thinges be hard to be iudged euen so of this difficultie commeth this diuersitie of Iudgementes ¶ Howe chaunceth it that many which be estemed men of verie good Iudgement be surprised with the loue of foule and ill fauored women It may be that they haue marked a certeine beautie in them which doeth not appeare outwardlie In like maner Painters and Musitians haue iudgement of draughtes and accordes wherof none doe take heede but suche as haue skill in the same ¶ Wherfore be they whose bellies be couered with heare so geuen to women Lecherie doeth procede of the heate of the raignes wherof doe ryse great vapors which engendre the heare of the bellie the aboundaunce of the heare of the bellie doeth signifie the heate in the generatiue partes ¶ Doe you thinke the discouering of Loue to be the cause sometime that a man obteineth not his desier That chaunceth many times by reason that such women doe loue their honestie very muche ¶ Is the trauell greater in secret and conceled loue then in that which is discouered and open Without doubte there is greater paine in concealed loue bycause a man can not euent the heart of loue conceaued which by comunicating and counseling with some other may be made more confortaâ—le and easie ¶ Whether is more constant in loue the man or the woman The man â–ª being bothe of bodie and spirit more firme in all affaires And naturallie he is more constant and of better perswacion in loue ¶ Wherof commeth it that he which loueth is moost commonlie beloued That peraduenture maie come bycause our spirites can not resist the amorouse shottes which doe procede of the swete lookes that Louers doe continuallie cast one vpon another Or els we will saie that it is the propertie of nature to couple and ioyne like to like and to skatter and diuide the thinges which haue no proportion together ¶ Wherfore do men saie that to Neese is a good signe in the facte and dede of Loue Bycause it commeth of the braine which is as it were the litle Cauan and withdrawing place of all the senses And it semeth that all the senses doe agree and geue their assent to the sentence and conclusion of Louers ¶ Wherof commeth it that secret loue is more burning and feruent then that which is discouered and open That chaunceth bycause the secret Louer hath no meane of ease and rest to lett out the fyre that doeth consume him the vertue of Loue being of meruelouse force and strength and so not able to atteine the thing which he loueth best is vnto him greater trauell and paine then yf he inioyed it or might discouer it to his frende for his comforte ¶ Whether were it better that there were loue or no loue I beleue it to be better that there were loue for somuch as it bringeth vnto vs more good effectes then euill and to my minde and opinion Plato agreeth who making a definicion of Loue doeth saie that it is nothing els but a desier to get and obteine a faier and beautifull thing ¶ Thinke you that one maie be in loue with an other onely vpon fame and report Yf Loue be wont to place himselfe in the chamber of our mindes by entrie through the gates of our eyes who doubteth but likewise he may enter by the dores of our eares to harborough him selfe in our vnderstanding Boccacio in his Decamerone and Plutarche be of the same opinion Example hereof may be senâ— by the historie of the Duchesse of Sauoie and the Lorde Iohn of Mendozza which may be redde in the Pallace of Pleasure aforesayd ¶ What doeth incite a man more to vertue eyther honor or the desire that he hath to please the thing he loueth I doe not iudge or thinke that Loue doeth serue for a spurre to pricke men to vertue supposing that a man desireth it for none other purpose but to enioye it ¶ Wherof commeth it that diuerse women haue remained longe time without louing any person and afterwardes haue burned with loue I saye that the vertue of the Planetes haue wrought it for in this vniuersitie of thinges nothing doeth moue it selfe that doeth not take his fyrst motion of the planetes ¶ Who loueth moost feruentlie the hardie or the Coward It is the bolde and hardie for the coward commonlie dareth not aduaunce him selfe foorth to proue his fortune ¶ Are ye not of this opinion that he which is more liuelie and of spirite more excellent is lesse content with one Loue alone Yes truely and that is accustomablie sene amonge men and women for why to content him selfe to loue in one place is an acte of pusillanimitie and of smal hart and corage which is the cause that my mystres doth not content her selfe with a thousand seruantes ¶ Which is greatest paine to get and obteine the loue of one or to mainteine the same being gotten To mainteine it after my iudgement because of the great inconstancie of women which doe sone fill and satisfie them selues and are quickelie angrie and soone wearie lightly found and sone forgotten verie slipperiâ— Cattaâ—l ¶ Who is more easie to be perswaded that they are beloued the man or the woman The man and that maie be clerelie sene for Ladies neyther by long seruice great giftes or otherwise can perswade them selues to be beloued but euermore they be readie to replie that a man doeth dissemble and counterfaicte the trueth ¶ What doeth certifie the woman that she is loued The perseuerance in Loue. ¶ Is there no other signe then perseuerance To be Ialouse of them and to geue liberallie yf perchaunce they be couetouse as in dede they be for the moost parte ¶ Why is Loue painted by some in forme of a Shepherd Bycause they which pursue and followe loue be more lyker beastes then men ¶ Which hath greatest force in man hatred or Loue I wolde saie that the passion of Loue should be greatest And why man through hatred neuer killed him selfe which men doe often times through extremitie of Loue. ¶ Is Loue blinde as he is painted The vulgare and common loue is blynd but the celestiall loue is not but with great dexteritie it openeth and discouereth the greatest secretes ¶ Why be they that haue small legges more subiect to loue then others That procedeth of the aboundaunce of seede that maketh them so Lecherouse which thing commeth ordinarilie to those whose inferior parts of the bodie receiue no great nourishment Bicause all that which Nature taketh from the nether partes is by Nature conuerted into superfluitie and seede Therfore we should rather haue demaunded why men greatlie giuen to lecherie haue for the moost parte so small and slender legges ¶ Wherof doeth it come that Louers haue so litle knowledge of the imperfections of their Ladies One great mocion doeth lette an other Euery Louer then beyng troubled in spirite the iudgement of his sence is impeached and letted in suche wise as he remeineth blind in the thing which he
content himselfe with his owne acte and dede of Chiualrie For he that doeth beste is worthie of greatest praise And he that runneth best for his Ladies sake is best worthie to inioye her ¶ Wherfore do amorouse Ladies impute that to fortune which chaunceth contrarie to their hartes desire Bycause they like rashe creatures without due consideracion esteme al thinges to be ruled and gouerned by Fortune ¶ Is it loue to loue the Image of a woman It is not loue but rather rage and madnes ¶ What be they that loue by a certeine destenie and influence They that can geue no reason or any cause of their loue ¶ Doe ye thinke it to be true that the Goddes were Louers You must knowe that the olde and auncient Poetes were great diuines and speaking of one thing they signifie another True it is that ther be diuerse well learned that can not abide poeticall allegories which after my iudgement haue no great reason on their side ¶ Wherfore was Paris desirouse to see the three Goddesses naked when he was appointed arbitrator of their beauties To geue better iudgement by viewing the proporcion of their bodies O how many faier beautiful be ther in outward apparaÌ„ce which vnder their sumptuouse garmentes and crimson robes be full foule and ill fauored that if Peter Grubbe of Belchelianger or Ioanne Stubbes of Norton follie viewed them naked as Paris did the Goddesses they would runne home for the next gemman or Iustician of peace to interteigne them for they would scarce vouchsafe ¶ Thinke you that the beauties of Ladies is a commendable argument to dispute of Wherfore not seing y t the wisest haue written beautie to be a gift of God ¶ What moued the auncient to saie that Loue is a lorde ouer goddes and men Bicause all that which is made eyther in heauen or in earth is made for Loue. Remember what the Philosopher saieth All thinges do moue that men do loue and desire ¶ Which is moost to be feared the bowe of Loue the mase of Hercules or the sworde of Mars The bowe of Loue and speciallie when he shoteth his Arrowes of Leade But not so much when he shoteth his arrowes of gold and syluer ¶ Howe is it possible that women should haue faces of Angelles and heddes of deuilles Be not Deuilles called Angelles in holie write Reade the scriptures and ye shalbe resolued ¶ Doe you thinke that a Louer maie be enchaunted by the sight of his Ladie If Shepe after the minde of Uirgill by a looke mait be charmed how much more may delicate Loue be subiect to enchauntmentes ¶ Can women by any celestiall influence be made better or more rigorouse toward their louing seruantes The Mathematiques Astrologiens and Magicians by diuerse and many experiences and peremtorie reasons affirme the same in such wise as I dare not affirme the contrarie ¶ How can the fyre of Loue not participant with any other element inflame our hartes It is onely a maner of speaking verye common to Latinistes called Netaphora ¶ Wherof commeth the loue of two which doe equallie loue eche other Some thinke that it commeth of their conuersacion and mutuall familiaritie other of Angelles and spretes assigned to eche man And other of the concurrantes and conformitie of the planetes ¶ Wherof procedeth the rare beautie of women Some doe saie that it commeth of the temperature of the elementes other doe tell reasons more excellent ¶ Why did Euripides saie that Loue was like a Tragedie Bycause that Loue is euermore accompanied with heauines with complaintes and with a harde and bitter ende ¶ Is there any difference betwene the grace of a woman and her beautie or whether they be all one I beleue that there is a difference for the one hath a greater force then the other to cause a man to be content and satisfied ¶ Whether is it a greater auenture to get the grace of a faier woman or els to recouer it if it were lost It is a greater acte to recouer it as I beleue women being of their owne nature disdainefull and stoute in their opinion ¶ Howe maie a man doe to obteine and gett the fauor of an other Some doe saie by merite some other by fortune other doe impute it to the conformitie of Nature and some to attribute the same to influence or destenie ¶ Whether of these three qualities be beste to