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 watching. The .lxxxvi. Dialogue.

SOROW.

I Cannot sleepe.

Reason.

Watch then, and reioyce that the ryme of thy lyfe is prolonged: For betweene sleepe and death there is small difference, but that the one lasteth but for a tyme, the other is perpetual. And therefore I cannot tel whe∣ther it be not sayde properly enough, that sleepe is a short death, and death a long and euerlasting sleepe.

Sorowe.

I haue lost my sleepe.

Reason.

It must be prouoked agayne, not by force, but by fayre meanss. If thou thinke to procure it, it wyl not be constrained. Goe some other way to woorke, geue rest to thyne head, and trouble not thy minde with cares, and it wyll come vnlooked for: when the minde is loose, and the body weerie, sleepe wyl came stealyng on.

Sorowe.

My sleepes are often broken of.

Reason.

Do as it is sayde Augustus Caesar was woont to do: when thou wakest out of sleepe, haue some about thee to re∣nue it agayne by readyng or tellyng of tales. But if it be long of earnest and vrgent cares, lay them aside, and sleepe wyl come: of whiche sort of cares Virgil speaketh where he sayth, that good cares do breake sweete sleepes.

Sorowe.

I can take no rest in sleepe.

Reason.

Neyther shalt thou then be terrified with dread∣fuldreames, nor surprised with suddeyne feare in the night. And al∣though Aristotle hold opinion, that the visions whiche wyse men see in their sleepe, be good, & true in deede it is: Neuerthelesse, the one of these, who was nothing inferiour vnto hym in wit, but of greater aucchorine, & the other in al respectes his equal in holinesse and pacience, whom I mentioned erewhyle, endured great extre∣mitie and trouble in their dreames. What others haue fealt and suffered, euery one is priute vnto hymselfe, and can cal his owne bed to wytnesse, of the illusions and troubles whiche he hath sus∣teyn••d. Truely the one of these was woont in his latter dayes to be terrified in his dreames, as it is wrytten of hym. The other I made mention of not long since, where I entreated of rest and quietnesse: who among other troubles of this lyfe, complayneth of his suddayne frightyng in sleepe, and the terrour of his visions

and drcames.

Sorowe.

I slepe not so wel as I was woont.

Reason.

Then thou lyuest longer then thou wast woont: for thus the learned say, that as sleepe is death, so watchyng is lyfe.

So∣row.

Sickenesse hath dryuen away my sleepe.

Reason.

Then health wyl bryng it agayne.

Sorowe.

Loue hath banni∣shed my sleepe.

Reason.

Thou speakest one thing twyse: For loue is a sickenesse, and the greatest sickenesse that is.

Sorowe.

Feare hath bannished away my sleepe.

Reason.

Se∣curitie wyl reuoake it.

Sorow.

Olde age hath taken away my sleepe.

Reason.

Death approchyng wyl restore it.