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 a fortune beginning. The .xvii. Dialogue.

IOY.

I Was borne in great fortune.

Reason.

Thou begannest thy lyfe with great vnquietnesse: For Saylers not improperly cal a tempest fortune. And a great fortune is a great tempest: and a great tempest, requireth both great counsayle, and great strength: Thou hast therefore rather cause of care, then of myrth.

Ioy.

I was borne in very great fortune.

Reason.

Doest thou thinke it better fortune to be borne in the wyde Sea, then in a small Riuer? Although no wyse man wyll graunt the same, how

muche then is it more fortunate to be borne in a Palace then in a Cotage? Our mother the earth receyueth al men, wheresoeuer they were borne.

Ioy.

I was borne in great fortune.

Reason.

Thou hast wayed anker contrary to good lucke: and if thou haue wasted the day in foule weather, prouyde that when nyght com∣meth thou mayest be in the hauen.

Ioy.

I was borne aloft.

Reason.

Thou art subiect to tempestes and whyrlewyndes, and hope of lying hyd is taken from thee. Pythie is the saying of the Lyrike Poet: The mightie Pine tree is often shaken with windes, and high towres fall with the greater force, and the lyghtnyng stri∣keth the hyghest Mountaines. As I must confesse that it is noble to be borne aloft, so is it neyther quiet nor safe: All humane lofti∣nesse of it selfe is vnquiet, and continually troublesome. So that I maruayle why that saying of Mecaenas in Seneca shoulde so muche be dislyked: For the height it selfe thundreth at the loftie thinges. Seeyng other haue vsed this woorde, why is he only re∣prehended? Moreouer, there is nothyng so hygh that is not sub∣iect both to trouble, and care, and sorow, and enuie, and griefe, and in the ende obnoxius to death: And truely, it is death only that beateth downe al mortall pryde and eminencie.

Ioy.

I was borne in hygh and great estate.

Reason.

They that fall from hygh, are sore hurt, and seldome is it calme vpon the wyde Sea: so in the bottome thou needest not to feare fallyng, neyther dread shypwracke vpon the drye lande.

Ioy.

My begynnyng was fortunate.

Reason.

Marke the ende: As other in theyr kyng∣domes, so can fortune also do much in hers. The more fortunate the begynnyng is, the more vncertayne is the ende. Doest thou not perceyue howe all worldly thynges are tossed as it were with a whyrlewynde, so that lyke as a troublesome tempest disquieth the calme Sea, and after a fayre mornyng followeth a cloudie euenyng, and as many tymes a playne way leadeth into a rough straight: so sodayne calamitie foloweth the pryde of prosperitie, and sorowfull death stoppeth the course of a most pleasaunt lyfe, and most tymes the ende is vnlyke the begynnyng.

Ioy.

I began an hygh.

Reason.

Take heede where thou leauest. The lyfe is alwayes reported by the ende, and thou shalt playnely feele the ende, although thou perceyuedst

not the beginnyng.

Ioy.

I was borne in great felicitie.

Reason.

We haue both seene the sonnes of bondmen sittyng in princes thrones, and the sonnes of princes fast fettered in chaynes.