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
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
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
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
content for them to leaue the pleasant fields the sweete medowes the delightfull groues and fertile territories of the world Or Perhaps because those things that are giuen vs of Nature and are neare vnto vs as our fathers that begotte vs our mothers that bare vs and our countrie that hath preserued vs we cannot Hate not onely because they are neare and deare vnto vs but because they are ministred and giuen vnto vs euen before wee came into the world by that first prouident Cause that prouideth all things necessary for them and vs. VVhy is the Hatred of great Princes and noble men inexorable Probleme 77. PErhaps because the height of their minds being wonderfull and yet they abasing themselues to vouchsafe â—he company and familiarity of their vassalls and subiects when there aâ—iseth from this familiarity a kinde of â—ontempt and carelesse respect of that honour that is due vnto them as their Loue worketh this vnnaturall effect â—n those they Loued so it turnes their Loue into an vnnaturall Hatred which makes their offence irremissible Or Perhaps because the mindes of great Princes for the most part being enâ—ued with a knowledg of things more â—hen humane and so better discerâ—ing the ill deserts and with a more â—earcing eye looking into the wicked â—onditions of any man the Hatred they conceiue against such qualities and manners is so much the greater by howe much the better they are able to iudge of such inconueniences as follow such conditions And therefore no maruell since as yeares encrease so iudgment if their Hatred against that doe still continewe which they still iudge worthy of hate Or Perhaps because in natures more noble and honorable and in minds more diuine the affections making deeper impressions are of greater force and therefore great Lords and princes hauing bodies more disposed to affections and to greater alterations in affection it is no maruell if Hatred once seated at the heart sit too fast to be easily remooued Or Perhaps because it becommeth not great Lords to be inconstant becausâ— inconstancy argueth a kinde of leuity in minde and manners and therefore they iudging it a note of infamy and dishonor to bee ouer mutable in opinion touching those they hate they harden themselues like a Diamond in their hard conceypts Or Perhaps because great Princes being for the most part of happy memories of all others they doe least forget those which in any respect crosse their desires or oppose themselues against their pleasures and delights And therefore a certaine great Prince being by nature verie liberall and bountifull was wont to say to a familiar friend of his that it was more possible for a man to forget a thousand iniuries then one good turne Inferring thereby that as it is impossible to forget one offence without a lawfull defence much more to forget a thousand so most impossible to forget a benefit receaued VVhy is the Hatred of women without end or measure Probleme 78. PErhaps because as in their Loues they are accustomed to exceede Loue without rule or measure in somuch that they passe many times beyond affection euen to the frensye of Loue so in their Hatred they are ouer violent and no way able to bridle themselues and therefore as in their mad vnbridled loues there can be nothing found that may moderate that passioÌ„ in so much that they run headlong to the vtter ruine of their owne chastity and honors So in their headstrong Hatred there is no tongue that can perswade or pacifie them no force that can ouerrule them Or Perhaps because women louing with a strong and earnest affection and therefore not fearing to communicate vnto those they Loue not onely their most secret cogitations but whatsoeuer they enioy of best esteeme and highest prise and afterwards discouering either a false heart or a minde vnthankfull or whatsoeuer else that may bee opposite to vertue they presently change their Loue into Hate which continueth as long as their dissimulation without honest excuse Or Perhaps because women being alwayes carefull and studious to please the sense and altogether carelesse to satisfie reason they doe for the most part apply themselues vnto the extreames leauing the meane wherein the seate of vertue is placed whereby they being miserably deceaued by a false appearing truth too late bewayle their losses and harde fortunes and seeke to ease themselues by the continual Hatred and reuenge that many times brings miserie and misfortune vpon themselues and their whole families OF DESIRE VVhy hath nature geuen to euery thing a Desire Probleme 79. PErhaps because these inferior bodies hauing neede of a thousand helpes for their preseruation as of place nutriment rest delight generation and other things healthfull and helpefull to their benefit which being not alwayes present and if present yet not befitting their natures and though not befitting yet willing to haue them present and in their owne possession it was necessarie that these things should bee followed and forasmuch as that could not be doone without a Loue and a longing after them wise and prouident nature would first giue Loue and thereby desire whereby euery thing being spurred forward to his owne benefit and good they might follow those places that doe best befit their owne natures finde out meats answerable to their complections and attaine that perpetuity by speciall generation which is proper vnto them And for this cause nature hath giuen to some things lightnesse of body to some weight and heauines as fit meanes whereby to attaine their naturall places vnto others members fit for the motion of themselues from one place to another with apt sinowes and bones which being subiect vnto the moouing vertue and this to the appetite doe expresse vnto vs the great care and wisdome of nature in giuing to euery thing their fittest meanes to attaine their fittest end Or Perhaps because Nature not allowing of idlenesse in any thing as being very hurtfull to all things both generall and particular shee gaue vnto them Desire whereby they might exercise themselues in honest and honorable actions For we see and by experience finde in our selues that except wee be kindled and stirred vp by a certaine Desire wee knowe not how to shake of that idle rest and quietnesse which doth rather deuoure the goodes of the minde then adde any thing to the perfection thereof And therefore hence it is that being caried awaye with that delight we take in hunting we are not able to containe or bridle our selues but whatsoeuer the weather be colde or hote wet or drie we bouldly betake our selues to the open fields we trauell vp the highest rockes and mountaines runne thorow the thickest forrests flie neither waters nor Ise nor snowe nor whatsoeuer inconuenients may follow those sports So likewise we are caried with the like Desire to the delight of fishing wherein we refuse neither by night nor by day with nettes and a thousand other deuises rather to aduenture our bodies nay our liues to the
