by Seneca (at least in its final form) since it contains accurate prophecies of both his and Nero's deaths. This play closely resembles Seneca's plays in style, but was probably written some time after Seneca's death (perhaps under Vespasian) by someone influenced by Seneca and aware of the events of his lifetime. Though attributed textually to Seneca, the attribution was early questioned by Petrarch, and rejected by Justus Lipsius. Essays and letters Essays Traditionally given in the following order: (64) De Providentia (On providence) – addressed to Lucilius (55) De Constantia Sapientis (On the Firmness of the Wise Person) – addressed to Serenus (41) De Ira (On anger) – A study on the consequences and the control of anger – addressed to his brother Novatus (book 2 of the De Ira) (book 3 of the De Ira) (40) Ad Marciam, De consolatione (To Marcia, On Consolation) – Consoles her on the death of her son (58) De Vita Beata (On the Happy Life) – addressed to Gallio (62) De Otio (On Leisure) – addressed to Serenus (63) De Tranquillitate Animi (On the tranquillity of mind) – addressed to Serenus (49) De Brevitate Vitæ (On the shortness of life) – Essay expounding that any length of life is sufficient if lived wisely – addressed to Paulinus (44) De Consolatione ad Polybium (To Polybius, On consolation) – Consoling him on the death of his brother. (42) Ad Helviam matrem, De consolatione (To mother Helvia, On consolation) – Letter to his mother consoling her on his absence during exile. Other essays (56) De Clementia (On Clemency) – written to Nero on the need for clemency as a virtue in an emperor. (63) De Beneficiis (On Benefits) [seven books] (–) De Superstitione (On Superstition) – lost, but quoted from in Saint Augustine's City of God 6.10–6.11. Letters (64) Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium – collection of 124 letters, sometimes divided into 20 books, dealing with moral issues written to Lucilius Junior. This work has possibly come down to us incomplete; the miscellanist Aulus Gellius refers, in his Noctes Atticae (12.2), to a 'book 22'. Other (54) Apocolocyntosis divi Claudii (The Gourdification of the Divine Claudius), a satirical work. (63) Naturales quaestiones [seven books] an insight into ancient theories of cosmology, meteorology, and similar subjects. Spurious (58–62/370?) Cujus etiam ad Paulum apostolum leguntur epistolae: These letters, allegedly between Seneca and St Paul, were revered by early