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 greeuous shypwracke. The liiii. Dialogue.

SOROW.

I Haue been tossed in a greeuous shypwracke.

Reason.

Thou tellest me of the shypwracke on the sea, but as for the wracke of the minde thou speakest nothing of it, as though there were any more greeuous, or common. There is the tempest of de∣sires and affections, as if it were of contrarie blusteryng windes, which when the sayles of your concupiscences and hope are hoised and spread, bearing away the helme of the minde, and leesing the ankers of constancie in the deepe sea, driueth you about vnto al coastes, and ouer al seas: that wracke it was that draue thee into this. Take away desire, and thou shalt take away this sayling for the most part, or at leastwise the danger therof: the same driueth men not only into ships, but miserably vpon rockes, and death it selfe. And therfore, for the most part al that by their owne seking perish in the sea, haue first perished in the minde, and were first ouerwhelmed by the waues of couetousnes, before that they were drenched in the surgies of the sea. For desire com∣meth seldome without headlong hastinesse, and that which it wil haue, it wil haue it presently, al tariance and the companions ther∣of costlinesse it hateth, the same is the redie way vnto destruction, and the first cause of often shypwracke.

Sorowe.

I am discomforted by a great shypwracke.

Reason.

Thou hast learned to pray vnto God, to make vowes, and promise many thynges, of whiche although feare was the cause, yet since thou art arryued agayne on the lande, acknowledge thou that fayth was the cause: God is not mocked skot free, he hateth the brea∣kers of their faithful promises.

Sorowe.

I haue suffered a foule shypwracke.

Reason.

None complayne of shyp∣wracke, but they that haue escaped it. Reioyce therefore that thou art safe, and more expert. The remembrance of

dangers past, is commonly delectable, as contrariwyse the me∣mory of forepassed prosperitie is greeuous. But howe muche wouldst thou haue esteemed in foretymes to haue seene the Tri∣ton goddes of the sea, and the mountaines of water foming, & the waues vp to heauen swelling, & the monsters of the sea swimming? Thou hast now some feareful tales to tel in the winter nightes by the fire side, to make folke a fearde withall, and to holde thyne amazed family in admiration. Nowe therefore thou knowest what is a poetical tempest, and that feare whiche thou wouldest scarce beleeue, is certaynely knowen vnto thee, whiche thou hast now wel gained, eyther by the feare of death, or losse of goodes.

Sorow.

I haue been in a dangerous shypwracke.

Reason.

There is nothyng learned without trauayle, this if thou be wyse, shalbe a perpetual lesson vnto thee, that heareafter thou neuer perswade thy selfe to commit thy lyfe vnto the windes.

Sorowe.

I haue suffered a woful shypwracke.

Reason.

If this be the first, take heede thou fal not into the seconde: if it be the second, then holde thy peace. For proper is the saying of Publius the wryter of scoffes: He wickedly accuseth Neptune, that committeth shipwracke the seconde tyme.

Sorow.

I haue scarse escaped in a terrible shypwracke.

Reason.

I can not see why it shoulde be more terrible to dye in the sea, then vpon the lande, seeing men must needes dye vpon the one of them, or why it were better to feede wormes, then to be baite for fyshes: but forasmuche as thou hast escaped, beware that thou commit not agayne thy lyfe to a bro∣ken oare, or a rotten boorde. Since thou art an earthly creature, learne to keepe the earth, and rather to affect heauen then the sea.