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 Memorie. The .viii. Dialogue.

IOY.

MY memorie is very great.

Reason.

Thou hast then a large house of loathsomenesse, and a gallery ful of smo∣ky images, among which many thinges may displease.

Ioy.

My memorie conteyneth many thinges.

Reason.

Among many thynges there be but fewe that do delight a man, the more part of them do molest him, and oftentimes the remem∣brance of pleasant thinges is greeuous.

Ioy.

My memorie com∣prehendeth sundrie thinges.

Reason.

If they be good, it is wel: If they be euil, why art thou glad therof? Is it not greeuous yenough, either to haue suffred or seene euils, but that they must continually come into our minde, or alwayes lye forth before our eyes:

Ioy.

My memory conteyneth diuers thyngs.

Reason.

That is to say, diuers both faults, & offences, & heinous trespasses, and reproches, & shames, & repulses, & sorowes, & trauailes, and dangers, although (as some say) there is pleasure in the remem∣braunce of this whereof I spake last: wherein notwithstanding we must this vnderstande, that not so much the remembraunce of the forepassed euyls, as the delyght of the present good state, pro∣cureth the pleasure. And therfore no man taketh delight in the re∣membrance of his labour and danger, vnlesse he be at quyet and in securitie: no man can gladly thynke on pouertie, but he that is rytche? on sicknesse, but he that is in health: on pryson, but he that is at lybertie: on bandes, but he that is free: on ba∣nyshment, but he that is returned home agayne: Only the re∣membraunce of shame is greeuous, yea, in the midst of honours. So that there is nothyng that is holden more deare, or is more incurable, then is a mans honour and good name.

Ioy.

My memorie is manyfolde, and conteyneth much tyme.

Reason.

In manyfold remembrance, are manyfolde troubles. For some doo nyp the conscience, some pricke it, some wounde it, some con∣founde it, some terrifie it, some ouerthrow it, wherby it commeth to passe, that when men cal them to remembrance, red blushyng and wan palenes enterchangeably possesse theyr faces in silence, which thing chaunceth sometime to the vilest & wickedst persons, causing theyr going to be vncertaine, theyr speach doubtful, with

many other such passions moe, signifiyng that the mynd is trou∣bled with to wel remembryng.

Ioy.

My memorie is prompt.

Reason.

I had rather thy wyl were godly, thy desire chast, thy counsels honest, thy deedes innocent, and thy life without rebuke.

Ioy.

I haue a very firme memorie.

Reason.

How should you men then forgeat the heauenly precepts, which are so few in num∣ber: How should you forgeat the only God? How should you then forgeat yourselues:

Ioy.

My memorie is passyng firme.

Reason.

I thinke wel it be so, of earthly and vnprofitable things. But whyther and to what purpose tendeth this vagabounde and flickeryng memorie? Which wanderyng through heauen and earth, and forgettyng to returne to it selfe, calleth not to remem∣brance that one thing which is necessarie and healthful: in which yf perhaps sometyme it find any smal pleasure, most times it find∣eth plentie of griefe. And therefore not without cause, when one offered to teach Themistocles the art of memorie, which at that tyme was inuented by Simonidis, answeared, that he had rather learne the art of forgetfulnesse. And although he seemed iustly to answere so, as one that aboue al credite excelled al other in that gyft of nature, and whose memory was ouerwhelmed with innu∣merable representations of matters & wordes, notwithstandyng it agreeth almost with al men: for so al of you learne the thynges that you ought to forgeat, and forgeat the thinges that ye ought to learne, exercising your memorie in such matters as were pro∣fitable to forgeat, & therin not contented with the limitatiō of na∣ture, ye set forth your madnes in art.

Ioy.

My memory is al∣mightie.

Reason.

This title is proper to God only. You would haue said perhaps that it is of great power, notwithstanding if an excellent memorie be of any force, which in deede is better then al othervaine curiositie, let it reiect y^e hurtful, & embrace the profita∣ble, & not so diligently pursue the things that delight, as the things that profite.

Ioy.

My memory is the best that can be.

Reason.

There is nothing better then the best, & therfore if thou wilt seeme to say true, it behoueth thee to shew thy self mindful in y^e best Re∣member thy sinne, y^t thou maiest be sorie for it: remember death, that thou maiest leaue to syn: remēber the iudgment of god, that thou maiest be afraid: remember his mercy, y^t thou do not dispaire.