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 Maistershyp. The .xlv. Dialogue.

IOY.

BVT I haue taken the degree of a Maister.

Reason.

I had rather thou haddest gotten learnyng, for there is no∣thyng more shamefull, then rude and vnlearned Maistershyppe.

Ioy.

I am woorthyly made a Mai∣ster.

Reason.

Thou canst not woorthyly be made a Maister, vnlesse thou hast been a scholler: and necessarie it is that thou haue shewed thy selfe duetifull, lowly, and willing to learne, or els thou hast gone astray out of the way that leadeth to Maistershyp: although I am not ignorant how that some haue ri∣sen to the highest degree of knowledge without a Maister, whiche certaine excellent men of great name haue reported and written of them selues: but their traueyle, their wit, their desire

to learne, their intent, their diligence, and continuaunce stoode vn∣to them in steede of a Maister, neither wanted they an inward Maister in silence, Howheit, I speake nowe of the common sort.

Ioy.

I am called a Maister.

Reason.

The false name of Maistershyppe, hath hindred many from beyng true Maisters in deede: and whylst they beleeued euery body of them selues, more then them selues, and were counted to be that, whiche they were not, they happened not to be that which they myght haue been.

Ioy.

I haue the tytle of a Maister.

Reason.

Thou hast seene a Tauerne, wherein was sowre wine, freshly decked foorth with Pictures and flowres, where the thyrstie wayfaring man myght be deceyued. But is the Vintener also deceyued by his owne craft? Truely there be some so accustomed to deceitfulnesse, that by long vse of deceyuing others, at length they begin to de∣ceyue them selues: and that whiche long tyme they haue been perswading others, in the ende they perswade them selues: and that whiche they knowe to be false, they beleeue to be true. Glo∣rie thou as muche in thy Maistershyppe as thou wylt. But yf it haue chaunced vnto thee woorthyly, it is no strange thing: yf vn∣woorthyly, it bringeth these two mischiefes with it: the one, that it maketh thee ashamed to learne: the other, that it maketh thine ignoraunce the more knowen.