergoe ? Such forward impudence brings certaine woe , Private and publique ; therefore he too late Complain'd of want of play-daies , whom the state And Iustice , from a boy pernitious found ; Some thought he slew himselfe , for of a wound Peircing his Groyne he dyde , the means unknown , But the act thought unseasonable by none . T were vaine to speake of more , whom vulgar fame Hath happy call'd , since selfe-convincing shame Their whole life past hath taught them to condem ; But these complaints nor others chang'd , nor them For though such words brak from them , yet the wil And the affections have remained still ; A Life so led , although a thousand yeares , Seemes to best raightned much and short appeares ; Such things devoure an Age ; though nature run Her course , lengthned by Art , yet life 's soone done ; For men observe not , nor give timely stay To what 's most swift , but let it passe away As needlesse , or to be regain'd at pleasure ; I name those first that can afford no leasure To any thing but Wine , and Lust , such time Is vildly spent : Others , although they climbe With a vaine glorious hope , more brauely ' offend , The Couetous , the Wrathfull , they that bend Their actions to uniust revenge , or warre , Have more pretence , Their crimes more manly are , The sins of Lust are base ; doe thou suruay The actions of most men , they spend the day Onely in counting money , plotting still How to deceive , or fearing the like ill , Giving or taking favours , waging law , Or making feasts , which custome now doth draw As duties on them , betweene good and bad They 're so turmoyl'd , no breathing can be had ; And 't is confest by all ; that they that dwell In too much businesse , can doe nothing well ; Nor Eloquence , nor liberall Arts can find Any admittance , when the busied mind Not able to looke up , with care is cloyd , They that continually are so imployd , Doe nothing lesse then live , a thing discernd By very few , and hardly to bee learnd Of other Sciences , professors are In every place ; yea boyes have prou'd so rare They have beene teachers ; but we must apply Even all our life to live , nay all to dye : Which many Wise men quitting both their treasures Their worldly affairs , their offices , their pleasures , And ready to depart hence , have profest Not yet to know ; how short then are the rest ? We may ( beleeve me ) truely thinke a man Rais'd above humane errour , when he can So keepe his time , that it be shard by none ; Life then is long , when it is all our owne . No part will to the owner uselesse be , Nor subiect to an others will ; for he That knowes to husband time , think 's nothing fit Nor worthy heere , to be exchang'd for it : He therefore hath enough , while they that spend It on the people , quickly find an end ; Nor can we therefore thinke from hence that such Know not their losse , how many with too much Felicity opprest , amidst the Rout Of Suitors , their law cases , or about Some other honest misery , have cride That time to live was unto them denide ? Which we may well beleeve , since all that make Vse of thy helpe , doe something from thee take ; How much hath he whom thou defend'st ? or hee That by thy helpe expects some dignity ? Or that old Woman , that with clamour fils Thine eares , with proving many Husbands wills ? How much hath hee that sicknesses doth faigne And by deluding others hopes makes gaine ? Or that great friend , by whom th' art onely sure ; To be regarded as his Furniture ? Recount ( I say ) thy daies , and thou shalt find Onely the reffuse to thy selfe assign'd : This gets the Consulship so much desir'd , And then askes when the yeare will be expir'd ▪ That provids publique sports , obtain'd with large Expence , and straight growes weary of the charge : This Lawyer hurried to every barre By troupes of Suiters , with more causes farre Then can be heard , growne weary , doth pretend That he could wish the Terme were at an end ; They their owne Lives precipitate , that both Desire things future , and the present loath ; While he that suffers none his time to borrow , But makes each present day his life , the morrow , Nor feares , nor wishes ; for what houre can bring New ioy to him , that knowing every thing Hath Master'd all his thoughts ? let Fortune vse Her pleasure , he his constant life persues : Something may added be perchance , although Nothing diminished , but yet added so As Meate to a full