Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	author_n	know_v	write_v	2,987	5	5.2886	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A59167	Lucius Annæus Seneca, his first book of clemency written to Nero Cæsar.; De clementia. English. 1653	Seneca, Lucius Annaeus, ca. 4 B.C.-65 A.D.	1653 (1653)	Wing S2510; ESTC R37363	21,694	48

LUCIUS ANNAEUS SENECA HIS FIRST BOOK OF CLEMENCY Written to NERO CAESAR LONDON Printed by Thomas Harper MDCLIII To the Reader Reader LEst thou at first sight shouldst tax the Authour of flattery in magnifying the Clemency of Nero the worst of Tyrants know this Tract was written about the beginning of his Reigne who while he hearkened to the Advice and Counsell of Seneca once his Tutor merited this praise as appears by that Quinquennium Neronis the first five years of his Government so much celebrated as also by that passage between him and Burrus recorded by Seneca and Suetonius when after many delayes being to signe a Warrant for the Execution of some Offendors be cryed out O that I could not write Though afterwards such a change there was in him hearing that vulgar Greeke verse repeated which Tyberius had so often in his mouth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when I dye let the Earth be set on fire nay while I live said Nero. But whether Seneca suspected that change or no it is evident he omitted no endeavour either to confirm him or else to make him asham'd to lose that vertue for which he was so much extoll'd And questionlesse had he not thrown off not only all vertue but whole Man the very remembrance of this Booke would have made him spare the Authour But it is conceiv'd the reverence of his life did too much check the resolved wickednesse of the Emperour And although the present Translator may seem actum agere in making Seenca English yet perhaps thou wilt finde he hath rendred him more vigorous and more like himselfe in his originall but certainly he hath made him more thine by an easie retention of his various and fluent sentences in thy memory through the harmony of Verse Read therefore and injoy him for as Lipsius his chief Illustrator sayes He is in a ready way to goodnesse who hath begun to love Seneca Farewell LVCIVS ANNAEVS SENECA His First Book of CLEMENCY written to Nero Caesar I Nero Caesar have resolv'd to write Of Clemency to offer to thy sight A Looking-glass where thou thy selfe mayst view And reap the greatest joy that man ere knew For though it be the true fruit of good deeds To know w'have done them and that vertue needs No praise but from it self yet thoughts oft spent On a good conscience yeild no small content And then to cast thine eyes upon the lewd Contentious vile pernicious multitude Which if at length it should cast off this yoke To mutuall bane each other would provoke And seriously within thy self to say The gods have cull'd me out the world to sway As their Vice-gerent at my sole command Both life and death and all mens fortunes stand The fate of things depends on my decree Kingdoms receive their joy and griefe from me No country flourishes but by my smile These numerous Legions which are quiet while My peace restraines them at my beck shall fight What Nations shall be ruinate dquite And what transplanted what be free'd what bound What Kings shall be led captive and what crown'd What Cities built what ras'd belongs alone To my transcendent jurisdiction In this so great a power my wrath nere bent My will to any unjust punishment No youthful boldness nor rash insolence That provokes patient minds could mine incense Nor have I sought like most great Kings my name T' advance by fear and gain a dreadfull fame My sword lies sheath'd or rather bound up still I have forborne the meanest blood to spill Men though they want abilities are when They come to me welcome because they are men Rigour 's supprest but mercy stands prepar'd I keep upon my selfe so strict a guard As to the Laws I an account should give Which would lie dead but that by me they live Some for their youth some for their age I spare For th' honour of their place some pittied are Some for their low condition when I sinde There can no other reason be assign'd Why I compassion should be mov'd to take I do it then at least for mine own sake Should the immortall gods require this day Th' account for all man-kinde I would obay This Caesar may with boldness be aver'd That of all things thy birth-right hath confer'd Upon thy trust and safe protection The Common-wealth through thee hath not lost one Either by force or fraud thou hast acquir'd What scarse an other Prince hath yet desir'd The rarest of all vertues innocence Nor hast thou laboured without recompence For this thy great and matchless worth hath found Gratefull esteemers So our thanks abound That no one man could to an other come More wisht for then thou to the people of Rome Their great and lasting good But loe thou hast Upon thy selfe a mighty burthen cast For few speak now of holy Augustus reigne Or of Tiberius his first times T is vaine To seek for an example any where But in thy selfe we have a full tast there Of what we may expect Yet this were hard If hereunto thou wert not first prepar'd By native goodness no man hath sustaind A borrow'd person long things which are faind Returne to their first habit what hath grown From truth and as I may so say our owne Well-grounded root will gather strength by time And by degrees to more perfection clime The Romane people thought they under went A mighty hazard ere they knew the bent Of such a noble spirit we now are In full injoyment of our publike praire Nor can we doubt thou 't e're thy selfe forget For though too much felicity does whet Our appetites to more and though our mind Is not so temp'rate as to be confin'd To any present good but will proceed From great to greater things and that we feed Upon new hopes when we have gotten more Than could by us be hoped for before Yet all thy subjects joyntly do profess To take such pleasure in their happiness That they for nothing do so much contend As that their happiness may have no end To which profession though but seldom made By any these things chiefly them perswade The plenteous peace that they enjoy by thee And justice plac'd above all injury The blessedness of such a Government Where liberty is in its full extent And is not curb'd in any thing unless In what would ruine them licentiousness But that wich does to admiration flow Is thy most equall Clemency for though All other benefits which men possess Are as their fortunes make them more or less Yet from thy mercy all expect the same Nor is there any that can lay such claime To innocence but he is glad to see Mercy prepar'd him from his faults to free However there be some who do maintain That bad men only do by mercy gaine Because it is not properly extended To any but to those who have offended And that among all vertues this alone Is that which is to guiltless men unknown But yet as physick though it be intended But