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 Elephantes and Camels. The .Lx. Dialogue.

IOY.

I Haue Elephantes.

Reason.

To what purpose I pray thee, for peace, or warre? With these, the two most notable enimies of Italie, Pyrrhus and Hannibal, whilst they hoped to breake the array of the Romane armies, they troubled their owne or∣ders: A greeuous and noysome beast, and whiche, as thou kno∣west well, hath oftentymes destroyed their owne maisters and keepers: to sight strange, and for hugenesse of body, forme, swell, and noyse, terrible, vnprofitable to vse, and hard to be gotten.

Ioy.

I haue a great Elephant.

Reason.

There haue been somtime Elephantes in Italie, not taken by huntyng▪ but caught from the enimies, and ledde in triumphe, whiche at the first sight m••de the Italian horses afearde, w••en these Elephantes followed them in∣to the Capitoll, and were not long before taken from Pyrrhus: As for the Carthagiens, they were not so much taken from them, as forbydden the vse of them: for suche were the conditions of the yeace, whiche they agreed vnto when they were vanquished,

and it was specially and namely prouided, that they shoulde deli∣uer vp such as they had that were alredy tamed, and thencefoorth they shoulde tame no moe. And thus by small and small the vse of Elephantes decayed, not onely in Italie, where they were farre strangers, and were brought thither as it were by force, but also in Africa and Aegypt, whiche are countreys nearer to the pla∣ces where they doo breede. Thus report goeth, that in Italie in the dayes of your great grandfathers, Frederike that was king of the Romanes had one, and the kyng of Aegypt also but one onely: and both these princes had them rather for shewe, then for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vse. Thus these beastes in India and Aethiopia, being de∣••y•••••••• from the weerisomnesse of forraine nations, dwel quietly in these owne natiue wildernesses. And what art thou that seemest so muche to glorie in an Elephant? Art thou a second Hanaibal. who being carried vpon an Elephant, and lookyng with one eye, troubled all Italie? This beast, although he doo somwhat resem∣ble the vnderstandyng and reason of mankinde, as some wri∣ters haue reported, and is much commended for mildnesse of ma∣ners, yet doo I say that he is but an vnprofitable beast, and more meete for the prodigalitie of a Prince, then the callyng of a pri∣uate person, which is able to fyll an house, and to emptie a barne.

Ioy.

I haue Camelles also.

Reason.

These are almost both to be considered of a lyke, but that the Elephant is meete to beare turrettes, and Camelles to carrie burdens, and the more commodious and profitable of the twaine. If thou wilt follow my counsell, vse suche beastes as most prudent nature hath engendred in those partes of the worlde where thou thy selfe lyuest, who hath distributed beastes and all other thynges, as they are most meets for euery climate.

Ioy.

I haue a Camell.

Reason.

Iob had three thousand, & lost them: For both sicknesses, and theeues, and infected pastures, and falles, and a thousande other chaunces hang ouer your heardes. Feeldes, and hylles, and walles are day∣ly destroyed: what then shall a man say to these whiche doo not stande? All your goodes for the most part are in perpetual moti∣on, and that fame which ye ought to seeke through the engraffed vertue of the mind, ye hunt after with the rarenesse of strange and fortaine beastes.