minister the occasion vnto arte to finde out the knowledge of Caruing painting building to finde out the modells prospectiues and rich furniture of so many proud and wonderful edifices and from hence haue our Poets taken occasion to celebrate not only naturall Beauty but artificiall not onely the Beauty of the body but of the minde too in so much that many times with the sweetnesse of their verse they leaue the reader full of wonder astonishment As amongest others saith Politian of artificial Beauty The princely house diuides the terrene aire more bright with gems of gold then I can tel VVhich maks the darkest night then day more faire the workmaÌ„ship the maker doth excel â—n Adamantine pillers hangeth there 〈◊〉 floore of Emralds that doth fit full wel â—heir harts to comfort that doe pant with care to mount vp Sterop Bront or Mongibell And Ariosto following the description of another proud building sayth â—he high pillers and the Capitels of gold â—heron those thrise faire gemed floors did staÌ„d Those straÌ„g marbles which such art did vnfold grauen in sundry formes by learned hand And Hugoni colouring the Beauty of the spring vttereth these verses The earth that her due ornament had lost and nothing brings but horror to the eye VVith thousand colours of farre greater cost doth once againe reuiude adorned lie The nâ—ghtingale renewes her warbling plaint they renew the fire in frozen heart And wanton loue growes strong which theÌ„ did faint the ayre and water laugh in euery part And Veniero to the like purpose The woods medows euery wher grow green the waters are in euery fountaine cleare The southern wind that neuer blowes too keene so moues the leaues as motion none appeere But all these passing from this Beauty to the Beauty of man whereof it seemeth that al our Tuscan poets haue delighted to write could neuer thinke themselues satisfied with the commendations therof and therefore saith Petrark I thought perhaps to number all the starres And to inclose all fountaines in a glasse VVhen first I thought within these paper bars to praise that Beauty which al pens doth passe Or to coÌ„mend that flowre which is the rarest because it giueth Beauty to the fayrest And Ariosto following the same subiect saith He that commends Phillis or Nerea or Amarillis or Galatea Tytirus and Melibe by your leaue Let him be mute my loue the prayses haue And Sanazzaro My Phillida whiter then the Lilly more louely then the feelds in midst Aprile And of the Beauty of the minde saith Mattelli Princely spirit whose fame all limits scornes whose name no pen sufficiently adornes And lastly Caro. And theÌ„ they cald him wise strong iust Miters and garlands they put on his head And termd him great Father King August Here I passe ouer with silence the description of those pleasant places delightfull situations hills citties temples neyther will I speake of those affections of the minde of ioy laughter glory hope loue modesty comlines shamefastnesse ciuility affability wisdome valour patience eloquence and whatsoeuer else that concurreth to the forming of the inward Beauty of the minde which by dayly speculation and frequent action is obtayned for whosoeuer attentiuely readeth those wise and sage Poets not so carefull to describe lasciuious Beauty as that which is ioyned with true shamefastnes modesty teÌ„perance and vertue shall finde in them not only those excelleat poeticall figures which giue a kinde of lustre and Beauty to their sententious speech but that greater Beauty of the minde beautified by their learned pens Let it not therefore seeme strange if I in this little worke haue bin bolde by way of Problemes to handle this subiect of Beauty thereby to passe to the matter of AffectioÌ„s which by beauty are especially most strongly stirred vp for if it be true as among al philosophers it is held most true that loue is the rule and measure of all other affections and that loue is moued by that which is faire as by her proper obiect I could not with any conueniency haue written of Beauty if I had not passed to that affection which especially as the proper obiect and matter belonging therevnto coâ—templateth that which is fayre neythâ—â— could I well haue followed this subieâ—â— of loue if I had not likewise written â—â— al other affections among which loâ—â— is the predominant and from whicâ— the rest receiue thir originall beeing confesse it was beyond my skil exquisitely to handle a matter of this worth and therefore following only a problematicall stile vnder probable reason briefe conceites I haue briefely 〈◊〉 vp this whole discourse perswading mâ— selfe thereby both to haue done thaâ— which was answerable to my own strength and this present subiect Anâ— therefore to conclude let ingenious mâ—â— conuert their studies to the contemplation of the Beauty of Gods creatures 〈◊〉 thereby learne to direct their loues tâ— the loue of that chiefe and supremâ— fayre which can onely make them happye and giue them perpetuall felicity And as the beauty of the minde is of higher prise then that of thâ— body so let them remember that the inuisible beauty is more worthy oâ— Loue then the visible because that endureth for eâ—er and this euen with wings passeth away Problemes of Beautie written by Thomas Buonie Cittizen of Lucca Why is Beauty so vniuersal Probleme 1. PErhaps bycause it is a kinde of good which being by nature communicable doth therfore shine in euery part â—f the vniuersall world Or Perhaps â—ecause all thinges being the effects of â—ne and the same Nature which is a â—enigne mother vnto all it was not â—onuenient that any thing should bee â—n his degree deformed but that all â—hinges according to their due formes â—hould haue some perfection of Beauty â—nd as the Pecocke is faire the Eagle â—aire the Swan the Lyon faire so â—hould the Serpent be faire the Crocodile the Aspe in their kindes from which Beauty is framed that vniuersal Beauty of this inferiour created world which is a kinde of foote steppe of the diuine Beauty Or Perhaps for the conseruation of the kindes the which by generation are preserued vnto which action of generation it was not requisite that the Agents should be violently drawne but being gentlely allured by the Beauty of their kindes they should willingly frame themselues to the acte of generation Oâ— Perhaps that soueraigne creator of al thinges beeing the Supreme Essence which hath in it al kind of perfectioÌ„s iâ— an infinite degree and consequently al Beautyes and being the first Faire in a degree that is infinite too heâ— would likewise in his great bounty vniuersally impart a kind of perfection to all Nature VVherefore is Beauty imparted to euery particular Creature Probleme 2. PErhaps because man shold not only consider it by the diuers kinds but â—y the particulars of the vniuersall and â—â—om thence should passe with the â—inges of his cogitations to the conâ—emplation of the highest Fayre from
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
