Phisicke against fortune, aswell prosperous, as aduerse conteyned in two bookes. Whereby men are instructed, with lyke indifferencie to remedie theyr affections, aswell in tyme of the bryght shynyng sunne of prosperitie, as also of the foule lowryng stormes of aduersitie. Expedient for all men, but most necessary for such as be subiect to any notable insult of eyther extremitie. Written in Latine by Frauncis Petrarch, a most famous poet, and oratour. And now first Englished by Thomas Twyne.

Of looking for better tymes. The .Cxv. Dialogue.

HOPE.

I Looke for better tymes.

Reason.

All tymes are almost of a lyke goodnes, for that the creatour of tymes is euermore of a lyke goodnes: but you doo alwayes abuse good tymes, and in this as al other thinges, ye impute your owne faultes to the thinges. If the men were good, the times would be good enough.

Hope.

These times can not continue, but more ioyfull shall suc∣ceede.

Reason.

No time continueth, all passe away, and when they are gone, they returne no more: through vertue, and industrie, and the studie of good artes, they may be bridled, not but that they shal passe away, but that they do not perishe: for there is nothing sweeter then the remembraunce of tyme wel spent. But you not knowing how to vse any thing as it ought to be, when ye haue bestowed all your lyfe tyme eyther in sleepe or idlenesse, or in

carefulnesse, or vnprofitable businesse, ye accuse the giltlesse time. Doe I lye, yf I say that you consume your infancie and chyld∣hood in vayne pastimes, your youth and mans state in lasciuious∣nesse and auarice, your olde age, in complaintes and lamentati∣ons? What faulte is there heere in the times? They passe away, I confesse, for it is their nature so to doo, and you neglect them whyle oportunitie serueth, whiche is not your nature, but your faulte. You accuse nature, and excuse your owne fault, which is no newe matter.

Hope.

I hope for a better worlde.

Reason.

The merrinesse, or sorowfulnesse of the tymes, as I haue sayde, resteth not in the times, but in your owne selues. By this meanes thou shalt not onely vnderstande howe to hope for prosperous times, but how to deeme of the sorowfull, if thou looke vpon thine owne age, whiche euery day waxeth more heauie then other, as it is described by the Poet, and founde in most olde men. And truely, yf thou cast thyne eyes backwarde, and begyn to recount and consyder thine owne yeeres, thou wylt also therewithal begin to despayre of that whiche thou hopest. There is no cause why thou shouldest hope for alteration of the course of the world. The tymes that folowe are not better, but I feare me rather the worse. And what is the cause, I pray thee? but onely because men waxe woorse and woorse, whiche certayne notable men haue foretolde should be so, and the effect plainly declareth? but that you men, vp∣pon good hope do euermore conceiue some great opinion of your noble and modest youth, from whiche opinion I am farre of, for my minde can not prognosticate nor foresee any good to ensue at al, euery thing is so prone vnto vice and vntowardnesse.

Hope.

The times are euyl, but better shal ensue.

Reason.

Euery age hath complained of the maners that haue been then, sayth Seneca. And I adde, that euery age had cause in deede whereof to com∣playne, & shal haue hereafter, to the worldes end.

Hope.

I hope for a better time.

Reason.

There is one way vnto that, wherby yf thou attaine to a better state, thou wylt then hope for no farther matter. Frame vnto thy selfe a merier mind, which thou canst not do without vertue, & when thou hast so done, al things shalbe mer∣rie & fortunate, and nothing vnprosperous or sorowful.

Hope.

I looke for a better tyme.

Reason.

If it chaunce to come,

which is doubtfull, verily as that approcheth, thou drawest away. How muche were it better to vse well the tyme present, rather then carefully to expect that, whiche perchaunce eyther wyll not come at all, or thou shalt neuer lyue to see.