bright her countenance and a thousand other things of highest excellency to make knowne the Beauty of those partes with the Loue wherof their hearts are so enflamed Or Perhaps to the end that all the world may know in how high esteeme they hold their Loues when they extol them aboue things most excellent and of humane creatures doe their best endeuors to make them diuine VVhy are Louers many times troubled with iealosie griefe of the heart Probleme 62. PErhaps because both the one and the other doe most feare to loose that which they most desire to keepe and hath cost most labour the getting and therefore their feare doth many times breed an inward distemperature at the hart though they outwardly dissemble it For this is the custome of Louers that though their hearts be violently assaulted with greefes and false suspitions in so much as they can neuer rest in quiet yet neuerthelesse they make shew outwardly of a happy life and a carelesse neglect of their best beloued though in despight of themselues and their best endeuors they cannot long dissemble it Or Perhaps they did little dreame to haue found that in their Loue which by deare experience and many wrongs they finde true and therefore their hearts being ouerladen with abundance of griefe they vent the anguish thereof sometimes with disdainefull speeches somtimes with passionate glaunses with absence with threatnings and fayning the Loue of another But this warre endureth not long but procureth rather peace and greater content in the field of Loue. VVhy do louers many times dreame of horrible things Probleme 63. PErhaps because it is the property of Louers by reason of those continuall passions they are subiect vnto to be melancholicke and they that are gouerned by that humour are accustomed to dreame of horrible and fearefull things Which doth the more commonly fall out because they are vsually subiect vnto feares and forasmuch as this affection of all others doth most disturbe and afflict the spirits from this disturbance and perturbation these monstrous and horrible dreames do arise Or Perhaps because Louers withdrawe their mindes and their senses from al things whatsoeuer except from that they loue aboue all so that though they see others they see imperfectly and though they heare they heare imperfectly and therefore those shapes and nightly visions make an imperfect presentation to the inward discerning powers breed such inquietnes in the minde that many times by reason of the greatnesse of the passion that they suffer in their sleepe they bewray a strange kinde of horrour and astonishment in their countenances VVhy doe Louers delight in morning musicke Probleme 64. PErhaps because they desire not only to honout their mistresses in the day time with Cappings and congees and courtesies but also with musicall instruments and pleasant voyces Or Perhaps because musicke being fit to manifest affections either of Ioye or of sorrowe they make vse thereof to displaye their inward griefes or delights and therefore they commonly make choyse of such musicke as doth best fitt the time and their owne affections Or Perhaps to the end that by meanes of that delight which is in musicke either vocall or instrumentall and that willingnesse they expresse thereby to please and content they may stir vp the affections of those they Loue to requite them againe with reciprocall affection which many times doth happely succeede For a mans owne vertue and a diligent care to be ouer indulgent in honoring those that are mighty are the best meanes to purchase to themselues grace and fauour Or Perhaps to the ende they may imprinte the selfe same affections in the hearts of those they Loue that themselues feele and suffer Or Perhaps because there is not a thing that doth better expresse an angelicall minde then an angelicall voyce which hauing somthing in it though I knowe not what that is diuine they desire by the worth thereof to expresse their owne worthinesse For euery action of a Louer should bee such as by the vertue and valour thereof may stirre affection VVhy do Louers desire to be thought Valiant Probleme 65. PErhaps because Loue ministreth streÌ„gth heart And for as much as they faine Loue armed to expresse the power thereof they that are Loues followers must be armed as loue is yeld the like effects Or Perhaps because Louers fearing to lose that they so much desire so highly esteeme of do little accompt of their owne liues without the fruition of their desire for there is nothing more odious then basenes of minde and little zeale of honour and not to follow an iniust â—niurye with a iust reuenge is pusillanimitie brings with it nothing but shame and dishonor Or Perhaps because they feare that their fearefull hearts being descried they should neuer afterwardes be able to make way by reason of their many riuales to the quiet possession of that they Loue for fortune alwaies fauoreth those that are valiant and resolute VVhy do Louers defend their beloued euen in a wrong and vniust cause Probleme 66. PErhaps because that thing which they doe once loue with an earnest intent and affection they thinke them selues in duty and in requitall of that pleasure they haue enioyed by their Loues bounde to defend them from dishonour infamie For if it become any man to be thankfull and mindfull of any kindenes or curtesie receiued doubtles it becommeth none more then a Louer Or Perhaps because from the first day that they first fastened their affection vpon that obiect they prise it aboue their owne proper Essence or being and therefore howe iustly soeuer an iniurie or violence may be offered vnto it they thinke it no iniustice in themselues to defend it Or Perhaps because a rigorous censure of that wee Loue is neuer commendable and a man doth sildome offend by too much Clemencie and Loue especially it least becommeth to be a seuere iudge that hath alwayes beene by nature a compassionate father Or perhaps because by winking at the wrongs that are offred their Loues they make themselues vnworthy of their grace and fauour Or perhaps because by not defending their Loues they confesse the wrong to be no wrong and the iniurie to be iust and so drawe a kinde of dishonour vpon themselues by louing that which deseruedly is dishonoured VVhy doe Louers take so much delight in the contemplation of the eye Probleme 67. PErhaps because the eyes are many times by reason of their Beauty the true cause of Loue and therefore they take delight to contemplate that noble part which by the Beauty thereof hath enchained them in the fetters of Loue for if euery well featured part of the body be apt enough to stirre vp Loue in the hearts of men much more the eye wherein we first of all contemplate the grace and dignitie of the minde Or perhaps because among all the other partes of the body the eye is most wonderfull and therefore doth first drawe the eyes of others
great ioye that he feeleth in the presence thereof sendeth forth those liuely flames which being plainely descried in the superficiall parte of the face doe many times giue such a vermilion tincture that the whole countenance seemeth to be coâ—ered with a flashing kinde of Ardour â—nd that by reason of the great store of â—pirits gathered into that place Or â—erhaps because as the fire amongest â—he Elements is the most noble so amongest the affections Loue is the most â—xcellent as being the rule and meaâ—â—re of all the rest and therefore â—oue is saide to haue the Empire and â—ominion ouer all the other affectiâ—ns and to rule and to gouerne them â— it pleaseth her For for no other â—use is griefe or sorrowe great in â—â—me but because the Loue is great for â—hich that sorrowe is vndergone and â—r no other cause in others is the vaâ—ur great but because the Loue is â—eat which spurreth them forward to â—ngerous attempts Or Perhaps beâ—use the fire is the most actiue Eleâ—ent and so Loue pricking vs forward â— all honorable enterprises bee they â—uer so difficult is not in actiuity inâ—â—ior thereunto and therefore besides those aboue saide metaphorical names and titles by the greatnesse of her vertue property and strength she challengeth likewise other names both Metaphoricall and proper And therefore to speake onely of her proper names which sufficiently manifest her power Loue is a word of honour whereby honorable enterprises are atchiued It is a word of maiesty which gouerneth all the interior and exterior powers Loue is a word of comfort which mitigateth by a hidden and powerfull kinde of vertue all labors whatsoeuer It is a riâ—â— word which by diligent endeauors â—uer affecteth treasures of highest prisâ—â— as friendship ciuill community our Country our children and of all others the chiefest good which is God So that no man can deny but that Loue â—â— of singular force and power VVhy do Poetts faine Loue a Childe Probleme 47. PErhaps by reason of the diuers appetits that reigne in children â—hich likewise appeare in them which â—e inflamed with Loue who someâ—mes desire that thing which at anoâ—er time they abhorre sometime acâ—mpt that for good and excellent â—hich at another seemes vgly and â—athsome vnto them insomuch that â—ey are as changeable in their opinioâ—s as the Camelion in his colours or â—e moone in her figures which arisâ—â— not from any other cause then â—â—m the multitude of those affections â—hich in louing they suffer being â—metimes mooued with feares someâ—â—es with gelosies sometimes vioâ—tly enforced with sorrowes blinded â—h anger vexed with melancholy â—priued of counsell robbed of â—anes pricked and pierced through â—th desire of honour and so by â—nging their affections they do change their willes Or Perhaps because Loue as if it were alwayes a childe in the heart of him that Loueth is alwaies growing and neuer waxeth olde because the desire of the possession of his wished good is alwayes renewed in him and notwithstanding it seeme somtimes after the lawfull fruition thereof to decay or at least-wise to lose some part of his first vigour which in respect of the extension and outward manifestation may be graunted true that is in asmuch as those outward figures of Loue which Louers vse to shew doe not so commonly appeare yet in respect of the internall force and vertue thereof it doth euery day increase which doth often appeare by those dangerous attempts which men for their enioyed Loues do many times vndergo Or Perhaps because Loue makes wise men children and many times depriueth them of true discourse and reason whereby they fall into such errours as children doe who by their apish imitation which is propper vnto children doe no sooner see any thing doone but presently as farre forth as their wit will giue them leaue they seeke to imitate it And euen so euery Louer studieth indeuoreth in euery thing to imitate that which is Loued and doth his best endeuours to the end he may winne grace and fauour to be like vnto it VVhy naked Probleme 48. PErhaps because he that followeth the schoole of Loue must not be loathed with the garment of simulaâ—ion but simplicity for there is not aâ—y thing that more offendeth the â—awe of Loue then a lie which as it disâ—leaseth all so especially those which â—oue neither is the force of Loue any â—onger sweete and pleasant then that it â— found true and faithfull and from â—is truth it is that euery part thereof â—ecomes so amiable and euery vertue â—ade as it were handmaid vnto Loue â— Confidence which maketh vs secure â—f things most precious Faith by which â—e beleeue without doubting Truth â—hich alwayes helpes and delighteth â—ommunity of counsells which maketh vs wise in all out actions and as euery good thing whatsoeuer Or Perhaps because Loue cannot long behidden but must necessarilie be manifested and made knowne both to the obiecte beloued and strangers too and if not by other meanes yet by passions and sighes and teares and palenes vnwonted blushings vnquiet sleepes change of manners and many the like And perhaps this was some cause too why it was called fire because as the fire mainfesteth it selfe by the smoke that ascendeth from it So Loue by those passions that arise from it And therefore it is saide in the prouerbe that Loue and a laugh will not be hidden Or Perhaps because nakednes for the most part bringeth with it a ruddy kinde of bashfullnes so he that is in Loue his Loue being descried commonly blusheth which is not the faulte of loue but rather of those that lyuing intemperately Loue intemperatly whereby iâ— commeth to passe that the very name of Loue being made by lasciuious actionâ— infamous painteth the face with a vermâ—ion kinde of tincture whâ—ch we câ— bashfullnes although there be no such effect in Loue as may deserue it VVhy winged Probleme 49. PEerhaps because As wings though they be made of light feathers yet raise and mounte vppe things of weight into the ayre So Loue though setled in a base subiect doth yet awaken stirre vp their hearts that Loue to the attempt of high honorable enterprises For Loue is an enimye to flowe and slowthfull spirits and a frend to â—uch as are quicke industrious who not like earthly and marrish or moorish Angells fly downewardes to the center of the earth but like the lofty eagle aspire with swifte flight to immortalitie â—t is therefore an errour to thinke that Loue taketh pleasure in bedds of down â—leasant fields dainty and delitious â—ardines in idlenes and wantonnes â—ut desireth to seate her selfe rather in â— temperate and well setled heart â—amed to endure al hardnes to passe all difficulties then in those mischieuous inconueniences that lasciuious wantonnes longe sleepes Bacchus blemishes the sensual pleasures of Venus and the flatterings of blinde appetite brings with them which being all altogether earthly belong vnto vnchast Loue which neuer rayseth her flight