obteine the grace of women Beautie Riches or Learning They which be faier desire to haue faier seruantes Riche those that haue wherwithall and the learned loue them that be learned But moost commonlie riches is best liked of women for their mainteinaunce although with wise women learning is of greatest price Is it possible that a Louer maie see continuallie the things that he loueth That chaunceth to those speciallie that be not touched with Loue that is to wit which can represent to them selues those which be absent by cogitacions ¶ Howe maie the harte of a louer liue that is not beloued He maie liue verie well considering that it is more pleasure to loue as I haue at other times affirmed then to be beloued ¶ Maie a man establishe lawes to Louers I thinke not but yet I will not denie that they which loue by a certeine gifte of nature or chaunce fatall Lawes maie be established whervnto they maie subdue them selues ¶ Is there any thing in the worlde that maie retire draw an amorouse man from the thing that he loueth Onlie disdaine maie withdraw him more then any other thing ¶ Why doe the auncient painte Cupido to force him selfe to pluck a braunche of Palme out of the hand of an other Cupido In auncient bookes there is remembraunce made of two Cupidoes the one chast the other lasciuiouse and dishonest The chast is he that doth stronglie bynd bring him that is lasciuiouse dishonest into subiection ¶ Howe can a louer die in himselfe and liue in an other This is cleare that the harte is more where he loueth then where he geueth life ¶ Wherfore be the angers of Louers of so litle continuaunce Bycause they are angrie for trifles and thinges of nothing ¶ Howe many sortes of Louers be there Two sortes the one after Plato celestiall and the other vulgare and terrestiall ¶ How commeth loue in vs by iudgement or by destenie Most often by iudgement for diuerse times men iudge before they â—oue ¶ Is there any pleasure in the world that surpasseth the con tentacion of Louers No for why the seed commeth from all partes of the bodie 〈…〉 which causeth an vniuersall pleasure throughout all the bodie Wherfore do men esteme women to be an euill like to the fire and to the sea Bycause there is no day but that by women euils do come and infinite misfortunes ¶ Which procedeth most from women swetenes or bitternes For one swetenes comes a Sea of sharpe sower bytternes ¶ When be louers most vexed and offended with theÌ„selues When by a certein default
men painted Loue with his eyes vnbounde To shewe that nothing is hidde from him and that there is no crafte vnknowen vnto him wherof he hath not the counterpoiz ¶ Doe ye beleue that a trewe louer doeth thinke that he may merite the grace of his Ladie by his seruice All true louers doe iudge and esteme their Ladies to be of inestimable price and valour otherwise they coulde not be induced to loue them And yf it be so howe can a Louer be so arrogant to thinke that for a litle dured trauell he can get suche fauor ¶ Wherof was Loue made He was composed of pleasure and displeasure ¶ Wherfore be women compared to Proteus Bycause of their great inconstancie ¶ Tell me yf it were possible for Louers to chaunge them selues into many and diuerse formes as Proteus did In what forme were it best for them by wishing to remaine with their Ladies I would aduise them to become Satyres which haue their tayles harde and stiffe continuallie ¶ Wherof procedeth so many Bawdes Bicause many desire to depend of other rather then of them selues ¶ Howe is it possible for poore Louers to ende their trauels By dispaire neuer to be fortunate in Loue or neuer to enioye theffecte therof ¶ Why be yong hores commonlie olde bawdes To cause other to feele the pleasure which they whilom did feele them selues Or elles bicause they would that all other were like them selues that they might haue no cause wherof to be ashamed ¶ Ought she to be called a bawde which doeth the message without taking of money I saye that she doeth not deserue to weare that hoode considering it procedeth of pure pitie which she taketh vpon the weakenes and fragilitie of other ¶ What qualities ought one to haue to be a perfect bawde They muste sometimes be discrete and haue a respect to thinges sometimes they muste be importunate foreseing well speaking and that they maie and can consider both the time and condicions of the persons ¶ Falling into the handes of a pitilesse woman what were best to doe To absent him selfe from her and to passe ouer into some other countrie Or elles to haue her daylie before his eyes and to take occasion of trauell The surest thing is to absent him selfe farre of ¶ I desire to knowe yf the ordonaunces of Loue be reasonable or not The principall ordonaunces of Loue are that they loue equallie and that betwene the Louer and his Ladie there be nothing hidden And thus I esteme the ordonaunces of Loue to be verie reasonable seing that he vseth suche qualitie in thinges vnequall ¶ Doeth Loue vse his lawes with equitie or with rigor He that vnderstandeth them wel shal fynd that Loue continuallie hath vsed and doeth vse his ordonaunces with great equitie ¶ Be not the lawes of Loue subiect to other lawes The lawes of Loue be soueraigne aboue all other ¶ Are they contrarie to the lawes of Nature No they be rather conformable vnto them and be as it were one thing ¶ Maie Loue be called an excellent Phisician Nay rather a hurter of men for howe can he take vpon him the title of a Phisician that can not heale any other woundes but those that he him selfe maketh ¶ Of what power is the Scepter of Loue Able to make them liberall hardie and pacient that will followe his trace ¶ Yf loue procede of Idlenes howe can the same make men ingeniouse and wittie Loue hath alwaies done and yet doeth great miracles and therfore for him to do that is no great meruell ¶ Howe may Louers be moost truelie tearmed fooles or wise men I will call them wise yf they haue well set and placed their loue and by louing do not lose them selues Fooles I will also esteme them yf they loue the thing without reason measure that is not worthie to be beloued ¶ Wherof ryseth Ialousie It commeth to some of the feare that they haue to lose the thing that they moost loue To others to see that which they loue to loue another ¶ Who is moost Ialouse the man or the woman and which of them hath greatest occasion The woman is moost Ialouse but the man hath the greater occasion the reason therof and the cause I will kepe silent for this time ¶ Is the Ialouse person blinde or hath he a good iudgement to foresee If Ialousie be moderate it sharpeneth both the iudgement and sight in such wise as it seeth and knoweth all But yf it excede it is more confuse and blynde then a Moule ¶ Whom doth Ialousie become or whom doth it not become Ialousie is not comelie in him that hath experience of the faithfulnes of his Ladie but Ialousie is not vncomelie in him that is a newe Louer ¶ Thinke you that where loue is great there Ialousie may be great also Many doe thinke the contrarie bycause that the vehemencie of loue doeth so transport the person that he is neuer seperated from the thinge that he loueth ¶ Were it good for them that be Ialouse to dye without cause in that rage What should they feare more It should be well imployed ¶ Wherof commeth Ialousie Of enuie and loue ¶ Is the Ialouse man without iudgement Not alwaies considering that moost commonlie the scapes of Ladies are discouered and he is verie blinde that can not perceiue them ¶ What is the propertie of Ialousie It is to serue to a thousand deathes to prepare embushmentes for the honor of Ladies and to mingle in the middest of other pleasures poysones mischiefes and hatredes Doe ye thinke that Loue doeth onelie intrappe the light and tender hartes I doe thinke that it intrappeth all and there is none that is able to shut the gate against him ¶ Is it possible that a noble sprite for a small matter may be entrapped I beleue that it maie for euerie gentle spirite for eche litle trifle is inflamed whose noble and gentle mynd is subiect to Loue. ¶ Is it sufferable to falsifie faithe in loue Why not â—ith it is nourished onely with discept treason and falshod ¶ Is the seruice of Loue more troublesome then others In effect it is more weightie and troublesome but in will much more easie to be disgested ¶ What is it that pacifieth Louers in their greatest trauell It is Hope ¶ Wherfore doe they faine loue to be tyed to a piller of Iasper with a chayne of Diamonde and Topace dipped in the flodde Lethe To prouoke women to be pudike and chaste and to turne their eyes from the wanton allurementes which their louers be vse toward them ¶ Should the ingrate or vnkinde woman be beloued No because there can not be founde a worse vice then ingratitude Wherfore we ought to deme her hollie transformed into the nature of brute beastes ¶ Which is the trewest seruice in loue A stedfast and a constant faithe ¶ The Louer that is loued is he a seruant or a maister He is rather a seruant then a master for so muche as
he is clogged with a double chaine To loue and to be loued be two chaines although that the one be voluntarie and the other by necessitie ¶ Doe you thinke that a woman without the preiudice and hurte of her honor maie satisfie one that hath serued her a longe tyme and season I dare not saie without preiudice But yet I wil affirme that she is to be excused yf she geue him some â—ase that hath long faithfullie serued her ¶ Whiche is the greatest ingratitude that may chaunce in loue Not to rewarde at all his seruices ¶ Why is the seruice of Loue worthie of greater rewarde then other Bycause the longer one continueth therin the greater bitternes he endureth and suffreth ¶ Thinke ye that Loue hath placed his principall treasure in women I beleue so because it hath geuen them the soueraintie aboue all men ¶ Who is the moost fortunate in loue the Attendant or the possessor The possessor hath one contentacion but the attendaunt hath more then a thousand ¶ Is loue the cause of good or euill Of good seing he maketh fooles wise ¶ Why doe men saie that loue is a perfect musitian Bycause he tuneth the sprites and affections which before hadde no agreement ¶ Why doe men saie that a faier woman is a monster in beautie Bicause it is a rare thing as monsters be ¶ Doe Courtyzans loue or doe they faine to loue There be manie reasons to saie that they loue not but experience teacheth the contrarie for I knowe them that be madde for loue and other that die for the same ¶ Wherfore doe Louers many tymes take vpon them longe Iourneis to ridde them selues from Loue Bicause dailie trauel in Iourneis do cause new and straunge thinges to appeare able to cause a man to forget loue I speake nothing of the paines men haue nor yet of the newe loues that maye chaunce which as one nayle doeth driue out an other so they make and cause them to forget their fyrste ¶ Wherof commeth it that many Louers the more they be ill intreted of their Ladies the more they be inflamed in their louâ— That commeth of a certeine constancie of Nature Or we maie well saie that all Louers be not masters ouer them selues ¶ Wherof doeth it come that the woman is more Ialouse then the man Bicause she is more fearefull and suspiciouse or elles bicause she loueth with lesse discretion then the man ¶ whether is it more difficulte to flye loue or to dissemble it when one is entangled with the same He that loueth not at al nor is ouercome with any affections can without great payne dissemble loue but where loue ruleth and mastereth it hath suche force that in despite of vs he doeth manifest and shew himselfe ¶ How chaunceth it that dyuers great amities frendships are vpon smal occasion turned into great hatred and malice That commeth through the lightnes and inconstancie of Louers ¶ Howe commeth it that he whiche is soone taken with Loue doeth soone forget it He is like to them that ryde a great gallop and by and by waxe wery ¶ Why be some more geuen to their kinne and of them take more pleasure then of other For the conformitie of bloode ¶ What meaneth it that although diuerse women beyng of Nature couetouse and holde fast yet cannot geue them selues to loue those that be riche They doe that to shewe that they will not sell their good grace but be willing to geue it liberally as beyng of a noble and gentle spirite but howe many shall ye fynde of that mynde ¶ Why doe they esteme it daungerouse to loue a man that is fayre Because that suche be moost desired or they be of Nature more proude then other For Beautie is the mother of pride ¶ Wherof commeth it that women do greatly hate those that haue forsaken them and with greater malice yf they carrie awaye any thing of theirs The double losse which they receiue is the cause ¶ Why should we not ground our loue vpon those that be to yonge Bicause they be inconstant very bolde and euer more curiouse of new seruauntes and louers ¶ Howe chaunceth it that moost commonly the beautifull desire to haue seruauntes and Louers that be faier And that the vertuous those that be vertuous Similitude and likenes doeth engendre and breade loue ¶ Howe is it that they which haue a short or dimme sight are more geuen to loue then other It maie be bicause they se not the foulnes imperfectioÌ„s so wel as others ¶ Wherof commeth it that the Contrie people do loue paiesantes better then Citizens Bicause they be more affectioned to their lyke ¶ Why doe women appeare fayrer by candle light then in the cleare daye Bicause their painting or beautie doeth glister more by candle light then otherwise euen as our body and fleshe doeth shine more beyng in the sunne then in the shadowe ¶ Which of these were it beste to serue a mayde a maried woman or a wydowe The loue of the mayde is moost constant of the widowe muche more pleasaunt and of the wedded woman more sclaunderouse and hurtefull ¶ Wherof commeth it that such as loue Religiouse men can scantly and with great payne retyre them selues The Religiouse for the most part be learned and consequently they can perswade and make the simple woman vnderstand a thousand tales and ioyes causing them to beleue that they will do them pleasure that they shal triumphe in Paradise and be placed set in the ranke and companye of Angelles ¶ Whereof commeth it that manye be so amorouse of Nunnes Bicause the hidden beautie is moost desired and because they he attired and colored with ten thousand toyes and it semeth that al their words be so swete as Suger and Rose water ¶ Wherof commeth it that those which be yonge are more amorouse then other Bycause they truste to receiue greater pleasure ¶ Wherfore is loue painted to be placed betwene slouthfulnes and hatred and that Idlenes goeth before and hatred foloweth with winges Bicause Idlenes doth engendre loue of loue many times riseth hatred ¶ Whereof commeth it that women which of nature be timerouse be neuerthelesse stronge and hardy in amorouse enterprises Bicause Loue doeth darken their vnderstanding and in thinges wherin they should be moost fearefull doeth harden and encorage them ¶ Wherof doth it come that olde women for the moost part are embraced of yong men and that sometimes old men do sooner enioye yonge women Olde women through experience be very bolde and hardie and without any regarde imploye them selues vpon yong men Olde men bicause they be not â—o be feared and that without suspicion they may speake familierlie by good aucthoritie by reason of their age â–ª doe come for the mooste parte where yonge men for nothing that they be able to doo can come ¶ What meaneth it that women geuen to Loue be more disposed to charmes and enchauntmentes then men Of their follie and fonde
belefe which is the thing principally required in charmes and enchauntementes And therof it commeth that the number of women witches be greater then men ¶ What is it that causeth moost the vnion and coniunction of Louers The diuersitie of complexion causeth the effectes of Loue to be diuers And moost commonly the celestiall influences be the causes of their vnion and coniunction ¶ What doeth it meane that simple Shepardes haue ben taken with the loue of some great Lady and Princesse We euermore desire the thinges which we cannot haue Loue also taketh pleasure in many straunge thinges But there is yet a thing more straunge to see two persons of diuerse fortune the one to dye for the other Reade the historie of Tancredy in the Pallace of Pleasure ¶ Wherof commeth it that yonge women which be in loue are neuer satisfied in dauncing and in all other thinges they be of foeble complexion Immoderate desire of Dauncing is Uenereall yonge women and maydens be subiect to Venus So that in such actes they neuer finde them selues molested or weried ¶ From whence commeth it that Loue maketh vs solitarie and pensiffe Loue as Ouide doeth write is full of feare and care And it perteyneth to the fearefull to be solitarie and pensif ¶ What is the cause that many doe esteme themselues not to be well loued yf Ialousie be not mixed with Loue The feare which they haue to leese the thing that they loue doeth cause the Louer to be more cherished ¶ What causeth manie men although they be faier yonge riche and freshe to be Ialouse of the least wretche they see It may come of their owne concepte Or for that they know the lightnes of their mistres behauior ¶ Wherfore doe women require aboue all thinges their seruauntes and Louers to be secret Loue being discouered ther is not so great pleasure besides that Loue disclosed can bring nought els but damage and trauel and somtime daunger of death as may be red in the second Tome of the Palace of Pleasure almost readie to the print Of a Lady of Burgundie ¶ Wherof câ—mmeth it that Louers delight so much in Musike Musike is a very vayne thing And Louers alwaies followe after vanitie Yet I will not blame all sortes of Musike but that onely which is lasciuiouse and doeth effeminate the sprites ¶ What meaneth it that many doe loue feruently and yet cannot be beloued That procedeth by reason the complexions can not agree ¶ Howe chaunceth it that Loue doeth make men leane Louers be in continuall trauell which drieth vp the bones by reason wherof they diminishe and consume them selues ¶ What is the cause that the talke of Loue or sighte of theffectes therof in painted Tables make men desirouse to enter into his snares The pleasures that be past are by such meanes brought to our memorie and so the pleasure is double ¶ Why doeth Loue blind vs from seyng the Imperfections of the thing which we loue Loue is blinde and doeth blinde other ¶ Why is a man many times amorouse of a woman vpon her onely faine Renowme doth euermore make thinges greater then they be And the minde estemeth thinges more great by hearing then by sight ¶ Why doeth the earnest viewe and beholding of a person make a man amourouse The eyes are the messengers of loue but specially when the beames which procede from the hart do vnite conforme them selues to the thing viewed and loked vpon ¶ What is thoccasion that Louers do studie to applie them selues to the imperfections of their Ladies It is the better to resemble them beyng well assured that conformitie of maners doeth ingendre loue ¶ Howe commeth it that women can better perceaue and discerne those that be amorouse then men It may be that they are more experte in the practise of Loue as beyng more subiect vnto it then men be A goodly historie hereof may be sene in the secoÌ„d Tome of the Pallace of Plesure of Quene Anne of Hungarie ¶ From wheÌ„ce commeth it that amorouse Ladies are more liberall then they which resist Loue It is the propertie of Loue to cause them to be liberall and free harted ¶ Wherof commeth it that when Louers do talke with their Ladies spittle doth come and encrease in their mouthes The tonge often times moued doeth heate it selfe and that heate doeth resolue into spittle ¶ Wherof commeth it that when amorouse dames do talke with their Louers their brestes seme as though they would departe their bosome doeth leape and hop with suche force That procedeth of the great neighbourhod that the hart hath with the pappes from whom all the vitall spiritâ—s do procede who retyring them to the brestes be the cause of such motions ¶ Wherof commeth it that diuerse amorouse women do often times speake euill of their seruauntes or Louers It is to put away the suspition that men may engendre of their Loue or els for feare that other women should backebyte them ¶ Why do men so willinglye kisse the eyes of theim whom they loue The eye is the derest parte of the bodie and in the eye a man maye see and knowe what is hidden in the hart or els they do it because the eye is the beginning of Loue. ¶ Wherfore do Louers hyde them selues when they go about to content eche other Bicause of the filthines of the acte or by a naturall shamefastnes for that they seme to do a thing that is not very honest ¶ Wherfore be Louers so curiouse to knowe the name of their Ladies Bicause they suppose to finde in the names some secrete thinge that maye yelde them hope to enioye the thinge that they so greatly desire or els we may well saie that Louers will not onely possesse the bodies of their Ladies but also haue all that is ioyned therevnto and that whiche doeth depenâ— thereof ¶ Whereof commeth it that Louers be so importunate to demaunde of their Ladies howe well they loue them It is to certifye them selues the more of whiche assuraunce the spirite doeth appaise it selfe and receiueth contentation ¶ Wherefore do Louers delyght to carye about them anye thing that hath bene their Ladies To be more agreable vnto them and the better to conforme them selues to their desires and willes ¶ Wherefore do Louers geue their coloures the one to the other The conformitie of dedes and will doth ingendre and augment amitie Besides this the coloures secretly do geue to vnderstand the thinge that inwardlye we do suffre as by signifying of inconstancie diminution of heate mockeries trauels humilitie highnes we do shewe it by the colours of a yelowe pale redde blewe whyte graye and incarnate ¶ What causeth diuerse Ladies estemed wyse and of good iudgement to geue theim selues ouer to vyle men infamouse and wicked I haue tolde you often times that Loue is blinde and doeth captiuate the senses abandoning iudgement and foresight in women speciallye in those that be amorouse whose wittes be very weake and vnperfecte ¶ Whereof