her well featured members and her hony wordes which being sweetly vttered make excellent harmony and yeeld vnspeakeable delight Or Perhaps because that which perfecteth not onely the outward powers but the inward also brings alwayes delight and therefore the corporall Beauty reducing in to act the senses and the incorporal inuiting vs to contemplation and inuesting vs as it were into all vertues both the one and the other must necessarily yeeld delight and pleasure for this is the propertie of the naturall powers that in the presence of those obiects that serue them and belong vnto them being inuited vnto action which they naturally delight in they take great Ioy and contentation and the reason is because by their obiects they are fed terminated and perfected and therefore the vnderstanding at the presence of an intelligible Species the will in the presence of any kinde of good the memorie of any Image presented â—nto it and the sense at the presence of â— sensible obiect receiueth ioy and â—ontent So that the corpâ—rall Beauty â—eing gazed on by the outward senâ—es and the incorporall Beauty that is â—he Beauty of the minde being appreâ—ended by the inward senses and that â—y the helpe of the eare cannot but â—ringe vnto either sense great pleaâ—ure and delight Or Perhaps because â—he comfort which the other sensible obiects doe giue endes in some speciall â—ense as the pleasure which a coulour â—iues is onely the pleasure of the eye â—nd the delight which a good sauour â—rings is onely of the Nose but the â—elight of Beauty is a content common â—o all the senses which falleth out beâ—ause Beauty dependeth vpon many â—nd diuers goods they which delight â—ow this sense now that So that there â—s no time in which Beauty bestroweâ—h â—ot vpon man some kind of delight â—nd contentation VVhy is Beauty worthy of Loue Probleme 7. PErhaps because bodyly Beauty is a cleare signe if Malignity bee not hidden vnder it of a faire that is of a vertuous minde The which by those rich doweryes which it gathereth vnto it selfe deserueth to be knowne celebrated accounted worthy of honor which honour that it may duely receaue loue is the best guide which best knoweth the merit of the thing beloued and therefore this man it honoreth that it admireth this in priuate discourse it prayseth and that both in prose and verse it extolleth which are all effects of loue Or Perhaps because Beauty either true or seeming is also a good either true or seeming whatsoeuer is such cannot but be worthy of reward and a more acceptable reward cannot be giuen to make manifest the merit thereof then the heart wherewith Loue is giuen Or Perhaps because that which bringeth solace and recreation to the minde delight to the inward powers pleasure to the senses deserueth recompence and such effects doth Beauty produce in vs. So that the pleasure that we take being great it is fit that the recompence be answerable therevnto and sure a greater then Loue cannot be giuen Beauty is worthy of the greatest Or Perhaps because the Excellencie of Good deserueth the excellencie of the affections and the greater Good the greater affection Hence it is that greater courage is showen in the defence of a great personage iniured then of an other of base degree and condition As a learned man is more carefully garded and defended then an Idiott a Queene then a common woman a Nobleman then a Commoner a Cittizen then a Slaue And therefore Beauty beeing a Good which conteyneth in it the excellencie of many other Goods as well naturall as acquired it followeth necessarily that the excellencie thereof must bee verie great as beeing that which is framed of a multitude of al other excellent things whereby it likewise followeth that it challengeth the greatest affection which is loue the supreme Beauty the supreme Loue. VVhy are not all men delighted with one and the same Beauty Probleme 8. PErhaps because that is fayre which to euery man so seemeth little considering the reason of true Beauty but onely that which is ministred by the sense wherein delighting themselues they sticke fast Or Perhapâ— the diuersitie of mens complections breeds a diuersitie in their desiâ—es wherby they iudge diuersly of things present follow those which doe best agree with their constitutions whereby wee see that in the Election of any thing whatsoeuer the Appetite doth accommodate it selfe to the teÌ„perature of the body and it holdâ—th not onely in things naturall but mortall also for we see that as the country Swaine desireth grosse meates such as agree best with the grossenesse of his nature labours education as Onions Leekes Garlike Beefe Bacon and such like and these meates to him are sweete and sauory So we see that men fitting themselues in their customes and carriages to their bodily temperatures do euer desire to conuerse with their like and therefore no maruell if the same happen in the election of Beauty Or Perhaps because Nature would haue it so to the ende that euery one should bee esteemed and beloued and they that are not absolutely faire in euery part should not be despised but being receaued into grace and fauour with their louers might liue honestly and in good esteeme with them That so the profit of the vnion of the whole vniuerse the benefit of Peace mutual society and safe custodie of all earthly blessings might supply all other defects and losses VVhy is Beauty enioyed least esteemed Probleme 9. PErhaps because the Agent possessing his end in it resteth contented and satisfied and the Louer enioying that Beauty which he loueth queales in his affection by the fruition of that he desired which wee may easily obserue in euery thing else The fire being mouÌ„ted to his natural spheare their resteth Euery heauy body desceÌ„ding to the Center ceaseth motion A Captaine when he hath gotten the victorie layeth aside his armes A shippmaster being entred the hauen gathereth vp his sayles Hee that thirsteth hauing with water alaied his thirst desires water no more and the traueller beeing come to his wished home hath ended his trauells whereby wee may likewise vnderstand why a Louer possessing his treasure of Beauty expresseth not so much delight in the hauing as desire in the getting Or Perhaps because there is no earthly thing whatsoeuer that hath not some imperfection annexed vnto it the which a Louer in the certaine possession of that hee loueth finding presently fainteth in his desires which to be true our Sense and experience teacheth in as much as wee are many times either for want of due care and foresight in our selues or the dissimulation and coloured arte of others deceaued For not to speake of those manifolde imperfections that many euen from their cradle bringes with them Howe many vices are often times hidden vnder long garments What pride intemperance Luxury Immodesty Gluttony Sloth Enuy Lyeng Decipt â—â—olating of honour How often is â—â—e loyall heart found to bee disloyall â—â—e
the principall patient too which is the mother yea and sometimes like to their causes more remote as the Grandfather and greaâ— Grandfather both by Fathers side and the Mothers Or whether it be by reason of the strong imagination oâ— the operation of the seede or the concurrence of the bloud or any otheâ— cause that worketh in the act of generation wee must conclude howsoeuer that the first women of those prouinces Citties Castells villages hauing been of a right excellent complection and due proportion of members with other circumstances that conferre any thing to the perfection of a bodily Beauty were the first originall causes of the Beauty of the women in those places vnto which wee may likewise adde the influence of the heauens vpon those territories the fitnes and temperature of the Climats with the concurrence of meates and drinkes beâ—â— befitting those celestiall operations which doth plainely appeare in Gaeta Beneuento the hilles of Pistoâ—a and in other places The like may be said of those men who in the beginning by â—eason of their tale stature bigge bone â—leasant aspect accompanied with a â—â—nde of Lordlike maiestie by vertue â—f their actiue seede and the climate â—isposed to the like temperature haue â—ade their progeny admirable and â—eautiful But as touching fattnesse and â—eanenesse accompanied with a certain â—inde of whitnesse or blacknesse perâ—aps the one is caused by the coldnesse â—f the Climat which being far distant â—rom the force of the sunne makes the â—ugestion more strong whereby much of the nutriment is conuerted to the beâ—ifit of nature and consequently the â—arty made more fat and more faire â—s doth plainely appeare in our women of high