stomacke , neither sought , Nor yet digested . Let none then be thought Old for their wrinckles , or gray-hairs , 't were wrong To say hee liv'd , hee onely hath beene long : We cannot truely say that Ship hath saild , On which fierce stormes have from the port prevaild , And driving too and fro , the voyage crost , That hath not sayled much , but beene much tost : I oft have wondred with my selfe to heare , Some demand time , and others not forbeare To grant it straight , both looke upon the cause Why it is ask'd , the thing from neither drawes Regard , but as nothing were sought , or given ; That which should be in most esteeme , is even A trifle made ; the errour hence doth spring , Because it is an incorporeall thing , Not subiect to the sence , t is therefore brought Into contempt , or rather nothing thought . Our Great men yearly New-yeares Gifts receive , For which they give by way of contract leave To use their labour , diligence , and paines , That which costs onely time , is counted gaines : But if such once be sick , and think , Death neare How are Physitians hugg'd ? or if they feare To loose their lives for some notorious crime , What bounteous offers are then made for time ? So various are their thoughts ; could men but tell The number of their yeares to come , as well As what are past , how would they then both make Spare of the one , and at the other quake ? What certaine is ( though small ) we may devide ; We must more wary be of what may slide So suddainly from us ; nor can we suppose They know not what a precious thing they loose , Because when they their loves would most expresse , Part of their yeares to give , they will professe , They give , t is true , but so , that what they leave Others , to whom they give , doe not receive , Nor they themselves take notice of the losse ; A hidden damage seemes an easie crosse . But none thy yeares will render , none restore Thee to thy selfe ; what order'd was before Must be continued in the course begun ; Time gives no warning , but doth flyly run : Nor peoples favour , nor the Princes power Can alter , lengthen , or retard one houre ; Thou busy'd art , life hastneth away , Death comes at length , and thou must needs obay . Cha. 9 CAn any that to Wisedome would pretend , Be better busy'd , then to learne to mend His present life ? it is a vaine pretence To thinke to order time , with times expence ; And to defer our purpose , when we know , Life's greatest damage from delay doth grow . Th' expectance of an other daies event , Is nothing but a present detriment ; For to omit a day , is to dispose Of what is fortunes , and our owne to lose : Why stay'st thou then ? whereon dost thou relye ? No future thing is sure ; live presently . Heare how the Poet in a Rapture cries , Each best day first from wretched Mortalls flyes . Let 's not deferre ( said he ) for if wee stay 'T is gone , though we lay hold it runs away ; We therefore of swift time swift use should make , And as it were from a quicke Torrent , take ; And to reprove our thoughts , he doth not say The best Yeare soonest flyes , but the best day ; Why are we then so slow in such a Flight Of time , as if we could pretend a Right To Moneths , or Yeares , or to the longest date That our vast minds could ere desire of fate ? He speakes but of a day now fleeting ; then Why marvaile we , if wretched mortall men ( That is , such as be buside ) ever find Their best daies soonest gon , whose childish mind Age undiscern'd invades ; for no man keepes Any accompt , by what degrees that creepes : As they , whom some tale told , or serious thought Deceiving , to their Iournies end are brought , Before they thinke them neere ; so we that make This speedy Iourney ' of Life , both while we wake And sleepe , by reason of our too much care , Doe find it done before we be aware . Cha. 10 SHould I in parts devide what I propose , I easily then might prove the lives of those That so much mind the World , to be most short : Old Fabianus ( none of that odde sort Of Chaire-philosophers , but Morrall , grave ; ) Was wont to say , that vices must not have A slight encounter , the' are ( quoth he ) our Swords , That must repell such Enemies , not words ; Yet that men may their errours more refraine , 'Ti better to instruct , then to complaine , These three degrees of time make up lifes summe , What is , what was , and what is yet to come , The present transient is , and cannot