commeth the custome that the Grekes do eate a confection made of Quinces commonly called Marmalade the first night of their mariage Bicause they feare to disease and werie their spouses at the first recountre and meting ¶ Whereof commeth it that manye be in loue with Gardâ—ners Their simplicitie perchaunce is the cause Or els because gardens be dedicated to Venus and those that be continually within them do sauour of Rosemarye Margerome or of some other swete herbe ¶ Howe chaunceth it that the newe maried women the first night of their mariage go so vnwillingly to bedde and do rise the next day so lustie and ioyfull That commeth of the perfection that they haue receiued of the man for then they knowe that they be women in dede ¶ Wherfore doeth agrement in loue cause thinges to please vs which otherwise should not so doe Loue of necessitie doth enflame For we seing many to pursue the thing we loue the opinion which we haue of her beautie doeth increase in vs. ¶ Why doeth a woorde many tymes more allure the harte then longe seruice Bicause seruice was not inployed to the purpose and the worde was spoken to effecte ¶ Howe commeth it that women touched vpon the Nauell be incontinent prouoked with a desire to enter the fielde There be certaine vaines in the mawe wherof the Nauell is made and the mawe is the very seate of voluptuousnes It is no meruaile then if they be moued therevnto when they be touched vpon the same ¶ What is the cause that some louers be better pleased with the Melancholike then with the liuely and lustie Louers be easelie induced to beleue that they be beloued and perceiuing their Ladies to be Melancholike and heuie they esteme that to come of the care that they do take of them and of their affaires but it maye be that it commeth of the agrement and similitude of complexion ¶ Why be riche women more geuen to loue then the poore Idlenes is the cause who is the mother of all superfluitie I leaue to speake of the delicate meates and the good wines that the riche doeth vse without hauing any griefe or vexation which troubleth their braine ¶ Why is loue most commonly painted with his eyes bound vp Bicause he blindeth poore Louers and maketh them so like vnto beastes that they cannot at all deserne the imperfections of their Ladies ¶ Whye do Louers delighte to heare amorouse histories of Loue discribed aswell by aunciente writers as the histories written by aucthours of our time By the conformitie of their passions and likelihode of their affections ¶ Why be women well content when they be told that other women be in loue as well as they Bycause theyr faulte semeth the lesse not beyng alone spotted with that vice ¶ Wherfore do stepmothers loue their sonnes in lawe and hate their doughters in lawe They hate their doughters in Lawe because they drawe all the substaunce from their sonnes and they loue their sonnes in lawe as the principall goodnes and solace of their owne doughters ¶ Why is loue better liked in the Cuntrie then in the Toâ—â— Bycause in villages there is not so great respect and for that all commodities and thinges are not to be founde there Louers be constrained to applye themselues one to another Moreouer the pleasure of gardines of hunting fyshing and other Cuntrie delightes doe moost commonly cause men to kepe themselues at home and to forgett the toyes and follies of Townes and Cities ¶ Wherof commeth it that amourouse women be more ticklishe then other Women prone to loue be delicate for the moost parte whose skinnes be lose and softe more easie to be tickled ¶ Why do women loue them moste earnestly that had their Maydenhede and men cleane contrary hate those women whoÌ„ fyrst of all they embrased Women by the coniunction of the man doe gayne perfection and the man therby maketh him selfe vnperfect bicause the woman is a creature vnperfect and as the Philosophers say a creature caused not complete ¶ Why be some hard to be perswaded that they be beloued Bicause they perceiue not themselues amiable and because they know that in them there is nothing that may incite other to loue them ¶ Wherfore do Louers many tymes write to their Louers with the Ioyse of Onions or of Leamondes Bicause the thing which is written with suche ioyse should not appeare manifest except it be neare the fyre and they do so to kepe their loue secrete ¶ Why do not Louers subscribe their letters which they write to their Ladies and Paramoures The reason and cause is aboue mentioned beyng assured that yf their Loue â—ere disciphred they should haue lesse pleasure Besides this away shuld be opened for false tonges to impeach lett their mindes purposes ¶ Why do Louers write one to another amorouse sonnets in ryme rather then in prose Poetrie is the frend of Loue. And all the praise belonging to loue was alwaies more swetely songe and celebrated by Poetes then by Orators ¶ Wherfore do women so willingly beholde them selues in Glasses To contemplate and beholde their beautie to esteme the same as it is worthie Or els it procedeth of a certeine lightnes that is in them ¶ But wherfore vse they more willingly glasses of Stele then of Christall Stele is of a more sounde substaunce conforting with his glimse or reuerberation the sight more then Christall doeth ¶ Wherfore doe we present women with glasses gloues ringes chaines Iewels and pretie fannes to coole their faces or defende the same from the fyre Glasses do serue them to see their beautie fannes refresh and cole them cheynes to signifie that they be foles and had nede to be cheyned gloues to lett their handes from snatching still ready and proper to the spoyle Ringes that they may consider thende with the beginning and to thinke vpon the tyme present and to come ¶ What is thoccasion that many women haue liued chastely in their youthe and approching to age haue geuen them selues ouer to wantonnes It may be that in their youth they laboured muche for trauell is enemie to loue Or els they were so well loked vnto that they had no leasure or tyme to attempt that enterprise ¶ Wherof doeth it câ—me that louing and amorouse women be geuen to bable and prate more then other If loue be not to excessife it rendreth and maketh folkes ioyfull lustie and well speaking And commonlie it semeth that heauines stoppeth the Orgaines and conduictes of the voyce contrariewise Ioye and gladnes of the harte doeth open and vnlose them ¶ What is the cause that many rapt with loue doe vpon the soudein lose this loue All they which be of hote complexion be subiect to soudeine mutations and chaunges and runne hither and thither without any reste ¶ Wherof coÌ„meth it that Louers lose their eating or appetite The amorouse passions doeth disparse their hartes into sundrie parts and their liuely and vitall spirites be vnproper to
of Loue Shame and feare ¶ Who be they that doe not let to serue Loue although they be otherwise pressed with affayres Lustie and coragiouse hartes which in despite of busines doe not passe to suffer them selues to enter the yoke of Loue. ¶ What be the paines of Loue Hurtes and woundes more then deadlie that is desires full of rage extreme trauell exile and banishmente greuouse martirdome and pryde intollerable ¶ What is the meate of perfecte Louers Sighes and teares ¶ Wherwithall do they make sacrifice to Loue With cleane hartes which are not spotted with any couetousenes ¶ Who be the messengers of Loue Pleasure Trauell swete bitter warre Peace life and deathe ¶ What are the causes of Louers sicknesses Hart breakinges hurtful fastings the hungre of Loue trembling quiuering and continuall trauels secrete dolors the extremitie of vexations and great watchinges ¶ which are the benefites of Loue Playes stepe beddes pleasures rest tranquilitie contentation aboundaunce peace refreshinges and other reioysinges ¶ Who be most secret in loue men or women Women be moost secret no doubte bicause they speake lesse then men a thing likely to be true but seldome sene Is the benefite greater by beyng secret in Loue or the hurte by too muche speaking I thinke the hurte surmounteth ¶ Thinke you that by the dexteritie of the sprite men may knowe the secretes of Louers The holie Scripture doeth witnes that the harte of man cannot be knowen and that god alone doeth knowe the same ¶ Why be the secretes of loue so easely kepte For the great swetenes that men fynde in them ¶ Is it better to loue them that be faier or them that be secret Without doubt the secret wise are more worthie to be loued for beautie is of litle continuaunce ¶ Howe should men kepe them selues secret in loue They must take hede that they passe not oftentimes by their Louers houses or often followe their haunte but waite vntill Fortune presente apte occasion ¶ Howe should our pleasures be measured They ought to agree with our age with our estate with the time and place where we be ¶ What should be the faithfull seruice of a Louer It ought to be necessary and voluntarie with the hart and the life ¶ What meaneth it that women for the moost part doe loue them that haue slowe vnsetled heddes and contemne others which haue more amiable qualities They doe esteme perhaps that they shalbe better beloued and serued of those meaner spiretes because they haue not suche knowledge as the other which are of more vnderstanding then they ¶ Howe many sortes of beauties be there Three one in the bodie the other doth consist in the accorde and harmonie of the voyce the thirde in vertue ¶ Howe may they be comprehended The first by the eyes the second by the eares the thirde by the vnderstanding And men may also inioye the perfection of beautie by sight by hearing and by thought ¶ What meane the Poetes when they fayne of Circes that she with her sorceries did chaunge and transforme al them that taried with her into beastes They would signifie by that metamorphose no other thing but the wanton and lassiuiouse allurementes of Circes wherwith deteyning all those that fell into her handes she so farre forth made them equall to brute beastes that vtterly they forgat their true estate of manhood ¶ From whence come the paynes that men suffer in this earthly and vulgare Loue They procede of that that we desire things which we can not alwaies haue at our will and mindes ¶ Do ye thinke that desire of beautie doeth