L'Estrange, Sir Roger (1616-1704)

Seneca's Morals by Way of Abstract

London

Printed by Thomas Newcomb for Joseph Hindmarsh

1682

"If it so happen, that a Man be ty'd up to Business, which he can neither loosen, nor break off; let him imagine those Shackles upon his Mind to be Irons upon his Legs: They are Troublesome at first, but when there's no Remedy but Patience, Custom makes them easie to us, and Necessity gives us Courage."

In all our Undertakings, let us first examine our own Strength; the Enterprise next; and Thirdly, the Persons with whom we have to do. The first Point is most Important; for, we are apt to over-value our selves, and reckon, that we can do more than indeed we can. One Man sets up for a Speaker, and is out, as soon as he opens his Mouth; another over-charges his Estate perhaps, or his Body: A Bashful Man is not fit for Publick Business: some again are too Stiff, and Peremptory for the Court: Many People are apt to fly out in their Anger; nay, and in a Frolick too, if any sharp Thing fall in their way, they'll rather venture a Neck, than lose a Jest. These People had better be quiet in the World, than busie. Let him that is naturally Cholerick, and Impatient, avoid all Provocations, and those Affairs also, that multiply and draw on more; and those also from which there is no Retreat. When we may come off at Pleasure, and fairly hope to bring our Matters to a Period, 'tis well enough. If it so happen, that a Man be ty'd up to Business, which he can neither loosen, nor break off; let him imagine those Shackles upon his Mind to be Irons upon his Legs: They are Troublesome at first, but when there's no Remedy but Patience, Custom makes them easie to us, and Necessity gives us Courage. We are all Slaves to Fortune; some only in loose and Golden Chains, others in streight ones, and Coarser: Nay, and they that bind us, are Slaves too themselves; some to Honour, others to Wealth; some to Offices, others to Contempt; some to their Superiors, others to themselves: Nay, Life it self is a Servitude: Let us make the best on't then, and with our Philosophy mend our Fortune. Difficulties may be softned, and heavy Burthens Dispos'd of to our Ease. Let us Covet nothing out of our Reach, but content our selves with things hopeful, and at hand; and without Envying the Advantages of others: For Greatness stands upon a Craggy Precipice, and 'tis much Safer and Quieter living upon a Level. How many Great Men are forc'd to keep their Station upon mere Necessity; because they find there's no coming down from it but headlong? These Men should do well to fortifie themselves against ill Consequences, by such Virtues and Meditations, as may make them less sollicitous for the future. The surest Expedient in this Case is to bound our Desires, and to leave nothing to Fortune which we may keep in our own Power. Neither will this Course wholly compose us, but it shews us, at worst, the end of our Troubles.
(pp. 132-4)

Fetters::Shackles Fetters::Irons

Reading in Google Books

Text from Seneca's Morals by Way of Abstract. To which is added A Discourse under the Title of An After-Thought. By Sir Roger L'Estrange, Knt. 11th edition (London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, 1718). <Link to Google Books><Compare 1718 edition printed by Nicholson in ECCO>

See Seneca's Morals by Way of Abstract by R. L'Estrange (London: Printed by Thomas Newcomb for Joseph Hindmarsh, 1682). <Link to EEBO>

Printed in 1678 (part I only?), 1682 (3 parts), 1685 (3rd part), 1688 (4th edition), 1693 (5th edition), 1696, 1699 [all in EEBO], 1702 (8th edition), 1705 (9th edition), 1711 (10th edition), 1718 (11th edition). Into 16th edition by 1755. 26 entries in ECCO.

09/20/2011