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 comming foorth of prison. The .lxxxix. Dialogue.

IOY.

I Am glad I haue escaped out of pryson.

Reason.

Truely I confesse that this libertie after it hath been restrayned is more acceptable, and more also when it is resfored then preserued: but al thynges that delyght, doo not profite, and many tymes sweete thynges are hurtful, and bytter thynges, holsome. Many tymes not pryson only, but death also hath been profitable, and as often lyfe and libertie hurtful.

Ioy.

I am glad I haue esca∣ped foorth of pryson.

Reason.

Erewhyle thou reioycedst that thou hadst gayned the Hauen, and nowe thou art glad that thou hast escaped it. Pryson vnto some hath ben an Hauen, to some, a refuge and Castle of defence, and hath preserued some that would haue peryshed, yf they had been at libertie. Thinges that are shut vp and tied in chaines, are easily kept. Blind mortal men knowe not what is good for them, and therfore they desire their owne harmes, and when they haue obteined them, they reioyce, wherof they shal soone be sory. And that thou maiest not seeke far for an example: thou sawest of late that man, whose enterprise was

more couragious then constant, who in time of trouble durst pro∣fesse him selfe Patrone of the common wealth of Rome, First he toke vpon hym the name of Tribune, and afterward when fortune changed, was banished the Citie: then after his fall into pryson that first was Prince, and then Bishop, beyng in both well and honestly reputed, at length by euyl chaunce beyng set at liber∣tie, and not only stayne, but also hewed in peeces by his enimies weapons, as he was dying, I suppose, wyshed he had been in pryson.

Ioy.

I reioyce that I am come foorth of pryson.

Reason.

Hencefoorth thou shalt be conuersant in the courtes that are troublesome with contentions, in the streetes of the cities, and tumultes of businesse, and supposing trouble to be libertie, shalt falsly gratulate to thy selfe the one for the other, while a thou∣sand snares shal entrap thee, whom before one key dyd shut vp: and when al men reioyce out of a storme to come into the Hauen, thou only art a woonderful Maryner, who willyngly settest out of the Hauen into a tempest.

Ioy.

I am glad that I am re∣turned out of prysyn.

Reason.

The goodnesse and commodi∣tie hereof, as of such other like thinges, is neither to muche to re∣ioyce, nor to much to be sorie, but in ech state to kepe an equanimi∣tie, as the gouernment of your lyfe, specially in so great darknesse of future accidentes: neyther is it so miserable a thyng, as some make it, to goe into pryson, neyther so happy to come foorth. How often hath the pryson of the enimie, ben more safe then his libertie? How often hath libertie, which you also much couet, tur∣ned to destruction and death:

Ioy.

I am come foorth of pry∣son.

Reason.

Many chaunces may delyuer a man out of a large pryson, but out of his narow prison, death only.

Ioy.

I am come forth of a painfull pryson.

Reason.

Into that pryson thou mayest returne againe, but when thou art once departed out of the other, thou canst not come againe in this time.