to beholde it For this is the property of those which contemplate that whilest they beholde the curious workmanship of a thing that hath any thing in it worthy admiration to cast theyr eyes first vpon that that hath most maiestie and meanes of allurement to drawe the eye vnto it Or perhaps because the eye is as a Looking-glasse wherein all humaine affections are discerned so that looking vpon them as vpon a cleare Fountaine they behold the minde of their best beloued and so haue a gesse at their present inclination and affection whether they be inclining to clemencie or seueritie pitty or cruelty myrthe or melancholy Loue or hatred and according to that disposition they finde in them they take counsell and aduise in those things that appertaine vnto them Or Perhaps because there is no other sense that taketh that delight in his like sense that this doth insomuch that the eies of two Louers being fastned vpon each other by their amorous glances and silent noddes they enioy not only the fruition of each others eies but vnderstand the verie inward thoughts of each others heart VVhy is the anger of a louer soone alayed Probleme 68. PErhaps because wrongs offered by Louers friends are more vnkindly taken and stirre vp the passions for the time with greater force but presently the furie of them being ouer-blowne they growe calme and quiet For what soeuer thing either in nature or arte is engendred or framed with greater force and lesse time then is fitte as monstrous birthes they vanish and cannot long endure Or perhaps because the fire of Loue cannot long endure the waters of passion Or Perhaps because the meanes of reconcilement is easie betwixt them both parties being willing to aske pardon willing to forgiue for euery amorous breache hath a thousand silent defences and as many kinde acknowledgements of the fault Or Perhaps because there is a kinde of magnanimity in pardoning wrongs and therefore to the end they may be so accounted they easily and speedily forgiue Or Perhaps because the lawe of Loue doth not admit crueltie for it is neuer seene that two truely vnited hearts should â—ong continue at iarre for light occasions for great will not be offered but as such hoâ— should brawles doe easily arise so they are as easily pacified Or â—erhaps because to those that are most deare vnto vs the least repentance beggeth pardon for the greatest offences which doth manifestly appeare in the Loue of Fathers VVhy cannot Louers hide their passions Probleme 69. PErhaps because amorous cares ouercharging and oppressing the heart are hardly endured and therefore they doe endeuour hauing found a friend fit for that purpose by communicating their griefes vnto him to ease themselues of that burthen Or Perhaps because amorous passions doe pricke and wound the hearts of Louers and therefore prouoked by the sharpnesse of such a spurre they cannot but manifest their griefes vnto those who though they cannot ease may yet pitty them for it is some comfort to him that is assailed with griefe to vent it at the mouth by the helpe of his tongue Or Perhaps because in relating them to others they feele their afflicted hearts to be comforted for euery passion communicated is lessned Or Perhaps because by laying open their passions they make knowne their owne faith and the disloyaltie and falshood of their beloued Or Perhaps because the least wrongs that proceed from that that hath least cause to offer them are accounted greater then the greatest and confound the minde of a Louer with such a kinde of astonishment as nothing but vtterance can either ease or take away VVhy cannot Louers conceale the fauours of their best beloued Probleme 70. PErhaps because the benefits of those we Loue make a deepe impression in the memory and so being often calâ—ed to remembrance they thinke they should wrong both their Loues and â—heir owne memories not to vtter them Or Perhaps because Louers desire in euery thing to shew themselues â—hankfull especially towards those whom they Loue by displaying whose bountifull fauours they seeme both to â—equite what is past and to craue more Or Perhaps because Louers do highly esteeme of those things which they receiue from those they loue and therefore thinking it not fit that things of worth should alwayes lye hidden they reueale them For by the law of nature wee are taught to commend good turnes receiued especially when they are such as carry a proportion to the worth and excellencie of the giuer VVhy do louers put their fauours they receiue from their Mistresses in the most noble parts of the body Probleme 71. PErhaps thereby to signifie that those things they receiue from them they preferre aboue all other and therefore they commonly make choise either of the head as the highest or of the heart as the dearest parte of the body Or Perhaps because the heart signifieth life and the head vnderstanding and both perfection and therefore in those places they place their fauours that are most perfect and most deare vnto them to giue them to vnderstand how dearely they Loue and how honourable a conceit they haue of them Or Perhaps to the end the giuers should vnderstand that they haue the full possession both of the best parts that are in them and their whole body OF HATRED VVhy is hatred ordayned by Nature Probleme 72. PErhaps because prouident nature being willing to remoue all those contrarieties that might eyther â—lter or offend her workes she thought â—t not amisse to giue vnto all creatures â—uen from their first natiuity and beâ—ng such an affection as might be fittest or such a seruice And therefore we see â—hat the Lambe doth naturally hate the Wolfe the Wolfe the Dogge the Crab the Serpent the Weazell the Toade the Lion the Cocke man the Crocodile yea a man borne vnder Iupiter a Saturnist a valiant man a coward a temperate man a lasciuious a religious an irreligious a faithfull a disloyal an honourable man a base and dishonourable neither is this naturall hatred seene onely in things animate reasonable or sensible men or beasts but also in those things that are farre from sense or vnderstanding as in hearbes and plants and mettals and compounds which by a hidden hatred and contrarietie in nature cannot brooke and indure one another Or Perhaps because that though Nature flie her extreames as being verie dangerous to her workemanship neuerthelesse she admitteth contraries for the benefit of the whole Which doth plainly appeare in heate and cold fire and water in corruptible things and incorruptible mortall and immortall earthly and heauenly Neither would the day shine so cleare if the night were not darke nor laughter be so acceptable if it were not sometimes mingled with teares And therefore no maruell if as we see a begetting Loue in the Vniuerse for the benefit of nature so from the selfe same Nature we haue a conseruing hate the better to attaine the wished end VVhy doth Loue somtimes ingender Hate
being by nature contrary vnto it Probleme 73. PErhaps because euery cause that eyther by reason of the matter or qualitie or place or temperature or concourse of contrary causes or by inordinate suggestion or any other obâ—tacle to the true generation of things â—s altered and changed bringeth forth â—n steed of lawfull birthes monsters â—nd prodigious compositions and â—uen so Loue whilest it contemplateth â—n the person beloued those vertues whereby it is enkindled with an honoâ—able desire to serue and honour him â— breedeth and bringeth forth Loue a â—uite like to it selfe but those vices beâ—ng discouered that are opposite vnto â—ertue to chastitie temperancie shameâ—stnesse and the holy lawes of Loue euen from the obiect beloued it is enforsed to conceiue hâ—te bring forth a horrible monster farre different from the nobilitie and generosity of it owne nature Or perhaps because time the first changer and corrupter of euery thing not alwayes permitting one and the same estate in humaine things as another destroying nature interrupteth deuoureth consumeth and changeth euery thing and in altering the complection altereth the desires too and therefore it many times falleth out that that which a man loueth being young he hateth when he is old and what he hated when he was young he loueth when he is olde and what he loathed being at libertie he loued being a prisoner the reason whereof is because that which he conceiued by the simple knowledge of the sense to be good reason increasing with time he knew and vnderstood to be wicked and euill Or perhaps the affections may be a cause that we oftentimes change our iudgement of things and therefore a father iudgeth otherwise of his sonne when in his furie he considereth the qualitie of his offence then when out of a quiet and peaceable minde he frameth an opinion thereof which likewise appeareth plainly in those that Loue who according to those affections that are predominant in them do either Loue or hate VVhy is the hatred of men against things generall and vniuersall their anger against things more particular Probleme 74. PErhaps because as Loue which is contrary to Hate spreadeth his wings to all helpfull things whatâ—oeuer So Hatred to all hurtfull Or Perhaps because the cause of Hate which is vice and common to many more vniuersall then the cause of â—oue which is vertue and Beauty and â—und in fewe Or Perhaps because â—e hatred of a nature in generall â—akes no exception of any particular â—f that nature but vnder the vniâ—rsall all particulars are conteyned â—or that Hatred which a sheepe beareth â—gainst a woolfe excepteth no particular woolfe but extendeth it selfe to all wolfes as being all enimies to his nature and so likewise a vertuous man in that Hatred that he beareth against vice and vitious men excepteth no man as he is vicious but as so qualified hates them all but anger being a suddayne disdaine arising from a suddaine and present Iniurie offered and that by some particular person extendeth it selfe no farther then that particular which by that particular act hath offended Or Perhaps because Anger ariseth from an offence committed by some particular person either againsâ— our selues or those things thaâ— appertaine vnto vs but Hatred ariseth from a wrong offered neither to ouâ— selues nor what belongs vnto vs buâ— hath a cause more vniuersall anâ— though perhaps we hate any particulaâ— man for his vice yet wee seeke â— reuenge against him which angeâ— doth VVhy is Hatred conceiued euerlasting But anger soone allayed Probleme 75. PErhaps because Hatred ariseth from a setled and appeased reason and a certaine assured knowledge of vice but Anger from an offence that ariseth from suddaine affection and blind knowledge So that there being in the first right iudgement and in the second blind passion it is no maruell if the one continue and the other by a true acknowledgement of the offence be easiâ—y alayed Or Perhaps because that â—orasmuch as Hatred looketh only to â—he vniuersal benefit and good the care whereof should neuer haue end it is â—kewise necessary that Hatred which â—eeldeth that care should likewise be â—ndlesse but Anger tending onely to â—e ruine of one particular by a partiâ—lar affection the party being pacified â—ere is no reason why Anger should â—ntinue VVhy doe men sildome hate either their countrie or their parents Probleme 76. PErhaps because the benefits they receiue both from Countrie and Parents are great and excellent Our Country giueth vs honour ciuill education and many honourable priuiledges defendeth vs in time of warre and in time of peace feedeth and cherisheth vs with a thousand delights and delicacies adorneth vs with excellent Artes and Sciences watcheth ouer vs whilest we sleepe being beaten downe by fortune recomforteth vs and lastly sweetneth the whole course of this our pilgrimage Parents being prouoked by their particular Loue which they beare towards their particular children doe not onely giue them life and being by that seminall vertue they receiue from them but welcome them into the world with such ioy and content that so long as they liue it sweetneth all that bitternesse they haue endured for them which doth plainly appeare by those many labours and afflictions that many miserable mothers endure for their children who besides the bearing of them so many moneths in their owne wombes with so much paine so many bitter throngs and that dangerous trauell they endure at their birches in the whole time of their infancie and childhood they doe neuer abandon them but with their milke they feede them with their songs they still them with their armes they embrace them with their eyes they gaze on them and with tongue and armes and eyes all with â—ndefatigable toyle and affliction they neuer cease day nor night to defend comfort them Neither are the labours of the father in disciplining them when â—hey come to riper yeares in nourishâ—ng them in defending them in prouiâ—ing for them whatsoeuer is necessarie â—ither for the enriching of their minds â—r the maintenance of their liues any way inferior to those of the mother â—o that the heape of those manifold beâ—efits receiued from our Country and â—om our Parents being so high and so â—finit great it is no maruell if nature as â— louer of vertue and an enimy to vice â—oth not permit if the wickednesse of their owne natures withstand it not that either Cittizens should Hate their Country or Children their progenitors And therefore we see that the Loue of a mans owne country is of such force that men of base parentage borne in places as base and obscure arising by their valour and vertues to honour and dignity in their countrie and common weale do neuerthelesse nothing disdaine the memorie of their Countries and parentage but desire to honour them with their often visitations and presence their armes their impreses and magnificent edifices Nay the verie beastes of the field that haue beene bredde in rockes desert places and obscure dennes are
