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 Pryde. The .Cxj. Dialogue.

SOROWE.

I AM lyfted vp with pryde.

Reason.

Earth and ashes, why art thou proude? Canst thou that art oppres∣sed with the burden of so many mischiefes, be lyfted vp with

pride? Who yf thou were free from them al, and were lyfted vp by the wynges of al vertues, yet were al thy good gyftes defiled with this vyce only: For there is nothing more hateful vnto God, then pryde. By this fel he that was created in most excellent es∣tate, by which thou beyng a sinner thinkest to aryse. If it hap∣ned so vnto hym for this one thing, what doest thou thinke wyl befall vnto thee, in whom this wickednesse is ioyned with other vices? Thou hast heaped a naughtie weight vpon thy burden.

Sorow.

I am carried with pryde.

Reason.

Why shouldest thou be so, I pray thee? Doest thou not remember that thou art mortal, that thou wearest away euery day, that thou art a sinner, that thou art subiect to a thousand chaunces, and in danger euery day to vncertayne death, and finally, that thou art in wretched case? And hast thou not also heard the most famous saying of Homer, The earth nourisheth nothyng more wretched then man? I woulde fayne knowe whiche of these doth most cheefely pricke thee foorth vnto pryde, whether the imbecilitie of the body, or the whole armie of sickenesses, or the shortnesse of lyfe, or the blyndenesse of the minde, whiche continually waue∣reth betweene most vayne hope and perpetual feare, or the for∣getfulnesse of that whiche is past, or the ignorance of that whiche is to come and present, or the treacherie of enimies, or the death of freendes, or continuing aduersitie, or flytting prosperitie? By these and none other ladders ye ascend vnto pryde, by these ye ryse to ruine. All other dangers wherein men do walter, haue some excuse, although it be vniust: but pryde and enuie haue no coloure at al.

Sorow.

I am sorie that I am proud.

Reason.

To be sorie for sinne, is the first degree to saluation. And as it is the nature of pryde to lyft vp, so is it of humili∣tie to be sorie and submit it selfe, whiche thou shalt do the more easye, so soone as thou turnest thyne eyes earnestly vpon thy selfe: whiche being so, I am not mynded, neyther ought I to heape vp vnto theeaucthorities wrytten in bookes agaynst vices: This only shalbe sufficient, that thou knowe, that so soone as euer thou be disposed vnfeignedly, al these matters wyl surceasse immediatly, and whensoeuer, as they say, thou shalt blowe the retreate, & retire to thyne ensignes, as touchyng

this present mischeefe. This one thyng I wyl say moreouer: that pryde is a sickenesse of wretches, and fooles: for doubtlesse they be suche that be proud, otherwyse I am sure they woulde neuer be proud, neyther is it written without cause in the booke of Wisedome: That al that are foolysh & vnfortunate, are proud about the measure of their soule. And truely, yf they were wyse for their soules health, their meane were to abase their estate, knowyng their owne imbecilitie. For so thou readest it written in the same booke: He that is a king to day, shal dye to morow. And when a man dyeth, he shal haue serpentes, and beastes, and woormes for his inhe∣ritance. The begynning of pryde is to fal from God, for that he forsaketh hym that made hym, and forasmuche as pryde is the beginnyng of al sinne. Thou knowest al other thynges, which be∣ing diligently weighed, thou shalt perceyue howe foule a monster a proude man is.