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 a prison. The .lxiiii. Dialogue.

SOROW.

I Am shut vp in an vnwoorthy pryson.

Reason.

Better is an vnwoorthy prison, then vnwoorthy libertie, and muche more better it is for a man vndeseruedly to suffer aduersitie for righ∣teousnesse sake, then through wickednesse to abound in pros∣peritie, although those ought not to be tearmed euilles neyther, nor these goodes, but I speake as the common people speaketh, who iudge payne to be the greatest euyl, and pleasure the greatest good thing.

Sorow.

I am shut vp in prison.

Reason.

Who is not shut vp in prison? or who departeth out of prison, but when he dyeth? This is thy destinye, and the common destiny of al men: why then should you commence peculier or newe complayntes.

For knowe this, since the first day thou wast borne, yea and before thou wast borne to, thou wast inclosed in prison, and hampered with fetters, by his commaundement vnto whom al the compasse of heauen is a litle house: and yf we wyl also beleeue the grea∣test Poet, euen in a darke and blynd pryson. The ende of whiche pryson, yf thou desire to be plausible and fortunate, thou shalt not abhorre the narrownesse thereof, neyther punishmentes, nor death, nor what soeuer may befall vnto man, vnto the pacient tollerating and contempt whereof, vnlesse the mynde be prepa∣red and armed at al poyntes in whatsoeuer fortune, he wandreth in a verie perilous path.

Sorowe.

I am shut vp in a filthy and narrowe prison.

Reason.

There is no pryson more filthy, none narrower then this pryson of the body, wherein thou takest so great delight, and from whiche thou fearest so muche to be dissolued.

Sorowe.

I am deteyned in an inconuenient pryson.

Reason.

Pryson hath delyuered many from instant daunger, and the handes of their enimies. Vnto many the very entry of their pryson hath stand in steade of a shielde, and that whiche was profitable vnto them at their entryng in, hath been hurtfull vnto them at their goyng out: insomuche that beyng cer∣tified by the departure, they haue confessed that to be profitable whiche they abhorred, and that to be miserable whiche they wysh∣ed.

Sorow.

I am holden in pryson.

Reason.

Howe knowest thou whether perhappes it be a pryson, or rather, as it is sayde, a place of safe keeping? Howe often hath eyther the enimies swoorde, or pouertie more cruel then any foe, consumed those that haue been loosed from pryson? Howe often haue they re∣pented of their escaping? and their imprisonment, which they complayned to be long, haue they afterwarde lamented that it was not perpetuall: we haue seene some that haue lyued in pryson sumptuously, but so soone as they haue been set at libertie, they haue finished their poore and wretched lyfe with a sorowful ende.

Sorowe.

I leade a miserable lyfe in pryson.

Reason.

Some haue written bookes in pryson, but thou framest complayntes there. Some haue learned good faculties in bandes, but thou learnest to forget pacience.

Sorowe.

I am kept fast in pryson.

Reason.

Some

within caues and dennes, and some haue enclosed them selues within the circuit of walles, choosing vnto them selues volunta∣rie imprisonment, eyther for the loue of God, or for hatred of the worlde, or for loathsomnesse of the common multitude, as dyd many holy fathers in the primitiue Churche. Thou, yf thou be not disposed that way, & desirest an end of thyne imprysonmēt, stay a while, eyther man wyl discharge thee, or els death, whiche caryeth a key of the pryson doore. There is one manner of en∣trance, but sundry sortes of departyng. Some haue been let goe vpon pitie, some by the course of lawe, some through their owne innocencie, some by negligence of the keepers, some for money, some by craft, some by breaking prison, or vndermining the walles, and some haue escaped out of pryson by the freendly darkenesse of the nyght, and also since the memory of your fa∣thers, some haue been set at libertie by earthquakes, and ouer∣throwing of the pryson: and last of al, they that coulde finde none other meanes, haue been released from imprisonment by death. And lykewyse no lesse dyuers haue been the euentes of them that haue escaped. Marius delyuerie from pryson, brought hym to the Consulshyp: Iulius Caesars imprisonment among the pyrates, transported hym to the Empire of the worlde. In this age certayne haue passed from pryson to lordshyps, and the cheynes whiche they haue shaken from them selues, they haue layde vpon other. Finally Regulus, and Socrates, and many moe were not extinguished in prison, as it was thaught, but rather by an honorable ende discharged out of pryson. To conclude, the pry∣son hath sent some vnto great glory, some vnto notable fortune, some to a kyngdome, and many to heauen, but al to the graue, for it neuer receyued any whom it hath not agayne restored.