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 importunate Neyghbours. The .xxxi. Dialogue.

SOROWE.

I Haue importunate neyghbours.

Reason.

Beware that thou be not more importunate vnto them.

Sorowe.

I suffer troublesome neyghbours.

Reason.

Opinion beareth

a great sway in al matters: magine in thy mynde, that they are tollerable, and they are so.

Sorow.

I haue euyl neyghbours.

Reason.

Many impute their owne faultes vnto their neigh∣bours: Other mens offences are more sharpely surueyed, more exactly discussed, more seuerely iudged: there is no man that is not a frendly and gentle iudge ouer his owne doynges.

Sorowe.

I suffer sharpe and bytter neighboures.

Reason.

In tast perhaps, and not in effect, for vnto those that are proud and disdainefull, sweete thynges seeme bitter.

Sorowe.

I complayne that my neyghboures are harde and proud.

Reason.

Euery man beareth muche with hym selfe, but nothyng with another: hereof spryngeth great errour, and continuall cause of offences. And ma∣ny tymes where the faulte is, there first begynneth the complaint. How knowe we nowe, whether thou seeme harde, and frowarde, and intractable vnto them, of whose hardnesse thou complaynest?

Sorowe.

I suffer hard neyghbours.

Reason.

Thou hast a double remedie: pacience, and flyght. The first I alowe of, for that al hardnes may be mollified by the arte of sufferyng.

So∣rowe.

I cannot suffer so euyl neyghboures.

Reason.

If by this meanes thou take no profite, who shal holde thee? get thee a∣way out of hand, for as they are greuous vnto thee, so wil they not folow thee: cast from thee the burden which thou canst not beare, and that enimie whom by fightyng thou canst not susteyne, seeke by flying to eschewe: what skylleth it by what path thou es∣cape into safetie? There is no way to be iudged harde, whereby a man may trauayle vnto tranquilitie of minde. And yf thou haue often attempted it, and art neuer the neare, know this, that it is thyne owne faulte, and perhappes also parte of anothers. The greater sorte of common contentions, hath on eyther side one accusyng another, among whom although the one be more faul∣tie, yet is neyther of them without blame. For although that man be tearmed a ciuile and sociable creature, yet yf the trueth be diligently examined, there is none lesse so: and this saying of the Satyrike Poet is true, That there is greater agreement among serpentes and wylde beastes, then among men. For Beares, wilde Bores, Tygers, and Lyons, yea, Vipers, and Aspes, and Cro∣codilles, and to be short, al lyuing creatures, are somtyme at rest

and quietnesse in theyr owne kyndes, man only excepted, who is neuer at quiet. For one man alwayes oppresseth and vex∣eth another, and by continual strife and contention procureth a restlesse lyfe vnto hym selfe and his neighbour. For so it hapneth many tymes, that where is moste plentie of neere neighbours, there a man may se greatest distaunce of myndes and goodwyll. Neighbours are seldome without scouldyng and hatred, There is none of you, vnlesse I be muche deceyued, that spiteth at the kynges of Arabia or India. Spite is bleare eyed, she can not see farre of.

Sorowe.

I am beset with noysome neygh∣bours.

Reason.

If thou wilt be throughly discharged of this mischiefe, goe hyde thy selfe vp in the wyldernesse.