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 great retinue of seruantes. The xxxiii. Dialogue.

IOY.

I Am accompanied with a great trayne.

Reason.

Cum∣bred thou wouldest say.

Ioy.

I haue a great retinue of ser∣uantes.

Reason.

Say rather that thou hast a great num∣ber of enimies about thee, from whom (an hard case) thou canst not escape, who behold the secret places of thy house, and bewray thy counsel yf they knowe any, who, besides theyr continual thee∣uery, a thyng which neuer happened to any besieged, must by thee in the meane whyle be cloathed, and fead, and kept within thyne owne house: an hard and doubtful kynde of warre, whiche neuer hath peace nor truice, where vnder thyue ensigne, the enimies ar∣mie possesseth thy walles.

Ioy.

I haue many seruauntes.

Reason.

Where many seruantes are, there is much stryfe, much discorde, & many domestical conflictes, wherof either thou must be a shamefull beholder, or a painfull appeaser, and being an indifferent person betwene the playntifes and defendantes, thou must serue them, being of their maister, become their iudge.

Ioy.

I haue many seruauntes.

Reason.

A seruant is a most curious beast to enquire, and most negligent to obey. He wyll knowe what thou dooest, and what thou thynkest: and what thou com∣maundest, he wil not vnderstand.

Ioy.

I keepe many seruants.

Reason.

A few wyl doo a man more seruice then many, whe∣ther it be that gratefull diligence auoydeth the multitude, or els that whereas many be, one looketh vpon another, and they pinch curtesie who shal goe about the busynesse. For as it is a shame to the diligent to auoyde labour, so is it a glory to the slouthfull, whiche al men know to be true: but none wyll geue counsell to the contrarie, and euerie man is delyghted with a multitude.

Ioy.

I haue many seruantes in my house.

Reason.

Where many seruantes are, there is much noyce, and litle seruice, and no secrecie at al. Looke how many seruantes tongues, so many cryers trumpes: Howe many seruantes eares, and eyes, so ma∣ny riftes in the house, whereby euen the things that are in the bot∣tome wil easily run out. A seruantes minde is a broken and lea∣king

kyng vessel, it holdeth nothing, what so euer thou pourest in, it run∣neth out immediatly.

Ioy.

I haue many seruantes at home.

Reason.

Thou hast many hissings, many viperous tongues, & thou knowest not the pleasure of domestical peace: thou hast also many wyde & capable bellies, slippery throates, troubles in thy hal, shame to thy bedchamber, destruction to thy store, & perpetual gurmandize. It is an harde matter to gouerne a few seruantes well, but many, it is impossible.

Ioy.

I haue many seruantes at home.

Reason.

It were better for thee to be alone. There is nothyng worse, then when quantitie or number augmenteth the qualitie of euyl thynges: a few seruants are euyl, but many far worse.

Ioy.

I haue many that doo serue me.

Reason.

It were wel yf the promyse, & the thyng promised, were al one. But how much difference there is betwene thē, they which haue experiment do knowe. They promise much, I confesse, and cal the Goddes to witnesse of their promise, that they wyl neuer deceiue, or be vn∣true. But if a man require the perfourmance of the promise, he shal finde none at all. Promise and faith were sufficiently per∣fourmed, if they did not abuse or deceiue these whom they haue promised faithfully to serue and obey: but they count it sufficient to haue made such promise onely. Adde this moreouer, that be∣sides their promise of seruice, they professe also knowledge in al thynges, but when it commeth to trial, they knowe very litle or nothing, and they wyl be sure to do nothing but what their belly, sleepe, and lust perswadeth them. There is nothing more hum∣ble and lowly then these at their first entrance, and nothing more insolent or vnfaithfull then their continuance, and nothing more odious and hatefull at their departure. It is an hard thyng to thinke, I say not to suffer, with what pryde & insolencie these ser∣uantes, and seruyng men, wyl walke by the maisters of houses, and promysyng theyr seruice, wyl take maistershyp and gouern∣ment vppon them, and as though they were hyred to make wast, they doo not only deuoure al, but dispearse abroade and consume, and fyl theyr bellies with theyr gyftes, beeyng prodigall of other mens goodes, and most greedy to catch that whiche is not theyr owne: Whom yf at any time shame or necessitie bryng them to theyr owne consyderation, that

they remember them selues to be seruauntes, with what pryde, with what complaynyng, and with what grudging they do theyr seruice, who is he that knoweth not? That a man would be loath, not only to geue money for such seruice, but to haue it for nothing. And to be short, such hatred and enmitie as th••y haue priuily conceyued at home, as soone as euer the•• be out of the doores, they fall to open contention and raylyng with theyr tongues a∣gaynst theyr maisters whom they hate, readie to trie the matter with them by dint of swoord, if it were lawfull. And if perhaps any of them absteyne from reprocheful woordes, not the loue of the first maister, but the feare of the next maister, woorketh that effect: vnto whom in this respect he feareth to be discredited and suspected, while he may iudge the lyke euil cond•••••••••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••ym, towardes hym selfe. By meanes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which thynges, vnles•••• 〈…〉〈…〉 blinded their eies, men might euidently perceiue, how m•••• 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••¦ter it were to be without al such seruantes and seruice. 〈…〉〈…〉 haue seruantes round about me.

Reason.

Vnder the 〈…〉〈…〉 seruantes indeede, as I haue said, most cruel and wicked em•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are conteined, & yet pride wil not suffer you to liue without th•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ And in this poynt, as in many other, poore wretches, ye 〈…〉〈…〉 in your owne harme. In this respect ye cheifly 〈…〉〈…〉 for this ye wander by Sea and lande, for this ye•••• 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••∣ther, and cast abr••de golde, to the ende that the hande of your ene∣mies may growe euery day greater and stronger. B•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is it not so? Is not the company of the rych generally of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••¦ther opinion? Many tymes a man shal see a well goue••••••d fa¦milie of a reasonable callyng, to be inferiour vnto the most 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and gorgeous Courtes of the Persians and Lydians almost 〈◊〉〈◊〉 none other thyng, yea rather farre to surpasse them in most 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••¦tere, sauyng that those Courtes doo feede moe, and more 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••¦ly.

Ioy.

I haue a great troupe of seruantes way••ing vp••on me.

Reason.

Nay rather vrgyng thee, and treadyng thee vn∣der foote, and leadyng thee bound in ratlyng chaynes, so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may wel be sayde to thee: What hast thou doone, wre•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thou shouldest neede so many keepers to garde ••hee.

Ioy

〈…〉〈…〉 seruantes gard ••••e on euery syde.

Reason

Thou hast 〈…〉〈…〉 of flyght, and therefore not of escaping with lyfe. To 〈…〉〈…〉

••ernly delighted with a mans owne harme, is a point of desperat madnesse. And therefore in this respect pouertie is to be wy∣shed and loued, in that it deliuereth a man from al the discommo∣dities which ryches do bryng, but specially from the craftes and weerisomenesse of seruantes.