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 a fruitefull and eloquent VVyfe. The .Lxvii. Dialogue.

IOY.

I Haue a fruitefull wyfe.

Reason.

She wyll bryng thee foorth many cares, and many troubles: A barren wyfe, is but one trouble in an house, but a fruitefull wyfe, is many. Thou knowest the saying of the Comical Poet, I married a wyfe, what miserie dyd I not taste of thereby? Then had I chyldren, an∣other care.

Ioy.

My wyfe is not onely fruitefull, but eloquent also.

Reason.

At one side thou shalt haue chyldren and nur∣ses: on the other side thou shalt not lacke iestes and woordes. Thou hast one with whom thou mayest dispute, and declaime. And hast thou not heard the saying of the Satyrical Poet, where he sayeth, Let not thy wyfe which lyeth by thy side, be a Rethorician, or a Logician, neyther well seene in al Histories. Thou soughtest for a wyfe, and hast founde a Schoolemistresse: and now thou art in this case, that thou canst not vtter any rude or common thyng, without thy wyues controullyng and mockyng, and thou shalt wyshe in vayne that whiche the same Poet sayeth, Let the hus∣bande be licenced to speake false congruitie. Among the weeri∣somnesses of the worlde, there is none more odious then a saucie woman, or she that can not holde her tongue.