ne te putes neglectum, dum perfonæ qualitatem infpicio: fed quod literis meis vos refectos fcribis; felicem me arbitror tanti viri judicio. Neque enim diceris cenfor, fophifta, ac magifter tanti principis, et etiam omnium, nifi quia vera dicis. Opto te diu bene valere. not charge me with negligence, if I wait for a proper perfon. I reckon myself very happy in having the judgment of fo valuable a perfon, that you are delighted with my Epiftles: for you would not be efteemed a cenfor, a philofopher, or be the tutor of fo great a prince, and a master of every thing, if you were not fincere. I wish you a lafting profperity. PAULO ANNEUS SENECA Salutem. Epift. II. QUÆDAM volumina ordinavi, et divifionibus fuis ftatum eis dedi. Ea quoque legere Cæfari fum deftinatus: et fi modo fors profpere annuerit, eris forfitan et tu præfens fin aliàs, reddam tibi diem, ut invicem hoc opus infpiciamus. Decreveram non prius edere ei hanc fcripturam, nifi prius tecum conferrem, fi modo impune hoc fieri potuiffet; ut fcires et te non præteriri. Vale, Paule chariffime. ANNEUS SENECA to PAUL I HAVE completed fome volumes, and divided them into their proper parts. I am determined to read them to Cæfar, and if any favourable opportunity happens, you also fhall be prefent, when they are read; but if that cannot be, I will appoint and give you notice of a day, when we will together read over the performance. I had determined, if I could with fafety, first to have your opinion of it, before I published it to Cæfar, that you might be convinced of my affection to you. Farewell, deareft Paul. your acting thus proceeded not from inconftancy, but judg ment. Farewell. PAULUS SENECE & LUCI LIO Salutem. Epift. III. DE his quibus, vel quæ mihi fcripfiftis, non licet harundine et atramento eloqui: quarum altera res notat et defignat aliquid, altera evidenter oftendit; præcipue cum sciam inter vos effe, ficut apud nos, et in nobis, qui me intelligunt. PAUL to SENECA and Lu- CONCERNING those you, as well as me, those who Honor habendus eft omnibus, et tanto magis his, qui indignandi occafionem captant: quibus fi patientiam oftendemus, omnimodo eos ex quacunque parte vincemus: fi modo hi funt, qui pœnitentiam fui gerant. Bene valete. PAULO ANNEUS SENECA Deference is to be paid to all ANNEUS SENECA to PAUL I PROFESS myself extremely pleased with the reading your letters to the Galatians, Corinthians, and people of Achaia. For the Holy Ghoft has in them by you delivered thofe fentiments which are very lofty, fublime, deferving of all respect, and beyond your own invention. I could with therefore, that when you are writing things fo extraordinary, there might not be wanting an elegancy of speech agreeable to their majefty. And I muft own, my brother, that I may not at once dishonestly conceal any thing from you, and be unfaithful to my own confcience, that the Emperor is extremely pleased with the sentiments of your Epiftles; for when he heard the beginning of them read, he declared, That he was furprised to find fuch notions in a person, who had not had a re gular "fit, taliter fentiat." Cui ego refpondi; "Solere Deos ore "innocentium effari, addens "ei exemplum Vatieni ho"minis rufticuli: cui cum "duo viri apparuiffent in a"gro Reatino, qui Caftor et "Pollux funt nominati, di"vinitus inftructus fuit." Vale. PAULUS SENECA Salutem. Epift. IV. LICET non ignorem Cæfarem noftrarum rerum admiratorem et amatorem effe, permittes tamen te non lædi, fed admoneri: puto enim te graviter feciffe, quod in notitiam perferre voluifti, quod ritui et difciplinæ ejus fit contrarium ; cum et ille gentium deos COlat. Quid tibi vifum fit, ut hoc eum fcire velles, non video; fed nimio amore meo facere te hoc existimo: rogo te de futuro, ne id agas; cavendum eft enim, ne dum me diligis, offenfam Domino facias cujus quidem offenfa : gular education. Towhich I replied, That the Gods fometimes made ufe of mean (innocent) persons to speak by, and gave him an inftance of this in a mean countryman, named Vatienus, who, when he was in the country of Reate, had two men appeared to him, called Caftor and Pollux, and received a revelation from the gods. Farewell. PAUL to SENECA Greeting. Epift. IV. ALTHOUGH I know the Emperor is both an admirer and favourer of our (religion), yet give me leave to advise you against your fuffering any injury (by fhewing favour to us). I think indeed you ventured upon a very dangerous attempt, when you would declare (to the Emperor) that which is fo very contrary to his religion, and way of worship; seeing he is a worshipper of the Heathen gods. I know not what you particularly had in view, when you told him of this; but I suppose you did it out of a too great respect for me. But I defire that for the future you would not do fo; for you had need be careful, left by fhewing your affection to me, you fhould offend your master: his anger indeed will do us no harm, E 4 PAULO ANNEUS SENECA SCIO te non tam mei caufa commotum literis, quas ad te de editione Epiftolarum tuarum Cæfari feci, quam natura rerum: quæ ita mentes hominum ab omnibus artibus et moribus revocat, ut non hodie admirer; quippe ut is, qui multis documentis hoc jam notiffimum habeam: igitur nove agamus; tu, fi quid facile in præteritum actum eft, veniam irrogabis. Mifi tibi librum de verborum copia. Vale, Paule chariffime. harm, if he continue a heathen; nor will his not being angry be of any service to us: and if the Empress act worthy of her character, she will not be angry; but if she act as a woman, she will be affronted. Farewell. ANNEUS SENECA to PAUL Greeting. Epift. V. I KNOW that my letter, wherein I acquainted you, that I had read to the Emperor your Epiftles, does not fo much affect you as the nature of the things (contained in them), which do fo powerfully divert men's minds from their former manners and practices, that I have always been surprised, and have been fully convinced of it by many arguments heretofore: let us therefore begin afresh; and if any thing heretofore has been imprudently acted, do you forgive. I have fent you a book de copia verborum. Farewell, dearest Paul. |