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 a suddayne death. The .cxxiii. Dialogue.

SOROWE.

BVt I dye to suddeynly.

Reason.

It is not long since, yf I forget not my selfe, that thou sayest thou wast olde: I meruayle then howe there can be any death suddayne to an olde man, who vnlesse he doate or be mad, hath death euer∣more before his eyes. For, since there is this wholsome counsel geuen to al ages, that they perswade themselues that euery day is the last that they shall lyue, it is most specially conuenient for olde age to thynke euery houre the last of their lyfe. And not on∣ly not to hearken vnto that which is wrytten by Cicero: There is no man so olde, that thinketh not to lyue one yeere longer: but not so muche vnto that which Seneca sayeth, one day longer.

Sorow.

I dye suddaynly.

Reason.

In this case what shal I answere thee other, then repeate that, which that most mightie personage, no lesse in wyt then great in fortune, answeared, scarse one whole day, when he disputed thereof, before his death, as prophecy∣ing of the trueth thereof by reason of the neerenesse of the expe∣rience. Who pronounced, that a suddayne and vnprouided death was most to be wyshed. Whiche iudgement seemeth to be disso∣nant from that religion whiche teacheth to pray with bowed knees vnto GOD euery day, to be delyuered from this kynde of death. Neyther do I lyke of this opinion, where there is other∣wyse choyse and libertie: but thou must in other manner perswade thyselfe, for I say not that it is such a death, as thou oughtest to wyshe for, but suche an one as thou mayest wel endure. For this is a cleare case, that vnto a wyse man and one that foreseeth a far of al thynges that are lyke to ensue, there can nothyng happen vnlooked for. Whereupon it foloweth, that death cannot come vnto hym vnprouided for, whose lyfe was alwayes prouident: for how should he be negligent in the greatest thinges, that was wount to demurre in small, yea, the least thynges? And in al worldly thynges, what canst thou shewe me that is greater then death, or comparable vnto it?

Sorowe.

I dye most speedily.

Reason.

So that the death be not vnthought

vpon, the speedier, the easier it is: and yf there be any payne in it, it is very short, and the speedinesse thereof preuenteth the feelyng of it, and so that is taken away from death, whiche is most greeuous in death, to wyt, the feare of death.