last , The future doubtfull ; onely what is past Is certaine : fortune heere all right doth lose , Not any other can thereof dispose ; This Worldly men have lost , nor can they find Leasure enough , their former deedes to mind ; Or if they could , 't were an unpleasant thing , To thinke of that which must repentance bring : Men care not to looke backe on time ill spent , For that remembrance needes must represent The shame , when they shall truely ponder it , Of what they tooke such pleasure to commit , Such onely as by reasons rule direct Their actions , can upon time-past reflect ; He that hath oft ambitiously desir'd , Proudly contemn'd , with insolence requir'd His captives thraldome ; he that hath deceiv'd Perfidiously , extortingly bereav'd , Or hath profusely spent , can hardly be Content to have recourse to memory ; Whereas that onely is the Sacred time , That doth above all power of fortune clime : No sicknesse can disturbe , nor feare , nor want , The firme fruition of the same supplant : The present is but every single day , Which passeth in a moment , but we may At our owne pleasure all time past revive , Whereof the busy'd doe themselves deprive : It is the quiet mind , that can revoke All parts of life , whereas a heavy yoake Imposed is upon the labouring thought , That to looke backe it hardly can be brought : Such lives are swallow'd up ; and as t is vaine To seeke to fill what nothing can retaine , So is it bootlesse store of time to give To them , whose minds are like a leaking sive : Time present is so short , that 't is by some Thought nothing , gone ere it be fully come , And stoppes no more then the Celestiall speare , Which never can its constant course forbeare , Yet that to busy'd men is onely left , Whereof they at the instant are bereft . Cha. 11 BVt wouldst thou know how short a time they have ? Then doe but see how long a time they crave ; How earnestly doe old men begge t' obtaine , Some yeares addition to their small remaine ; Who feigning themselves younger doe belye Their age , and are deceiv'd so willingly , As if the fates they also could delude ; But by some deadly sicknesse be'ng pursu'd , How fearefully they draw their latest breath , And goe not , but are haled unto death ; Then they repent , and vow if they recover Their health's , their wonted courses to give over ; Finding their labour to small use imploy'd , When what is gotten cannot be enioy'd : Whereas a life from worldly troubles free Is long enough , and cannot subiect be To Fortune , Riot , or an others will , T is all our owne , and turnes to profit still ; Though it be short , it doth cententment find , A Wise man dyes with an assured mind : But thou , purhaps wouldst be informed ▪ whom I meane by buside men ; not such as come Early into the Pleading place , and stay So late , that barking Dogges drive them away ; Nor those , whom either their own Clients smother Bravely , or else by following an other Contemptuously are trod on ; nor yet those That for base Lucre , their Estates expose To sordid out-cries ; or whom flattery Drawes from their owne , at others gates to lye ; Some mens repose is busines ; in their Beds And Houses of retirement , are their Heads Still vainely troubled ; such cannot be said To be at rest , but Idely busied . Cha. 12 THink'st thou them quiet , that with so much care , Corinthian rusty Medalls will compare , That from the false they may discerne the true , Made pretious by the Folly of some few ? Or those that goe to see ( for loe we groane Not under Roman vices now alone ) Youths with Oil'd-bodies wrastle on the Stage , Bred up on purpose of like shape and age ? Think'st thou Him quiet , that spends halfe the day To have the tedious Barbour take away What grew the night before , that time can spare To call a Councell upon every haire How it must lye ; what Choller will he vent If once the Barber seemes but negligent ? Who to displease him is as much afeard As if he cut the man , and not his beard ; When by a Per'wigg th'haire's restor'd that 's shed , Or growing thinne is o're the Fore-head spred ; Into what passion will he straight be put If any part of his Deare maine be cut , Or if the same be discompos'd ; he frets If all be not reduc'd to Annulets ; May we not well beleeve he takes lesse care To have the State disordred , then his haire ; Who rather to be spruce , then honest strives ; Such are more curious of their lockes , then