and lowe Germany whereas â—he contrarie cause workes the contraâ—ie effect that is makes women leane â—nd of a sallow complection which we may easily see in the women of Spaine â—nd forasmuch as the Italian is neither so neare the North as the German nor â—he South as the Spaniard hee participateth of both their natures and flies both their extreames Or Perhaps the frequent aspect and interuiew of the Beauty of each Sex offering it selfe oftentimes to the windowes of the senses imprinteth a dayly imagination of Beauty in the mindes both of the man and the woman by which meanes Beauty aboundeth in those places And contrarywise great plenty of deformed countenances and bodies il featured make these blemishes and vnpleasing defects by imagination to passe into nature VVhy doth the Beauty of women consist sometimes in one colour somtimes in the variety of colours Probleme 14. PErhaps because corporall Beauty is not onely placed in the due proportion or site or quantitie or quality of the members but much more in the appetite which by reason of the diuersitie of the complection where it resideth willeth and desireth diuersly And therefore to the eye of the Moore the blacke or tawny countenance of his Moorish damosell pleaseth best to the eye of another a colour as white as the Lilly or the driuen snowe to another the colour neither simply white nor black but that well medled Beauty betwixt â—â—em both like the red rose in pure â—ilke or the purple violet amongst the â—hite Lillyes for an absolute Beauty â—arieth away the bell Or Perhaps beâ—ause euery like desireth and loueth his â—â—ke wherby euen for the publick good â—here remaineth nothing despised beâ—ause there is nothing but hath his like â—nd therefore wee see that a man naâ—urally giuen to sport and delights deâ—â—ghteth most in the company of ingeâ—ious and pleasant wittes a souldier in â—he company of him that is warlike and â—alorous a Saturnist in one like vnto â—imselfe which falleth out no oâ—herwise in the appetite and desire â—f Beauty and therefore the Moore Loues the Moore and so of the rest Or Perhaps because Beauty consisteth â—ot so much in the coulour as in the â—lumination or illustration of those â—oulours which giueth grace and â—ustre to euery countenance and without which all Beauties are languishing So that this illumination which giueth such splendour and maâ—estie to some countenances being ioyâ—ed to one only colour formeth a true â—nd an excellent Beauty which we may plainely see in the faces of those Moores which though they are blacke doe many times bewray a strange kinde of Beauty in them and therefore no maruell though many praise the Beauty of one onely colour as some one onely sunne one onely Moone one onely heauen one onely light notwithstanding being common vnto al Or Perhaps because as I haue already saide Nature by loue being made saciable stirreth vp and awaketh in the heart of man whatsoeuer hiddeÌ„ or least appearing Beauty VVhy doth the sweetnesse of Speach comely cariage of the bodie giue greater grace vnto Beauty then any other parte Probleme 15. PErhaps because Beauty without that grace which is discouered either in the tongue or in the motion of the body seemeth the Beauty of an Image drawen in dead coulours or rather a figure which either in marble or bras layeth open the worthy actes of Hercules or Achilles without any motion of â—he members so that it seemeth to be a â—ead Beauty in a liue bodie yet langâ—ishing in his powers Or Perhaps beâ—ause as without the happie influence â—f the vitall spirits which giue life to â—he powers and organes in their strong â—perations the body remaineth colde â—nliuely and vnfit for action and exerâ—ise so Beauty without grace causeth eâ—ery part and qualitie belonging thereâ—nto to languish whereby it worketh â—n the field of Loue without life Or Perhaps because Beauty being in it selfe â—ltogether earthly is little esteemed but â—he grace thereof being a certaine ceâ—estiall beame issuing from the bright â—pheare of the Beauty of the minde is dispersed through all the members of â—he body and accompanieth them in all â—heir motions and therefore is deemed â—he first qualitie necessarie to the framing of a compleat Beauty Or Perhaps because it is not the simple speach that perswadeth vs nor the onely motion â—hat makes the worke perfect but the grace in speaking and the grace in the cariage is that that kindleth the heart and inflameth the minde of man And so likewise if to bodily Beauty there be added that grace which manifesteth it selfe in all the motions both of the body and of the minde it presently worketh in euery man an opinion of perfect Beauty and perswadeth to loue and honour it And therefore from hence it is that euen teares accompanied with I know not what celestiall grace falling from the cristaline eyes of a Beautifull face do draw the heart of man with such force to compassion that he thinketh euery teare a droppe of bloud fallen from his owne heart And euen the like force hath a gratious laughter a kissing of the hand a pleasaÌ„t deliuery a modest courting a sweete songe or any other cariage of the body or manifestation of the mind Or Perhaps because the Beauty of the body by it selfe moueth the bodily sense
but the minde which is more noble then the body is not easily moued with such an obiect if Beauty it selfe be not Beautified with some thing more excellent which is grace which shineth thorow the Spheare of the body VVhy is the Beauty of women especially seene in the face Probleme 16. PErhaps because the face is the true resemblance both of the Beauty of â—he body and of the minde for in the â—ace as in a liuing figure are seene those â—uelie coulours with their apparant â—â—ghtnings the proportion Quantities Qualieties of the members and whatâ—oeuer is besids necessary to the Beauty â—f the body And as for the Beauty of â—he minde it is manifest in the face as 〈◊〉 were in a cleare looking glasse For â—n it are seene the vales of shamfastâ—esse the true ornaments of an honest minde the treasures of chastitie the â—plendours of Clemency the riches of Silence the crowne of Honor the maâ—esty of all Vertue the Lodge of Loue â—he neast of Grace the center of Ioye â—nd the inestimable prise of honored Fidelity So that very deseruedly doth â—he face challenge the first seate of true Beauty in all women Or Perhaps beâ—ause the face among all the other bodily parts is the more Noble where the minde by those senses that are in it exerciseth his effectes and operations and therefore a qualitie so supreme and excellent as Beauty is could not be placed in any place more conuenient for contemplation more Noble for situation and all other respects then in the face And therefore wee see that although the vertuous life of a woman the excellent feature of her bodie or whatsoeuer can be more excellent bee highly esteemed and honored yet the first thing that is contemplated and approued is the face as that part which of all other is most noble Or Perhaps because Beauty is best liked laide open not vailed apparant not masked cleare not darkned and the face among all the partes of the body is such as at all times presenteth it selfe vnto the eye as it were to enlighten the heart of man when any passion or Melancholike thoughts do trouble him And therefore it commeth to passe many times that the Beautifull lookes of a faire wife raysâ—th vp and comforteth the heart of her afflicted husband when he returneth vnto his house from his labors as it were to the hauen of rest â—fter the trouble and turmoyle of his â—oushold busines which