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 Benefites bestowed vpon many. The .xciii. Dialogue.

IOY.

I Reioyce that I haue bestowed Benefites vppon manie.

Reason.

When thou hast found many vnthankfull, thou wylt be sorie.

Ioy.

I haue powred foorth benefites vpon many.

Reason.

Thou sayest true, for if a man consider the mindes of the receyuers, the most part of them is caste away.

Ioy.

Many are beholden to my benefites.

Reason.

Some wyll release them selues by forgetfulnesse: others wyll requite thy good turnes with iniuries, and yf iniuries ceasse, yet complaintes wyl not ceasse: how many doo complayne of suche as haue done them good? This is iniurious, I confesse, but so common, that complayntes are not so often made of the enimies. Thou hast hearde in Lucane. how Photinus complayneth of Pompeius,

and in Seneca, Sabinus of Augustus. But why doo I call thee vnto bookes, or antiquitie? Beholde the myddest of Cities: euery village is full of suche complayntes. There is no ingratitude, as I suppose, but it groweth vppon one of these three causes: Enuie, whiche thynkyng, by the bene∣fites bestowed vppon others, them selues to be injured, forget the good turnes that them selues haue receyued: Pryde, whiche eyther iudge them selues woorthy of greater, or dis∣dayne that any other shoulde be preferred before them: Coue∣tousnesse, whiche is not aswaged, but inflamed by rewardes, and in gapyng after that whiche is to gette, remembreth not what is gotten alredie. I myght more briefely tearme the whole cause of this mischeife, foolyshnesse: for it is not onely the cause of this, but also of all other mischiefes, the ignoraunce of the true good, and the peruersenesse of opinions. Herehence proceede the infections of the minde, chiefely, pryde and coue∣tousnesse, vnto whom no duetie is not stubburne, no bounti∣fulnesse not too litle.

Ioy.

I haue been beneficial vnto many.

Reason.

A certayne magnanimitie which Aristotle entendeth, is sayde to remember what it hath bestowed, but to forget the be∣nefites receyued. Whiche opinion, although it want not some colour, yet in my iudgement he that hath the true mag∣nanimitie, is a contemner of meane and base thynges, and therefore whatsoeuer he doeth, although in the iudgement of many they be great, yet are they but small to a mynde that imagineth greater and rarer matters: and contrari∣wyse, yf he haue receyued any thyng whereby he is made beholden to another man, although it be but lytle, yet is it greeuous vnto one that loueth lybertie, and aspireth vnto excellencie, whereof he is desirous with speede to be discharged and vnburdened. And therefore concernyng this matter, I lyke of the saying of Anneus Seneca, Let hym that hath doone a good turne, sayth he, holde his peace, and let hym tell it that hath receyued it. And it is finely sayde, for that there are two poysons or woundes of beneficencie: The one, the exprobation of the geuer, the other, the forgetfulnesse of the receyuer: both are Mothers to ingratitude, and Stepdames to a good turne.

The fyrst, bryngeth foorth ingratitude in another, the lat∣ter, in it selfe. The fyrst also extinguisheth a benefite in it selfe, the latter, in another. These mischiefes howe many soeuer they be, may be cured by Senecas counsayle.

Ioy.

I haue doone good vnto many.

Reason.

But thou hast not doone vnto moste, whiche are greeued that they are contem∣ned and neglected. There is in vs, I knowe not howe, a more perfect remembraunce of iniuries and offences doone vnto vs, then of the good turnes whiche we haue receyued. And it chaun∣ceth many tymes, that for benefites receyued, a man shall finde his friendes forgetfull or luke warme, but his enimies minde∣full and earnest.

Ioy.

I haue doone many great good turnes for many men.

Reason.

There are many of that disposition, that it is dangerous to doo them good: some haue purchased a friende with a small benefite, and an enimie with a great, for that a small debt is easily repayed, and they are asha∣med to owe a great debt, and are loath to repay it, so that there is no thyrde leaft, but that he must leaue longer to owe that oweth agaynst his wyll. Thus whylst shame greeueth hym that oweth a good turne, and sorowe hym that hath receyued it, the shyppe of hym that is beneficial, is caried be∣tweene the two daungerous rockes of Scilla and Caribdis, and so it is come to passe, that many that myght haue lyued hard∣ly and sparyngly, haue been brought into daunger through li∣beralitie. For a man can not freely be good among euyll men, an harde sayeing, but I must needes vtter it: there is no lyuyng thyng more vnthankefull then man.

Ioy.

I haue shewed my selfe beneficial farre and wyde.

Reason.

There be some that be beneficiall, but not friendly, whom the greatnesse of their callyng, and the necessitie of men constrayneth to geue ma∣ny thynges, vnto suche as they doo not onely not loue, but not so muche as knowe, of whom yf they hope to be beloued for theyr benefites sake, they be very muche deceyued. There is none lyght∣ly, but loueth where he is beloued. Loue is a mutuall knot and reciprocation of mindes. Gyftes are oftentymes geuen vppon necessitie, but loue is bestowed by iudgement. Therefore, as I wyll neuer denie, but that benefites well bestowed,

and with a mery countenaunce and well meanyng minde, em∣ployed vppon woorthy persons, are glorious: so is there no man that doubteth, but that many, yea, the most part of them, through the fault of the geuers or receyuers, are lost and cast away: and that way vnto loue is more easie, short, and streight, whiche I shewed thee before, to wit, to attayne vnto loue by leuyng, in whiche, while thou goest forwarde, yf thou win the true name of a beneficiall person, it shall make thee famous and beloued aboue expectation.

Ioy.

I haue bestowed many and great bene∣fites.

Reason.

Not what, but how, and with what minde thynges be doone, both God and man doo respect: great thinges are many tymes odious, and meane thynges acceptable, but aboue all, the very naked hart only is accepted in the sacrifice and gyft of the poore.