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 the abundaunce of friendes. The .L. Dialogue.

IOY.

I Abounde in frendshyp.

Reason.

It were strange that thou onely shouldest haue such plentie of that thing, whereof al e∣ther men haue such scarcitie, that throughout al ages there are but verie fewe couples of frendes made mention of.

Ioy.

I haue great plentie of friendship.

Reason.

Counterfeite friendshyppe perhaps, for as for true friendshyp it is so rare a thyng, that whoso in his long lyfe tyme coulde fynde one, is coun∣ted to haue been a very diligent trauayler in such matters.

Ioy.

I am fortunate for friendshyppe.

Reason.

Thou canst not knowe that, vnlesse thou be infortunate in other thynges: For this saying is true, The fortunate man knoweth not whether he be loued or not.

Ioy.

My friendshyps be assured.

Reason.

Then is thy aduersitie assured: for this saying is also true, An assured friende is tryed in tyme of aduersitie.

Ioy.

I haue much friendshyp.

Reason.

Commit the iudgement hereof to experience, not to report, that lyeth in many thynges: perhaps thou shalt fynde fewer then thou supposest.

Ioy.

I haue to great plentie of friendshyp.

Reason.

Auoyde superfluitie in al thynges: he that hath sufficient, requyreth no more.

Ioy.

I haue sufficient store of friendes.

Reason.

This neuer happe∣ned to the people of Rome, whyle they were in theyr most floori∣shing state, neither vnto any mortal creature, as thou mayst reade in the most excellent Historician.

Ioy.

I haue great store of friendshyp.

Reason.

I sayd erewhyle that they be eyther feig∣ned, or imperfect, as the Philosophers hold opinion, for that it may so happen, that at one tyme thou mayest reioyce with one friende, and be sory with another: or yf debate chaunce to hap∣pen among them, thou must needes breake thy fayth, eyther with the one or with the other, or with them all.

Ioy.

I haue store of profitable and pleasant friendes.

Reason.

I perceiue thou speakest of the cōmon sort of friendshyp, which notwithstandyng cannot be many at one tyme, in that to requite the friendlynesse of many, & to lyue familiarly with a multitude, is very difficult, specially vnto hym whose mynde is busyed in the execution of

some graue affaires, and traueile of witte.

Ioy.

I haue freendes that profite mee, and delyght mee.

Reason.

It is but slender freendshyp, whose foundation is eyther pleasure or pro∣fite: for whyle these thynges remayne, the freendshyppe shaketh, and when they decay, the freendshyppe fayleth: This is not only possible, but easie, yea almost necessarie, inasmuche as for the most these thynges doo followe eyther prosperitie, or age, and the comlynesse of youth, then whiche there is nothyng more vncertayne. But the freendshyppe whiche is established vppon vertue, is immortall, in that vertue it selfe is a stable and firme thyng, and to vse Aristotles woordes, a continuing thing, for that it can not dye. And therefore those whiche we haue loued in respect of honestie, we loue them also when they are dead.

Ioy.

I am deceyued, but I haue faythfull freendes.

Reason.

Be∣ware that thou be not deceyued, and desire not to make experi∣ment. For it chaunceth often, that looke whereof the conceite hath been pleasaunt, the tryall hath been bitter and greeuous.

Ioy.

I thynke I haue good freendes.

Reason.

Examine diligent∣ly wherevpon thou doest thynke so, and specially how much thou thy selfe louest: For there be some that loue not, and yet thynke that they are beloued, whiche is a great follie, and a common errour among ryche men: they thinke that loue may be bought for money, which is only purchased by mutuall louing and liking. A good minde is a most excellent thing, it is not mooued with hearbes, or charmes, not with golde or precious stones, no not with the swoorde or extremitie, but is won by louing and gentle entreating. Moreouer, the amorous saying of Ecato the Greeke Philosopher is wel knowne, which pleaseth wel Seneca and mee: If thou wylt be loued, sayth he, loue thou. Although this be many tymes in vayne, so many, so insearchable and deepe are the se∣cret places of the hart, and the mindes of some are so venemous, discourteous, and cancred, that where they be much made of, they disdaine: and where they be loued, they hate: & are not only conten∣ted to requite no good wil againe, which is not incident to the most cruel wilde beastes, but the more courteously they be dealt withal, the more dogged they waxe: And, yf a man may beleue it, by loue they are stirred to hatred, which is y^e most dangerous & greeuous

euyll that euer in this lyfe mans simplicitie tasted.

Ioy.

I thinke that I haue verie good friendes.

Reason.

This worde good, is euermore the Epitheton that belongeth to friendshyp, whiche though it be not named by the tongue, yet is it alwayes vnderstoode in the minde. And yf thou wylt speake it short, say, friendes, and there withall thou shalt say, good.

Ioy.

I thinke I haue friendes.

Reason.

Beware thou be not falsly perswa∣ded, lest haply experience make thee one day beleeue otherwyse. To searche the deapth of the minde, it lyeth not in mans power, and now adayes ye geat friendes at the Wine, and prooue them with your teares, and that is last whiche shoulde haue been first.

Ioy.

As the worlde standeth nowe with me, I haue many friendes.

Reason.

Thou meanest, I thynke prosperitie: For thus it falleth out for the more part, that although all fortune haue neede of friendes, yet they haue greatest stoare of friendes that haue lesse neede of all other thynges: And thus alwayes scarci∣tie followeth scarcitie, and plentie wayteth vppon plentie. When neede and pouertie commeth on, then they decrease, or rather to speake more truely, friendshyp at that tyme is descried. Who were friendes to thee, and who to thy prosperitie, it wyll appears when prosperitie departeth. Thy friendes wyll followe thee, and her friendes wyll goe after her: Thyne wyll be the better, but hers wyll be the greater companie. Thou must not marueile, yf when the Caske is drawne drye, they depart whiche came only for the sweetnesse of the wine: for aduersitie dryueth away a dissembler, and the dregges a drynker.

Ioy.

I seeme to haue an innumerable sort of friendes.

Reason.

It is well sayde, I seeme. Whereuppon ryseth this thine opinion, seyng that true friendshyp among all men is rare, and thyne, thou sayest, are innumerable? For thou must thus first perswade thy selfe, that there is no friendshyp but among good men, and then hereby thou mayest the more certainly coniecture in thy minde, I say not howe many true friendes thou hast, but howe many there be in the number of all mankynde, when thou shalt begynne to number howe many good men there be.

Ioy.

I haue very many friendes.

Reason.

Many acquaintaunce say, and yet

howe truely thou shalt say so, it is in doubt: For there is no liuing thyng, no wares more difficult to be knowen, then man.

Ioy.

I haue many friendes.

Reason.

Companions per∣happes or ghestes. These wyl not fayle thee, vnlesse thy cheare doo fayle: As for friendes, there be alwayes fewe, or none at all, and many tymes (whiche is most iniurious) a householde eni∣mie possesseth the name of a friende, and vnder colour of feig∣ned good wyl, there lurketh domestical treason.

Ioy.

I haue moe friendes then neede.

Reason.

It is very necessarie, and especially to be regarded of all that are in auctoritie, that among so many lyes of flatterers, there may be one that hare and wyll speake the trueth, in whiche respect an enimie is farre more profitable then a friende.

Ioy.

I haue many friendes.

Reason.

Beleeue mee, thou hast neede of many: And this worlde woulde be farre more holy, ver∣mous, and quiet, yf there were as many friendes, as there are so accompted.

Ioy.

I haue a friende.

Reason.

That is muche: For there is nothyng more deare, nor more rare, then a friende.