hinder the reste and quietnes of men No for that desire is not of any thinge Corporall ¶ Wherfore do men attribute arrowes and fyre vnto Loue To shewe howe ardent and full of dolor his passions be ¶ Why is Loue painted naked Bycause that all the actes and dedes of Louers be suche that they can not be hidden nor dissembled ¶ What is the greatest blindnes in Loue To loue her whom we thinke can not be contented with the loue of one ¶ Whether do ye esteme greatest the beautie or the foulnes of those that can not content them selues with the loue of one The foulenes is farre greater ¶ What deserue they to be loued or hated In my Iudgement they should be hated and eschewed as the plague ¶ Which is the greatest spurre that prouoketh a man to doe well and honorablie The presence and fauour of his Ladie ¶ To what thing is the seruitude of Loue like To the seruice of Princes ¶ Howe should a man behaue himselfe amonges Ladies As in the courte amonges Princes and great estates to witte that he must be bolde and hardie ¶ Is it very true that he muste nedes be bolde and full of audacitie After my opinion no but according as a man may vse him selfe I saye yea Notwithstanding I suppose that in the court and traine of Princes and in the seruice of Ladies men ought rather to marche in the steppes of humilitie and reuerence then in to much hardines and presumption ¶ Which be the noblest hartes They whom loue disdaineth not to warme with his sacred heate ¶ Wherfore do sume loue many persons at once and yet do not vse to disclose the same Noble mindes take great pleasure to do so but to tell and shewe it it is but losse and shame ¶ Is it true which men say that yf one be in loue with another he then beareth affection to all those thinges which resemble the thing he loueth That is to true for they be in loue euen with thinges that be dombe and without sence with pictures and ingrauen thinges and suche lyke yf they shew any remembraunce of the thing they loue ¶ What is the true gage of Loue A pure and cleane harte ¶ Why doe women very oftentimes blame or disprayse their Louers To thintent that other shoulde praise them thereby to double their pleasure ¶ Who hath the more liuely spirite and better memorie the man or the woman The man not after the saying onely of the Philosophers but also of holy Scripture ¶ Who hath the better iudgement of the amiable partes the man or the woman The man as beyng indued with the nature of a more highe vnderstanding and a spirite more subtill ¶ May we loue the thing that doeth turne vs to dishonor I thinke not ¶ What is the greatest recompence that a woman can make vnto a man To reueale vnto him her secretes and finally to make him Lorde and maister of her bodie and of all her thoughtes FINIS ¶ NATVRAL QVESTIONS and the Ansvvers THE II. BOKE WHerfore is not Chese made of beasts that be tothed on bothe sydes Bycause theyr milke will not curde or creame ¶ Wherfore do men caste Smallage into Pondes Bycause Smallage doeth serue Fyshe for a medecine and also they delight to eate the same ¶ Wherof commeth it that Dogges neuer loue to eate of the tayle or of the
DELECTABLE demaundes and pleasaunt Questions with their seuerall Aunswers in matters of Loue Naturall causes with Morall and politique deuises Newely translated out of Frenche into Englishe this present yere of our Lorde God 1566. Imprinted at London in Paules Churchyarde by Iohn Cawood for Nicholas Englande Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum To the Studiouse and vvell disposed youthe of Englande THE learned Poete Horace myndinge to bestowe the trewe prise of wisedome vpon him that is most worthy saieth that he by good right doeth deserue the same which can best skil how to knitte and ioyne profite and pleasure together For those two thinges be as it were vncoupleable forsamuch as the gods as Hesiodus doth witnes would that profitte were dailie accompanied with sweate and trauell and that commonlie thend of pleasure is sower and bitter He therfore of good righte is to bee tearmed a passinge good workeman which can with such â—astnes of coÌ„sent incorporate vnite them as thone maie stil interchaungeably ensue and rise of thother To which entent notwithstanding their diuersitie of opinions thauncient Philosophers altogether endeuored sieking euery one after his veyne in suche sorte to pollishe and beautifie that most excellent porcion of vs the minde as prepared the better to receaue the print of vertues seale we mought in this race of frailtie climbe to some degree at least of trewe happines and sound felicitie But bicause the name of vertue is of suche maiestie as at the firste vewe it would dashe and dismaie her firste and feble beholders certaine Philosophers castinge asyde their frostie beardes and other such ceremonies of Philosophicall showe with louing care to cherishe and mainteine those soft and gentle minds that could not yet wel broke the pain full bruntes of scollerlike customes haue deuised certein pleasant confections as it were wherwith to sauce and sweten the studie of Philosophie handling eche parte therof so familiarlie that the most wild and haggard heades were oftetimes reclaimed to harken follow their holsome Lessons And so the phrigian fabler Aesope geuing fained speche and conference of talke to creatures vnreasonable vnder cloke and color therof lefte vnto the reasonable most necessary preceptes of all humanitie and morall dewtie â–ª The like hath bene from time done by a number of noble Poetes who in their fabled forgeries yf they be well marked haue vttered all maner of most depe and profound learning I speake not of the Comike writers who pretending but sport by pretie contriuement of partes and persons teache howe to beare our selues towardes all sortes and specially to shonne the cosining trappes of those that are numbred amonges the vilest kynde of people Which selfe same fruite is also to be gathered of these our common plaies and showes which grounded after a sort vpon the rules of Philosophie do whet and sharpen the wittes of the lokers on euen as the Barriers Tilte Torney wrestling leaping or running do by vse streÌ„gthen the â—â—mmes and frame the bodie better and more abâ—e to discharge when neede shall earnestly require their office of armes In respect wherof hauing fallen into my handes of late a certeine Frenche booke the woorke sure of some learned and Skilfull writer driuing principallie to the like good purpose deemed it could not bee but labour worth to spende some vacaunt daies in teaching it to speake our mother english tonge Especiallie for that in full perusing thesame I founde he had so handsomlye by waie of question couched together the moste behoueable pointes of all Philosophie as to the diligent reader mought nedesly bring with it exceding riche encrease bothe of profitte and pleasure The rather truely bicause in order of his treatise not intermedling with the particuler dewtie of any calling or estate he generallie concludeth of matter not impertinent to all degrees So that leauing the rawenes of thinfant and childishe yeres to the care and correction of their nourses and scholemasters beginneth to shape his fyrste preceptes to the best aduauntage of that age which as it is most disposed to the vanities of loue so moste likelie to be abused miscaried by thesame may here in some part lerne to knowe and eschewe the tempting deceiptes of that Boy she godde and his blinde disciples From thence leadeth he vs into the darke storehouse of natures secretes where with open eies perusing the weke condition of the world and worldely thinges yea and of vs our selues for whose sake they were principallie ordeined maie remaine therof both more mindefull and thankefull to our creatour Lastely he bringeth vs to the fountaines of good nurture teaching not onely in priuate cases of our owne liues and houses but in common welthe matters also to geue suche verdict of thinges incident as amonges the wise and sagest gouernors shal make vs estemed not altogether ignoraunt or emptie of good vnderstanding All which thinges although it is not vnknowen maie by the lerned be picked out of the works of thold autentike Clarkes yet for so much as falleth not to al men such opportunitie as wherby to rake vp their so huge infinite volumes it is to be hoped the greatest number those specially whose good spirite moueth rather to geue their leasured howres to some vertuouse exercise then to ydle and for the mooste parte dispraisable games will with suche equitie vse and constre this englishing of these brief collections as of a labour louingly vndertaken bothe for their delectable recreation of minde and profytable helpe of studie wherevnto bee wished vniuersallie moost happie successe tyll for the further benefite of them that fauour the reading of the Scriptures which truthe to saye all men aboue all thinges ought to fauour shall herevnto also be annexed the like Questions of diuinitie ryght pleasaunte familier and moost necessarie QVESTIONS OF LOVE AND THE Ansvvers WHEROF doeth it come that Ruffians Iesters and common Dauncers be lesse subiecte to Loue then other That may come by the continuall familiaritie that suche men haue with women in whom they haue no pleasure for respect of loue or whose familiaritie doeth make Loue lothesome or out of taste ¶ What is the cause that he that loueth feruently is soone angrie Because the sprites and humors of Louers be verie hote and boyle continuallie ¶ How commeth it to passe that an amorouse woman is so curious to be finely appareled and decked She doeth it to increase and set foorth her beautie therby to subdue and drawe those vnto her that be moost beautifull and desirous to Loue. ¶ But why be rough and hearie men more prone and disposed to the amorouse battell of Loue then other Bycause they abound and be more full of humors then other ¶ What hath moued certeine Greke Poetes to saie that Loue is the moost excellent amongest all the heauenly goddes It is perchaunce because there is no Philosopher that doeth teache the maner of mans life â—o well as he or maketh man more practique or quicke sprited ¶ But why
