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 bodyly strength. The .v. Dialogue.

IOY.

THere hath happened vnto me strength yenough, yea very much.

Reason.

Reade ouer that which is sayd touching beautie and good health: Of lyke thyngs, like is the doc∣trine.

Ioy.

I haue much strength.

Reason.

Beware thou attempt nothing trusting in thine owne strength, whereby thou mayest appeare weake.

Ioy.

I haue great strength.

Reason.

This is a glorie, as if it were for a Bul.

Ioy.

I haue plentie of strength.

Reason.

An Eliphant hath more.

Ioy.

I

haue much strength.

Reason.

I beleeue that wel: to much, tur∣neth to starke naught, or is it selfe a fault.

Ioy.

I haue ouer∣much strength.

Reason.

If this ouermuch be brought to a mediocritie, it is wel. But what yf it turne to a want? what if this great force be conuerted into a notable weaknesse? Beleeue me, there was neuer yet any strength of body so great, but that it was broken either with immoderate labour, or sharpe sicknes, or with olde age, that consumeth al thyngs. The force of the mynde only is vnfatigable and inuincible.

Ioy.

The strength of my bo∣dy is mightie.

Reason.

None was more strong then Milo, but many more noble.

Ioy.

My body is hugie, and of great force.

Reason.

Vertue, which is of all thyngs the most worthiest, hath no neede of the bygnesse of the body, but dwelleth in the mynde.

Ioy.

There is nothyng hard to this strength.

Reason.

Yes, there are many thynges impossible for thee to do, and this one thyng especially, that who so putteth his trust in his body, should be avle to clymbe on high.

Ioy.

My strength is aboue the strength of a man.

Reason.

Whosoeuer in this behalfe surpas∣sed al other men, yet in the same he was inferiour to many lyuing creatures.

Ioy.

There is nothyng that with this strength I can be afrayde of.

Reason.

Yes truely very much: for agaynst so great confidence in a mans owne strength, fortune armeth her selfe with great force, and many tymes disdayning to encounter in equal fight, to the entent she may shewe how weake a creature man is, yea, when he thynketh hym selfe most strong, in slender conflict she hath ouerthrowne Giantlike personages. Hercules, whom none coulde ouercome, the force of lurkyng poyson subdu∣ed. Milo, who was knowne and renowmed at al exercises of strength and valiencie, one poore tree caught fast, & held him there to be torne in peeces by wyld beasts. And so that valiant strength of his without example, was found to be inferiour to the force of a clouen Oke: And wilt thou trust to thy strength?

Ioy.

I am of an hugie strength.

Reason.

Euery hugie thing, is troubled with his owne mole & bignes.

Ioy.

My strength encreaseth.

Reason.

This is for the most part the nature of al thyngs, that when they be come to the highest, then they fal downe againe, & that not with lyke leysure as they gate vp. For theyr rysing is slow, but theyr

fallyng is sodayne. This strength also whereof thou vauntest, when it shall leaue to encrease, wyl not continue, but fyrst wyll priuily begin to decay, and afterwarde at length wyl openly fal. Al mortal thyngs do equally flyt away, except the mynd only, but the signes and footesteps of theyr departure doo not appeare a∣like, vnlesse a man wyl say, that those lyuyng creatures do go lesse or slowest, which eyther go in the dark, or make no noyse in their creeping, and put out the prynt of theyr goyng with the pressing of theyr tayles.

Ioy.

I boast in the strength of my body.

Reason.

What wouldest thou then do in thyne owne? Thynke how great thyne owne strength is, for this is not thyne, but the strength of thy harborow or Inne, or rather thy pryson. It is a vayne thyng for thee, beyng thy self weake, to glory of thy strong dwellyng, or to speake more aptly, of a strong aduersarie.

Ioy.

I reioyce in my strength.

Reason.

What other shal I say, then that saying of the Poet? Thou shalt not reioyce long, and in steede of myrth, complaintes shall come in place. Dooest thou remember howe he that was so strong, of whom I made mention twyce erewhyle, complayneth of his strength in olde age?