â—hence as from a fountaine all smaller â—â—uers deriue their Beauties Or Perhaps â—ecause benigne Nature intendeth also â—he conseruation of euery particular â—â—eature which by nothing can be betâ—â—r performed then by vnion which vâ—â—on ariseth from Loue and Loue by â—othing but Beauty can be ingendred â—r Perhaps because the vniuersall canâ—ot be faire except the particulars bee â—â—kewise so and therefore to the end â—is vniuersall Theater of the world â—ight appeare more beautifull the â—reator of things did not only adorne â—â—e vniuersall partes with beautiful coâ—â—urs which are the general kindes but â—â—e particulars also to the end that therâ—â— the vniuersall Beauty might shine â—ore cleare Or Perhaps because euery â—nd should be admired for the Beauty â—f their particulars and so being setled â—ithin the bounds of the Beauty of â—â—eir indiuidualls should rest contenâ—â—d and satisfied VVherefore doeth Beauty shine especially in women Probleme 3. PErhaps because such is the order of nature that what it wanteth in one it supplieth in the other and therefore hauing indewed man with a wit and iudgement farre more excellent and more fit for the contemplation and speculation of things and framed him in respect of his minde in a manner diuine she would supply this want and giue a full recompence vnto women with bodily Beauty whereby she should be in some degree superiour vnto man Or Perhaps because women knowing their bodily Beauty should by their studious endeauours seeke to attaine that of the minde and should endeauour to bee that in their mindes in their spirituall part which in their bodies nature hath framed them Or Perhaps because shee should not by man be contemned but rather for heâ— Beauty be reuerenced admired and only loued Or Perhaps to the end she taking knowledge of these her perfections should the rather bee guided by â—he zeale of honour and the bridle of â—hamfastnesse not to violate so vnâ—â—eakable a treasure being assured that â—o great a grace was neuer giuen her â—â—om heauen to defile with Luxury but â—â—ther to bee a Bridle to that heate of â—oncupiscence which in her weake naâ—ure would gather strength Or Perhaps â—ecause hauing receaued so great a â—lessing shee should learne of her moâ—her nature to hide it which couereth â—uery faire and pretious thing vnder a â—housand shells and barks yea in hard â—ocks and bottomles depthes and not â—o lay it open as a thing common VVhy doth Beauty so soone decay Probleme 4. PErhaps because Nature admitteth no permanent estate in these infeâ—iour things but giueth onely the beâ—ng and the increase to the full wherof they are no sooner arriued but preâ—ently they tend vnto their declination â—or no state perfect is permanent but â—ike brickle glasse is broken with euery â—alle Or Perhaps because discret Naâ—ure hath assigned to euery age some especiall good to infancy the comfort of the dugge to Child-hood childish recreations to youth a desire of ciuill conuersation to riper yeares the fruition of that Beauty which stirreth vp a desire of generation to perfect man a delight in honorable actions whereby hee aspireth to immortailitie to old men the gift of counsell to decrepite a delightful remembrance of things past Whereby according to those offices especially necessary vnto Nature either particular or vniuersall was giuen the excellencie of some good to euery particular age which beeing expired men gaue ouer their delight in that gift as no longer necessarie and betoke themselues to that which was more fit Or Perhaps because wee may knowe that earthly Beauty is like a flying shadowe and therefore wee are not to fasten our eyes vpon it but to turne them to that soueraigne Light that is free from all change from all passion Or Perhaps because loue is proper to young men Beauty beeing onely found in that age the which lasting but a short time suddenly doth the flower of that fading good vanish which adorneth their youthfull memâ—ers VVhy is Beauty especiall apprehended by the sight Probleme 5. PErhaps because Beauty is a certaine diuine splendour which is shewed â—nto vs in thinges naturall and â—hat doth most participate of the diuine Nature which is least earthly and â—uch is the eye among other senses â—n apprehending thinges and therefore the fittest meane to discerne so great a good Or Perhaps because the eye is as â—t were the cleare looking glasse of the soule in which are descried all the affections of the minde as Anger Disdaine Passion Loue and so forth among which the principall is Loue the eye therefore longes after Beauty and whilest it contemplateth the colours the formes the features the cariage the complection the comlines the grace the laughter whatsoeuer excelleÌ„t quality beloÌ„gs vnto Beauty is deem'd fittest to be the principall iudge therof Or Perhaps because the first obiect of the eye is the light without which all Beauty as being buried in the darke is made vaine and therefore no maruaile if the eye being in it selfe so cleare and transparent seeke the light of Beauty in euery darke bodie with such delight Or Perhaps bycause many thinges concurre to the framing of a perfect Beauty and therefore the sight beeing that among the other senses which apprehendeth most things by this organ a louer doth best discerne the perfection of all those principall parts which are required to the framing of a compleate Beauty And therefore wee see that louers by the bare report of vertue in any honorable breast loue imperfectly but if report be once confirmed by an interuiewe and the eye be made iudge as well as the eare it gathereth strength and groweth wonderfully which proceedeth from no other cause then from the great force that the eye hath in the true iudgement of sensible things besides the power thereof extending it selfe more then all the other senses to the multitude of obiects and more speedily apprehending them VVherefore doth Beauty alwaies delight Probleme 6. PErhaps because whatsoeuer hath any thing in it that is diuine such â—s Beauty is doth alwaies bring with it some Ioye In so much that wee see â—hat many thinges according to the portion of that treasure of diuine greatnesse which they participate doe yeeld â—s pleasure and delight more or lesse As a meadowe decked with a thousand â—arieties of flowres breathing as it were vnto vs refreshing odours a fountaine abounding with Christaline waters and adorned with many tender sprouts and bowing shoots a magnanimious horse strong of bodie plesant in countenance maiesticall in â—ase dapled in coulour bold in nature â— glorious Pecock beautifull in his golden feathers a glittering Diamond an Orient Pearle a shining Carbuncle and euery other rich and precious Gemme bringeth alwaies delight and pleasure with it Or Perhaps because diuers coulours wel placed and artificially inlightned are apt alwaies to bring delight vnto the eye as also a tuneable voyce vnto the eare For among those things that giue greatest grace and Beauty to a woman the principall are the gratious colours of
chast minde vnchast the modest â—ouÌ„tenance lasciuious the souÌ„d affectioÌ„â—orrupted the honorable haÌ„d theeuish 〈◊〉 the honorable maÌ„ infamous how ofâ—â—n vnder the cristaline Ise lies hidden a â—tinking dunghill vnder a white tooth a â—oysome worme vnder a faire gloue a â—oule haÌ„d vnder a rich garmeÌ„t a croked â—odie and in a straight body a crooâ—ed minde Howe often are wee with â—ained colours outward resemblances with words garments arte vpon arte deceaued and abused So that it is no maruell if the affections of men bee sometimes altered and chaunged Or Perhaps because Beauty when it iâ— possessed it still declineth and decayes in her perfections not continuing in that florishing state it was first in Or Perhaps because euery thing as it is more frequent and common so more contemptible and lesse esteemed Or Perhaps because the possessor vnderstanding not his owne good because hee knoweth it not esteemes it not VVhy is the Beauty of a light woman lesse esteemed Probleme 10. PErhaps because shee hath wronged that naturall gift of hers and darkned the light thereof by her deformed actions for it is great reason that shee that for a little and that dishonest pleasure tooke delight to satisfie her vnbridled desires euen to the dishonour of her owne name should by the selfesame instrument wherwith she foolishy offended bee not onely despised but with shame and infamie abhorred Or Perhaps because that is no perfect faire which is only bodily and that dishonored too nay neither can it be called a bodily Beauty in theÌ„ who hauing torne the sanctified vailes of shamefastnesse haue offered the vse of their bodies to common prostitution much lesse is the Beauty of the minde found in them hauing alreadie by the choise of a dishonest life made knowne the foule deformitie thereof Or Perhaps because vntrue deceitful thinges neuer pleased and therefore the Beauty of the bodie â—â—ing an outward signe of the inward â—â—auty of the minde but in such a woâ—an made a cloke for sinne she belieth â—er bodily Beauty Or Perhaps because â—â—ings common in this kinde yeeld not â—â—fects of Loue but rather of disdaine â—nd hatred which simple nature doth â—â—ctate vnto vs who as a zealous nourse flawefull birâ—hes hath alwaies in haâ—ed the adulterous who bringing noâ—hing with them but confusion because â—heir certen fathers are neuer knowne â—hey are no sooner borne but as soone â—bandoned and their eyes are shut beâ—ore they see the light of the sunne and â—o it comes to passe that both by the â—â—ght of nature and that deare respect â—hat euery man should haue vnto his owne honour that those women doe neuer please who though they be faire yet by their lasciuious behauiour haue made their bodies common to euerie man VVhy doth euery man desire to be faire Probleme 11. PErhaps because whatsoeuer hath a shewe of good is desired of euery man and such is Beauty For euery thing that is Good pleaseth our appetite As when we heare any sweet harmony either of InstrumeÌ„t or voice any eloquent tongue to speake when we see any strang or ingenious workemanshippe or excellent qualitie or any thing that is exquisite their ariseth presently in vs a desire of the same excellencies and perfections and so forasmuch as Beauty is an excellent perfection wee desire that too Or Perhaps because the outward Beauty of the bodye is a token of the inward Beauty of the minde and therefore is not onely desired but admired forasmuch therefore as all men doe affect admiration and a vaine-glorious applause amonge the people they desire Beauty to bee wondered at Or Perhaps because the fairer a man is the nearer he cometh to the diuine Nature For the Essence or being to euery creature was not equally communicated but according to the excellency of their Nature whereby one is more perfect then another and so likewise in their qualities Or Perhaps because thinges highly prized in the world are highly desired and most honored Or Perhaps because as it is 〈◊〉 the prouerbe he that is borne faire 〈◊〉 borne fortunate For we see that maâ—â— faire women by the excellencie of â—â—eir Beauty attaine to high estate and â—omen of basest condition by the maâ—age of great Lords haue enobled their â—â—milies Or Perhaps because thinges â—re do more participate of that which 〈◊〉 excellent in Nature