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 Vsurie. The .lvi. Dialogue.

IOY.

I Haue layde foorth my money safely to Vsurie.

Reason.

There are some that wyll abuse thynges that were inuented

for a good purpose, and those thynges that were euyll inuen∣ted, to worse purpose, or worst of all: thou hast founde mo∣ney, not to the ende thou wouldest be ryche, but to the ende thou wouldest be nought, and (as I suppose) wouldest not be so euyl, vnlesse thou haddest founde money. There be some that be the worse for their good chaunces, not acknow∣ledging therein the blessing of GOD, neyther lyke vnto him of whom it is written, He wyll thanke thee, for that thou hast deast mercifully with hym: But rather, supposyng that GOD from aboue hath geuen them occasion, and (as it were) a meane and way to commit wyckednesse: And therefore thou hast founde money, wherewith thou myghtest purchase ignominie, and, vnhappy man, myghtest make a lyuelesse mettal to be a bur∣den to the lyuely soule.

Ioy.

I haue well layde foorth my money to vsurie.

Reason.

Say not that an euyll thyng may be wel layde foorth, but only layde downe. If thou cast away an euyl burden, it is wel: otherwyse wheresoeuer thou be∣stowest it, as long as it apparteyneth vnto thee, it ceasseth not to be euyl.

Ioy.

I haue wel layde foorth my money to good encrease.

Reason.

How an euyl thyng may be wel layde foorth to commoditie, see thou. Truely howe muche the more abundant euery euyl thyng is, so much it is worse. Thou knowest the saying of Dauid. Theyr iniquitie is sproong foorth, as it were out of fatnesse: And the richer an vsurer is, the worse he is, so muche the greater his couetousnesse and wyckednesse is.

Ioy.

I applie vsury.

Reason.

Couldest thou fynde out no better Art to bestowe thy tyme vppon: Or dyddest thou fynde many, but this was most meete for thy disposition? Or what els was the matter that among so many thou appliedst thy mynde to this, a more worse or vyler then which, I know not where thou couldest haue found any, or that dependeth vpon the lykyng of a more wretched, base, and cowardly mynde? A∣mong so many Artes as are at this day knowne, and so many trades of lyuyng, thou hast chosen the worst of all: whiche thou hast doone for that it seemed a quiet kynde of lyfe, namely to sytte styll and reckon the dayes, and to thynke long vntyl the last day of the Moneth come speedyly: litle regar∣dyng

howe therewithall also thy houres, dayes, monethes, and yeeres doo passe away: and lyke as theyr tyme draweth neare that are indebted vnto thee, so dooth thy tearme lykewyse ap∣proche: and lyke as theyr tyme, I say, draweth neare that they must pay thee, so dooth thy tyme drawe neare, that thou must pay thy debt vnto nature, leauyng that behynde thee which thou hast shamefully gayned, and not knowyng when the time wyll come. Thus thou extortest from the poore, to enriche thou knowest not whom, and art alwayes in feare of the future iudgement, and in the meane whyle art not maister, but a feareful keeper of that whiche is gotten by fylthie Rapine, and pinched with hunger and infamie. I woulde marueyle howe this mischiefe coulde be suffered in wel gouerned Cities, but that I see al mischiefes are suffered in them. And therefore when as not long agoe, Vsurers as Leaperous persons lyued separated apart from the company of other men, that not only none shoulde come at them but those that stoode in neede, but also were eschewed by them that met with them, as stynkyng and contagious persons: Nowe they lyue not only among the people, but they be conuersant also with Princes, and they be aduaunced by maryages, and come to great honour and dig∣nitie: such is the force of golde. Yea moreouer, a thyng which thou mayest woonder at as a Monster, Princes themselues be vsurers. the Lorde amende them, so smal regarde haue they of the losse of soule and honour, so sweete is the sauour of money howsoeuer it be gotten.

Ioy.

I take delight in vsurie.

Reason.

A fylthie and miserable delyght.

Ioy.

I vse to laye foorth money to vsurie.

Reason.

If we beleeue Cato. thou hast slayne a man.

Ioy.

I am an vsurer, I haue learned none other trade to lyue by.

Reason.

This is a defence for thy couetousnesse, this is the cause whiche thou pretendest: and yf it be harde for hym that is wyllyng to learne, who can learne agaynst his wyl?

Ioy.

I wyl alwayes occupie vsu∣rie.

Reason.

Then shalt thou alwayes be a wretch, alwaies couetous, alwayes poore, and in the ende goo to the Dyuel.