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 barren VVyfe. The .xxij. Dialogue.

SOROWE.

I Haue a barren Wyfe.

Reason.

Barrennesse is one reme∣die of the inconueniences of marriage, for it maketh women obedient and humble. She that bringeth many children, think∣eth her selfe no longer to be a wife, but a Ladie: but she that is barren, weepeth, and holdeth her peace. Dooest thou not remem∣ber Helcana?

Sorowe.

I haue hapned vpon a barren wyfe.

Reason.

Thou complaynedst erewhyle of thy wyues inconti∣nencie, and now thou findest fault with her barrennesse: But yf thy fyrst complaint were iust, then is this thy seconde vniust. It is expedient for an incontinent man to haue a barren wyfe, for then shall he not keepe an other mans chyldren, whiche is a more odi∣ous and greeuous thing, then any the wyues iniurie or filthinesse whatsoeuer: yf it be a woful case to haue an adulterous wyfe, it is more miserable to haue a fruiteful wyfe.

Sorowe.

My wyfe is barren.

Reason.

See that thou doo not that whiche many

a one dooeth, obiect thyne owne fault to another. Many women beyng married vnto some one man, haue seemed barren, whiche when they haue been married vnto other men haue had chyldren.

Sorowe.

My wyfe is barren.

Reason.

How knowest thou what manner of sonne she would beare thee, yf she were fruiteful? The byrthes of some women haue made their fruitefulnesse hate∣full, and therefore to haue been wyshed that they had been barren. The Empire of Rome had not suffered and abydden those cruell monsters of men, Caius, Caligula, Nero, Commodus, Bassia∣nus, yf that Germanicus, of Domitius, yf Marcus Antonius. yf Septimus Seuerus, had had no wyues at all, or els yf they had been barren.