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 Thefte. The .Lx. Dialogue

SOROWE.

THat litle whiche remayneth, I can scarse defende from theeues.

Reason.

Thy Bayliffe in the countrey hath taught thee how to take this euyll with pacience, whiche thou must shew also in the cities.

Sorowe.

Theeues doo trouble me.

Reason.

Against this mischiefe complaintes doo not auayle, but punishmentes are needeful: In the meane while, diligent watchynges dooth good, to hym that is circum∣spect. There be some that keepe nothing, & accuse theeues, when as the olde Prouerbe sayth, that occasion maketh a theefe.

Sorow.

Theeues do besiege my entrye.

Reason.

Shut to thy doores, locke them fast, open thyne eyes, and looke about thee, if thou be necligent in so dooyng, then blame thy selfe. A theefe seldome hurteth the circumspect. They may more iustly complayne that haue no houses, such as are certaine people vnder the South and North poles, & therefore among the Scithians. as thou seest, it is written, there is no offence more greeuous then theft. And the rea∣son is this, that if men there myght robbe freely among the woods, what should remaine to the owner?

Sorowe.

Theeues steale my goodes.

Reason.

They would haue them be theirs, and thou forbiddest not, thynke therfore that thy necligence is pu∣nished, and that by this losse thou art taught to keepe thine owne: profitable matters are not taught for naught.

Sorowe.

Theeues doo very muche trouble me.

Reason.

Truely they are an importunate kynde of men, worthyly hated of all that are vertuous, not only as pestilent, but also as vyle persons. And knowe this, that it proceedeth of none other then a great base∣nesse of mynde, that any man is drawen vnto so vyle a wicked∣nesse. And therefore not without good cause Aurelius Alex∣ander, who was a young, but a vertuous Prince, fell so much in hatred of theeues, that as Helius Lampridius writeth of hym, if he had seene any such, he had his fynger redy to plucke out one of his eyes. Suche was his hatred agaynst those that were infamous for Theeuery, that yf by chaunce he sawe any of them, his spirite was so inuaded agaynst them, that immediat∣ly

he was prouoked to vomite out choler, his face being so en∣flamed, that he coulde not speake a woord. Truely a notable dis∣daine of a valiant mind, and a shameful filthinesse in the theeues. whiche was able so sodenly to moue the stomacke of so high and excellent a prynce, vnto lothsomnesse and vomiting. Yea more∣ouer, when as on a tyme, a certayne noble man being accused of theft, at lengh through great fauour of certaine Ringes that were his freendes, had obteyned to be sent foorth to warfaire, and was immediatly taken with theft agayne (for they that are geuen to that vice, through custome are neuer able to leaue it) Alexan∣der demaunded of the kynges which had preferred hym, what pu∣nishment there was for theeues in their countreyes? Whereunto when they answeared, hangyng, he caused hym forthwith by theyr iudgment to be hanged.

Sorowe.

I am molested with thee∣ues.

Reason.

Circumspection and diligent heede takyng, are good remedies agaynst theeues, but the best of al, is pouertie. As long as a man hath any thing that they do lyke of, he can not wel escape their handes, or eyes. Wouldest thou be out of the feare of theeues? be poore then.