Beauty if it â—ad beene hidden had neuer yeelded â—o comfortable an effect VVhy doe women which are not borne fayre attempte with artificiall Beauty to seeme faire Probleme 17. PErhaps because they knowing that those women are of highest acâ—ompt in the world which excell the â—est in bodily Beauty and being natuâ—ally addicted to affect honor and to â—â—e highly accompted of they are enâ—orced to adde those colours to their â—aturall Beauty whereby they may beâ—ome famous in the like grace and faâ—our of the heauens Or Perhaps beâ—ause women being for the most parte â—ubiect vnto that pleasing rednes which â—riseth of shamfastnesse being no other â—â—ing then a tender care or rather feare â—f the losse of their owne honours and â—nowing that this Beautifull bashfullâ—esse giueth splendour and ornament â—o all women it seemeth to their vnâ—erstandings a great note of infamy to be depriued thereof and therefore to auoyde so great a blotte they feare not with a thousand artes and inuentions to giue the like Beauty to their faces Or Perhaps because their desires are so inflamed with the multitude of Beautifull thinges which present them selues vnto their viewe especially of those which are best befitting their soft and delicate natures that being desirous to participate of the greatest excellencies of them from some they take their coulours from others their odours from others their artes from others their golden ornaments from others their attires Or Perhaps because there is not any woman except shee be very rare which desireth not to please some eye and therefore being well assured that they cannot please any without some speciall Beauty they desire at the least to be adorned withsome appearing Beauty wherein they sometimes proceed so farre that they doe not onely exceede their hability but worke in themselues a contrary effect and in steede of making themselues louely they many times become odious euen to those whome they desire most to satisfie and content Or Perhaps because they being quit from those buesinesse both priuate and pubâ—ike which doe many times afflict the hearts of their miserable husbands and so passe their dayes in Idlenesse without care without trouble either of body or minde they apply all their studies indeauours to the adorning of their bodily Beauty with a thousand colours and deuises as if they were onely made â—o make themselues appeare Beautifull â—nto their husbands and to procure â—n opinion in the common people of â—inguler Beauty Of all which the reaâ—on is because they iudge it a treasure of singuler prise to be faire or at leastwise to seeme such in the eyes of euery man VVhy doeth the Arte and multitude of Beauties which women vse being discouered breede a kinde of loathing and disdaine in the hearts of men Probleme 18. PErhaps because as the first Faire by created Beauty inclineth our hearts to Loue So he being the first Truth by the inestimable prise of Truth winneth vs to followe the truth with inuisible Loue whereby the deceipt of such Beauties or abilliments which many times tie and entangle the mindes of vnaduised yonge men being discouered their ariseth a strang kinde of scorne and disdaine euen against those whome before they admired Or Perhaps because that besides the hatred of that foule which is hidden vnder those faire though false Beautyes the very art and skilfull workemanshippe that is vsed about the bodily Beauty pleaseth not wheras coÌ„trariwise in the Beauty of the mind arte exercise of wit is much approued And therefore a man louing a Beautifull countenance by the gift of nature adorned with that qualitie and 〈◊〉 Beautiful minde by arte made wonderfull finding this order confounded by little and little hee repents and turneth his loue into disdaine Or Perhaps because euery obiect being altered from his naturall Essence as being out of his naturall seate doth presently decay and corrupt as it doth plainly appeare in euery naturall thing Now then that gift of nature which in women they call Beauty being by arte remoued from his first state is suddenly extinguished which wee may easily see in many women who hauing with multitude of colours and to studious endeuours hidden from the world their naturall Beauty presently they decay in that smale portion of faire which it hath pleased the heauens to impart vnto them whereby it commeth to passe that they are not onely little esteemed but loathed and detested as being such as haue sinned against the liberallitie and bountie of Nature it selfe Or Perhaps because men from those outward deceipts gather the inward vntruth
and deceipt of the minde For she that feareth not to falsifie these exterior parts may with more ease and lesse feare adulterate the inward Beautyes of the minde and so much the rather because the sense or corporall organe cannot act any thing that is false except the minde be first made false hauing first consented therevnto whereby it commeth to passe that men taking knowledge at the last of this so great a blurre both of the body and the minde they cannot if they be not ouer vicious loue such women but rather as falsifiers of themselues and mockers of others flie dispraise and detest them and as much as in them lieth forget them and banish them the confines of their memory VVhy doth the Beauty of the body with greater celeritie wound the hearts of men then that of the minde Probleme 19. PErhaps because the bodily senses are more apt and more speedy by nature without the helpe of any arte to apprehend their obiects and especially the sense of seeing which is so powerfull in loue by presenting the Beautyfull features and liniaments to the common sense that from it to the other inferiour powers loue with admirable celeritie nussels it selfe in the breast of mortall men the which thing falleth not out in the Beauty of the minde which besides that it requireth a longer time to manifest it selfe because it lieth hidden vnder the bodily vailes doth not imprint her image with those liuely colours in the outward sense as the bodily Beauty doth Or Perhaps because the Beauty of the minde is inuisible and therefore doth slowly moue the powers that onely by the meanes of that which is corporally visible whereas the visible Beauty is by it selfe made manifest Or Perhaps because mortall man being ouerladen with the bodily spoiles doth more quietly incline himselfe to corporall things then to spirituall Or Perhaps because that which doth most often wound the senses and commeth neerest vnto nature worketh likewise a more speedy effect in Loue as in the other senses VVhy doe wise men more esteeme the Beauty of the minde then of the Body Probleme 20. PErhaps because the colours which doe forme the inuisible Beauty are of higher prise then those of the bodily For the Beauty of the minde ariseth from the rich colours of all the morall vertues as from Temperancy Shamfastnesse Chastity Modesty Clemency Sufferance Fortitude Wisdom and the like and is also made more glorious by other colours more noble as the Liberall Sciences the sweetnesse of vtterance the knowledge of high misteries the vse of studies the happy remembrance of times past and the studious search of diuine thinges whereas the Corporall Beauty is restrained to a fewe colours of smale prise which doe speedily vanish and decay Or Perhaps because the Beauty of the minde is of a more high and Sublime order because in some resemblance it commeth neare vnto the angelicall spirits who as by nature they excell all â—nferior things so do they likewise in â—heir qualities vpon which their Beauâ—y depends Or Perhaps because