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 one that is sicke out of his owne countrey. The .cxxiiii. Dialogue.

SOROW.

I Am sicke in a strainge countrey.

Reason.

What skylleth it whose countrey it be, the sickenesse thou art sure is thine owne.

Sorowe.

Thou mockest me, I am sicke out of mine owne countrey.

Reason.

He that is out of his owne coun∣trey, is surely in some other: for none can be sicke or whole out of al countreyes.

Sorow.

Thou seekest delayes in wordes, but I am sicke out of my countrey.

Reason.

In this miserie thou gainest this one commoditie, that thou hast none to trouble thee, nor to lye vpon thy bed, not thine importunate wyfe, nor thy sonne, who woulde both be careful for them selues, and carelesse of thee. Howe often thinkest thou, hath the wyfe to her husband, and the sonne to the father, and one brother to another, when they haue lien in extremitie of death throwne a pillowe ouer their mouthes, and holpen to set them packyng, whiche a stranger would not haue done, nor haue suffered to be done by others? Ma∣ny tymes there is most loue where it is lesse looked for: and there none that are about thee wylbe glad of thy sickenesse, or wyshe for thy death. And shall I tel thee the cause why? There is none there that looketh for thine inheritance: none commit any wic∣kednesse, but they are moued thereunto by hope or desire, which quietnesse wherein thou art nowe, would not haue hapned vnto thee in thine owne countrey. For many vnder the colour of good∣wyl woulde flocke about thee, and gape after thy burial: whiche conceit, vnlesse I be much deceiued, is a seconde sickenesse to him that is sicke alreadie, when he shal perceiue himselfe beset rounde about, at the one side with woolfes, and at the other with rauens

whiche in their mindes come to pray on the carcase.

Sorowe.

I am sicke out of my countrey.

Reason.

Howe knowest thou that? Perhaps thou returnest nowe into thy countrey: for the rea∣diest and shortest way for a man to returne into his countrey, is to dye.

Sorowe.

I am sicke out of my countrey.

Reason.

O the needelesse alwayes and vayne cares of men, and fond com∣playntes: as though out of a mans owne countrey his ague were fiercer, or his gout more intollerable? Al this whiche seemeth euyl, consisteth in your owne wyl, and lyeth in your owne power, lyke as other plagues and mischeefes do, whatsoeuer a false o∣pinion hath engendred in your mindes.