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 byrth of chyldren. The .lxx. Dialogue.

IOY.

I Haue chyldren borne vnto me.

Reason.

A double mischief, and a domestical burden.

Ioy.

There are chyldren borne vnto me.

Reason.

Thy wyfe is troublesome, her Aunt more troublesome, and her children most troublesome of al.

Ioy.

I haue chyldren borne.

Reason.

A most bytter sweetnesse, & gall annoynted with Hony.

Ioy.

I haue sweete issue borne vnto me.

Reason.

Thynke that there is sprong vnto thee at home a fountayne of grieuous cares: thou shalt neuer lyue without feare, and anguysh.

Ioy.

I haue begotten children.

Reason.

Thou couldst before neither feare, nor hope, nor pray: but now thou shalt learne to thy cost, thou shalt learne also to take com∣passion vpon parentes bereaued of their chyldren, and thou shalt learne to experiment long cares in thy short lyfe, & that now thou takest longer businesse in hande, thou shalt learne to be greeued for the thynges that belong nothyng vnto thee, and to dispose that which thou shalt neuer see: To be short, thou shalt learne to loue another more then thy selfe, thou shalt learne to

loue most ardently, and to be loued most coldly, whiche are hard matters.

Ioy.

I haue chyldren.

Reason.

Now thou be∣gynnest to vnderstande what duetie thou owest to thy parentes.

Ioy.

I haue begotten chyldren.

Reason.

Thou hast planted a tree which must be husbanded with intollerable paynes, whiche wyl keepe thee occupied as long as thou lyuest, and whereof per∣haps thou shalt reape either no fruite at al, or late fruite, and that peraduenture when thou art dead.

Ioy.

I haue chyldren.

Reason.

If they be good, a continual feare, yf they be wycked, a perpetual sorow: in the meane whyle a doubtful comfort, and an vndoubted care.

Ioy.

I haue chyldren.

Reason.

Then hast thou whereof to be sory whyle thou art liuyng, and to be knowne when thou art dead, and wherefore thou mayest be willing to die often.

Ioy.

I am the father of good chyldren.

Reason.

The better thy chyldren are, the more daungerous is thine estate. Thou knowest not what cause of sorowe thou hast purchased by begetting chyldren, what entrance thou hast made into thy house for teares, what power thou hast geuen vnto death and miserie ouer thy selfe. O wretched mothers, sayth Horace: but O wret∣ched fathers, say I.

Ioy.

I am father of very good children.

Reason.

Thou shouldest wishe for death while thou art in this prosperitie, lest that whilest thou lyuest, thou surcease to be that whiche deliteth thee, and at length, with Nestor thou demaunde of thy felowes, why thou hast lyued so long.

Ioy.

I reioyce and am happie, for that I haue wished issue.

Reason.

A trou∣blesome felicitie, a carefull ioy, and many tymes sorowfull, a miserable happinesse. I coulde aleage many excellent men, whose felicitie was by nothyng so much hyndred, as for that they had chyldren.