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 sluggyshnesse of the minde. The .Cjx. Dialogue.

SOROWE.

I Am sluggyshe in doing of businesse.

Reason.

What mar∣ueile, yf after so diligent studie of gluttonie, sluggyshnesse of the minde do followe the heauinesse and ouerburrdening of the bodye?

Sorowe.

I am greeued with dulnesse of minde.

Reason.

This dulnesse springeth from an imperfect wyl, but so soone as thou shalt beginne to bende thine endeuour, it wyl growe to an earnest desire and courage, which being very yll vnto many thynges, is most commendable vnto vertue.

Sorowe.

I am slouthful, and sluggysh to ryse vnto any good woorkes.

Reason.

There is a certayne dulnesse in the minde, and also a couragious feruencie engraffed in a part of the minde, whiche feruencie wyll be set on fyre, and dulnesse shaken of, by consyderyng the swyftnesse of tyme in passyng away, whiche is so great, that

there is no minde, be it neuer so swyfte, that is able to measure it: and also the surpassyng beautie of vertue, whiche is so loue∣lie, that yf it coulde be seene with the bodily eyes, as Plato sayth, it woulde rauyshe men woonderfully with the loue thereof. Therefore, let loue on the one syde, and feare on the other styrre thee vp, for both of them are very effectuall: for neyther he that loueth, neyther he that hateth, can commonly be dull and slug∣gyshe: and yet notwithstandyng, ye ryse in the nyght tyme vnto diuine seruice, wherein ye pray that hurtfull sleepe and sluggyshnes oppresse you not: there is no place for sleepe nor sluggyshuesse, when as death frayeth you on the one syde, and vertue on the other. For who coulde euer be slouthfull and care∣lesse in great dangers, or great aduauncementes? Whensoeuer thou haft respect vnto these, courage wyll resort to the minde, and sleepe wyll flye from the eyes, when ye thynke with your selues, howe muche imperfection remayneth within you, and howe muche tyme ye haue spent in idlenesse: whereof when men haue no consyderation, we see howe they spende long ages vn∣profitably, and heare olde men wonderyng and amazed to say: What haue we doone heere these many yeeres? We haue eaten, drunken, and slept, and nowe at last we are awaked too late. The cheefe cause whereof is this sluggyshnesse, whereof thou complaynest, whiche in tyme ought to be dryuen away by the prickes of industrie, and the brydle of foresyght, least that by ouer∣long staying, thou be caried away with the multitude, vnto a dishonourable ende.