As wee see aâ—ong the Planetts one onely sunne â—mong the mettalls one onely gold â—nd therefore thinges faire being rare â—re most desired and wee desire to bee â—hat which is most desired VVhy is he that is faire inclined to Loue Probleme 12. PErhaps because the Cause of Loue is Beauty and he that hath the cause in Potentia doeth easely produce the effect And therefore saieth diuine Plato that Loue raigneth most in the hearts of those yong men that are honorably borne and tenderly brought vp who as apt subiects receaue into them that passion which Perhaps refineth their inward part and adornes them with thâ— Beauty of the minde whereby they are made totally faire And therefore from hence it is that Beautifull women euen for the Loue of vertue which adorneth Beauty endeauour to furnish them selues with vertuous qualities as skill in musick historie curious needle-works embroderings and the like womanly exercises Or Perhaps because he that is faire is for the most parte beloued and Loue according to Seneca must be requited with loue as the loue of friendshippe is to be answered with the like louing affection ciuill Loue with the zeale of our Country matrimonial Loue with faith honest Loue with vertue diuine Loue with religion Or Perhaps because they that are faire are thought to be borne vnder Venus which being the Planet of Loue inclineth those to Loue whom the celestial planets with their influeÌ„ces haue made beautifull Or Perhaps because it is the property of those that are faire to be moderate in their affections as hauing a true teÌ„perature in their coÌ„plections and therefore Loue being the moderator of al affections it should seeme to build her neâ—st in those that are Beautifull Or Perhaps because it seldome â—leth out that Beauty is separated â—â—om the force of Loue and therefore â—â—rasmuch as custome in all things hath â—â—e force of a lawe they that are beauâ—â—full following custome cannot but â—oue VVhy are there borne in some Prouinces â—â—tties Castells and Villages Beautifull women in others Beautifull men in some Countries men of tale stature fat and white in others leane of bodye and of a sallowe complection Probleme 13. PErhaps because to the generation of euery kind the good qualitie and â—emperature of the generating partes â—oeth much import which doth plainâ—y appeare in them which are defectiue â—n any of their members who coÌ„monly get children like themselues As we sâ—â—â—athers that are purblind crokebacked â—quay footed get children like themâ—elues in those imperfections insomuch that the children doe not oneâ—y in the feature of their bodies proue like the principall Agent which is the father but like
the purity of their manners and conuersation to preserue it in her chiefe flower that so it may be made a spurre to vertuous honourable attempts and not a snare to entangle the liberty of vertue Or Perhaps to the end that if they should not finde that exquisite Beauty in themselues which they saw in others they should endeuour to awaken themselues to all honourable exercises and by their inward vertues supply their outward defects Or Perhaps that they might thereby learne to follow the discipline of truth which as a glasse whatsoeuer presenteth it selfe before it without respect of degree or qualitie of any person sheweth openly either the Beauty or deformity thereof so they knowing in whatsoeuer person the Beauty of vertue they should commend it or the deformity of Sin they should reprehend it For there is nothing more hurtfull and daungerous to an noble mind theÌ„ a lye in the opeÌ„ field of truth VVhy doe Princes and women of honourable birth proue for the most part fayrer both in body and mind then women of baser condition Probleme 29. PErhaps because their delicate and exquisite diet both in their meates drinks make their bloud more pure their vitall spirits more liuely their coÌ„plection more Beautifull and their nature more noble so that passing their time without interruption of any troublesome or disorderly molestations they become by their high thoughts and honourable imaginations both Beautifull and gentle in aspect about other women of inferiour condition who by reason of their base estate taking a contrary course in whatsoeuer belongeth vnto their life they participate contrary effects And forasmuch as the inward powers of the minde do depend vpon the excellencie of their actions bodily organs and much more the wit vpon the complection of the body and these bodily parts being in women of high linage most exquisitly perfect it must necessarily follow that euen by nature they proue admirable in the gifts of the minde wherby it cometh to passe that we doe not admire so much the singular Beauty of their bodies as their gratious cariage their sweete speach their diuine iudgmeÌ„t their chast thoughts Beautified with a strange kind of maiesty in al their actions Or perhaps because their education being euen froÌ„ their infancie vnder a discipline more noble excelleÌ„t to omit the generous bloud of their parents from whom they descend the pure milke which they draw froÌ„ the dugs of women of a most temperate constitution they cannot in common iudgment but proue admirable in the world VVhy doe faire women preuaile much in obtayning grace and fauour with Princes Probleme 30. PErhaps because it seldome comes to passe that women that excell in Beauty doe not likewise excell in the sweete deliuery of their speech which doth so much the more inflame the heart of man by how much the more they haue commonly ioyned therevnto a pleasing cariage and heauenly grace in the other parts of the body which deseruedly winneth vnto them so much fauour especially with men of highest state and condition who by their nobilitie are made more facill and gentle that whatsoeuer the cause be they thinke they haue sinned against the rule of Iustice if they condiscend not to their desires Or Perhaps because by a beautifull face bedewed with teares trickling downe her cheekes and accompanied with amorous flames of honest and chaste loue the greatest Princes without any other supplication vttered by the tongue euen out of the generositie of their owne hearts made to pitty doe feele themselues to be wounded with the darte of true clemencie and commiseration and therefore doe endeauour in what possibly they may though perhaps not in all to satisfie their desires and to giue comfort to that appaled countenance which hath lost the colour though not the Beautie Or perhaps because women adorned with such a qualitie doe either loue or hate beyond measure so much the more by how much they are higher in estate and condition And therefore if their supplication be for loue and fauour they assaile with those darts that are most effectuall to moue vnto pitty and clemencie and to make a breach into the will and affection of the hearer As the miserie of their present estates their greatnesse â—n former times their little desert of â—hese their miserable fortunes the danger that is yet behinde both of their honours and their fortunes the great confidence that they haue euer had in his Crowne and Scepter as hauing no other friend vnder heauen to whom â—hey may lay open their griefes lastly â—heir promises of all manner of bands of thankfulnesse and recompence that may be made I omit their teares their interrupted sighes and all other their passionate actions and cariage of the body whereby they so hide and couer their arte that they binde and ensnare and as it were violently inforce the hearer But if for hatred they haue made themselues suppliants they change their tune and betake themselues to new artes new protestations new desires of Iustice accompanied with a fyerie tongue which clearely layeth open the iniurie that they haue receiued the troubles they vniustly suffer to conclude what with their modest blushings their iust zeale of honour their honest requests their scalding teares the greatest personages are soonest perswaded to do their pleasure to grant their desires Or Perhaps because womeÌ„ being by nature fall of pitty compassion and soonest moued to a feeling commiseration of the miseries of other men they are worthy of the like pitty compassion when in the like case of misery they are suppliants to other meÌ„ Or Perhaps because the inuisyble Beauty of the minde adorning the outward semblance with I know not what diuine grace doth inuisybly wound the hearts of great Princes with a sweet kinde of violence stirreth vp their wils to grant vnto them whatsoeuer they shall demaund VVhy is onely the Beautie of women amongst all other Beauties named praised and esteemed Probleme 31. PErhaps because Beauty is the onely ornament of women their onely dowerye their diuine gift their riche pledge and their highest glory therfore no other creature may iustly chalâ—enge it but by speciall priuiledge Or â—erhaps because notwithstanding Beauty may be giuen to a young child a towardly youth a handsome man an honorable knight a venerable old man a magnanimious Prince neuerthelesse man being borne vnto labour their coÌ„mendations must not take roote from â—he simple gift of nature but the childe 〈◊〉 commended for his towardlines the â—outh for his dexterity readinesse in â—erformance the man for his wisdome 〈◊〉 matters of importance the knight â—or his valour in dangerous seruices the â—ld man for his sufficiencie in giuing â—ounsell and the Prince for his iustice Or Perhaps because women are not to glorie in any other gift then in the liberality and bounty of nature who hath adorned them with so precious a quality that they might preserue it as
a crowne to their other feminine vertues as temperance modestie shamfastnesse chastitie zeale of honour Clemency Religion Taciturnity and the like For it becometh not a woman but for speciall cause to weare armour to exercise the feates of warre to apply her selfe to those actions which doe better befit a Senator or a Souldier then the tender and delicate nature of a woman Or Perhaps because men may certainely know that the heauens haue imparted a speciall raye of the first Fayre vnto women that whilest they with their tongues commend it as diuine and with their deedes deforme it they might endeauour to better them selues by the imitation thereof VVhy is the Beauty of women serued and adorned with the excellency of whatsoeuer things are Beautifull in the world Probleme 32. PEerhaps because the Beauty of a woman is the touchstone whereby al other Beautyes are tried the worthiest and most noble qualitie of the body the first Spheare of all corporall Beauty wherein are descried the greatest perfections of all other Beauties And therefore hence it is that all other things though most faire in their kinds by the iust lawe of Nature ought to do seruice and homage to that principall bodily Beauty which in their aspects countenances is adorned with those colours enlightned with those splendours endued with those graces which procure vnto theÌ„ honor admiration And therefore as being the Ladies of all other Beauties they adorne â—hemselues with the Beauty of the flowers the Rose the Violet and the Hiaâ—â—râ—th and a thousand colours deuises and sweete smelling odours with the inestimable riches of precious stones of Rubies Margarites Amatists Turkeys Pearles Diamonds Emraulds and a thousand the like Iewells of highest price They crowne themselues with golde and siluer decke themselues with pendants braselets Embroderinges chaines girdells rings and a thousand tires of sundry fassions They make a glorious shew with their feathers and fannes and pearles and silkes and crestes with their hanging sleeues their furres of Sable their garments of satine silke damaske veluet tinsell cloath of golde and a thousand the like So that as if they were the rulers and commaunders of all Beautyes they will haue the coulours of the heauens the light of the Planets the puritie of the Elements the strength of the mettalls the prise of precious stones the adours of flowers the varietie of fruits the ornaments of beastes the wit of a thousand arts the nouelties of as many inuentions and the broade Ocean of all manner of delights Or Perhaps because a woman being by nature gentle and of complection delicate as following her like desireth the things that are most noble most daintie delicate And from hence it likewise proceedeth that being by nature fearefull shee loueth her solitary house flyeth all vnhappy desasters as hauing little strength to resist them so that in euery thing she desireth ease and comfort and pleasure and recreations as daunsing musicke feastes Beautifull spectacles pleasant places houses richly hanged goodly Pallaces adorned with al kinde of costly furniture that may content the eye VVhy is the Beautie of women of such force that it many times ouercommeth the greatest personages of the world Probleme 33. PErhaps because the sense being too much fastned in that supreme humane Beauty doth not onely as if it gazed vpoÌ„ an obiect aboue his streÌ„gth remaine dazeled with the raies therof