CONTENTS. PAGE OF BENEFITS. CHAPTER 1. Of benefits in general, II. Several sorts of benefits, III. A son may oblige his father, and a servant his IV. It is the intention, not the matter, that makes V. There must be judgment in a benefit, as well as VI. The matter of obligations, with its circum stances, VII. The manner of obliging, VIII. The difference and value of benefits, IX. An honest man cannot be outdone in courtesy, XI. How far one man may be obliged for a benefit XII. The benefactor must have no by-ends, XIII. There are many cases wherein a man may be XIV. How far to oblige or requite a bad man, 43 49 XVI. How the receiver ought to behave himself, 52 58 PAGE CHAPTER XVIII. Gratitude mistaken, 62 XIX. Of ingratitude, 64 XX. There can be no law against ingratitude, 69 III. There can be no happiness without virtue, 80 IV. Philosophy is the guide of life, 88 V. The force of precepts, 96 VI. No felicity like peace of conscience, VII. A good man can never be miserable, nor a bad VIII. The due contemplation of the laws of Nature 103 107 111 happy life, 117 X. He that sets up his rest upon contingencies shall XIII. Hope and fear are the bane of human life, 163 XVIII. The blessings of friendship, 167 XIX. He that would be happy, must take an ac count of his time, 171 CHAPTER XX. Happy is the man that may choose his own business, XXI. The contempt of death makes all the miseries XXII. Consolations against death, from the cause PAGE 183 191 195 XXIV. Consolations against banishment and bodily pain, 200 XXV. Poverty to a wise man is rather a blessing than a misfortune, 204 OF ANGER. I. Anger described: it is against nature; and only IV. It is a short madness and deformed vice, 217 219 VII. The ordinary grounds and occasions of anger, 235 venge, 240 IX. Cautions against anger in the matter of educa- X. Against rash judgment, XI. Take nothing ill from another man, until have made it your own case, XII. Of cruelty, EPISTLES. PAGE 276 EPISTLE I. Certain general directions for the government of the voice; as in speaking soft or loud; quick or slow. The speech is the index of the mind II. Of styles, compositions, and the choice of words. That is the best way of writing and speaking which is free and natural. Advice concerning reading, 278 III. Against all sorts of affectation in discourse: fantastical studies; impertinent and unprofitable V. Seneca gives an account of himself, his studies, VI. The blessings of a virtuous retirement. How we VII. Of impertinent studies, and impertinent men. X. Custom is a great matter either in good or ill. We XI. We are divided in ourselves; and confound good and evil, 286 291 297 302 304 306 309 312 EPISTLE XII. We are moved at the novelty of things, for want of understanding the reason of them, XIII. Every man is the artificer of his own fortune. Of justice and injustice, PAGE 315 318 320 323 325 XIV. Of trust in friendship and bodily exercise, XVII. The original of all men is the same; and vir- tue is the only nobility. There is a tenderness 329 XVIII. Of life and death: of good and evil, 331 XIX. Of true courage, 335 XX. It is never too late to learn. The advantages of a private life; and the slavery of a public. XXI. The two blessings of life are a sound body 338 342 346 348 XXIV. A discourse of Nature's laws in the misfor- tunes of good men in this world, and in the pros- 353 |