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 Castles lost. The .Lxxxij. Dialogue.

SOROWE.

MY strong Castles are taken from me.

Reason.

Tyl now, some seede of tyrannie remayned: which is vtterly gon, thy Castles beyng lost. It is not enough to cutte of a poysoned bough, vnlesse it be plucked vp by the roote. He that trusteth to his Towers, reasseth not to be a Tyraunt.

Sorowe.

My Castle on the Hyll, is taken from me.

Reason.

In all places, Castles are the fetters of freedome: but on Hylles, they are after a sort as Cloudes, out of whiche, your pryde may rattle and thunder downe vpon your Subiectes: therefore, to be spoyled of these, is no lamentable thyng, but rather to be wyshed. For among those thynges whiche the common people call goodes, some thynges there are, wherewith good, and modest mindes also woulde be detayned, and prycked vnto vnlawful∣nesse. Whiche motions, yf thou canst not withstande with the

assistaunce of vertue: it were better to be without the causes of euyls, then by hauing suche thynges, to be allured vnto wicked∣nesse.

Sorowe.

I haue lost a most strong castle.

Reason.

Thou callest it most strong, but the euent proueth it to be but weake. But to speake as it is, in deede thou hast lost a thyng for vse vayne, for keeping troublesome, vnprofitable for thy selfe, and to al thy neyghbours hurtful. Nowe shalt thou begyn both to sleepe quietly thy selfe, and to suffer others to take their rest by thee.

Sorow.

My safe Toure is ouerthrowen.

Reason.

Howe that coulde be safe whiche is destroyed, thynke with your selfe. But I wyl shewe thee a wel fenced and most safe Castle, and yet it hath neyther wal nor turret, nor troublesome prouision of thynges: wouldest thou lyue safely? Then lyue verteously, for nothyng is more safe then vertue. And to lyue wel, I count not to lyue proudely, daintyly, galantly, but iustly, soberly, and mo∣destly. Thou hast neede neyther Castle, nor Towre, whiche make thee not secure, and quiet, but careful, terrible, and trou∣blesome. And what pleasure is it to be feared, and not to be lo∣ued? Neuer heardest thou of that saying of Laberius, common in euery mans mouth? Needes must be feare many, of whom ma∣ny stande in feare. This did he vtter agaynst Iulius Caesar, but more ryghtly may it be spoken agaynst others, both inferiour to hym for power, and more horrible for their crueltie? I see no∣thyng, why so many shoulde desire to be feared. For gratis no man is feared. For both he standes in feare hymselfe, and more dangerous is it for one to feare many, then for many to be afraid of one. It it not better that none do feare thee, and thou no bodie, then for many to feare thee, and thou many? For these thynges cannot be seuered, and alwayes by feare is engendred feare. Wouldest thou haue a reason hereof? Ouid the Poet geueth it thee: Whom a man doth feare, sayth he, he woulde haue come to destruction: and Ennius before his tyme sayde, Whom men doo feare, they hate, whom any doth hate, he wysheth to be destroy∣ed. Many feared thee in thy Castle, and so dyddest thou feare ma∣ny. But thou wylt say, whom dyd I feare? But who is he that feareth not al men, when he begynneth to be feared, espe∣cially them whiche feare hym? For Cicero folowyng Ennius.

Doth saye, They which wilbe feared of them, whom they should feare, must needes be in great feare. I many tymes repeate one thing, for so doth the matter requyre I should, neyther do ye marke, being blynde in this, as in other thynges, that whyle ye contende to be aboue al, ye are vnder al. What is more vile then feare? So al your endeuour endeth on the contrarie part.

Sorow.

I haue lost my Castle whiche I loued so wel.

Reason.

Loue another whiche thou shalt not leese. Wal thy minde about with good intentions, thy lyte with good actions: Place prudence and fortitude before thy gates, iustice and modestie in the turrets, humanitie and clemencie about vpon the walles, set faith, hope, and charitie in the middes of the castle, let prouidence be planted on the top of the hiest towre, a good name in the circuite of God and men, embrace loue, banyshe feare, reuerence the woorthy, ouerpasse the rest without eyther honoring or abhorring them: so neyther shalt thou feare any, nor any feare thee, and more safe∣ly shalt thou lyue in the house of humilitie, then in the towre of glory. This Castle wyl none inuade, this wyl none, neyther can they bereaue thee of, by this shalt thou drawe the wicked to ad∣miration, the good to loue, and to imitation. O howe easie a matter were it to leade a quiet and good lyfe, yf ye woulde not disquiet and make the same troublesome, both to the de∣struction of your selues and others? For al that ye do, is to the ouerthrowe of your selues and your neighbours. And tell me, to what ende serue these your Castles, but to the disquietyng of your selues and others, that neyther you at any tyme can be quiet, but that also, lyke spiders that lay wayte for flyes, ye may insulte ouer them whiche passe by you. All other creatures content them selues with their caues and nestes, man alone, then whom nothing is more proude, nor feareful, seeketh Castles, and buyldeth bulwarkes.