corporall Beauty is the simple gift of nature which as it is more common so lesse esteemed But the Beauty of the minde not by simple nature but by arte and studie and industry and watchings is hardly after a long time discouered and therefore of better esteeme because more rare and with more difficultie attayned VVhy do young men preferre the Beauty of the bodie before that of the minde Probleme 21. PErhaps because being prouoked therevnto by nature as being more apt to generation then old men they follow their like for Beauty is proper vnto youth and no other thing can satisfie them then the present visible and sensible obiect but old men who contemplate the inuisible Beauty of the minde which by reason of their great experience is commonly found in them themselues growing as it were to nature inuisible by contemplating this spirituall Beauty inamour themselues therewith Or Perhaps because young men are strongly moued by bodily delight as being great well-willers to the pleasures of the sense but old men hauing often times quenched their thirst at the like fountaines with the great hurt and impeachment both of their persons and honours do no more esteeme those floating vanities and therefore resting themselues content with the bare remembrance of those times they doe willingly embrace that Beauty which dependeth vpon the many and deare experiences of things past Or Perhaps because young men in euery thing shew themselues too credulous wherby they turne their thoughts to euery appearing Beauty that presenteth it selfe vnto the eye neither caring for or dreaming of any greater but old men being more slowe in their iudgement and alwayes hardly perswaded to giue credit to outward things hauing found the inward Beautie doe better accoumpt of it as knowing it by â—xperince to be more rare and hardly â—ttayned VVhy is the Beautie of the minde more often seene in olde men then in young Probleme 22. PErhaps because the Beautie of the minde being framed of many difficult and ingenious habits it falleth out â—hat young men being distracted with â—heir youthfull cares and affections attending more to the pleasure of the sense then the delight of the minde doe little or not at all endeuour by labour and industry to attaine to those vertues and knowledges which are necessarily required to so precious a talent to the obteyning whereof men of riper yeares imploying all their thoughts studies and endeauours the sea of their affections being calmed by the constitution of their bodies attaine vnto this pretious Gemme which shineth and sheweth it selfe in the grauitie of theyr speach Or perhaps because olde men wanting the flower of all bodily Beauty which raigneth onely in yonger yeares they desire at the least to be in some accompt and reputation in the world by their internall Beauty which alwayes accompanieth their nature both in their priuat and publick gouerment Or Perhaps because multitude of yeares bringeth with them sage and graue Counsel to haue heard much inricheth knowledge to haue read much increaseth iudgement and the frequent conuersation with men of diuers qualities and countries giueth a perfect knowledge of humane affaires the which not hapning to young men they want those graue partes that concurre to the framing of the Beauty of the minde VVhy is the Beauty of the minde accompanied with that of the body in the breastes of young men so much esteemed Problemes 23. PErhaps because that which by more then ordinarie arte and vertue selâ—ome comes to passe deserues both â—lory and admiration as it falleth out â—n the Beauty of the minde for young â—en being no friends vnto labour but â—ather to sloath and idlenesse it seemeth to be a thing out of order to see a young man adorned with so noble a qualitie and consequently winnes him â—oner and estimation Or Perhaps because a young man besides the fruition of the Beauty of the bodie a thing perhaps of it selfe sufficiently esteemed
men promiseth as it were a future felicitie that knowing the great force of imagination and conceipt in the act of generation they are carefull to furnish their Chambers with fayre and Beautifull pictures to the end that their children may come into the light in some sorte answerable to their desires Or Perhaps because men not being content with the nobilitie of their owne bloud and Beauty they desire likewise the outward helpes of those princely Beauties of the most famous women in all Countries to the ende their children may likewise proue admirable in that qualitie and they winne vnto themselues greater honor Or Perhaps because as they vse with a thousand restoritiues to comfort the fearefull hearts of their afflicted wiues being neare their labour so they are no way backeward by these present figures adorned with diuers coulours and strang Beauties to make them comfortable VVhy doe they make Venus the mother of Beauty Probleme 36. PEerhaps because they make her the mother of Loue and Beauty is that â—hich by meanes of that content and â—easingnesse which is in it ingendreth â—oue in the hearts of men Or Perhaps â—ecause Beauty is the proper ornament â—f women and Venus is sayd to haue â—eene the fayrest woman that euer â—as Or Perhaps because among the â—elestiall Planets their is none more â—elightfull more blith and bucksome â—r by reason of her siluer lightes more â—anton then the planet of Venus which â—ualities doe all concurre to the forâ—ing of the Beauty of a woman Or â—erhaps because this planet by her hapâ—y influences worketh much to the â—â—aming of euery woman gratious â—ayre and louely therfore she hath deâ—erued the name and title of the mother â—f all Beauty VVhy is onely the Beauty of heauen amongest other Corporall thinges of it selfe permanent Probleme 37. PErhaps because a body vnchangeable incorruptible and no waye subiect to the voracitie of consuming time such a qualitie best befitteth as is answearable to such a subiect And notwithstanding the Celestiall mantell doe not alwayes shine and therefore sometimes the golden raies of the Sunne siluer beames of the Moone the glorious light of the Starres the noble compartiments of the celestiall signes the illustrious splendour of all that region and to conclude a faire night a beautifull morning a glorious day may not be seene Yet neuerthelesse the darkenesse of the Element the fury of the winds the pitchy obscuritie of the whirle-winds the thicknesse of the cloudes and all other darksome oppositions being takeÌ„ away the heauens doe alwayes shine in their â—reatest Beauty appeare glorious in â—â—eir supreme Monarchie and display â—â—emselues adorned in euery parte â—ith a thousaÌ„d Beautyes Or Perhaps beâ—â—use the eyes of those that contemâ—â—ate the heauens seeing so supreme a â—eauty in so supreme and celestiall a â—ody with the eyes of the minde they â—ould thinke and consider that vnâ—hangeable Beauty is onely found in â—â—e celestiall partes and that no Beauâ—â— in this inferior world lasteth longe â—â—d so with heauenly desires and inâ—eauours they should aspire to the ceâ—â—stiall Beauty Or Perhaps because men â—â—owing so noble a Beauty and so â—â—nstant to be in a body so soueraigne â—â—ey should from thence learne in their â—inds created immortall to place the â—â—auty of vertue of wisdome and of â—â—ery noble art and science that that â—hich is inclosed within a mortall subâ—â—ct may by glory and honor be made â—â—mortall Or Perhaps because the â—â—st inuisible Fayre being willing to â—â—awe vnto the knowledge of his â—â—auty all mortall men partely by the â—â—iuersall Fabricke of the world and â—â—rtly by some