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 Ciuile warre. The .Lxxiiij. Dialogue.

SOROWE.

WE are shaken with Ciuile warre.

Reason.

The name hereof is deriued of Citizens, and thou art one of the Citizens, take heede therefore, that thou be not one of the number of the sticklers in this mischiefe, and to thy power thou be not voyde of blame: For this is the ma∣ner of ciuile warres, one man enflameth and prouoketh another, vntyll all of them ioyntly haue raysed a publike outrage, whiche publique outrage at length pricketh foorth and thrusteth headlong euery priuate man forwarde. For this common mischiefe neuer commeth thus fyrst to ripenesse of it selfe, although by encreasing it infect, yea sometyme ouerthrowe an whole Citie: but yf thou wouldest fynde the fyrst original thereof, it is rooted in the errours of priuate persons. and this is that therefore whereof I exhort thee to beware, that thou also haue not ben one of those that haue mayntayned the ciuile flame, eyther by ministryng matter to the fire, or by blowyng the coales. For many doo thynges, whereof shortly after they complayne, and lament theyr owne deede, as yf it were some wound inflicted by another mans hand. Many haue perished in their owne fyre. But yf thou be gyltie vnto thy selfe of no suche matter, duetifull and godly is the sorowe of a Citizen

in the publique calamitie, but he may conceyue comfort of his innocencie. Of all the mischiefes that folowe man, there is none more lamentable then sinne, or rather as it seemeth vnto certaine notable men, there is none other mischiefe at al.

Sorow.

We are vexed with ciuile warre.

Reason.

In the rage of the multi∣tude shewe thou thy selfe a follower of peace, whiche though it be to small purpose, yet aduaunce thy selfe though alone in the de∣fence of libertie and iustice: whiche although perhappes shall doo thy Countrey but small pleasure, yet shall it redowne to thy com∣mendation: of eyther of these, one Citie shall gene thee an exam∣ple, to wit, Menenius Agrippa, and Portius Cato, euen the same that was the last.

Sorowe.

The Citizens are together by the eares in implacable ciuile warre.

Reason.

If thou canst doo nothyng thereto of thy selfe, labour others, reprooue them, entreate them, withstande them, chastice them, speake them faire, beate into their heades the vtter ouerthrowe of the Common wealth, whiche conteyneth in it the ruine of euery priuate person, and seemyng proper to none, appertayneth to all: To be short, seeke to appease theyr mindes, at the one syde with duetie, on the other with terrour. But yf thou profite nothyng that way, make thy prayers vnto Almightie GOD, and wyshe the witte and amendment of thy Citizens, and the safetie of thy Countrey, and in all poyntes fulfyl the duetie of a good Citizen.

Sorow.

The Common wealth is come to great extremitie by ciuile warre.

Reason.

To the ende that neither by ciuile nor external warres any thyng happen vnto thee vnlooked for, nor any chaunce op∣presse thee vpon a sudden, alwayes recount this one thyng in thy minde, that not men only, but al worldly thynges also are mortal, the soule of man onely excepted. And as in men, so lykewyse in Cities and great Empires, there be sundry diseases and maladies, some in the outwarde partes, and some rysing within the bodye, among which are mutinies, and fallinges away, and brawles, and discordes, and ciuile warres: and moreouer, that euery one hath a tyme prefixed whiche he can not passe, whiche euery day draweth nearer then other, and although it be deferred for a time, yet most sure it is that it wyll come. Where there stand now most famous Cities, there sometyme haue stoode rough and wilde wooddes,

and so perhaps shall doo agayne. It is a great follie for any Citie to hope for that of it selfe, whiche Rome, the Lady and Queene of all Cities, coulde not attayne. This is the difference betweene the endes and decayes of men, and of Cities, in that the ende of men, by reason of their innumerable and infinite multitude, and shortnes of lyfe, is dayly seene with the eyes: but of Cities, be∣cause of the rarenesse of them, and theyr longer continuance, it is scarce beholden once in many hundred yeeres, and then with great wonder and admiration. This meditation shall make thee more strong agaynst all chaunces, as well publique as priuate. And to conclude, the same shall lay foorth vnto thee, though not a pleasant, yet an indifferent way vnto pouertie, vnto exile, and vn∣to death it selfe, and teach thee how that this mischiefe is peculier to thy Countrey, which is common vnto you all that be Citizens.