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 dying, that is careful what his wyfe wil do when he is dead. The .cxxviii. Dialogue.

FEARE.

WHat wyl my welbeloued wyfe do, when I am dead?

Reason.

Perhaps she wyl marrie agayne: what is that to thee?

Feare.

What wyl my deere wife do?

Reason.

Beyng discharged from thy yoake, eyther she wyl yeelde her necke to another, or liue at large, or els rest herselfe after her wearinesse, & seeke only how to passe foorth her lyfe quietly.

Feare.

What wyl my most louing wyfe do?

Reason.

Doest thou aske what she wyl do when she hath escaped from thee, and knowest not what she dyd when she was vnder thy subiection? The greater sort of mortal men, beyng ignorant what is done at home in their owne houses, hearken what is a dooing in heauen, and the farthest partes of the world. Truely, what shall become of thy wyfe after thy departure, let her selfe or her next husbande looke to that, since that care appertayneth no longer to thee hereafter.

Feare.

I am afeard, lest after my decease my wyfe marrie agayne.

Reason.

Some there be that marrie, their olde husbandes lyuing. Thus dyd Herodias among the Hebrewes, Sophronisba among the Africanes, and Martia and Liuia among the Romanes, although their husbandes con∣sent & commaundement doo excuse these two last recited: & wylt thou onely binde thy wyfe from marriage? Yea, there are but few that lyue faythfully towardes their husbandes, & wilt thou require that thy wife continue her truth to thy cold & senselesse ashes? If she haue liued faythful to thee vnto the last day of thy lyfe, then

hath she accomplyshed the duetie of a true and trustie spouse.

Feare.

I am afeard that my wyfe wyl marrie agayne.

Reason.

That she first married perhaps thou shouldest haue feared more: that belonged to thee, but her second marrying shal apperteyne to another. But this is your common trade, ye contemne the things that ye ought to feare, and feare the thynges that ye ought to con∣temne, esteeming of nothyng iustly as ye ought. Thou en••redst the combat of the married bed without feare, not forethinkyng what danger thou passedst into, and art thou afeard now least an∣other should do the like?

Feare.

I would not, I confesse, haue my wyfe marrie agayne.

Reason.

For a woman of exact & perfecte chastitie, I graunt, although she be permitted by lawe to marrie agayne, yet were it better to abstayne: but most of al to eschue pe∣rilous widowhood. There is moreouer some such tyme & occasi∣on, that a woman is not onely excused, but also enforced to marrie agayne. For it is an hard matter for a fayre woman to lyue alone chastly.

Feare.

My sweete wyfe wyl marrie another husband.

Reason.

There are but fewe women found, yea among them that are counted honest, that euen whyle their present husbande is lyuing, do not determine in their minde who shal be their next. My husband, say they, is a mortal man, and yf he chaunce to dye, shal I marrie next for vertue, or nobilitie, or loue, or eloquence, or bewtie, or person sake?

Feare.

My wife wyl marrie againe.

Reason.

Not thy wyfe verily: for death wyl make that she shal not be thine. And no merueile though it part man and wyfe, whiche dissolueth the bandes whereby the body and soule are knyt togeather.

Feare.

My wyfe wyl marrie agayne.

Reason.

The wyues of the Romane Captaines, and Dukes and Empe∣rours haue also married agayne, and therefore take in good part this fortune whiche is common to thee with thine auncetours.

Feare.

My wyfe wyl marrie agayne.

Reason.

The Ro∣mane Captaynes and Prynces did marrie wyddowes also, & so did the most godly kyng Dauid take to wife two wyddowes, that had been the wyues but of meane persons: and it may so happen that one greater then thou may marrie thy wyfe, vnto whom resigne this carefulnesse, seeing thou go∣est thyther where there is no marrying at all.

Feare.

My sweete wyfe wyl marrie another man.

Reason.

If she marrie a better, reioyce at her prosperity whom thou louedst. But if to a woorse, be glad yet, for that she wyl thinke more often vpon thee, and holde thee more deere. For there be many that haue learned to knowe and loue their first husbandes, onely by their second marriages.