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 good Brethren, and louing and fayre Sisters. The .Lxxxiiii. Dialogue.

IOY.

I Haue louyng Brethren.

Reason.

A rare matter, for pa∣rentes for the most part doo alwayes loue, but brethren most commonly doo hate and despise one another. And therefore the trueth cryeth out by the mouth of the Poet Ouid, That sel∣dome is loue sounde among brethren: whereas there is noted the wickednesse and vndutifulnesse of brethren, children, and almost al sortes of men, exceptyng parentes.

Ioy.

I haue very good Brethren.

Reason.

Truely I woonder at it, it is enough that they be good, for most tymes they be euyll, and the worst of all other, and so much worse then open enimies, by how much there is lesse heede to be taken of domestical treacherie. How great the loue of brethren is, that I may not bryng to lyght them that are vnknowen, nor offende them that are present, the most famous couples, the Micenian, the Thebane, and the Romane bre∣thren, doo declare: which infamie, why it shoulde more redounde vnto one citie, then to the whole worlde, I see no cause. Beholde the first brethren that were in the worlde, one was slayne by the hand of the other: and yet hast thou not heard? a most horrible mis∣chiefe to tell, for Phraates, king of the Parthians, of whom I spake before, beside his most detestable parricide in murdering at one time his owne father and natural sonne, we reade how he slue moreouer his thirtie brethren, not fearyng by so foule a massacre and bloodshed, to establish his yl gottten kingdome, and vtterly to extinguishe al feare of competitours.

Ioy.

My Brethren are good.

Reason.

I suppose you haue not yet deuided your inhe∣ritaunce, for then your malice wylbreake foorth: Golde is tryed by fyre, and so is the minde by golde. That agreement whiche seemeth to be great, is oftentymes ouerthrowen by a litle golde.

Ioy.

I haue louyng Brethren.

Reason.

Perhaps thy single lyfe, or lacke of children causeth them to loue thee. Thy marrying wyl discouer them, but hauing of chyldren more better, when they shal perceyue them selues depriued of the hope of succession, whiche hope hath caused the most impatient to suffer muche.

Ioy.

I haue brethren that loue me most deerely.

Reason.

It ought to be so, vnlesse malice, or feare, or couetousnesse, or immo∣derate desire to haue: which whyle it coueteth to be satisfied, quite forgetting the lawe both of God and man, doo hinder it. How great so euer the loue be betweene the parentes and the chyldren, yet are the maners and conuersation diuers, which although the parentes doo perceiue quickly, yet do they acknoledge it too late. Although fathers loue their chyldren at the fyrst, yet it is long are they receyue them into familiaritie, yea, many tymes in theyr ••••••••age. But brethren, before they be borne, & after they be borne, are conuersant togeather in one house, and are wrapped in the same cl••utes, and are of equall yeeres, and of lyke maners. So soone as they be borne, they see one another, are fed with the same meate, vnder the same parentes, are accustomed vnto the same felowes, to the same pastimes, to the same Schooles, to the same Schoolemaisters and bryngers vp, they grow vp togeather, they w •••• men togeather. There is equalitie betweene them on euery syde, and loue confirmed and established by many assured knottes and indissoluble linkes, vnlesse some accidental causes doo breake them, and the hardnesse of a rough minde doo infringe them, whiche is so common a thyng, that I knowe not whether there ought to be any loue greater, then betweene brethren, or any ma∣lice be more cankred, or displeasure more deepe: equalitie is al∣wayes so troublesome a thyng, and mans minde so impacient of a match.

Ioy.

I haue vertuous and godly brethren.

Reason.

Keepe them with lyke vertue and godlynesse. Loue is a very daintie thyng, make muche of it, it is hardly gotten, and easily lost.

Ioy.

I haue good Sisters lykewise.

Reason.

An heauie burden, but pleasant, and almost the first trauel for young men, wherin they may exercise themselues when they come to their owne libertie, & wherein they may win their first renowme of vertue and honestie.

Ioy.

I haue good Sisters.

Reason.

See thou that they may haue a good Brother of thee, and while thou liuest, although your Father be dead, let them not feele the want of him.

Ioy.

My Sisters are very faire.

Reason.

Thou art keeper of a slipperie thing: beware of deceipt when thou wat∣chest most circumspectly, let the troupes of suters that are about

her awake thee. It is an hard matter to preserue beautie where one man assaulteth: what thinkest thou then where there be ma∣ny? The garde of chastitie ought to be by so muche more circum∣spect then of golde, as it is more precious, and not to be recoue∣red. Truly, there is no meanes whereby a Virgins chastitie may better be preserued, then by tymely marriage.

Ioy.

I haue fayre Systers at home.

Reason.

Prouide that thou haue them not there long, they woulde better furnyshe many houses.