but reason it selfe is darkened the heart is fettered and the will by loue made a prisoner Or Perhaps because too much boldnesse in beholding the highest things being instigated thereunto by our corrupt appetite and the vnaduised counsell of our blinde sense which in the best sorte of men doth many times though not openly yet secreatly run riot doth carry euen the wisest and the strongest men that are to their vtter ruine let Salomon make good this truth vnto vs who amongest all the men of the world for wisdome wore the Diademe yet by this snate of Beauty was drawne to commit adultery Let Sampson auerre the same who being the strongest man that euer was was yet ouercome by the Beauty of Dalida Let Dauid proue it true who though hee were a man framed after Gods owne heart yet by one onely viewe of Bershaba he was inflamed with dishonest loue and feared not to commit both adultery and murder yea all histories both diuine and humaine ancient and moderne speake of thousands that haue beene famous in the world both for valure and wisdome who by gazing either too much or too vnaduisedly vpon these Beautiful obiects haue fallen into many dangerous and enormous sinnes VVhy doth the Beauty of a women being violated bring infamy and dishonour not onely to her selfe but to her whole family Probleme 34. PErhaps because the body being violated the minde is likewise corrupted and the first action in such a case by Election being infamous in the minde and from thence passing to the act of the body and so to the notice of the world both the election and the action being vnlawfull cannot but be likewise infamous and dishonorable So that the woman being totally dishonored both in body and minde she disperseth this her infamy euen to those that haue begotten her as if they that first gaue her her being gaue therwith her corruptions and the first occasion of this her infamy Or Perhaps because Beauty being not only for it selfe highly esteemed but also much more for those vertues that doe accompany it being robbed and spoyled of these excellent ornaments it remayneth naked both in prise and honour And forasmuch as by Election she fell into this folly notwithstanding she knewe that shee thereby should offend her whole stocke and Progeny it followeth that she likewise makes them partakers of her infamy Or Perhaps because that fayth which passeth betwixt a man and his wife being violated doth not onely offend the minde of those that breake it but the body also and not only both these but the posterity that shall arise out of so corrupte a seede and vnlawfull copulation and not onely that neather but forasmuch as the husbande and the wife are held to be one body and he one flesh and bloud with his progenitors they are not altogither cleare from this infamy VVhy is it the custome to hange Beautifull pictures in the chambers of those women that are with childe Probleme 35. PErhaps because those strang occurrents that in former times haue falâ—en out are an instruction to men in â—hese dayes to preuent the like euents For great women by contemplating â—nd gazing on serpents and Moores in â—heir chambers in the act of generation haue brought forth monstrous birthes â—n some figure and proportion like vnâ—o them By which strange euents men â—eing terrified to the ende they may preuent the like dangerous issues they hange their Chambers with Beauâ—ifull images and pictures Or Perhaps â—ecause the desire of parents to haue Beautifull children is so great for Beauty being powerfull to incline the hearts of
without the speciall helpe of him â—hat framed him immortall for being weake in himselfe he cannot by his â—wne strength ascend to so great a maâ—â—sty Or Perhaps because he being â—â—aced in the middle of the Theater of 〈◊〉 many Beauties created both in things â—enerall and more speciall and indiâ—â—duall and as it were dazeled and â—â—inded with the light of them doth â—ot know howe to discerne the better â—â—om the worse Not considering that 〈◊〉 was created to vnderstand and vnâ—â—rstanding the excellency of the creaâ—â—res of God by them to passe to the â—â—owledge of the Creator and so from â—â—e inferior Beauties to the supreme Or â—â—rhaps because hauing fastned the eye of his sense vpon some earthly Beauty pleaseth himselfe so much with the present delight thereof that forgetting the greater Beautie and not knowing any greater delight he placeth therein his last end and chiefest felicity offending thereby both the law of reason and of God Or perhaps because man being made blinde by sense and loue of a momentary delight he desireth not by contemplation to enioy the Beauty of God For neither can the sense or any other powers exercise their operations in any degree of excellencie if not in one onely obiect and at one only time and therefore the eye being fastned in an earthly Beauty with an earthly loue how can he by contemplation behold the celestiall Beautie with angelicall loue How should a man that hath abased his lips by inordinate lust to the standing and stinking poole of a rotten Beauty dippe them in the pure fountaine of the onely fayre by a regular and orderly desire How should he gazing by a sensuall and brutish loue vpon a corporall and corruptible Beauty fasten the subtilitie of his vnderstanding vpon the first fayre who is meerely spirituall and heauenly what proportion hath the Sunne with darkenesse the day with night truth with a â—ye a Prince with a slaue fire with Ise snowe with durte golde with Iron honour with infamie diuine with earthly treasure with pouertie vertue with vice order with confusion infinite with finite immortall with mortall so long therefore as he fasteneth his eye vpon an inferiour Beauty he cannot possibly ascend by contemplaâ—ion to the first fayre Or perhaps because the sense being debased to a thousand concupiscences the Appetite drowned with the lasciuious billowes of intemperancie the taste glutted with the honie of Cupids appearing â—ainties the will placed vpon fraile obâ—ects and willing nothing but to satisâ—ie the desires of the flesh the body more then furiously and inconsiderateâ—y accustomed to Venus beddes the â—oynes alwayes walking to the common forge of euery brothelhouse the â—yes open to nothing but the spectacles â—f Sardanapalus the thoughts ascendâ—ng no higher then the contriuing of â—dulteries and wanton sports Religion â—anished the vailes of chastitie broken â—he bridle of the law nothing regarded All good counsell and ciuill discipline set at naught and man being made more then an enemy to himselfe hee cannot euen by the lawe of custome which is conuerted into an other nature yea a necessitie lift vp the eye of his vnderstanding to heauen and to the contemplation of the first Fayre Problemes of the Affections Where at full are set downe Their Causes properties offices vses and endes Of Loue. VVhy hath nature ordayned that their should be affections in the world Probleme 40. PErhaps because the world being a kinde of well ordered Common-weale where beholdicg the Beautifull â—iâ—position of all visible bodies both â—…ght and heauy neither light nor â—…eauy and contemplating the powerâ—al workmaÌ„ship of the celestial Speares which for the perpetuall generation of 〈◊〉 things are perpetually caried about â—hat great shop of those first Elements â—y them framing and fashioning all â—ompound natures and beholding in â—his Elementall and lower world â—he Citizens thereof which are all liuing creatures and among them the chiefe and principall which is man who is Lord and gouernour of the rest it was fit necessarie that there should be assigned vnto his perfection some order for his military strength which could not otherwise be done then by placing in the minde of man these affections which for the benefit of the whole world by Loue might defend by Hate might offend by Desire of victorie might attempt in the presence of greater forces by counterfeit flights might retire by Delight might reioyce in the benefit of peace by the death of the conquered be stirred vp to Griefe by Hope might willingly offer their neckes to the yoake of labour by Despaire might fight couragiously and not in vaine by Feare might learne to prouide for future wants either of victuall or munition by Boldnesse might not feare to vndergoe any danger for publicke honour and benefit by Anger might be enflamed to shed their bloud and to lose their liues for a generall peace And so all the workes of nature might remaine safely defended from their enemies and quietly enioy that benefit which nature hath bestowed on them Or Perhaps because it being impossible to preserue nature wâ—thout generation and generation not to be had without loue and Loue not working without desire and Desire not moued without hope and Hope not obtayning his wished end without audacitie and Audacitie not doing the vttermost without Anger nay without the violent motion of all the irascible paâ—t and the irascible part not being thoroughly stirred and quickned without some feeling griefe and Griefes being not perfected without feare of greater and Feare being nâ—t cleared without the certaine delight of a present good â—t followeth that all the Affections are necessary for the preseruation of the whole VVhy is some speciall affection predominant ouer euery age Probleme 41. PErhaps because Nature seeketh in euery thing both the vniuersall beâ—efit and priuate good and therefore 〈◊〉 hath ordained that feare should be the predominant in all mothers ouer their tender infants to the ende that the vniuersall generation of humane kind might be preserued their owne children thereby to their owne benefit carefully guarded attended which by reason of their owne weaknes they cannot doe And for this cause it hath likewise giuen to Childhood delight in childish sports and pastimes Shame to be a bridle as it were to that age to withhold them from dishonest vntowardly actions To youth Loue desire of generation to men of riper yeares hope and courage to the performance of acts worthy glory immortallity to olde men pitty compassion in iudging and censuring humaÌ„e accidents feare to make theÌ„ circumspect and wary in that smale remnant of their life which is behinde to decrepite olde age paine griefe sorowes as forerunners and messengers of appoching death And that to the ende they may therby be driuen to despaire of all humane helpes and in god alone put their whole trust and confidence Or Perhaps to the end that man in the change and alteration of his life might likewise change his wil desires passing
alwaies to that which may be most worthy and best befitting his yeares for hence it is that men desiring thinges contrary to their age with an earnest desire following theÌ„ purchase to theÌ„selues Shame dishonour As for example it is not fit and conuenient that a man of perfect yeares should take delight in the toyes and sportes of little children or that an olde man should follow the fansies of Loue which are proper vnto young men or that women should exercise armes chiualry which is proper vnto man or that a Prince should feare the clattering of his enimies Squadrons which is the property of women and therfore wise nature by these affectâ—ons seeketh a certaine kinde of decent comâ—ines in all humane actions Or Perhaps to the end that humane nature by this meanes might be made more louely sociable for a modest young man doth much pâ—ease and content with his modesty and bashfullnesse and so doth a breast adorned with chast and interâ—hangeable loue we do much coÌ„mend â—he valour of men of riper yeares in the â—erformance of difficult dangerous â—nterprises Wee reuerence the piety â—nd pitty of olde men embrace their â—ounsells when by their owne feares they withhold vs from the execution of our rash and inconsiderate furies And hereby appeareth the great profit and commoditie to this community and decent proportion of euery affection to euery age In that feare vniteth the parents to their children the delight of friendship breedes ciuillity in conuersation the kindled desire of Loue knitteth the hearts and the bodies and the mindes in one and the same will manly courage by defending the weale publicke makes ciuill vnion more perfect and counsell which dependeth vpon the wise and fearefull tongues of old men draweth young men to a true vnity in all their desires Whereby it plainly appeareth that the Affections of the minde make the life of man both pleasant and sociable VVhy would Nature that in euery thing in the world there should be Loue Probleme 42. PErhaps because the first Creator and vniuersall formor of all Nature hauing wrought out of that confused Chaos or rather nothing so noble and so rich a fabricke of the inferiour and superior worlds not mooued thereunto by any necessity but stirred vp by his owne wil would of his infinit Loue communicate the Essence or being to all creatures By which his loue it likewise pleased him to giue vnto his creatures this pretious affection of Loue to the ende that imitating their Creator they likewise