Part 65 (1/2)

[5361] ”Sic quo quis proprior suae puellae est, Hoc stultus proprior suae runinae est.”

”The nearer he unto his mistress is, The nearer he unto his ruin is.”

So that to say truth, as [5362]Castilio describes it, ”The beginning, middle, end of love is nought else but sorrow, vexation, agony, torment, irksomeness, wearisomeness; so that to be squalid, ugly, miserable, solitary, discontent, dejected, to wish for death, to complain, rave, and to be peevish, are the certain signs and ordinary actions of a lovesick person.” This continual pain and torture makes them forget themselves, if they be far gone with it, in doubt, despair of obtaining, or eagerly bent, to neglect all ordinary business.

[5363] ------”pendent opera interrupta, minaeque Murorum ingentes, aequataque machina coelo.”

Lovesick Dido left her work undone, so did [5364]Phaedra,

------”Palladis telae vacant Et inter ipsus pensa labuntur ma.n.u.s.”

Faustus, in [5365]Mantuan, took no pleasure in anything he did,

”Nulla quies mihi dulcis erat, nullus labor aegro Pectore, sensus iners, et mens torpore sepulta, Carminis occiderat studium.”------

And 'tis the humour of them all, to be careless of their persons and their estates, as the shepherd in [5366]Theocritus, _et haec barba inculta est, squalidique capilli_, their beards flag, and they have no more care of pranking themselves or of any business, they care not, as they say, which end goes forward.

[5367] ”Oblitusque greges, et rura domestica totus [5368] Uritur, et noctes in luctum expendit amaras,

”Forgetting flocks of sheep and country farms, The silly shepherd always mourns and burns.”

Lovesick [5369]Chaerea, when he came from Pamphila's house, and had not so good welcome as he did expect, was all amort, Parmeno meets him, _quid tristis es_? Why art thou so sad man? _unde es_? whence comest, how doest?

but he sadly replies, _Ego hercle nescio neque unde eam, neque quorsum eam, ita prorsus oblitus sum mei_, I have so forgotten myself, I neither know where I am, nor whence I come, nor whether I will, what I do. P. [5370]”How so?” Ch. ”I am in love.” _Prudens sciens._ [5371]--_vivus vidensque pereo, nec quid agam scio._ [5372]”He that erst had his thoughts free” (as Philostratus Lemnius, in an epistle of his, describes this fiery pa.s.sion), ”and spent his time like a hard student, in those delightsome philosophical precepts; he that with the sun and moon wandered all over the world, with stars themselves ranged about, and left no secret or small mystery in nature unsearched, since he was enamoured can do nothing now but think and meditate of love matters, day and night composeth himself how to please his mistress; all his study, endeavour, is to approve himself to his mistress, to win his mistress' favour, to compa.s.s his desire, to be counted her servant.” When Peter Abelard, that great scholar of his age, _Cui soli patuit scibile quicquid erat_, [5373](”whose faculties were equal to any difficulty in learning,”) was now in love with Heloise, he had no mind to visit or frequent schools and scholars any more, _Taediosum mihi valde fuit_ (as he [5374]confesseth) _ad scholas procedere, vel in iis morari_, all his mind was on his new mistress.

Now to this end and purpose, if there be any hope of obtaining his suit, to prosecute his cause, he will spend himself, goods, fortunes for her, and though he lose and alienate all his friends, be threatened, be cast off, and disinherited; for as the poet saith, _Amori quis legem det_?[5375]

though he be utterly undone by it, disgraced, go a begging, yet for her sweet sake, to enjoy her, he will willingly beg, hazard all he hath, goods, lands, shame, scandal, fame, and life itself.

”Non recedam neque quiescam, noctu et interdiu, profecto quam aut ipsam, aut mortem investigavero.”

”I'll never rest or cease my suit Till she or death do make me mute.”

Parthenis in Aristaenetus [5376]was fully resolved to do as much. ”I may have better matches, I confess, but farewell shame, farewell honour, farewell honesty, farewell friends and fortunes, &c. O, Harpedona, keep my counsel, I will leave all for his sweet sake, I will have him, say no more, _contra gentes_, I am resolved, I will have him.” Gobrias,[5377] the captain, when, he had espied Rhodanthe, the fair captive maid, fell upon his knees before Mystilus, the general, with tears, vows, and all the rhetoric he could, by the scars he had formerly received, the good service he had done, or whatsoever else was dear unto him, besought his governor he might have the captive virgin to be his wife, _virtutis suae spolium_, as a reward of his worth and service; and, moreover, he would forgive him the money which was owing, and all reckonings besides due unto him, ”I ask no more, no part of booty, no portion, but Rhodanthe to be my wife.” And when as he could not compa.s.s her by fair means, he fell to treachery, force and villainy, and set his life at stake at last to accomplish his desire. 'Tis a common humour this, a general pa.s.sion of all lovers to be so affected, and which Aemilia told Aratine, a courtier in Castilio's discourse, ”surely Aratine, if thou werst not so indeed, thou didst not love; ingenuously confess, for if thou hadst been thoroughly enamoured, thou wouldst have desired nothing more than to please thy mistress. For that is the law of love, to will and nill the same.”[5378]_Tantum velle et nolle, velit nolit quod amica_?[5379]

Undoubtedly this may be p.r.o.nounced of them all, they are very slaves, drudges for the time, madmen, fools, dizzards, _atrabilarii_[5380], beside themselves, and as blind as beetles. Their dotage [5381]is most eminent, _Amore simul et sapere ipsi Jovi non datur_, as Seneca holds, Jupiter himself cannot love and be wise both together; the very best of them, if once they be overtaken with this pa.s.sion, the most staid, discreet, grave, generous and wise, otherwise able to govern themselves, in this commit many absurdities, many indecorums, unbefitting their gravity and persons.

[5382] ”Quisquis amat servit, sequitur captivus amantem, Fert domita cervice jugum”------

Samson, David, Solomon, Hercules, Socrates, &c. are justly taxed of indiscretion in this point; the middle sort are between hawk and buzzard; and although they do perceive and acknowledge their own dotage, weakness, fury, yet they cannot withstand it; as well may witness those expostulations and confessions of Dido in Virgil.

[5383] ”Incipit effari mediaque in voce resist.i.t.”

Phaedra in Seneca.

[5384] ”Quod ratio poscit, vincit ac regnat furor, Potensque tota mente dominatur deus.”

Myrrha in [5385]. Ovid

”Illa quidem sent.i.t, foedoque repugnat amori, Et sec.u.m quo mente feror, quid molior, inquit, Dii precor, et pietas,” &c.

”She sees and knows her fault, and doth resist, Against her filthy l.u.s.t she doth contend.

And whither go I, what am I about?