lives . Are they at rest , who their whole time doe passe But onely with a Combe , and Looking-glasse ? That Songs doe either make , or sing , or heare ; When as the voice , that to the naturall eare In the plaine note sounds best , is taught to run Wanton division with writh'd Faces done ; Who on their Fingers measure verses feet , And though with serious , or sad things they meet , Yet are they ever warbling ; such as these In Lazie businesse live , and not in ease : Nor have they vacant time , that feasts doe make ; Because we se what curious paines , they take T' adorne with Plate their Cupboards , and devise To put their Pages in quaint Liveries ; How carefull are they least the Cooke neglect To send the Bore in dress'd as they expect ? With what a quicknesse doe the servants fall Vnto their busines , when they heare the call ? How neatly doth the Carver play his part , In cutting up the fowle with so much art ? And after their full Cups spewing about , How soone th' unhappy boyes will wipe it out ? In these respects , they covet to be thought Magnificent , and bounteous , and are brought In every course of life , to this condition They cannot eate or drinke , but with ambition : Nor have they quiet lives , that up and downe Are born in Chairs , and Litters , through the towne ; For which they have their certain hours , when they That are their Bearers , dare not be away ; Who must by other men be put in mind To Bath , to Swimme , to Sup , and are inclin'd To such a negligence , that they scarce know Themselves , whither they hungry be , or no ; One of the nicer sort ( if so it be , Nicenesse to loose humane society , ) Lifted by men from forth a Bath all wet Into a Chaire , said to them , am I set ? So strange a question made , can it be guest He knowes he lives , or sees , or is at rest ? 'T is doubtful , which most wretchednes doth show To know it not ; or to faine not to know ; Some things we doe forget , and some we faine , Some errours we are willing to retaine , As Arguments of Greatnes : 't is for love And Abiect persons to know what they doe . Goe then , and blame the Players bold abuse ▪ More Follies they omit , then they traduce : So Copious is vice growne in this our age , Witty in ill alone , that we the Stage May rather taxe of negligence ; can one To such a sensuality be growne That he by others must be told he fits ? He is not quiet , that such things forgets ; Cha. 13 WE rather must some other word devise , That he is sicke , yea dead will but suffice ; He is at rest , that doth his rest discerne , This halfe-alive , that must from others learne His bodies posture , never can be thought Of time to make advantage as he ought ; T were long to reckon them that spend the day At Chesse , at Ball , or at some other play Are roasted in the Sun ; such men can spare No time , whose pleasures tedious businesse are ; Nor can we doubt , but they laboriously Performe iust nothing , who themselves apply To fruitlesse Studies , frequent now in Rome , T was a disease that first from Greece did come , To make it a rare peece of skill , to know How many in Vlisses Ship did Rowe ; Th' Iliads or the Odisea , whether Were written first ; or from the stile to gather If one compos'd them both ; with such as these , Which if conceal'd , cannot the mind displease , And utter'd , we thereby are not become More learned , but perhaps , more troublesome ; Behold the Romans also have affected These needlesse Studies , formerly neglected ; I knew a Wise man of these times would run Through every Act , and by what Captaine done , Affirming that Duillius first assail'd Our foes at Sea , and prosperously preuail'd ; That Curius Dentatus was the first Led Elephants in Tryumph ; these at worst , Examples are of ciuill Actions , though True Glory nothing to such things doth owe , Such knowledge profits little , though there bee Therein a kind of specious vanity ; Let them that will have also leave t' enquire Who first possess'd the Romans with desire To build a Ship ; 't was Claudius , therefore he Was called Caudex , by which word we see The Ioyning fast of many Boords is meant , Whence publique Tables are by one consent Call'd Codices , and Boates of Tyber fram'd For Publique use , are Caudicariae nam'd ; And let this knowledge not be needles thought , That first Valerius Corvinus brought Messana in Subiection , and thereby Added that Surname to his Family ; Which from Messana , by corruption came To be Messalla , but was still the same ; And it is not a knowledge of much use , That Sylla in the Cirque let Lions loose ? Whereas before they tyed were together , And that King Boccus sent Dart-flingers thether T' encounter them ? yet these we may remit ; But how can this for any use be fit , To know that Pompey in the peoples sight First brought the Eighteene Elephants to fight With men condemn'd ? a Prince of High esteeme , And whom Fame for Humanity might seeme To rancke with Auncient Worthies , to devise New deaths for men , and ther'with feed his eyes ? They fight , they goared are , at length they dye , And under those Huge Monsters buried lye ; Surely this ought t' have beene forgotten quite , That so no great man after might delight To Imitate such an inhumane thing , And enuy that should detestation bring . Cha. 14 O , How doth Greatnes blind mens Iudgments ! he Thought himselfe rais'd above Mortality , When he so many wretches did ordaine To be by beasts bred in farre Countries slaine , Devising a strange Combat betweene Creatures Of so vnequall strength , and different natures , And in the Romans sight shedding such store Of Blood ; ( compell'd soone after to shed more , ) He was at length perfidiously betray'd When his owne Slave rude hands upon him layd , And Murdred him , letting him plainly see That his proud Sur-name was but vanity . But to returne to my discourses and thence To shew another fruitlesse diligence , The same man of Metellus said , when he The Carthaginians in Cicily . Had vanquish'd , that he onely Triumphed With Sixscore Elephants , as Captives lead ; That Sylla first had leave to amplifie The Citty bounds for forraigne Victory , A thing allowed Aunciently to none But Conquerours in Italy alone ; This is more worth our knowledge , then t' have found The Aventine to be without that bound , Because the people when they did dissent , So mainely from the Senate , thether went ; Or that the Birds at Remus-Augury Were not observ'd about that place to fly : These and a thousand more they doe devise , Which either are , or else resemble lyes ; But let us on their Credits now relie , And thinke them true , whose errours are thereby , Whose Lust suppress'd ? whom may we therefore call More Iust , more Valiant , or more Liberall ? Our Fabianus said , he doubted much Whether no knowledge better were , or such : They onely quiet are that Wisedome mind , They onely live ; nor doe they thereby find Their lives in firme security alone , But every age they adde unto their owne : What ever hath beene acted heretofore Belongs to them ; yea , that unvalued store Of Sacred Writers , for our use were borne , Who ready are our present lives t' adorne : Thus we by others industry are taught , Great and rare things from darke oblivion brought , And are not limited , but uncontrould The secrets of all ages may behold ; And if the greatnesse of our minds would climbe Above all humane frailty , we have time Enough , t' enquire out truths with Socrates , To propound questions with Carneades , To rest with Epicurus , to suppresse With Stoickes our affections vast excesse , And with the Cynickes to subdue them so , That we with Fate even hand in hand may goe : Why doe we then in this short time neglect These divine things , that all good men affect ? Such as have daily offer'd up and downe Their meritorious Service in this towne , As vast in sensuall pleasures , as extent , That both themselves and others doe torment , When they have shew'd folly enough , and bin At every house that would receive them in ; How have they beene put of by Luxury ? Or Sleepe ? or great mens Incivillity ? Who having tortur'd them with long delay , Then pretend businesse , and make hast away ; Or else to shun the place filled with store Of Suiters , have slunke forth at the backe Doore , As if it were not farre lesse barbarous To deny entrance , then t' abuse them thus : How have they courted him , whose sleepy head , Shewes he hath yet scarse well recovered His last nights surfit , making others keepe Ill houres , to waite on his disorder'd fleepe , Who being often told the Suiters name , With a proud yawning will repeate the same . They are imploy'd to purpose , that doe passe Their time with Zeno and Pythagoras ; That often to Democritus resort , That Aristotl ' and Theophrastus Court , With other Authors of good Learning ; they Bid all men welcome , sending