might worke to the common benefit of nature Or Perhaps because the Soueraigne Monarch and chiefe good being an infinite Loue would likewise that all the Creatures which by his infinite Power hee hath framed should cary the same badge with in their bowelles as an open signe and cleare seale of their true Archytect and Creator Or Perhaps because that he hauing formed the whole Vniuerse vnited in him selfe and for him selfe would likewise haue it continued by an amorous chaine of Loue to the end that such vnion by length of time and many succeeding ages should not growe tedious but rather thâ—t all things in generall with their speciall and particular kindes being recomforted by the sweetenesse of Loue should much more desire to continue therein Or Perhaps because hee hauing framed al things in the world in an excellent order for the continuall conseruation of that order gaue such an affection to all his creatures as might spurre them forward with sweete desire to follow and affect their naturall places to procure vnto themselues whatsoeuer might be profitable for their healthes and preseruation to fly the contrarie to engender their like and to preserue themselues and their kinds with the whole vniuerse VVhy is Loue so potent Probleme 43. PErhaps because it hath beginning from an infinite Power and euery effect hath some resemblance or at least carieth with it some kinde of footesteppe of the Excellency of his cause and thereby maketh knowne the power of that which hath framed it so powerfull and excellent Or Perhaps because it hath the Empire rule of all other affections and as a soueraigne Lord hath the whole multitude of them as well of the concupiscible parte as the â—irascible at her commaund and seruice Oâ— Perhaps because it relieth and resteth it selfe vpon powerfull natures as Angells who for Loue wherle about the superiour Spheares in continuall motion As the heauens which for Loue working by influence as a father and first begettor distill a seminall kinde of vertue into all earthly things as the Elements which for Loue are vnited and mingled together to forme a compound body as liuing creatures who for Loue diue into the bottomlesse depths of the water dominere ouer the earth and at their pleasure flye hether and thether in the Ayre As men who for Loue of their Countrie sweate in their armour for the Loue of God suffer martirdome for the Loue of society honour fidelity for Loue of mariage effect honesty for Platonicall Loue contemplate for reasonable Loue esteeme of vertue for zealous Loue feare no dangers no times fly not the horrour of â—eÌ„pests are not coÌ„fouÌ„ded with a thouâ—and deathes to conclude accompt al labours light all losse gaine all difficulty facillity al miserie pleasure all crosses comforts all sower sweete all sorrowe Ioye and death life Or Perhaps because Loue is of so great force and authority that it subiugateth vnto her will the greatest power of the minde that is the will which ruleth and gouerneth al the other both interior and exterior powers and yet the will is many times constrained for the better pleasing and content of Loue to follow those things which it doth altogither abhorre and detest so that hauing so wonderfull an Empire and commaund ouer all the powers both inward and outward of the body and of the minde no maruell if Loue both will and can doe what it will Or Perhaps because Loue aspiring to a good that is great and wonderfully delightfull whereto nature giueth a friendly assistance and incouragement euen from the obiect that is loued gathereth strength with more ease to attaine vnto it whereby the powers irascible doe runne at her commaund with those greater forces that are wont to expugne and ouercome things most hard and dâ—fficult the motiue powers with all the members of the body growe stronge and nimble in her seruice and the heart it selfe being incited and stirred forward by her pricking goâ—ds doth their settle it selfe where Desire though with much difficulty carieth it Or Perhaps because euery first thing and more excellent is in his order more potent As it appeareth in God the first of al other things who is onely saide to be omnipotent in the Seraphins who in knowledge are more noble and more powerfull then all other angells as in heauen which among all other bodies is the mightiest and worketh with greatest power vpon these inferior parts as in the fire which is the
strongest amonge the Elyments as in gold which is the purest of all other mettalls and so in the rest adde therefore Loue being the first amongest all the effections no maruell if it worke more strongly and effectually VVhy are there so many kindes of Loue vnder the commaunde and Empire of Loue Probleme 44. PErhaps bycause the vniuersal vnion of the world depending vpon the vnion of the parts with the whole and the special common globe of the world vpon the vnited assembly of the vniuersalls and this by the meanes and occasion of the power of Loue it was fit and conuenient likewise to giue vnto euery special nature his Loue. And therfore the Angels haue that angelicall Loue which being farre from the rage of Sensual passion continueth alwayes pure and cleare Things inanimate as the heauens the Elements and their Compounds haue for their Loue that inuisible appetite prouoked by an inuisible force and directed by a kinde of knowledge to attaine their determinate endes their seates their sites and their best meanes for their best preseruation Although they haue likewise that Sociable Loue whereby they desire to approche neare vnto their like vnto their beginnings their begettors their preseruers As the planets haue in them that Loue which the causes haue toward their effectes the Elements to their Compounds the Begettors to their partes and therefore besides the preseruation of themselues they giue Sappe and humour to their fruits as milke from the duggs of their rootes they couer them they defend them with leaues and with boughes and beare and sustaine them as it were with indefaticable armes The Beasts of the field besids a Sociable Loue haue a seÌ„sual so called because notwithstanding it be accommpanied with a kinde of knowledge yet for as much as it is guided by the simple Sense it taketh name thereof Men haue a reasonable Loue by which with the discourse of reason they vnite them selues vnto that which is fayre they haue a Platonicall Loue whereby they loue by comtemplation a Ciuill Loue by the force whereof they defend their Country an honest Loue by the spurre whereof they followe vertue a friendly Loue by the gift whereof they are vnited and knit togither a diuine Loue whereby they are inflamed to the Loue of God aboue all things and to the Loue of their neighbour for Gods sake Or Perhaps because to diuers natures diuers loues shold be accoÌ„modated corespondeÌ„t to the degree merit of their perfection For excellent effects best befit excellent natures wherby they may best maintayne their excellencies VVhy are the outward signes of humane Loue the vncertayne passions that they suffer who Loue Probleme 45. PErhaps because it is onely proper to Angelicall and diuine Loue to be freed from the tempestious and turbulent Sea of passions for the Angells in heauen being neuer absent from their chiefe good and felicity cannot fall into that discontent and vexation of spirit which they that are in loue suffer when for a time they are depriued of their best beloued obiect much lesse are they tormented with that feare which men call Iealousie or with any the like passion which commonly afflict the mindes of those men who by louing follow Loue as with griefe false suspitions accidentall brawles compassionate teares throbbing of the heart distracted cogitations frequent blushinges deepe sighes inconstant desires and a thousand the like launsing razors that cut and wound the hearts of men for those blessed spirits inioye all manner of delight perpetuity of estate and whatsoeuer good besides in that first Faire whose presence they eternally enioye Or Perhaps because humane Loue entring into humane heartes by the windowes of the senses the which often times are deceiued by the diuers accidents of their obiects doth many times present a false appearing Beauty to the minde the which in tract of time being descried the mind groweth sadde and heauy and melancholicke and by that humour openeth the vaine to all those passions which make bitter the Sea of Cupid Or Perhaps bycause humane Loue being mingled with reason and sense and the sense for the most parte by the diuers appetits thereof and much moâ—e by a kinde of ouerboldnes grounded vpon smale knowledge darkninge the faire light of the superior part of the soule bringeth such discontent ruine to the minde of man as greater cannot be wrought by the hand of his greatest enemye whereby he yeeldeth such strange effects of passion as many times the fame thereof ascendeth vp euen to the heauens Or Perhaps because euery thing in this inferiour world beeing subiect vnto a thousand mischaunces and as many chaunges and alterations eyther of nature or chaunce or the will of the heauens loue it selfe is not freed from the same vnconstancy of Estate For the mind of man vnder this outward garment of the body is no other thing then a Sea gouerned by the rage and fury of the affections whereby it appeareth tumultuous hauty foaming inconstant tempestuous and sometimes wiâ—h the pleasant gale of reason calme and faire and quiet whereby it is made altogether amiable friendly cleare and comfortable So that as our senses doe sometimes enioye a meaâ—y tyde and season sometimes a troublesome and turbulent so falleth it out in our Loue which forasmuch as it is humane is sometimes cleared by reason somtimes darkened by affections and for one droppe of sweet yeeldeth a whole Sea of sower and bitter discontent VVhy is Loue called a flame a fire and the like Probleme 46. PErhaps because that as the fire hath alwayes neede of some nourishment without the which it vanisheth into nothing So Loue without the nutriment of Hope to possesse the thing beloued decayeth and growes lesse and lesse for if euery thing that worketh or endeuoureth the acchieument of any thing must bee nourished with the confidence and assurance of his wished ende without which it will neuer endure the greatnes of these labours which a thousand sweating accidents bring with them much more hath the kingdome of Loue being molested by the dayly assaults of humane passion not those that it would but those that are most strong powerfull in assaulting need of this speciall comfort of hope and assurance Or Perhaps because Loue awakeneth and inflameth the heart of a louer with an inuisible Fire within which he liueth like another Salamander of Egipt for to say the truth a louer findeth feeleth within his breast as it were the forges of a certaine fire which by the many passions of ardent zeale enkindled desires scalding sighes enflamed teares feruent emulations ruddie bashfulnesse fretting feare and iealous thoughts doe burne and yet maintaine the inuisible flames of Loue and therefore hence it is that for the most part Louers are leane of body pale of countenance spent in their spirits and much altered from their first estate and former Beauty Or Perhaps because the Beautifull obiect from which loue taketh greatest force being present a louer by reason of that
