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 vnlearned Scholemaister. The .xl. Dialogue.

SOROW.

I Haue an vnlearned Scholemaister.

Reason.

Although the vnlearned cannot make a man learned, and that the common saying be true, That it is in a skilful man, to be able to teach: Yet a man may become learned vnder an vnlearned teacher, eyther by his owne meanes, or els, whiche seemeth more true, through celestical influence and inspiration. And that I may vse the woordes of Cicero, by diuine instinte, without the whiche we ought not to beleeue that any can be eyther learned or good▪ And this poynt is not onely grounded vpon true religion, but also is agreable vnto the aucthorities of gentyle philosophy.

Sorowe.

I heare an vnlearned Scholemaister, agaynst my wyl.

Reason.

But heare the heauenly Scholemaister wyllingly, who hath ge∣uen thee eares, not these onely whiche we see, but inuisible ones within the mynde. Here hym, who teacheth man wysedome, as it is wrytten. Who moreouer, yf he holde his peace, what euer mortal Scholemaister he be, be he neuer so well learned, he lo∣seth his labour.

Sorowe.

I suffer impaciently an vnlearned Scholemaister.

Reason.

Eyther flye from hym, and seeke an other, or els returne to thy selfe. And remember though Cice∣ro do many tymes scorne at Epicurus, Senica notwithstandyng counteth hym a notable felowe, who had not only not an vnlear∣ned Scholemaister, but none at al, as he him selfe boastingly doth often repeate. Remember also what Saynt Augustine wryteth of hym selfe, whom it were a sinne not to beleeue in al matters, who as the same aucthour wryteth, vnderstoode Aristotles predicamentes, whiche are accompted amongest the most har∣dest thinges: and also the liberal sciences, any one wherof to learne perfectly of a Scholemaister is compted a harde matter. These I say did he vnderstand, and no man taught hym. And last of al thinke vpon Saint Bernarde, a most excellent man for lear∣nyng

and holynesse, who got al his knowledge, wherin he ex∣celled all other of his tyme, in the wooddes and fieldes, not by the instruction of man, but by contemplation and prayer: neyther had he euer any other Scholemaisters (as he witnesseth of hym self) then Okes and Beeches. Yf these thynges haue been doone: Why may they not be doone agayne? whiche vnlesse it had been so, what shoulde the first men haue doone, who neyther had any Scholemaister, neyther coulde fynde any? Therefore by woon∣deryng, by thynkyng, by lyfting vp of the minde, and sharpening the wyt, dyd they fynde out those thyngs which you with all your Scholemaisters doo scarcely vnderstande. Doo thou also some great matter, and distrust not to intermeddle thy selfe with great exploytes: And yf thou want a mortall, thou shalt haue an hea∣uenly scholemaister, on whom all other Scholemaisters doo de∣pende: He it is that hath made al things, both wyttes, and scien∣ces, and maisters.