IV. 1612. æt. 52. 12 Of Loue. Car is the argument alwaies of Comedies, and many times of Tragedies. Which sheweth well that it is a patñion generally light, and fometimes extreme. Loue. Extreame it may well bee, fince the speaking in a perpetuall Hyperbole, is comely in nothing but Neither is it meerely in the phrafe. For whereas it FI. Fariations in posthumous Latin Edition of 1638. 1 Law-giuer. Legislatorum inter Romanos Principem, •the chief of Roman law-givers." V. 1625. British Museum Copy. 10. Of Loue. æt. 65. HE Stage is more beholding to Loue, then the Life of Man. For as to the Stage, Loue is euer matter of Comedies, and now and then of Tragedies: But in Life, it doth much. mischiefe: Sometimes like a Syren; Sometimes like a Fury. You may obferue, that amongst all the great and worthy Persons, (whereof the memory remaineth, either Ancient or Recent) there is not One, that hath beene transported, to the mad degree of Loue: which fhewes, that great Spirits, and great Bufineffe, doe keepe out this weake Paffion. You must except, neuertheleffe, Marcus Antonius the halfe Partner of the Empire of Rome; and Appius Claudius the Decemuir, and Law-giuer: Whereof the former, was indeed a Voluptuous Man, and Inordinate; but the latter, was an Auftere, and wife man: And therefore it feemes (though rarely) that Loue can finde entrance, not only into an open Heart; but also into a Heart well fortified; if watch be not well kept. It is a poore Saying of Epicurus; Satis magnum Alter Alteri Theatrum fumus:a As if Man, made for the contemplation of Heauen, and all Noble Obiects,3 fhould doe nothing, but kneele before a little Idoll, and make himselfe fubiect, though not of the Mouth (as Beasts are) yet of the Eye; which was giuen him for higher Purposes. It is a strange Thing, to note the Exceffe of this Paffion; And how it braues, the Nature, and value of things; by this, that the Speaking in a Perpetuall Hyperbole, is comely in nothing, but in Loue. Neither is it meerely in the Phrase; For whereas it We are a sufficiently great theater, the one to the other. Seneca. Epistles. i. 7. 2 Poore. Abjectum, et pusillanimum, 'mean and small-minded.' 3 Noble Obiects. Cœlestium, 'heavenly things.' IV. 1612. æt. 52. hath beene well faid that the Arch-fatterer with whom al the petty-tatterers bane intelligence, is a Mans felfe, certainely the locer is more. For there was never proud Man thought fo abfurdly well of himfelfe, as the louer doth of the perfon loued: and therefore it was well faid, that it is impoffible to loue, and to bee wife. Neither doth this weakenes appeare to others only, and not to the party loued, but to the loued most of all, except the loue bee reciproque, For it is a true rule, that loue is euer rewarded either with the reciproque, or with an inward and fecret contempt. But how much the more, men ought to beware of this paffion, which loseth not onely other things, but it selfe. As for the other losses, the Poets relation doth wel figure them: That hee that preferred Helena, quitted the gifts of Iuno and Pallas. For whofoeuer esteemeth too much of amorous affection, quitteth both riches and wisdome. This paffion hath his flouds in the verie times of weakenesse; Which are great profperity, and great aduersitie. (though this latter hath beene leffe obferued) Both which times kindle loue and make it more feruent, and therefore shewe it to be the childe of folly. They doe best that make this affection keepe quarter, and feuer it wholly from their ferious affaires and actions of their life. For if it checke once with businesse, it troubleth Mens fortunes, and maketh Men, that they can no waies be true to their own endes. Well said. Recte itaque receptum est illud Diverbium, 'rightly there fore, has that saying been received.' 5 Instead of That it is impossible to loue, and to be wise. Amare et sapere vix Deo conceditur, 'to love and be wise is scarcely allowed to a God.' V. 1625. æt. 65. hath beene well faid,4a that the Arch-flatterer, with whom all the petty Flatterers haue Intelligence, is a Mans Selfe; Certainly, the Louer is more. For there was neuer Proud Man, thought fo abfurdly well of himselfe, as the Louer doth of the Perfon loued: And therefore, it was well faid; That it is impofsible to loue, and to be wife.56 Neither doth this weaknesse appeare to others onely, and not to the Party Loued; But to the Loued, moft of all: except the Loue be reciproque. For, it is a true Rule, that Loue is euer rewarded, either with the Reciproque, or with an inward, and fecret Contempt. By how much the more, Men ought to beware of this Paffion, which loseth not only other things, but it selfe. As for the other loffes, the Poets Relation, doth well figure them; That he that preferred Helena, quitted the Gifts of Iuno, and Pallas. For whofoeuer esteemeth too much of Amorous Affection, quitteth both Riches, and Wifedome. This Paffion, hath his Flouds, in the very times of Weaknesse; which are, great Profperitie; and great Aduerfitie; though this latter hath beene leffe obferued. Both which times kindle Loue, and make it more feruent, and therefore fhew it to be the Childe of Folly. They doe beft, who, if they cannot but admit Loue, yet make it keepe Quarter: And feuer it wholly, from their serious Affaires, and Actions of life: For if it checke once with Busineffe, it troubleth Mens Fortunes, 6 and maketh Men, that they can, no wayes be true, to their owne Ends. I know not how, but Martiall Men, are giuen to Loue: I thinke it is, but as they are giuen to Wine; a Plutarch. De Adulatore et Amico. xi. Publius Syrus. Sententia. xv. Mens Fortunes. Omnia, everything." 7 I know not how. Quiquid in re sit, However it may be.' |