to things high and excellent Or Perhaps because Loue doth swiftly rooste her selfe in the hearts of Louers sometimes by a bare looke darting her selfe in as it were at the windowes sometimes with pleasant laughter vndermining somtimes with simple words assaylinge sometimes by a gracious and comlie carriage of the body and many wayes besids attempting the hearts of vnhiddy young men of whome shee maketh a large praye And therefore Loue is saide to haue many branches many netts many snares by which diuerse instâ—uments she diuersly hunteth nay forages and prayes vpon all natures taking some by delight some by commodity some by honesty some by grace some by the goodnes of nature others by the giftes of the minde some by hope some by courage and others by appearâ—ng goods Or Perhaps because wee may thereby vnderstand how swift the thoughts of those are which are in Loue who howe distante soeuer they are in place from that they Loue yet by their thoughts they are alwayes present attending and discoursing as it were with their best beloued VVhy with Bowe and arrowes Probleme 50. PErhaps because that as an arrow being shotte pierceth thorow the flesh into the bowells so Loue first by Beauty assayling the bodily part giueth afterwards a deadly wounde vnto the heart For Beauty first presenteth it selfe vnto the sense either to the eye or to the eare and afterwards to the â—easonable appetite and so first by Beautifull colours it delighteth the eye â—nd by the sweetnesse and eloquence of speeche the eare and from them â—he delight passeth vnto the minde the which consenting thereunto yeeldeth â—â— selfe to the force of Loue. Or Perhaps because as an arrowe pricketh and woundeth that body which it hitteth so Loue with her passions pricketh and gawleth the heart of him that loueth And yet this is no reason why Loue should therefore be accounted cruell because by these her goades shee maketh her Louers valiant hardy and vigilant pitifull patient bolde and constant against the inconstant violence of fortune whereas without these passions these vertues would die and languish Or Perhaps because as an arrowe being but parted from the Bowe doth neither hurt nor offend vntill it hit the marke whereat it was shott and then it woundeth and teares So likewise Loue in the beginning manifesteth not her passions vntill it bee setled in the heart and then it worketh strange and wonderful effects Or Perhaps because by carying armes offensiue wee should knowe that she is alwaies prepared to offend whomesoeuer shall goe aboute to wrong her For as euery creature is naturally armed with some thing to defend it selfe against outward violence So it was fit that Loue should not be altogither vnarmed VVhy Blind Probleme 51. PErhaps because it makes Louers blinde not knowing many times what losses and dangers and mischiefes they are thereby falling into For such is the force of Loue and it is strange that for the thing beloued they neglect their owne good feare not to expose their bodies to the edge of the sword deny vnto themselues whatsoeuer is profitable to themselues sleepe to their eyes quietnesse to their mindes rest to their members ease to â—heir bodies yea and more then all this they glorie in those inglorious attempts â—hose labors and sweatings and watchâ—ngs and freesings yea and wounds â—oo which for their Loues they haue â—ndergone and indured Or Perhaps â—ecause it seldome falleth out that he â—hat is a seruant vnto Loue doth knowe â—he imperfectioÌ„s of his loued obiect but â—ther couers them accoÌ„ptes them â—ertues For this is the property of Louers highly to esteeme of whatsoeuer belonges to that they Loue insomuch that they cannot endure that any man should oppugne their iudgements herein and from hence proceede many times those their resolute challenges and valorous defences Or Perhaps because Loue for the most parte respecteth not persons discerneth not the worth and merit of her Louers but as it is best pleasing to her selfe not respecting gentility or nobility or principalities or Beauty taketh delight to sollace her selfe amongest the baseste sorte of people and doth many times place them in the highest seates and therefore wee may reade and in our owne times haue obserued that great and mighty personages haue loued women of base estate and condicion and contrariwise some of lowest degree to haue dared to make Loue to the greatest and mightiest Princes of the world Or Perhaps to the end wee should knowe and vnderstand that earthly Loue being blinde is rather an imperfection then a perfection if by the light of vertue it be not enlighted And therefore it may bee that our ancestours did not vainely in paynting Loue blinde if they ment thereby wanton and vicious Loue because that is properly saide to be blinde which followeth blinde Sense which carieth a man to blinde desires blinde sinnes and the palpable darknesse of blacke infamy VVhy ruddy or high coloured Probleme 52. PErhaps because a liuely coulour being accompanied with an outward comely grace doth with greater force stirre vp and awaken Loue. For for no other cause would nature that in euery thing there should be accidental signes whereby the agents should be mooued to worke those effects which might be best pleasing vnto her And therefore when wee see a Beautifull face of a vermilion and sanguine complection adorned with a comely grace in the cariage therof we presently conclude that Beauty worthy of all Loue. Or Perhaps because Loue alwaies affecteth â—ife which the Sanguine red best expresseth as contrarily Palenes death for it is manifest that Loue was ordaâ—ned for generation wherein life consisteth yea the life of those that giue life vnto otheres I meane the begetters the race or ofspring of mans bodie being nothing else then a certaine patterne of the life of their fathers who for Loue euen out of the bones and bloud and flesh and all other their outward and inward powers beget the bones and the bloud and the flesh and the powers of their children And therefore no maruell if Loue be described to be a ruddie and cheerfull tutor and preseruer of life Or Perhaps because he that foloweth Loue maketh alwayes shew of a Cheerfull heart if he be not assayled by some inward passion and therefore we commonly see Loueâ—s I meane such as prosper and speede in their Loues full of spirit pleasant of countenaunce quick in their eyes eloquent of tongue and in their whole carriage full of ioye and comfort VVhy sometimes languishing Probleme 53. PErhaps by reason of the languishing faintnes of those that Loue who alwayes following with an ouer earnest desire that which they Loue in so much as euery day of absence seemeth an age doe many times in their solitarie chambers cast downe their â—weried members vpon their lothed beds filling the ayre with a thousand â—nterrupted sighes which may the lesse seeme strange becâ—use there is no artificer that dayly and hourely busieth his head and bendeth all his endeuors to â—he
perfecting of some speciall worke which wholy dependeth vpon the skill of his hand that is not enforced either â—y the continuance of labour or his â—any watchings or some other inconâ—enient accidents not only to rest his â—oyled bodie but to send out many a â—lent sighe and inuisible teare Or Perâ—aps that we may thereby vnderstand â—hat a Louer is alwayes accompanied with a thousand other passions Somtimes troubled with feares and doubts of little Loue or affection in his Louer towards him sometimes quelled in his hopes by those many difficulties that withstande his quiet possession of that he loueth somtimes disturbed by the riualitie of others sometimes afflicted with the pangs of the heart and feare of those manifolde mischaunces that may befall the person beloued So that the many passions that multiply in the heart of a Louer doe bring with them an extenuacion and impayring of the complexion a palenes in the face a wearisomnes in the members sometimes a strange kinde of alteration in the indiuiduall Essence froÌ„ whence do a rise those furies of Loue and potent frensies and insensible astonishments which happen many times to those that Loue either because they make not reason the forerunner of their sence or because before they loued they loued not temperancy or because they direct not their Loues by the rule of wisdome and discretion which onely teacheth the only meanes to the attayning of all other vertues VVhy doe Louers delight in flowres Probleme 54. PEerhaps because in them they see the colours of the things beloued For their is not any thing that wants his like or that hath not something that carieth some resemblance in nature vnto it selfe and therefore in those flowers they contemplate those liuely colours which they see to shine both in the flesh and habit of their best beloued Or Perhaps because the colours names of flowers are apt to display those passioÌ„s that they feele who are subiect to this passioÌ„ of â—oue for euery colour hath his proper signification As white signifieth innocencie Blacke vnchangable grauitie Purple a heauenly minde Red boldnes of Spirit Carnation life yellowe Empire or â—elowsie Greene hope Ash colour multitude of vertues Sea water greene the riches of fortune Blew magnanimitie Lion Tawny strength and the like which may also be verie well saide of flowers As the lilly signifieth chastity the rose virginall integrity the violet a languishing life the Hiacinth vertue Furse generosity the white daffadill piety Gesmme small comfort and so of the rest And therefore not vnfitly to discouer their passions doe Louers delight in flowers Or Perhaps because in that diuersity of flowers and colours they seeme to contemplate the large field of the vertues of their beloued Or Perhaps because Loue like a wanton taketh delight in delicate things and to rolle and enwrappe it selfe in sweete odours taking from thence some comforte in her passions And this is the reason why we many times see Loue painted in a pleasant fielde sitting vpon a multitude of flowers mery and iocund crowned with garlands lying vpon a bedde couered with a thousand roses and violeâ—ts fast by a fountaines side compassed with many rich verdures Beautifull plants VVhy doe not Louers in the presence of those they Loue knowe how to frame their speech Probleme 55. PErhaps because the Senses of a Louer being too much setled by an ouer earnest intention in the contemplation of the Beauty of his best beloued he doth as it were altogither forgette himselfe and being lulde a sleepe in his beloued obiect the ouer vehement intention of the minde taketh away the outward vse of the tongue which is not vnlikely because euery man by experience findeth that whilest hee attentiuely heareth any sweete or pleasant sounde hee hath little vse of any other of his senses all the powers being hindered from their due operation by the concurse of the vitall spirits to that onely power which so attentiuely worketh therfore no maruel if men stand mute in the presence of their Loues when they should speake Or Perhaps a Louer fearing that he shall not speake so as may please and content the eares of his mistris chuseth rather to be mute and silent then to vtter his conceit imperfectly And if he dare proceede so farre as to open his mouth for as much as he still feareth that he cannot spâ—ake as he should he vttereth his minde stammeringly and interceptedly Or Perhaps because from the Image of that vertue and worth which they know to be in the thing they Loue they frame in them selues a conceipt thereof as of a thing diuine and from hence they gather great matter of feare and it commonly falleth out with them as with those that are to speake before great Princes who being accompanied with the selfe same imagination tremble and growe pale when they speake and vtter their conceipts many times both brokenly and vnaduisedly VVhy do Louers blush in the presence of their mistresses Probleme 56. PErhaps because the heart dilating it selfe in things pleasant sendeth forth great aboundance of the spirits â—o the superficiall parte of the face which by that outward rednes are made aparent and the Louer filled with â— kinde of ioy by the sence of his best beloued such being the propertie of all men that enioying the presence of â—hat good which they so much desire â—hey become merry and iocunde and by reason of that great ioy they feele they appeare fresh fragrant as conâ—rariwise pale and wan in the presence of that they hate Or Perhaps because Louers do many times blushe of modestie a thing proper vnto that age as being carefull and ielous of each others honour for Loue is proper vnto yong men who are naturally gouerned by the bridle of shame and bashfullnes especially in the presence of those whose good opinion of them they especially desire and therefore they are very carefull not to doe any thing in their sight that is not fitte and conuenient Or Perhaps because by those amorous glaunces they are more inflamed with the Loue of each other and so laying open their inward fire to one an other they are neuer satisfied with the lookes of one an other VVhy doe Louers take pleasure in the teares of their beloued Probleme 57. PErhaps because Louers are then meriest when they are assured of the Loue of their beloued and better assurance thereof they cannot haue then when they see them for their Loue to languish sigh and shed teares For notwithstanding teares in their owne natures cannot be without some bitternesse yet forasmuch as they arise from a pleasing cause though the roote be sower the fruit is sweete For there is no greater felicity in the whole Empire of Loue then the certaine assurance of the true heart of his best â—eloued which contenteth so much â—e more by howe much the greater â—e signes thereof are that doe yeelde â—ch strange effects Or perhaps because â—y such signes they discry that it wilâ—e