them selues Loue doeth laugh at such periuries Louers therfore desirouse to serue there god do sweare continuallie Or els it procedeth of a certein lightnes caused of diuerse thoughtes which doe rise in their mindes ¶ Howe chaunceth it that men leaue not to loue a woman although through age or some other accident or chaunce she waxeth ill fauored and foule That commeth of Loue which is blind and being blind can not know or iudge the imperfections of other But howe should he take knowledge of that which he can not blame And howe can he blame that which he is constrained to embrace and wholie to pursue ¶ From whence cōmeth it that moost comenlie we be geuen feruentlie to loue not those onely of whom we neuer receiued pleasure but those also whom we neuer sawe Euerie one beareth the Image of his minde in his face and therof may bee gathered some signe or token of the witt and nature of the person by meanes wherof we maie coniecture whervnto she is most enclined which is the verie spring and beginning of naturall amitie or hatred ¶ Howe chaunceth it that diuerse men can not obteine the grace and fauour of their Ladies although they doe serue them honor them and adore them Bycause as Aristotle saithe there is nothing in them worthie to be beloued But what man is he so voide of Natures grace but hath somewhat in him worthie of Loue. ¶ But what is the cause that some Suters be better beloued of their Ladies then other some The Ladie enriched with beautie and good maners is like vnto the sonne that doth euerie where equally extend his beames which notwithstanding are receiued vnequallie of some more of some lesse after their capacitie The sterres also therin doe beare some rule so that after the saying of Diogenes the Stoique the signes comune to two persons that is to saie vnder which the one and the other shalbe borne and those signes agreing do cause the willes of the same two persons to be ioyned vnited ¶ Why be these little and pretie angers and fallinges out which chaunce amonges Louers the refreshing and renewinge of Loue That shall euer be bycause Loue is like a flame that will goe out and dye yf it be not blowen and oftentimes moued Or els we may well saie that the more the thing which we desire is denied the more we desire it ¶ Wherof commeth it that we be ashamed to comunicate to other our desire and lust to the combat of Loue and of other appetites and desires as to drinke eate slepe and such like we be not ashamed Bycause that the same carnall affection is not so necessarie nor so profitable for this life as the other appetites be ¶ Wherof commeth the diuersitie of weapons wherwith Loue is wont to wounde men and women fishes birdes and other foure foted beastes Of the diuerse nature of thinges that he assayleth ¶ You will say that beautie fayling loue decreaseth I wold say yea bycause Loue is no other thing but a desire of beautie ¶ Wherof commeth it that a man being touched with loue can not ridde him selfe of that passion by any dexteritie policie or witte Loue is a certeine estate and plight that doeth wrappe and folde the minde of man and with a certeine swete mocion doeth transport him into the thing by him desired This affection riseth by the contemplation and iudgement that he hath of beautie which causeth him to conceiue in his sprite and minde suche admiracion and desire that whether he will or no he is caught in the Ginnes and nettes of Loue. ¶ Why doe the newe maried vse roquet and muske when they go to bed with their new maried wiues Bycause such thinges doe prouoke luste and engendre seede ¶ What reason haue certeine people of the North partes to seeth with water a certeine stone called Gagates causing their spouses before they lye with them to drinke therof That is to knowe whether they haue made any faulte or not before For the propertie of that Stone is soudenlie to force them to make water that haue indured and suffred the act of man ¶ Howe commeth it that yf a man geue him selfe to much to the sporte and plaie of Loue the same doeth diminishe the pleasure therof Bycause the seede being sore diminished is but a certeine waterishe matter of no great heate which can not yelde any great pleasure ¶ What is the cause that women which be of verie hote Nature cannot conceiue Great and vehement heate doeth distroie and corrupt the seede and therfore they which be verie hote are comenlie fructeles and barren ¶ Why doe some women loue men that be blacke and some other those that be faier and well collored Women of feble sight loue them that be blacke because blackenes doeth ioyne and vnite the sight to much disparcled and by this meanes doeth comforte the same Or els we may well saie that euerie thing doeth loue and desire his like They therfore which be hote of nature loue them that be blacke bycause they be more prone to heate Other which be of colder nature doe loue them that be white because they be of colde complexion the mother of whitenes ¶ Wherfore haue the auncient compared Loue to dronkennes For nothing elles but bycause it maketh men which before were colde heauie and couetous iustie and liberall ¶ Why were Oysters consecrated by the auncient to Venus Bycause Oysters doe prouoke lecherie ¶ Wherfore doe not common harlotes conceiue or yf they doe it is verie seldome The diuersitie of the seedes doeth lette conception and causeth that the same can not be reteined ¶ What meaneth it that the purse of Cupido is tyed with a Leke This prouerbe doeth declare that Loue is liberall and fyndeth no let to put his hand in his purse ¶ Which is greatest the hurt or profite that commeth of loue He that doeth not loue of him selfe estemeth the losse to be greater then the proffet ¶ Thinke ye that Loue hath iudgement or no Howe can he with iudgement cause Louers daylie as euerie man may see to fall into suche enormities ¶ Wherof commeth it that for the moste part the children which maried women doe borrowe or which be nor lawfullie begotten commonlie called Bastardes do resemble more their husbandes then those that be legitimate or lawfullie by them begotten The reason commeth of an Imagination that they haue to be soudenlie taken or espied of their husbandes And so their husbandes be alwaies in their fantasie for it semeth to them that they be continuallie before their eyes and that they saie vnto them what doest thou thou shameles whore Is this thy assured promis made vnto me at the mariage daie ¶ Wherfore be Bastardes for the moost part of better corage and more lyuelie then lawfull children That procedeth of a more ardent force and vertue of him that doeth beget them for man is more earnest in that acte when it is secretlie committed and done in
loueth ¶ Why doe louers so often breake their faith and promis one to an other Youth aboundeth in heate and is subiect to diuerse and many thinges and can not staie it selfe in one thought wherby it procedeth that the auncientes haue made Uenus the mother of Loue whom many Louers do followe ¶ Doe ye thinke that by Magique arte the heart of an obstinate woman maie be mitigated to condiscend to the pleasure of a Louer All they that haue written of Naturall thinges affyrme the same The Diuines saie contrarie And I in the diuersitie of opinions in so great men dare not declare mine owne ¶ Is it possible that a couetouse man may become amorouse The forces of Loue haue alwaies beene more braue and fine then those of couetousnes So I beleue that Loue can not onelie make the Couetouse liberall but also prodigall for as the couetouse haue had no measure to get goodes so they may haue as litle to spend them yf they thinke that by money they maie inioye the thing that they loue ¶ Wherfore haue men more libertie then women to loue in moe places then one Take modestie shamefastnes and feare from women and ye take awaie their life which chaunceth not to man ¶ Wherfore be Louers continuallie readie to demaund the hartie good will of them that they loue The harte is the feate of desire and of all knowledge all which be readie to obey the thing that it loueth the ymage wherof representing it selfe pleasant before the eyes of Louers doeth rauishe from them both the hart and the principall partes And therof it commeth that being as it were robbed of them selues and oppressed with intollerable bondage they require with all importunitie to be restored and placed in their intire and former estate ¶ Wherof commeth it that commonlie we suffer our selues to be allured to loue thinges wherof there is no hope to atteine vnto That is for lacke of knowledge of the beginninges of Loue the which are light and litle And although that all hope is cut of and taken from vs to inioye the swete embracementes which Loue doeth promis Neuertheles the beautie of the thing beloued doeth delight vs and the remembraunce therof doeth occupie the braine Suche passions haue bene called of our elders domâ—ne desires bycause they doe still and stealinglie possesse the hart vnware and by litle and litle take increase And our reason should not be hindred yf it were susteined by hope ¶ Wherfore be all the ioyes of Louers vncerteine Bycause in loue there doe dailie chaunce diuerse casualties as suspicion Ialousie feare angre Peace refuse disdaine ¶ Why is Loue compared to a Darke laberinth or Maso Bycause the entrie and comming in is easie and the goyng out impossible ¶ Wherfore doe men compare loue to a Crocodill The nature of a Crocodill after the mind of those that haue written of natural thinges is to followe those that flye from him and to flye from them that doe followe him And so is it with Loue. Therfore I geue councell that who soeuer will inioy theffecte of his desires that he be not to sharpe and egre to pursue and followe his Ladie ¶ Beleue ye that Loue good iudgement maie be together I beleue no for then the foule and deformed should neuer be beloued But we see not onelie the contrarie to happen but which is worst those that be the vilest indewed with moost treason and least loyaltie and faith howe foule so euer they be are moost commonlie best beloued Wherof commeth it that diuerse which loued feruentlie to haue some comfort did soudenlie lose that great heate of loue All vehement loue doeth not longe continewe for within a while the spirite hath leasure to examine it selfe and to retourne to due vnderstanding thinking vpon all thinges that might violate and corrupt the same wherby the sensuall appetites be by this meanes restrained ¶ Why doe men call loue bothe flame and fyre It is not possible better to expresse howe insupportable a thing it is considering the heate of the desires which it ingendreth in the hartes of his seruantes and the tirannie that he vseth towardes those whiche are vnder his power whom he bringeth to ruine and consumeth like fyre without any pitie ¶ What is the cause that Louers take pleasure to retourne so often to those places where they haue had ioye and solace of their loue Bycause in so doing they conceiue Ioye and the memorie of that which they moost loue doeth refreshe them And yt semeth then that this remembraunce doeth double the pleasure alreadie receiued ¶ Why are men rather amorouse then women For that they are of hoter complexion and their spirites more quicke and prompte ¶ Why be wemen more firme and stedfast in loue then men Bycause thinges which of them selues be colde be lesse subiect to mobilitie and inconstancie then those that be hotte ¶ Wherof commeth it that women be more easelie perswaded to be loued then men Bycause they esteme them selues muche more then there is cause ¶ But why be they angrie or why doe they frowne and lower when men saie they be foule or olde Foulenes