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 an vniust Lorde. The .xxxix. Dialogue.

SOROW.

THe common wealth suffereth an vniuste lorde.

Reason.

Perhappes it hath deserued it, and that kynde of mys∣cheefe is a due punishment for the other: and we see seuere iudges exercise iustice, as wel in hel, as els where, and although it standeth for a reason, yet sometymes it maketh hast: & that is ve∣rified whiche is wrytten, There is a God that iudgeth men on earth. There be some of opinion, that deuyls are made of men, thorow their dayly licentious offendyng, and libertie in sinnyng: whiche thyng is tollerablye spoken, for that the likelihood of wicked dispositions doth cause it, wherein a wicked man, and suche a one as continually perseuereth in wickednesse, is almost equall with the deuyl. To whiche opinion, if it be alowed, this saying wyl wel agree. That thorowe gods iustice, one deuyl oppresseth an other. In whiche case of al other this is most miserable, that it hap∣peneth often tymes, that the giltlesse are punished among the wicked. And that saying of Flaccus falleth out many tymes to true, and to often, That many tymes the opportunitie that is necglectd in punishyng the adulterer, doth bryng the innocent into daunger: whiche thyng without doubt, although vnknowen to vs, yet is it done not without the secret iustice of God.

Sorowe.

We suffer a cruel Lord.

Reason.

Crueltie truely is an euill thing, and quite agaynst the nature of man, but it is profitable a∣gaynst vice, and vnto the vnbrideled people abrydel, and feare proceedyng from al sides: and it is more expedient for them to feare, that knowe not howe to loue, howe soeuer the case stand. There is no lorde so cruel, but that pleasure, the companion and daughter of prosperitie, is more cruel then he. Nothyng can be worse for euyl doers, then carelesnesse and libertie. He that fea∣reth nothyng, is nighest to destruction.

Sorowe.

The vnfortunate people suffereth an vniust lorde.

Reason.

Beleeue me, there is no man amongst al the common people, more miserable then a Tyrant: Whiche thing yf thou doubt of, beholde Dionisius. he being a wycked man, yet not vnlearned, what opinion he had of

hym selfe and of his owne tyrannye, the hanging vp of the sworde, with the poynte thereof ouer his frendes head, doth openly declare. The hystorie is commonly knowen. The peo∣ple standeth in feare of the Tiraunt, and the Tiraunt of the peo∣ple, and in such sorte one standeth in feare of the other, to their great greefe. In this poynt it differeth, that the miserie of the people dooth appeare, but of the Tiraunt lyeth closely hydden. Notwithstandyng the wounde that is couered with a purple roabe, pincheth euen as sore. Neyther do fet••ers of golde greeue a man any lesse, then fetters of Iron. And as his misery may consiste in filthynesse, and smokynesse, so euen in brauery and banketryng it is included. The garment of a Tiraunt, on the outside is golde, but yf thou turne it, thou shalt fynde al the in∣ner side ful of sharpe prickelles. So thou mayest perceiue that Ti∣rants do not altogeather in theyr raging scape scotte free, or that the oppression of the people is vnreuenged.

Sorow.

We haue a very vnmerciful lorde.

Reason.

Lordes would not be so plen∣tiful, neyther rule & rage so wyde abrode, vnlesse the people were madde, and that euery citizen did not regarde their priuate, more then the common wealth, pleasure more then glory, money more then libertie, lyfe more then vertue.

Sorowe.

Our seruile con∣trey suffereth one lord.

Reason.

Not one lorde, but thirtie lordes at once, did that noble mother of lawes, Athens, suffer, which was the seconde light of al Greece.

Sorowe.

Our countrey hath one lorde.

Reason.

Yea, but Roome had many: For who hath not hearde of the Caligulas, the Neroes, and Domitians, the Com∣modoes, Heliogabales, Bascianes, and Calienes? and that I may not recken vp al the shames of the Emvire, the Maximini, and the haters of al godlinesse, the Iulian••, and Deci••. Assiria suffered Sardanapalus, Persis Syrus, Greece Menander, and Asia suffered some that were called kynges, who were in deede very cruel tyrauntes, and vnmerciful Dionisians. Sicilia suffered Phalaris, Lacedemon abode Cleomenis, Agathocles and Na∣nides, whom also the Argi did suffer, and therewith also the wo∣manyshe couetousnesse of his wyfe, who surpassyng her husbande inscrapyng togeather, shewed great tyrannye in her kinde, after a strange sorte. But whyther do I proceede? who is able to recken

vp eyther the newe, or the olde Tyrauntes? who in these dayes are so many in number, and haue taken so deepe roote, that what with their ryches and power of the people of the one syde, and their maners and mad bedlemnes on the other syde, they can ney∣ther be numbred nor rooted out. Neyther neede you to thinke that seruitude is turned into nature any lesse with you, then it was with the Egiptians & Medes, who had al their liberty suppressed and quite buried: insomuch that the greater part of the people, yf they haue not a Tiraunt, they wyl sue earnestly to haue one, or els seeke to bye one: so that it seemeth your fathers were ashamed to be suche ones as they were borne to be. For you al, for the most parte, being borne and brought vp in seruitude, as you haue cause to complayne of the olde greefe, so haue you no cause to find fault with any newe.

Sorowe.

We are oppressed with the heauie yoke of a mightie lorde.

Reason.

The fable of Aristophanes the Poet is very profitable, which warneth vs not to nouryshe vp a Lion within cities, but if he be once nourished vp, that then we ought to obey him: for the mischeefe which commeth of Tiranny by nature, is not to be augmented by impacience, neyther that power, which thou thy selfe hast let vp, by thee to be violated: For seldome hath it been seene, that a Tirant hath risen vp among the people, without the fault of the citizens. For it is an olde saying, Eate that which thou hast nourished.

Sorowe.

We suffer an im∣portunate lord.

Reason.

If al power come from God, whether it be for the exercise of the good, or punishment of the wicked, it is meete that thou shouldest thinke thy selfe subiecte to the power of God, & not of man: whose minister if he seeme to be seuere, it may come to passe that thorow pacience he may wax gentle. For there is scarse any mynde so cruel, but that thorow obedience & seruicea∣blenesse it wil be calmed. To be short, whatsoeuer it be that oppres∣seth, it ought to be eyther suffered, or quite laide out of mind: For there is no meane beside impatience, which, as I said, doth not di∣minishe greefes, but encrease them.

Sorowe.

We haue an euyl lord.

Reason.

You al haue one enimie whom ye know wel, & he being but one, hath many which he knoweth not, & therfore is in more daungerous state.

Sorowe.

We haue a very euyl lorde.

Reason.

But he wyl not continue long, yf the philosophers iudged aright, who sayde, That no violent thing can continue long.

And truely, yf thy countrye haue but one good citizen, it shall not very long haue an euyl lorde.