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 the losse of hearyng. The .XCvij. Dialogue.

SOROWE.

I Haue lost my hearyng.

Reason.

Beholde, thou hast one passage for tediousnesse stopped. Many thynges that are tedi∣ous, are drawen in at the eyes, and many at the eares, and ma∣ny lothsome thynges pearce into the minde by both wayes, for the auoydyng whereof, blindnesse and deafenesse are to be desired a lyke. Notwithstanding, these haue their discommodities, as al∣most al other mortal thynges: neither doo I denie, but that there is some painefulnesse in them, but more daintie then pacience, and not comparable to vertue. Where, what the proportion is be∣tweene these discommodities, it is no easie ma••ter to g••e••sse, sa∣uing, that the fyrst is more dangerous, and this other more ridicu∣lus. For they that are thicke listed, seeme in•••• maner to be out of their wittes, but they that are blinde, are reputed more miserable, and therefore we saugh at the deafe, and pittie the blinde: but a wyse man contemneth both, and weigheth not what other thinke, but what the thing is in deede.

Sorowe.

I haue lost my hea∣ryng.

Reason.

Then hast thou escaped flatterers whyspe∣ryng, and slaunderers gyrdes, a farre differyng, but a lyke euyll: sauyng that it is somewhat more manlye to geue care vnto foule speache, then vnto flatterie: For in the one, so metyme is a mediume, in the other, is alwayes poyson. Wherefore, the fyrst cureth often by bytyng, but this enfecteth alwayes by tyckelyng: and truely, woorse is faigned loue, then open ha∣tred.

Sorowe.

I haue lost my hearyng.

Reason.

Now that Arte whiche is reported to haue auayled Vlisses, eyther nature, or some chaunce hath geuen vnto thee, in that thou hast safely passed the singyng of the Sirenes with deafe eares, whereby thou oughtest to accompt thy selfe happie. For howe many daungers that wayes myght haue passed into thy minde? Howe many errours, and finally, howe many troubles myght haue entred into thy head?

Sorowe.

I haue lost my hearyng.

Reason.

I beleeue thou shalt not heare the

Nyghtingale, neyther the harpe, nor any other kynde of instru∣ment: Nay that more is, thou shalt not heare the braying of Asses, the gruntyng of Swine, the howlyng of Wolfes, the bar∣kyng of Dogges, the rooryng of Beares, the ragyng of Lions, the crying of Chyldren, the chyding of olde Wyues, and last of all, that whiche is woorse then all these, the immoderate loude laughing of Fooles, and their vnmeasurable weepinges and out∣cries, and the sound of their most confused voyces, then the which there can not possibly a more vnpleasant noyse be heard.

Sorow.

I lacke my hearyng.

Reason.

Thou art deliuered from mani∣folde deceytes. Men are deceyued by nothing more often, then by woordes: and a deafe man is out of al daunger thereof.

Sorow.

My eares are waxen dull.

Reason.

That part of the bodye is a dangerous part, and especially to Princes, who thereby be∣yng puffed vp with the vayne blastes of flatterers, doo burst ma∣nie tymes therewith, to their vtter destruction, to the no small laughter of the whole people.

Sorowe.

My hearyng is dull.

Reason.

If thou be restrayned from talkyng with other, then talke with thy selfe, being mindfull of the saying of Tully. He that can talke with him selfe, hath no neede of communication with an other: Although a dumbe man also may talke with other, to witte, by readyng and writyng. For he that readeth, talketh with his auncetours: and he that wryteth, speaketh to his posteritie, Moreouer, he that readeth the bookes of heauenly Philosophie, heareth GOD speake vnto hym, and he that prayeth, speaketh vnto GOD. In both these kindes of communication, there is no neede eyther of tongue or eares, but onely of eyes, and fingers, and a deuout minde. Herein therefore, as in many other thinges els, let vs embrace the counsell of our countrey man Cicero, to the entent, that as the blinde may comfort himselfe with the vse of his eares, so may the deafe with the helpe of his eyes. Thou therfore, yf thou canst not heare men speake, reade the bookes which men haue written, and wryte thou bookes, whiche other men may reade: beholde moreouer the heauen, the earth, and seas, and lyue in silence in contemplation of the creator of them all. Here∣vnto this thy deafenesse wyll not hynder thee, but perhappes auayle thee much.

Sorow.

My hearing fayleth me.

Reason.

By what tunes of numbers Diapente, or Diapason consisteth, or by what other proportions they are handled by the Musiti∣ans, a deafe man may vnderstande well enough. And although he haue not with his eares the tune of mans voyce, or the melo∣die of the Vialles or Organnes, but vnderstande well in his minde the reason of them, doubtlesse he wyll preferre the delyght of his minde, before the pleasure of his eares. Imagine that he doo not knowe these musicall proportions, and that a deafe man be vnskylfull in Musicke: yet yf he knowe the proportions of Vertue, and exercise hym selfe in them, it is well, herein his deafe∣nesse wyll not hurt hym. For it is muche better to be good, then to be learned: and yf a man be aboundantly learned and wyse, he is aboundantly good: but he that is euyll, is also a foole and vnlearned, although in booke learnyng he be the most skylfull vnder the Sunne.

Sorow.

My hearing fayleth.

Reason.

It is well that this chaunced not vnto thee before thou recea∣uedst thy fayth, whiche is gotten specially by hearyng, whiche fayth nowe thou possessest. Whereof complaynest thou nowe, or what seekest thou more? If thou hearest not the singyng of men, nor of byrdes, then encline thyne harte vnto heauenly songues, and applye thyne inwarde eare to GOD wardes.

Sorowe.

I heare not.

Reason.

Then thynke and speake to thy selfe, If I heare not what men say, eyther to me, or of me, I shall heare what the Lorde GOD sayth vnto me. They oft tymes talke of discorde: but he euer speaketh of peace.

Sorowe.

I heare no∣thyng at all.

Reason.

Many beyng very desirous of silence, haue been weeried with long iourneys and trauayle, to the entent that in some secret places, and bye wayes, they myght finde that whiche they sought for. That whiche is paynefully sought for by others, thou hast it with thee in euery place wheresoeuer thou goest. Nowe learne to vse thyne owne commoditie, and remembring the noyses and tumultes that are past, begynne at the last to be delyghted with silence.