speciall visible creature he hath placed as it were in a throne this his Beauty and there made it permanent that all eyes might see and behold it and so beholding it he might draw the hearts of all from time to time vnto him that there might be no reason of excuse left euen to the slowest eye and all such as are most backward in the search of highest mysteries Or perhaps because such is the order of euery thing that the more they are parted and separated from the originall fountaine of all Beauty the more they decline in their owne which doth plainly appeare if we descend from the Heauens to the Elements and from them to their comâ—ounds and from the perfect compounds to the lesse perfect and so forth VVhy is the first faire to mortall eyes inuisible Probleme 23. PErhaps because the Spheare of his infinite light is so high that it is past the power of any created Organe to pierce so high as to behold euen the darknesse of the outward entry or lobbie thereof much lesse to discerne the immensitie and exceeding greatnesse of that soueraigne obiect in the presence whereof the glittering rayes of the Sunne are darkned the Starres lose their light the sparkling Diamond is defased the flashing Ruby shineth not the white Lilly is black the Spring not beautifull Laughter not pleasant Musick not delightfull Iuceus not odoriferous Nectar not sweet golde not rich and the highest Monarchies base and contemptible And therefore the Angels in heauen lay downe their crownes at the feete of so infinite a Beautie and all creatures are altogether impotent yea vnwotthy to consider the incomprehensible greatnesse thereof Or perhaps because things most rare and excellent doe alwayes botâ— by Nature and Arte lye hidden and therefore we see that the deepest and most important matters in the Scripture lye couered and vailed vnder a thousand figures similitudes mysteries parables and the like which doth likewise appeare in nature who hideth things of greatest prise in gâ—eatest darknesse and maketh those things seeme inuisible that were framed visible as we see in the seede of euery plant which lieth hidden in a thousand rinds skinnes and shelles in the inward powers which are made inuisible by the outward organs in the substanciall formes which lurke vnder their matter in precious stones which shee hath buried in the sandy bed of the sea in gold and siluer which she hath hid in the bowells of the earth in the Angelicall spirits who by the curtine of heaueÌ„ placed betwixt their sight and ours are separated from our sense and in all other Beautiful and excellent qualities whatsoeuer therfore no maruell if the first Fayre likewise be hidded from our eyes Or Perhaps because it is not fitte that so high so supreme yea so infinite a Beauty should bee gazed one by mortall eye but onely in the other life by the helpe and assistance of the light of glory In the meane time let it suffice that it is not altogither inuisible but by the light of that Beauty that shineth in al creatures we may discerne at the least a shadowe thereof VVhy doe many men little regard the first fayre Probleme 39. PErhaps because man being ouerladen and pressed downe by the â—ense by reason of that ancient sinne â—f his first father Adam knoweth not â—owe to raise vp himselfe to so great a â—ood
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
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
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
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
mercilesse sea then not to enrich our selues by whatsoeuer shall come vnto our hands Here I passe with silence those benefits that arise vnto al liuing creatures being pricked forward by the spurre of Desire to exercise that strength and agility of their members that nature hath giuen vnto them and therefore no maruell if vigilant Nature alwayes working without wearinesse haue bestowed so excellent an affection vpon all creatures to keepe them from idlenesse VVhy is Desire the first lawfull birth or first borne of Loue Probleme 80. PErhaps because humane Loue not setling it selfe in that pleasing content which it hath from the Beauty of the aspect or countenance beloued which to the nature of Loue is intrinsicall yea formally loue it selfe but as being accompanied with sense and reason passeth likewise to the Desire thereof as it is delightfull in it selfe and possible to bee attayned and with all earnest endeuour seeketh the fruition thereof Or Perhaps because it is natural that Desire should be kindled in the hearts of those that Loue because delight by the meanes of Beauty touching the sense mooueth the sensible appetite at which motion the figure or Image of some excellent thing being framed to the inward sense the reasonable Desire maketh knowne his force by a willingnesse to possesse the thing that is framed And from hence it ariseth that Louers being prouoked by this inflamed Desire become bolde and venturous to any attempts prompt and ready to vndergo labour and toyle fly no dangers no cares to attaine their desired ende For the office of the mouing vertue is to serue that ready Desire which extendeth it selfe to all the members Or Perhaps because Desire is as it were a property which ariseth from his subiect Loue and therefore Desire is as the effect and Loue as the cause VVhy is Desire infinite and endlesse Probleme 81. PErhaps because the minde is of such excellencie that being made like vnto our great God it hath an appetite at least enclining to infinitenesse which alwayes searching alwaies seeketh with earnest desire which may plainly appeare in man who ascending by the creatures of God as by a Ladder to the contemplation of all sciences doth neuer by all the excellent knowledges that are rest fully satisfied but in his riper yeares hauing already tasted the sweetnesse of both humane and diuine wisdome he doth euery day more and more desire to clime higher and not contented to haue passed the highest Spheares of the heauens and all visible nature with a thousand speculations he attempteth the knowledge of visible nature euen the chiefest good which is God himselfe And forasmuch as euery nature is infinite and all knowledge thereof like vnto it selfe yea the very nature of the first Essens or being as it is comprehended by a created vnderstanding is also infinite it can neuer in this inferiour world by any length of time rest satisfied vntill it vnite it selfe to the chiefe Creator of all things and that by grace in another life And from hence likewise it commeth to passe that men being mocked by their sense and caryed by the force of that appetite and desire which they call reasonable desiring golde with an vnquenchable thirst they attempt the getting and possession of it and hauing obteined a full fruition thereof their desires are nothing alayde but as riches encrease so desires encrease with them for that which is capable of God himselfe whatsoeuer is lesse then God can neuer satisfie So likewise others bring spurred forward by a desire of delight in some subiect or other are strangely enflamed with a greedy kind of longing after it which they doe no sooner enioy but allured by the corrupt sense they are as much enflamed with the desire of new pleasures and assaye new meanes be they neuer so vnlawfull to attaine vnto it little dreaming in the meane time that that delight which can satisfie our desires no man hath euer found in those lower partes nor euer shall For it is God alone who in this life cannot be discerned by mortall eye that in the other life can giue vs absolute and eternall happinesse Or Perhaps