b'Seneca knew from experience. In one of the most dreadful periods of his life, he lost his livelihood, his home and then his young child. He was exiled on false charges. He buried an infant.Fortune\\u2026she can be cruel.As Seneca wrote to Marcia, the daughter of a prominent Roman historian, in his beautiful and moving \\u201cConsolations\\u201d essays:\\u201cSnatch the pleasures your children bring, let your children in turn find delight in you, and drain joy to the dregs without delay; no promise has been given you...'