moost commonlie commeth of age and age is the high waie to death which naturallie doeth anoye and displease all persons ¶ Wherfore is it saide that the coughe and the passion of Loue can not be kept secret They be two thinges of great force for the coughe troubling the bodie can scantlie be concealed or hidden Loue is a passion proceding of a certeine fyer which by the eyes is discouered and manifesteth it selfe by the coulor of the face and by all the actes of a Louer it maie be comprehended and knowen so that without great paine and difficultie it can not be hidden ¶ From whence do the amorouse send forth so many sighes Their continuall thoughtes sende all the heate to the harte wherof it commeth that necessarilie it is conuenient for them to respire and breath of which respiration sighinges be forced wherby the coldnes of the ayer is drawen to temper the inwarde heate That maie also ryse of the consideration of the time lost of the detestation that commeth of lecherie of the vâ—â—inision of honor reputacion and finallie that the successe of dishonest loue is tragicall noysome furiouse and miserable ¶ Wherfore haue the auncient painted loue holding floures in one hande and fyshe in thother To shewe that Loue is a lorde bothe of Sea and lande ¶ Thinke you that loue doeth yelde greater force corage and strength to him that doeth combat and fight in the presence of his Ladie There is nothing more certeine And for this cause was brought in and ordeined the braue and lustie companie of the errant and wandering knightes to geue pleasure to Ladies by Iustes and turneis ¶ Who receiueth moste contentacion the victoriouse and louing knight or the gentlewoman for whom he hath fought The knight as I suppose ought to be best contented as hauing cause to
of nature they cannot make the ramme to butt ¶ Wherof commeth it that men compare the state of louerâ— to a shippe vpon the sea For the great daungers wherin they dayly be ¶ What would a trewe Louer do being a farre of when he seeth the shippe wherein his Ladye is to bee in daunger of drowning He would make vowes to Loue and with ioyned handes beseche him to saue her though it coste him a Taper so bigge as the maste of the Ship to offer to his Godhedde ¶ wherin hath the Louer greatest pleasure In the contentacion of the bodie or of the minde In the contentacion of the bodie the bodie beyng the true obiecte of Loue. And sith it is so when a woman beginneth to ware hoare heared geue her a blowe vpon the tayle with thy foote and let her goe ¶ Why doe we loue the bodie so muche beyng but â—arthe and corruptible We loue it because we can not alwaies haue it Can the loue of the bodie and of the sprite agree together or whether be they contrarie They be contrarie and one against the other ¶ I would knowe whether the bodie alone might content the Louer Not yf he be vertuouse gentle and of a good Nature ¶ When a woman answereth nothing to the request made vnto her is it a signe that she agreeth thervnto Sometimes yea sometimes no wherof a man can grounde no certeine iudgement yf he pursue no further ¶ Wherfore doo yong women loue perfumes so muche They be al Uenus children And the Greke Poetes affirme that Uenus neuer departed from any place without leauing an exquisite perfume behinde her for witnes of her presence Besides this all perfumes and good odors doo eyther open the appetite or els prouoke Uenus ¶ Wherfore doe men compare the beautie of a woman to a flower Bycause it is soone come and soone gone ¶ Why doe men fayne that Loue liueth among floures Bycause that floures giue continuall hope of fructe And euen so doth Loue for he nourisheth and enterteineth his seruantes continuallie with hope trusting to inioy at the last the fructe longed for ¶ Of two Louers which shall we esteme more to be fauored him from whom his Ladie shall take awaie a nosegaie and put it in her bosome or him to whom she shall giue a nosegaie that she her selfe did weare The properties of women is to take and not to geue I saie then that he shalbe best beloued to whom she shall geue the nosegaie ¶ Of what coulor should women be moost desired I would desire them to be of the coulor wherwith men paint vertue which is redde but men doe desire the pale and yet they them selues desire to be redde ¶ Of whom haue women learned to close their eares against the supplications of poore Louers Of the Serpent Aspis which is deaffe and venemouse ¶ Wherfore doe men saie that a woman hath the looke of a Serpent and the eye of a Basilisque By reason of the great subtiltie and crafte wherwith they vse to entrappe and drawe men to their loue ¶ Be Herbes medicinable for loue Yes I haue sene thexperience therof at Mantuâ— a citie in Italie albeit Ouid crieth out that loue can find no remedie in herbes ¶ Wherfore is the life of a louer not beloued compared to hel He that made such comparison dyd it by good iudgement ¶ Thinke ye that women be the greatest goodnes that is in all the worlde They that iudge and esteme so be blind and haue placed their sences on earthly thinges but they whose mindes be directly bent on high woulde saye the contrary ¶ Is there greter swetenes then bitternes in amorouse death Bitternes in all thinges doth surmount and passe all swetenes and specially in loue ¶ Why do women generally hate warre Bycause it retayneth men and thereby are depriued of their seruice and intertainement ¶ Do louers liue in more peace and quietnes being nere or farre of They liue better in peace a farre of that I canne speake by good experience for it is not long ago that I being seruaunt to a Lady of Placentia a citie in Italie she assured me to haue proued in her self my saying and it is not yet three wekes that a Lady whom I serue with all deuotion sayd the like to my great griefe and sorowe ¶ Must we be ceremoniouse in loue All trewe louers liue in loue with fidelitie and integritie of heartâ— without any ceremonies ¶ Is it more pleasure to loue or to be beloued I beleue to loue considering that it commeth and procedeth of a free and franke action and dede ¶ Who is better content the bridegrâ—me or the bride when they embrace eche other The bride and that it is so ye shall see them continuallie ryse vp merie and ioyfull in the morning What signified the auncient Poetes by causing the girdell of verginitie to be vnknitte at mariages What elles but that the bride muste chaunge her estate and signifieth that she was vntyed that is to saie made free to this end that like a good huswife she should not be slouthfull but goe about her house and looke to all partes of the same ¶ Which is best maried the mayde taken perforce or the man whom she loueth In the acte of mariage will ruleth and not force ¶ Is Loue a thefe what is he accustomed to steale He is a thefe and a great robber of hartes ¶ Doe you thinke it theft to robbe by meane of beautie Is there any greater thefte Is not beautie the cruellest Tyrant that is ¶ Wherein doeth the beautie of women resemble the spring times For that it doeth soone passe a waie and perishe ¶ Wherfore be all thinges more disposed to loue in the spring time then in any other season Bycause that then the humors doe moue them selues and the bloud doeth waxe hotte ¶ What is the greatest happines that man can haue in loue To possesse and plaie with his louer without Ialousie or suspicion ¶ The eyes of the Ladie haue they suche force vpon the harte of the Louer as the beames of the Sunne haue vppon thinges on earthe Yea doubtles yf the lookes be amorouse otherwise it is cleane contrarie ¶ The time imployed about Loue is it well bestowed or is it loste Yf a man bestowe his loue well he loseth nothing but doeth ratheâ— gaine ¶ Is loue subiect to time as all other creatures be Loue is free and is in propertie aboue time ¶ What is the greatest pleasure that a true Louer can feele To thinke that he is borne to serue and please his Ladie ¶ Be our hartes drawen by an amorouse woman as the Cloudes by the winde Caecias Iron by the Adamant and strawe by Awmbre There is farre greater force in the drawinges and inticementes of women ¶ Maie Loue be well called and tearmed an Enchaunter and Magician His effectes be supernaturall and therfore to be estemed a Magician and more then a Magician ¶ Wherfore haue certeine wise
digestion through being to much distracte hither and thither and plonged in affections of Loue. ¶ Why did the auncientes painte Loue with a window or a gate in his stomacke wherin were written these two wordes Farre of and at hand To show y t he which is a Louer must loue aswel in absence as in preseÌ„ce ¶ But why was he painted bare hedded To shew that betwene Louers ther should be nothing couered or hidden ¶ Wherfore do some paint Loue with the face of a man and not of an Infant To shew that a louer ought to be constant as very men be and not like the brutishe ¶ I desire to knowe wherfore the notable painter Zeuxis did painte him with a grene robe Bycause Louers lyue in continuall hope and grene doeth signifie no other thing then hope ¶ But why doeth he sett vpon the borders of his Robe these wordes Deathe and Lyfe Bycause that true Loue dureth both in lyfe and also after deathe and breaketh neuâ—r for any accident that may happen ¶ And wherfore did Appelles painte him with these wordes written in his forhedde Springe time and Sommer To showe that in Loue there is both prosperitie and aduersitie which are represented by those two seasons ¶ Wherfore do they geue him winges Bicause the desires of Louers do tend alwaies to highe thinges ¶ Wherfore do they make him a childe Bycause that whosoeuer doeth geue him selfe to loue hath no vnderstanding for moost commonlye he loseth for a thing of nought matters weightie and of great Importaunce ¶ What moued thinhabitauntes of Cipres to paint Loue hauing a Turkie bowe behind his backe and his Arrowes before It was because that loue hath a custome to wounde all them that he meteth And bycause that he secretly doth the same they place the Turkie bowe behinde his backe ¶ Wherfore be his arrowes neuer blunt but sharpe Bicause they should wound the better and enter more depely for they make him sore to feele that is wounded with them ¶ Howe commeth it that women howe dissolute or whorishe soeuer they be their bodies being vncouered do hide their priuie partes That commeth of a naturall shamefastnes or it is bicause that suche partes are filthy yll fauored to looke vpon and without any proportion Howe commeth it that one loke is more hurtefull to Louers and woundeth them more then any touching or talke That is because loue taketh his beginning of loking ¶ Why doe Louers waxe so soone pale and leane The passions of the minde doe bringe the bodie to a poore estate ¶ What is the cause that the game of Loue doeth prouoke man sometimes to slepe and sometimes to watche If it be vsed excessiuelie it hindreth slepe for the partie euacuated and made