creatures of the world adorned with so many and so excellent qualities but that he must not onely imitate them but farre excell them The heauens are liberall by ministring vnto vs by their influence motion and light euery good thing whatsoeuer The Elements are confederated for being bound with a band of Loue they hold the whole world in vnitie and concord the Plants are fertile for they yeeld vnto vs the delight of their fruite the Lion is maiesticall for he is King of all other beasts the Dogge is faithfull for he neuer forsaketh his Lord and maister the Panther is strong for with his strength he feareth not to encounter the strongest beasts of the field the Ante is wise for within her little celles shee hideth her necessary victuall vntill time of neede the Lambe is gentle for he offendeth not though he be offended the Crane is vigilant for whilest his company sleepeth he standeth Sentinell the Asse is patient for though he endure many blowes he strikes not againe The Camelion is temperate for he liues by the ayre the Bee is prouident for with an excellent order she appointeth her troupes vnto their labour The Fox is subtill for with wonderfull arte he obteyneth his prey the Swanne is bolde for he feares not to enter combate with the Eagle the Elephant is strong for he carieth vpon his backe a tower of armed men the the horsse is valiant for at the sound of the trumpet being thirsty of glory he feareth not to runne into the enemies squadrons The Parret is a Gramarian for he vttereth an articulate voyce The Nightingall is a Musitian for with a thousand tunes he delighteth the eare the Tunnie is an Arithmetician for hauing counted his troupes he gathereth them together into a formall squadron in the waters The Cocke is an Astronomer for with his morning song he foretelleth the qualitie of the times The Dogge is a Logitian for not finding his maister in one place he seeketh him in another and so in a third framing thereby an argument from the whole to the parts that is that his maister being in the house hee must necessarily bee in some part thereof and therefore not finding him in the first nor in the second he concludeth that he must necessarily be in one of the rest Mettalles are solide and permanent for time can hardly corrupt them Stones are precious for in price they exceed gold and herbes haue many hidden vertues in them for they cure all diseases so that man learning from euery thing and taking singular delight in them would not being monarch of this inferiour world be inferiour vnto it but gathering vnto himselfe by his owne artes and industries all those excellencies which he obserueth to be diuided in the multitude of things through out the whole vniuerse enioye them for his vnspeakable delight and comfort VVhy do women and young men especially loue things pleasant and Delightfull Probleme 95. PErhaps because women and young men are of all others best friends vnto their senses and therfore in euery thing most intemperate the reason whereof doth arise from no other ground then that they are nouelists to nature and therefore thirsting after euery delightfull thing they desire to proue all and yet withall be neuer satisfied and women by reason of that tender and delicate softe nature we see in them are more inclinable to the flattering allurements of euery pleasing pleasant obiect Or Perhaps because they naturally louing meriment and laughter desiring sports and pastimes thirsting after solace and content and beeing free to attempt if their mindes bee not ruled by the bridle of shamefastnesse whatsoeuer they wishe or desire and not finding that their desire but in those things that either by nature or arte haue Delight in them with all their strength and studie and by all meanes both open and secret they endeuour to possesse themselues of those delights which do best befit their owne willes And therefore wee doe plainly see among other senses how much they are caried away with the delight of those dainties that doe best please their taste and pallates they Loue sweete meates delight in banquetings desire nouelties follow delicacies and are common gests at rich and bountifull tables Or Perhaps because women and young men being more drawne by the force of Loue which affection according to Plato doth especially raigne intender brests and Loue leading all Louers to a chiefe and principall delight they cannot endure to bee depriued of all other delights but rather direct all other vnto that as the partes vnto the whole and as riuers vnto their fountaine Or Perhaps because young men abounding with much naturall heate and women being weake nature prouoketh them to refresh and strengthen themselues with the comfort of those things that are pleasant and Delightfull VVhy doth the multitude of those delightfull things that especially appertaine to the sense of feeling taste and smelling make vs many times intemperate Probleme 96. PErhaps because those senses participate much of that which is earthly and therefore hauing an earthly apprehension of their sensible obiects the senses doe not onely vnite but drowne and ouerwhelme themselues with their obiects and so being altered by the sweetnesse of them become intemperate to the hurt of themselues and others For the sense of Feeling beeing ouermuch accustomed to things eyther by nature or arte ouer soft delicate and the sense of Taste to sweete and pleasant meates and the sense of Smelling to the sweete fragrancie of odoriferous smels the vitall spirits grow and increase about the heart the Desires are awaked concupiscence inflamed the appetite enclined and the will amongst the darke flames of corrupt sense giueth consent and so the euill habit of the sinne of intemperancie groweth in vs. Or perhaps because the force of concupiscence spreading it selfe from the heart as from the fountaine of all heate and with that heate the aboundance of vitall spirits to the whole body euen to the superficiall part thereof where the sense of feeling especially hath place and that beeing much more awakened by the excellencie of those obiects that are presented vnto it and likewise strengthened by that heate which the sense of Taste by the diuersitie of whote drinks and nourishing meates brings with it and yet more encreased by sweete and exquisite odours it carieth vs headlong to the highest degree of intemperance For where the sense beareth rule and without the curbe or bridle of vertue is made the predominant reason in despite of our selues is made a slaue and quite ouercome Or Perhaps because these senses doe so throughly make proofe of the delight of their obiects that they are in such sorte bewitched with them that with a sweete kinde of forgetfulnesse of themselues they carie the Empire and rule of reason in a kinde of delightfull Lethargie to the end it should not discerne that error which by their greedinesse to their common losse they commit and by so much the more
violent remoue of any one member from his naturall place all the rest are strangely affected with paine and griefe But in so great a mutation and dislocation of the chiefe maister bones and in so great an vndoing and dissoluing of the rest what incredible paine and torment is endured they onely can best tell who vpon their bed of death haue made experience thereof Or perhaps because the woman was no sooner created but bytasting the forbidden fruit deliuering it to our Grandfather Adam brought death vnto her selfe vnto Adam and to all his posteritie as yet vnborne So that by the iust iudgment of God euen in the gates or entrance of life whereby her childe first entreth this life shee is constrained to passe through the gate of death VVhy would Plato that children from their tender yeares should be accustomed both to delight and Sorrow Probleme 106. PErhaps because these two affections are the end of all other all being ordained to follow Delight and flie griefe and Sorrow which being well vnderstood by young men they easily know afterwards how to discerne for what causes a man should reioyce and for what he should grieue which is a great cause of their good education and their future seruice for the good of the common-weale Or Perhaps to the end they should learne the true discipline of that honestie wherewith a wise man is delighted and the hatred of that sinne which bringeth Sorrow to honest minded men and consequently be mooued to follow the honestie of vertue and to flie the hatred of sinne being allured to the one by delight and terrified from the other by griefe Or Perhaps to the end that being instructed by publicke Iustice which ministreth vnto the wicked infamie with corporall punishment and to the good a crowne of honour and immortalitie they should flye dishonour and infamie and follow vertuous and valorous enterprises VVhy do many dye with too great an apprehension of ioye others with too much griefe and sorrow of the minde Probleme 107. PErhaps because in great ioyes and delights that are either new or long expected or very soodaine and bring much felicitie with them the store and plentie of vitall spirits enlarging and spreding themselues at that new and sudaine delight to the superficiall part of the body and the heart the fountaine of life being thereby forsaken it is no maruell if the heart faint and the man perish So contrarywise in great and vnspeakable griefes which arise from strange and sudaine occasions Nature being willing to succour the part offended the vitall spirits which are dispersed through the whole body gather themselues vnto the heart as the part most noble and most necessary to be releeued the plenty of which spirits being ouer-great the miserable heart by the aboundant heate of them is not succoured but smothered and ouerwhelmed and so dyeth Or Perhaps because euery superfluous ouermuch is alwayes hurtfull and therefore though delight doe helpe Nature yet it is onely when delight is in his iust temperature for meate helpeth that creature which it nourisheth â—ut yet too much doth not only offend â—ut killeth him and if griefe be modeâ—ate though it be alwayes offensiue yet if it be not ouer-great and patiently borne it ouerthroweth not OF HOPE VVhy hath Nature giuen Hope Probleme 108. PErhaps to the end that Hope might be an especiall helpe to giue heart and courage to those who haue newly vndertaken difficult and dangerous enterprises for without the sweete and pleasant pasture of assured hope they that are wearied weakned with their labours can neuer attaine their desired end And therefore Hope is termed an Anchor because as when it falleth out that a tempest ariseth at Sea by casting the Anchor into it the vessell is secured from the assaults of contrarie fortunes the Anchor not suffering it to floate aâ— the pleasure of the raging windes Sâ— they that are actors and labourers iâ— the world being tumbled and tossed sometime with one difficulty somtimâ— with another they are many times in the sea of their actions and operations in such sort ouerwhelmed with doubts and dangers that were they not stayed and strengthned with the Anchor of Hope doubtlesse the worthiest and most excellent enterprises would be drowned in the raging tempest of dispaire and neuer attaine the hauen of light or come to the knowledge of mortall men For to say the truth how could the husbandman endure frost and snowe colde and heat wet and drouth how could he go through his labours in plowing and digging and deluing and dunging and a thousand the like yea and as many losses and hinderances if he were not recomforted by the sweetnesse of Hope How could the Artificer amongst so many labours so many inconueniencies cares dangers and hard occurrents of fortune gouerne his estate and passe through his trauells without the sweet entisements of some hoped good How could students and learned men spend their solitarie dayes and nightly watchings in deepe studie and contemplation in much reading frequent obseruations long disputes continuall speculation multitude of bookes varietie of authors diuersities of opinions in the search of hidden causes strange effects in the difficultie of artes the the darknesse of a thousand doubts and contrariety of textes if Hope did not still giue comfort vnto them in the search of the truth The husbandman therefore hopes in his plough the artificer in his instrument the Notary in his Pen the Sayler in his ship the Souldier in his sword the Courtier in his courtly cariage the Nobleman in his bloud the Philosopher in his speculalation the wiseman in his discreet gouernment the Prince in his iustice and fortitude and the whole world liues and is susteined by Hope And therefore it was not without good cause that they haue fained this onely goddesse Hope to be remaining vpon the earth and the other diuine powers to be translated into heauen Or Perhaps because it was not sufficient that Nature hath giuen Loue which is the first pleasing content of that good wee see and desire which is that kindled thirst to possesse it but least dispaire should quench the heate of eyther she added the Spurre of Hope that notwithstanding there bee many difficulties in obtayning that good wee seeke wee should neuerthelesse with all diligence and patience leaue no way vnattempted to winne the possession thereof VVhy do rich men noble men and young men hope much Probleme 109. PErhaps because golde especially in these dayes seemes to be the measure or rule nay the prise of euery good and temporall honour for wee see magistracies publicke offices and dignities and euery great place to bee sold for money and therefore riche men knowing they haue those riches lying by them that excell in prise the rarest things it is no maruell if they doe not onely hope after great matters but as times now are obtaine them Or perhaps because noble men and mighty knowing that the opinion conceiued of them among their followers