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 precious housholde stuffe. The xxxvi. Dialogue.

IOY.

IN my great house I haue excellent furniture.

Reason.

In superfluous roomth, an vnprofitable weight: The one mini∣nistreth lurkyng for the eues, the other preye: but both of them danger for thee, and nooryshment for burnyng and malice.

Ioy.

In my wyde house, I haue plentie of houshold.

Reason.

The one of these thou must forsake when thou changest place, & if thou wylt enioy the other, thou must often remooue it: which wyl bryng more trouble then pleasure, and more burden then ho∣nour.

Ioy.

I haue great store of all maner of furniture at home in my house.

Reason.

A continual warre, not with theeues only, but with Myse and Moathes: Spiders also, and rust, and smoake, and dust, and raine, doo continually fight agaynst ye. Oh ye delicate rych men, with what weapons wyll ye dryue away these enimies?

Ioy.

My houshold stuffe is most precious.

Reason.

Not the value, but contempt of the thyng, maketh a rych man: otherwyse desyre groweth by seekyng, and pouertie by desiring: so that nothyng maketh a man poorer, then the ryches of a couetous person, which if they were rightly wayed, and contempt proceeding from an indifferent minde ensued, that were the true way of riches. I wyl neuer count thee wise, whyle thou art in loue with suche follies, no if I saw thy house were co∣uered,

and thy furniture al beset and glitteryng with golde and precious stones.

Ioy.

My furniture is so braue, that it is en∣uied at.

Reason.

Perhaps it is so in the sight of the eye, or per∣swasion of the minde, but in very deede it is a burdensome and troublous heape of pelfe: but there is nothing more hungry and miserable, then couetousnesse, whose greedinesse is prouoked by the thinges that are sought, and yet when they be obteyned, they haue no taste: forasmuche as while they are hoped for, they shine, and whyle they are possessed, they waxe vile: so that whyle many a man thinketh he hath won wealth, he hath gayned but sorow & carefulnesse. These are thy deere burdens: but if thou chaunce to beholde any dearer and more precious, or dayly beholding them take away thy wondring, thou wylt not esteeme them. But admit thou loue them styll, and thy wondring at them do continue: doth there not also withal a difficult & perpetual errour remayne? For in getting there is but one care, but many toyles in keeping: thou shalt haue somthing alwayes to looke to, to number, to folde, to beate, to brushe, and somthing also that shall please and displease thyne eyes.

Ioy.

I haue great plentie of houshold stuffe.

Reason.

O foolyshe man, that art delighted with the greatnesse of thyne owne impedimentes.