foeble by suche excesse his spirites be diminished and moued by disquieting of the brayne whervpon slepe is interupted but when the spirites be quiet and at rest then the braine is cooled and therof riseth slepe the nourice of Nature ¶ Wherof commeth it that this pastime and play doeth often times expel from vs al melancolie and heauines of minde I will shewe you with the seede there is extruded certeine adust and burning vapors which bredeth in vs heauines and melancholie Afterwardes man beginneth to waxe pensife because he hath loste and seperated from his bodie the thing that nourished his members ¶ Wherof commeth it that Postes Ryders weuers and generally they which be accustomed to great agitation of the body be more lecherouse then other Mouing doeth heate the reynes and the vessels of generation Trauell also doeth open the conduictes where the seede doeth passe and is not to be doubted but colde doeth cause the humors to be in a maner vnmoueable letting the seede from comming to the generatife partes ¶ Wherof commeth it that men of hotte stronge and good complexion absteining from copulation with women do commonly fall into the fluxe or haue the yealowe Iaundesse or be troubled with immoderate colere Men with their seede do auoyde certeine corrupt humors the which remayning in the bodie be conuerted eyther into colere or elles into the yealowe Iaundesse ¶ What is the cause that Harlottes and whores doe stincke so rammishe Bicause they seldome reteine their seede which beyng out of the Matrice doeth corrupt and stincke ¶ Is it lawfull for a louer to take his pleasure with any other besides his owne Ladie I answere no. Neuerthelesse his Ladie beyng absent and can not inioye her he may haue libertie to vse another yf she resemble his owne in suche perfection as she may be tearmed a seconde Ladie but not in any wise to fyxe his harte vpon her He then I say that vseth suche a one in his Ladies absence is the rather to be excused but neither of them is to be admitted in my iudgement yf he meane to deserue the tytle of a true Louer ¶ Tell me then what thing is Loue It is a passion that doth blind the sprites remoueth the vnderstanding taketh all the memorie awaie causeth ruine and losse of goodes maketh a man weake and is the enemie of youthe and the deathe of olde age the mother of all vices the receptacle of peâ—sife mindes a thing without â—eason without order and stabilitie and the whirlepoole of mannes libertie ¶ What is a woman of her selfe A beaste vnperfecte geuen to ten thousand passions and pleasures abhominable to be thought wel of So that yf men would doe as they ought to do they wold not follow them nor pursue them with other desire or appetite but as things ineuitable which necessitie doth constrein theÌ„ to vse ¶ Wherfore be there so fewe women that can content them selues to loue one Bicause a woman is nothing but Lecherie inâ—aciable And for this cause she careth neyther for number nor for any thing that is honest so that he be able to couer her skinne he is welcome ¶ What is the cause that Loue beyng discouered commeth seldome to perâ—ection For the lettes that commeth therby ¶ Why haue olde men the repulse of yonge women Bicause they haue not wherwithal to ease them where it Itcheth ¶ Why do women counte them beastes that be ouer curious and diligent to serue them Bycause they knowe themselues vnworthie of suche seruice ¶ Is it true that men saye when one kisseth two mouthes one of them must nedes stincke I beleue so yf he loue perfectly ¶ Howe commeth it that Louers are more suspiciouse then other Bycause their mindes be continually troubled ¶ Why is it so noysome for a riche woman to suffer trouble Riches ingendreth pride and insolencie ¶ Where do noble mindes commonly mete together Where the fayrest Ladies be ¶ What is required in a perfect Louer To feare and reuerence aboue all thinges the mighty power of Loue and to referre or reporte to him of all his thoughtes and desires ¶ Howe do men come to the fruicte of Loue By hope and perseueraunce ¶ What thinges are contrary to the kingdome
Romanes clothed or armed according to their estate The wise man in a long gowne the souldior armed as Horatius Cocles in a goodly armure and Accius Nauius that excellent Southsayer in a longe gowne ¶ Of whence sprange the infamie of Perillus he being suche an excellent maker of ymages and pictures Because he applied al his cunning in making of a Bull of brasse therwith to please the cruell minde of Phalaris the Tiraunt wherein were rosted and executed those whom it pleased the Tiraunt that the crye of the executed person within was like to the lowinge of a Bull. But he was well paide for his labor for the Tirant marking that execrable deuise caused the saide Perillus to taste the first fruites of his workmanship ¶ Whervnto serueth Musicke To exercise the minde as the fence playe and dauncinge are proper exercises ¶ What was the cause that Pericles did obteine victorie against Nicias The knowledge in Astrologie For Pericles foreseing an eclips of the Sonne aduertised his people therof But Nicias hauing no knowledge in the saide science was with his Armie verie sore troubled and appalled ¶ What caused Driopas the Athenian to establishe this lawe That whosoeuer had conceaued any euill opinion of God shuld haue his hedde cut of Bicause there is no worse thing then to haue an euill opinion of him which hath made and mainteineth all thinges ¶ What maner of thinge is Religion It is the true knowledge of goddes owne seruice ¶ Wherfore did Alcibiades reiect all kinde of Musike sauing when he was at the Table at his meales Bicause Musike prouoked him to conceiue delight familierlie to talke at the Table ¶ A straunge Question wherof I would fayne be resolued One Stesichorus lying in his cradle a Nightingale lighted on his mouthe and songe vpon the same It was a presage that Stesichorus should proue an excellent singer ¶ What profite bringeth Musike to him that hath delight in the same It sharpeneth the sprite not onely to knowe the harmonie of the voice but also it maketh the person to haue a better iudgement to indite eyther in rime or prose ¶ What is true Philosophie The knowledge of goodnes and howe to liue well ¶ Howe many partes hath Philosophie Three wherof one consisteth in the knowledge of the vniuersall nature of thinges the other in the knowledge of man and the thirde in mutuall talke Which partes be well allowed by the Philosopher Plato ¶ Howe happened it that Numa Pompeius being a man of meane state and conditions arriued to the degree of one of the Romane kinges Religion was the cause in such wise as all that he spake and sayd by reason of his holines was thought to procede from the goddesse Egeria with whom he laie as the Romans helde opinion ¶ Wherfore was Tullus Hostilius another of the Romane kinges soudenlie stroken with a flashe of lightning For that he made not his sacrifices to Iupiter in suche deuocion and ceremonies as did apperteine ¶ For what occasion were Uirgines in olde time more estemed then they be at this present Bicause they were supposed to be indued with the spirite of prophesie which manifestlie did appeare by those maydens called Sibillae ¶ Howe chaunceth it that Virgil hath praised Aeneas â–ª with this Epitheton In signem pietate virum Commending him onely for his pietie towardes the Goddes Bicause Religion and pietie conteine in them all kinde of vertues ¶ What caused the Poetes to vse so many fictions and inuentions To allure men to abandon their barbarouse conditions and brute behauiors and to tourne them selues to vertue and her exercises ¶ What was the cause of the deathe of Ciâ—na Bicause he was cruell towardes his souldiors and constreined them to fight perforce and by compulcion ¶ What is Pacience A voluntarie suffraunce in thinges difficult for loue of honor and profi◠¶ What is constancie It is a vertue which conserueth good counsell and maketh a man perseuer in honorable dedes ¶ What is Opinion It is a staie fixed eyther in dede or worde which maketh vs obstinatelye to followe our fansie althoughe it be without reason onely to be superior in all controuersies ¶ What is Iustice After the minde of the Aunciente Poetes it is a celestiall vertue powred downe from God into our sprites that we might the better honor loue and sanctifie him as aucthor of all thinges and therfore Princes were for good respect called of Homere Iupiters scholers ¶ What is the propertie of Iustice To loue and honor God aboue all thinges and our neighbour as our selfe ¶ Howe many kindes of Iustice be there Foure that is to saie Diuine Naturall Ciuill and Iudiciall ¶ Of what thinges is the world gouerned By rewarde and punishment ¶ What is deuine Iustice It is that which maketh vs to acknowledge god to be our creatour the beginning and ende of all thinges and him of whom all creatures receiue lyfe without participation of mortall thinges ¶ What is naturall Iustice It is all waies one in all men and varieth nothing through the diuersitie of Regions and Nacions being alwaies conuenable to Nature And as diuine Iustice sheweth the dewtie towardes God euen so naturall Iustice is subiect to the satisfaction of nature The disciples of Socrates affirmed that naturall Iustice is a knowledging of good iuste thinges and agreable to naturall reason which thing whosoeuer doeth vse shall become good of him selfe ¶ What is Ciuile Iustice It is apperteining to a Prince or Magestrate whose office is to prouide that the people be wel ruled and gouerned and that no harme be done vnto the place wherof he hath the rule ¶ What is Iudiciall Iustice That consisteth in being reasonable to all men and to discerne the iuâ—â—e 〈◊〉 the vniuste ¶ What is properlie the nature of a wicked man To be harde cruell and vnwilling to receiue good counsell to reioyce at other mens euill to suffer no man paciently to be angrie to here them to be praised suche as not onely haue done them pleasure but also those which be vtterly vnknowen vnto them Suche were Pirron and Eraclitus Philosophers Tymon of Athens Marius Coriolanus Phocion Lucius Crassus which was slaine by the Persians Cato Scipio the great and Caligula ¶ Why were Aâ—hilles and Sylla reprehended for their victories Bicause they were cruell and insolent towardes their Enemies when they had ouercome them The contrary did Cesar Alexandre Hanniball Anâ—onius Aegesilaus all which wer greatly praised for their victories ¶ Before whom is it lawefull for a man to vaunt him selfe of well doyng Before the valiaunt or before them that knowe him not or haue smale knowledge what vertue is ¶ Why was Meteâ—lus despised For being to muche desirouse to haue surpassed Sertorius to whom notwithstanding he was noâ— comparable in valiaunce ¶ Howe ought a man to vse the goodes of Fortune That they may become subiect to man and not man to them folowing the verse of Horace Et mihi res