them away Not empty , but more pleas'd , more happy farre ; They , day and night at equall leasure are ; They 'll not compell , but teach us , how to dye ; They 'll not consume our yeares , but will supply Ours with their owne ; their Friendship is to us Not costly , their discourse not dangerous . Cha. 15 FRom these men we may carry what wee will , And having gotten much may get more still ; What happines , what Reverend Age shall hee Obtaine , that is of their societie ? There hath he those with whom he may advise What he should doe when any doubts arise ; There he the truth without Reproach shall heare , And being prais'd , no flattery needes feare : By their Example he his life may frame , And strive like them to gaine a vertuous name : The choyce of our owne Parents did not lie In our owne Power , Chance gave them ; but hereby We may be borne , as we our selves shall please ; The Families of Noble wits are these ; Choose then in which thou wilt thy Race advance , And bee intitled to th' inheritance , Not the bare name ; to wealth that must not be Hoorded up , basely , or malitiously , But bountifully spent ; men grow not poore By such expence , those goods increase the more : These shall thy way t'Eternity prepare , And fixe thee there , from whence none can , or dare Thinke to remove thee ; they alone can teach Mortality , Immortalitie to reach : Great Honours , Monuments , or what beside In strength of Law or structure is by pride Devis'd , shall soone decay , time doth invade That soonest , which the World hath Sacred made : Onely true Vertue can resist the rage Of present , and of future time , by Age That gaines esteeme ; things neere them men enuy , But on remote looke with Impartiall eye : A Wisemans life is therefore large , not bound To those strict tearmes that Nature doth propound To others , Lawes , which mankind doth deplore ; All Ages , like a God , doe him adore ; He in the thought to time past takes content , Makes use of what is now , and doth prevent That which shall be ; thus ioyning all in one His constant life can shortned be by none ; Whereas their time must short and sad appeare , Who all these three forget , neglect , or feare ; And when death commeth , they too late begin To know how idly they imploy'd have bin . Cha. 16 NOr is this any Argument at all That they live long , because for death they call ; Their Folly workes on their affections so , That they , on what they feare , themselves do throw ; Thus they seeke death , because they feare the same ; Nor yet can we from hence a reason frame , Because the day seemes sometimes long , for they Repine that houres so slowly passe away Ere it be Supper time ; if they remaine But a short while unbusy'd , they complaine , And not well knowing how the time to spend , Their thoughts to some new Vanity they bend : How tedious seemes that time , when they expect Some Sword-play , or some Masque that they affect ? And yet how short is that they like ? and short Because they like not long , but still resort To new delights , so that their daies become Not long at all , but rather wearisome ; Those Nights seeme ever quickly at an end , That men in drinking , or with Harlots spend ; Hence Poets in their Raptutes , to disguise And cherish humane errours , did devise That Iupiter , to lengthen the delight He with Alcmena tooke , doubled the night : But what can this be else , but vice t' enflame , To make the Gods the Authors of the same ? And to Divinity ascribe th' excesse Of Mortall mens Licentious wickednes ? How can those nights seeme short ? that cost so deare ? They lose the day , that wish the night were neare ; And lose the night with a desire of day ; So much their feares their pleasures doe dismay ; The thought of these two slender words , ( How long ) Can turne all mirth into a mournefull song : From this affection Kings their Powre lament , And in their Greatnes find but small content ; As being Frighted often with this thought , That it must one day to an end be brought . When that proud Persian King o're vast Fields spred His spacious Army not then numbered , But in the view admir'd , He there shed teares , To thinke that but within on hundred Yeares , Not any one thereof should be alive ; When he that wept , soone after did deprive By Sea and Land , by Fight , and Flight all those Of Life , which he with greife , did then suppose Would dye within one hundred Yeares . Cha. 17 How