Seneca's Ansvver, to Lvcilivs His Qvaere; Why Good Men suffer misfortunes seeing there is a Diuine Prouidence? Written Originally in Latine Prose, And Now Translated into English Verse, By E. S. [i.e. Edward Sherburne] |
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PART. V.
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 | Seneca's Ansvver, to Lvcilivs |  |
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V. PART. V.
Argument.
For good of others, sufferers beThe Good; All stoop to Destiny.
And now, 'tis for the Generall end, the Best
Should war, and by their Deeds their lives attest.
Since 'tis God's aime, and a Wise-mans, to prove
That those things which the vulgar feare, or love
Are in themselves nor good, not Ill at all:
For if by Heaven's Decree they doe befall
To a good man, their good; but bad they are,
If they're allotted to a bad mans share.
Blindnesse were detestable, did we finde
None lost their eyes, but those the Law made blinde,
Then Appius and Metellus may want eyes.
We doe not Riches as a true good prize;
Ellius the Bawd may then be rich, and we,
When in the Temples sacred Treasurie
W'have offer'd up our consecrated gold,
The same in the Burdello may behold.
God cannot more mens longings vilifie
Then those, the basest grant, the best deny.
Should war, and by their Deeds their lives attest.
Since 'tis God's aime, and a Wise-mans, to prove
That those things which the vulgar feare, or love
Are in themselves nor good, not Ill at all:
For if by Heaven's Decree they doe befall
To a good man, their good; but bad they are,
If they're allotted to a bad mans share.
Blindnesse were detestable, did we finde
None lost their eyes, but those the Law made blinde,
Then Appius and Metellus may want eyes.
We doe not Riches as a true good prize;
Ellius the Bawd may then be rich, and we,
When in the Temples sacred Treasurie
W'have offer'd up our consecrated gold,
The same in the Burdello may behold.
God cannot more mens longings vilifie
Then those, the basest grant, the best deny.
Obj.
But you will say it seemes to you unjustThe good should be opprest, imprison'd, trust.
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In all Delights, and Sensualitie.
Answ.
Is it not yet as much unjust, and hard,That valiant men in Armes should nightly guard
The Campe? and for defence thereof, decline
No wounds, but with their Bloods make good the Line,
Whilst safe i'th' Citie the spruce Gallant lies,
Glor'ing in his profest Adulteries?
I'st not unjust that noblest Virgins rise
At Midnight, to their sacred Exercise,
Whilst dissolute, and inquinated Minds,
Soft, pleasing sleepe, in silken Fetters binds?
Labour and Travell, still the Best assayes:
The Senate oft in Councell sit whole dayes.
Whilst in the Fields the meanest Groome doth please
Himselfe, or in the Taverne takes his Ease,
Or insome other Passe time spends his Houres.
'Tis the same in the Worlds Common Wealth, as ours.
Good Men there toyle, and labour still; nor by
Fortune are hall'd, but follow willingly.
And keepe pace with her, and if they had knowne
Her mind, perhaps they had before her gone.
That gallant Speech I here to Mind recall,
Did once from the great-Sould' Demetrius fall.
“Of this, (you Gods!) Doe I complaine alone,
“That I before, your pleasures had not knowne;
“For sooner then should I have made m'Appeare,
“Unto those things, which now I'm call'd to beare,
“Would you my Children have? they are your due,
“They were begot, and bread by me for you.
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“Is no great thing) strait my whole Body's yours.
“Would you my Soule? I shall no whit delay,
“But gladly what you gave me shall repay.
“What e're you aske I give you willingly,
“An offering rather then Delivery.
“What need y'have forc'd them from me? Now you may
“Receive them; no, nor now shall take away.
“Since nothing from that Man can e're be ta'en,
“Who of himselfe seekes nothing to retaine.
“Nought 'gainst my Will, am I compell'd to beare,
“To God in love l'assent, not serve in feare.
“Since I know all things move by a decree,
“Sure, and enacted from Eternitie.
W'are led by Fate; and his first Houre of Breath,
Unto each Man prescribes his Houre of Death.
Cause upon Cause depends, and all are drawne.
By a long-link't Concatenation.
Which therefore We should beare with courage, since
Nought falls by chance, but comes by Providence.
Our Joyes, and Sorrowes were long since decreed,
And though the life of each Man, seeme indeed
With much Varietie distinguisht; yet,
There is to All, one common Period set.
All W'have receiv'd is subject to decay,
And Wee our selves must one day passe away.
Why then doe We complaine? or fret with scorne
And Indignation? We for this were borne.
Nature may doe (by whom We all subsist)
With her owne Compositions, as she list.
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Thinke, that there's nothing of our owne impair'd.
Quest.
What is it best befits a good Mans State?Answ.
To yeeld himselfe into the Hands of Fate.'Tis no small comfort, that W'are rapt, and hurl'd
About, with the same Course as the whole World.
That which commands us to live thus, thus dye,
Binds Heav'n by the same Necessitie.
And all things humane, and Divine, doth force
Along in an irrevocable Course.
Who made, and rules this All, to Fate prescrib'd
Lawes, yet himselfe ev'n by those Lawes is ty'd.
And that which his Commands did once deliver,
Now to observe he stands oblig'd for ever.
Quest.
Why yet by God i'th' distributionOf Fate, seemes there so much Injustice showne?
That Povertie, wounds, cruell Deaths, he shov'd
Assigne still for the Portions of the Good?
Answ.
The Workman cannot new his Matter cast;That hath the Lawes of it's Creation past.
Some things will not be seperate, nor leave
Others, but, as if Individualls, cleave.
Those heavy Soules, who still in slumbers steepe
Their drowsy Braines, and seeme awake, to sleepe;
Of dull, and grosse Materialls framed are.
But to the making of a Man that's rare
An abler Fate's requir'd, he must not goe
The plaine way, but must travell high, and low.
He must with tossing stormes acquainted be,
And guide his Vessell in a high-swolne Sea.
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Many a hard rough Accident befall:
Yet such as he himselfe with some small paine
May bring to a soft smoothnesse and make plaine.
The best of Mettalls, gold, the Fire doth try;
The best, and Valiant'st Men, Adversity.
See but what Steeps Vertue climbs up, and sure
You'l then confesse, she cannot goe secure.
| Seneca's Ansvver, to Lvcilivs | |