then ? Comes it to passe , that feare possesseth men In mid'st of Ioy ? because their Ioyes rely On nothing , but the selfe same vanity That gave them being : what may we then gesse , Of that , which to be wretched they confesse , When the felicity through which they beare , And lift their thoughts so high , is not sincere ? Great fortunes are accompany'd with care , And of all others , least assured are ; They stand in neede of other Happines To keepe their Happines , & new successe To guard their old ; all things that come from Chaunce Vnstable are ; yea that which doth advance It selfe the Highest , soonest falls to Ground ; Then what true Pleasure can therein be found ? Needs must their Life both short and wretched be , When what they get with so much Misery , They keepe with more , and doubtfully maintaine What formerly acquired was with Paine ; In the meane while , but small account is made Of unrecouer'd time ; new things invade The old , hope stirres up hope , desire desire , They change the matter , not the end require : Doe we our selves cease to be Candidate ? Wee give our suffrages to others streight ; If we give over our owne suites , we then Are hir'd to follow suites for other men ; No sooner doe we leave of to accuse , But to be Iudges instantly we choose ; Hath Marius left the Warres ? He shall receive The Consulship ; did Quintius strive to leave The charge of the Dictatourship ? he now Shall bee againe call'd to it , from the Plough ; Scipio , too yong for so great things , shall goe Against the Carthaginians , and o're-throw Hanniball , and Antiochus subdue ; The glory of our Consuls , and the true Pledge of his Brothers Honour , who unlesse Himselfe gaine-say it , shall with Iove po●esse An equall place ; and when all this is done He the preserver with sedition Shall be provok'd , and having quight refus'd Such Honour as unto the Gods is us'd , He at the length growne old , shall take content To goe into a willfull Banishment : Thus happy or unhappy causes will Be never wanting to breede trouble still ; Variety of busines hindereth rest , A thing desir'd by all , by few possest . Cha. 18 EXempt thy selfe then from the multitude My deare Paulinus , having beene pursude By stormes , which might more years then thine require , Into a quiet Harbour now retire ; Thinke but what privat blasts thou hast endur'd , What Publique tempests to thy selfe procur'd ; Thy Vertue hath sufficiently bin try'd In Rough Affaires ; now let it be apply'd To Calmer Waies ; the most ( at least , the best ) Part of thy life , hath solely beene possest By the Republique ; let then some be spent To thine owne use ; nor is it my intent To call thee to a dull and lazie Ease , To drowne that vigour in delights that please The vulgar People ; this gives no repose To any ; there are greater things , then those Thou hast already done , that may by thee In thy retirement safely acted be ; Th' Accompts of all the World thou managest With temperance , as an others interest , With Fore-sight , thine owne , and with a zeale , As things that much concerne the Publique-weale : In doing this thy duty , thou gayn'st love , Wherein an other hardly could remove A generall hatred ; it is better though To take accompt of thine owne life , then know What store of Graine there is ; that strength of wit , That vigour of thy mind , for great things fit , From a charge ( Honourable I must confesse , But not conducing unto happines : ) Call home to thee ; and think not thou wert borne And trayn'd in famous Arts , to lay up Corne ; Thy Noble Education promis'd then Things of a Higher straine ; there want not men That moulded are for labour , and can be Exact in matters of frugality ; Dull Iades great Burthens fitter are to beare Then generous Horses ; what a pitty 't were Their stately backes with heavy loades to presse ? Thinke also with thy selfe , to what excesse Of envy th' art expos'd ; thou hast to doe With hunger , and the common people too : No reason workes , no equity prevailes , No Prayers move , when hunger them assailes . In Caius Caesars time , ( who now at least If Sence of things abide in Soules deceast Is grieu'd to find the Roman people left In safety , and himselfe of life bereft , ) The Store-howses so empty were of graine That scarce a weekes Provision did remaine ; While he with ioyned Ships large Bridges made , And with the forces of the Empire plaide , The worst of evills ( Famine ) was at hand , And that which followes , Ruine of the land ; And this th' example of a Forreigne King , Vnfortunately proud and mad , did bring ; What thoughts had they that then imployed were ? Did they not Stones , Fire , Sword , and Caius feare ? They all their Art ( as they had cause ) applide , The ill that in their Bowells lurk'd , to hide ; For some are cur'd , ere they their Sicknes know ; While others Deaths from such a knowledge grow . Cha. 19 FOr these things then doe thou thy selfe prepare , Which more secure , more calme , more Noble are ; Is it all one ( think'st thou ) thus to take thought That Corne be cleane into the Garner brought , And layd up dry , least it grow Musty streight , And heat , and that it answer the iust weight ? Or to search out the highest Misteries , To know the Nature of the Deities , Their Will , their Forme and their Condition ? To learne what manner of conclusion Waites on our Soules , where Fate will them bestow So soone as they forth of our Bodies goe ? To understand what holds the heavier things Firme in the mid'st , and what the lighter brings To hang aboue , what highest beares the fire , And doth the motions of the Starres inspire , With all ●hings else , that are by Nature sent To strike the wilest with astonishment . Wouldst thou from Earth to these things raise thy mind ? Doo 't while thy blood is warme ; the Sprightful find Easi'st Aecesse , this course of life imparts These things unto thee , Love of all good Arts , True Vse of uerrue , Courage to defie The Powre of Lusts , Skill how to live and dye ; Together with a firme and constant rest Whereof thou never canst be dispossest ; All busy'd men are wretched ; but yet none Like them that toyle , not onely in their owne Frequent affaires , but sleepe while others sleepe , And when they walke the Pace of others keepe , That eate with others appetites , and waite To be commanded ; both to Love and hate Of all things the most free ; their lives seeme short That thus unto anothers Will resort ; They doe not envy him that gets Renowne By Pleading , or that weares the Purple Gowne , He ventures his life for it , ●'have men call But one yeare by his Name , he wasteth all ; Some , having stretched their ambitions wide , Dye yong , and in the midst of all their pride ; Others , that have great Dignities obtain'd By many Indignitie , find they have gain'd But Titles to their Tombes ; some , their last Age Fed with new hopes , like their first youth ingage In great and wicked Proiects , when they see Nothing but Death in their Infirmity , Cha. 20 HE sordid is , that catch'd with rude applause , Grown old , dies wrangling in a worthles cause , Like him , that weary lesse of toyle , then life , Faints in the mid'st of his officious strife ; Or him , whom dying mid'st his heapes of Gold , His long-fed Heire with laughter doth behold : I cannot an Example here let passe That comes into my mind ; Turanius was An aged man , exactly diligent , Who after Ninety yeares , a good part spent As Procuratour , willing to desist , By Caius Caesar was at length dismiss'd ; But comming Home , he laid him on his Bed , Bidding his Servants Mourne as he were dead , Who standing round about him , did expresse Sorrow for their old Master's Quietnesse , Nor would his Family their griefe refraine , Till to his labour he were call'd againe : Is it such pleasure then to dye in cares ? So are the thoughts of most bent to affaires , Their Bodies sooner then their minds doe faile , Thus they their owne infirmities assaile , And Age in no respect more Irkesome proves Then that from busines it them removes ; Law doth not force a Souldier to Fight At Fifty Yeares , nor after Three-score cite A Senatour , men doe more hardly draw Leave from themselves to rest , then from the Law ; In the meane time , while one anothers peace They daily interrupt , and never cease To hurry , and be hurry'd ; while they lye Together in a mutuall misery , Their life is without Fruit , without delight , Or any thing that should the Soule invite : No man makes Death his Obiect ; to their hope All men desire to give the largest scope ; Yea many contrive busines beyond Death , Resolue of stately Monuments , bequeath Great Guifts for Funerall Triumphs , and devise Workes to be talk'd of , with proud Obsequies ; But these , like such as dye to soone , should have Torches , and Lampes , to light them to their Grave . FINIS .