the variety of things in the variety of interchangeable time being adorned with like variety of vnspeakable Beauties either of the parts or of the whole with the diuers states of the Bodily coÌ„plexions which beeing moued from their naturall and wonted seates carry men to diuers and sundry appetites may be a strong and mighty cause of this vnsatiable desire in man For euery thing presented vnto the sense whether it be truely fayre and good or appearingly like another Adamant which by a hidden vertue draweth the iron vnto it allureth the sense moueth the affection and being moued by a present intentiall delight it knowes not how to desire it that it may enioy it And forasmuch as the variety of beautyfull obiects fit to allure the sense is infinite no maruell if man in his desires be as infinite VVhy do diuers men desire diuersly Probleme 82. PErhaps because men beeing inflamed by the inuisible fire of wise â—rouident nature which especially wilâ—eth and desireth in humane kind a soâ—iable life by that commodity which â—he vnion of hearts bringeth with it â—hey are likewise inflamed to a feruent â—esire of some particular good to the â—nde that that beeing gotten by the â—weate both of their own other meÌ„s â—rowes they may prise it accordingly yet if honesty forbid it not nor coueâ—se thereof they might gently libeâ—ally communicate it vnto those who â—or the supply of their necessities desire â— So that both the one and the other â—hewing themselues prompt and ready â—t al occasioÌ„s there might arise a greate â—ond of amity friendship and a faâ—ter knot of good fellowship And therfore hath nature ordained that some desiring the knowledge both of diuine humane Sciences by dayly labours and nightly watchings should endeuour to attaine vnto them that hauing possest themselues of so riche a treasure they might impart some portion of their knowledge vnto others That others thirsting after golde and transitory riches by a thousand trickes and deuises they might heape vp mountaines of treasure that when they were possessed of them or rather glutted with them they might employ them both to the publicke good of the common weale and priuate benefit of as many as stand in need of them that others puffed vp with a desire of glory should follow the field and by their armes and valiant seruice mount themselues vp to the thrones of Kings and Emperours so communicate their honours to their whole families their trophies to their countries and drawe others by an honourable immitation to immortallitie That others drawne by the amiable chaine of vertue might by the helpe of good discipline adorne themselues with honourable conditions that therby they might be an ornament to their Citty and Cittizens a light vnto the Court a glory vnto themselues to all honourable mindes an excellent
patterne and example That women mooued with the zeale of honour should highly esteeme of their feminine vertue to encrease their glorie and so might leaue it as a rich treasure to â—heir children and their Countrie That the common sort of people spurâ—ed with a Desire of gaine and commodity should endeuour to attaine skil â—nd knowledge in mechanicall arts â—hat thereby they might both enrich â—hemselues and serue others and lastâ—y that countrimen following the deâ—ights of the countrie might attend no other thing then their pick axe their â—pade that for the ease of other men Or Perhaps because by this diuersity of Desires the desires of euery maÌ„ are more easily satisfied then if al men should Desire one the same thing which forasmuch as it could not bee deuided vnto all some nay the greatest part must needs continew thirstie in their Desires without any one droppe to quench â—lay the thirst thereof And therefore al men desiring diuersly the appetite of al â—n some sort remaines satisfied peace and quietnesse which in this difference of Desires could not otherwise be is procured and maintained VVhy are the desires of the father more noble then those of the mother Probleme 83. PErhaps because the minds of men are more generous and strong then those of women who following the temperature of their owne bodies which are altogether soft and delicate and fit for ease and idlenesse doe alwayes proue fearefull flexible inconstant altogether vnapt for Hercules labours yea are alwayes wallowing in the filth of wanton pleasures and amorous allurements whereby it cometh to passe that fathers beeing directed by that knowledge and vnderstanding that time and experience brings with it not by the blessings of nature or delight of the sense and beauty of their children doe rather wish vnto their children those honors that are gotteâ— in the field by the strength of their imbrued hands and wonne with the danger nay the losse of their owne liues then that they should liue in the world idlye with infamy and dishonour whereas mothers on the otherside â—eeing alwayes idle and wanton â—nd tender and fearefull doe â—lwayes admit those things as most it and commodious for their children â—hat do quit them most from all occasiâ—ns of feare and therefore they cannot â—ndure to heare any speech of warres â—f the dangers that followe them both â—y sea and land and of those valiant aâ—hieuements that bring same and hoâ—our to valorous hearts Or Perhaps â—ecause the Loue of fathers is more â—rong and vehement then the Loue â—f Mothers therefore they wish vnâ—o their children those appearing goods which are weake and tender like their â—oues But the desires of fathers are wholy beÌ„t to that firme felicity which â— purchased by honourable and gloriâ—us actions VVhy is the desire of those that Loue towards the thing beloued so fiery and ardent Probleme 84. PErhaps because Loue from whence Desire riseth is an inuisible fire which within the hidden forges of their brests burneth and consumeth their miserable hearts and blazing in the flames of Desire yeeldeth no other signe or testimony thereof then an ardent Desire of the thing beloued Or Perhaps because this Desire springeth from the force and strength of Loue which forasmuch as it doth best befit the first encounter of a matrimoniall bedde it was wont to be expressed by those burning tapers of blushing Himeneus Or Perhaps because such a will or Desire fostring and nourishing it selfe by speciall priuilege in the hearts of young men who abounding with much bloud and consequently with great store of vitall spirits are wont to be more ardent and firy in their Desires especially in matters of Loue the delight whereof giueth best relish to the pallats of young men Or Perhaps because colde is a signe of death and heate of life and louers enflamed with the Desire of their best beloued thinkâ— by the fruition thereof they enioyes happy life whereof they giue a manifest testimony by that ardent Desire that maketh them nimble and valorous and reddy and ruddy and full â—f wanton and youthfull ardour VVhy doe the Desires of children ende in matters of small weight Probleme 85. PErhaps because they are but the new births of Nature which is best â—ontented with a little and hath alwayes beene offended with too much â—nd therefore being directed by so â—ise a mistresse they know not how â— desire things aboue the reach of their â—wne natures but content themselues â—ith childish sports as fayned warres â—d such pastimes as do minister greaâ—st delight vnto their mindes Or Perâ—ps because children exercising the â—owers of the minde but weakely the â—ractise wherof dependeth vpon much â—te gotten with much paines and laâ—our but vsing the outward discerning â—wers which are the senses which are â—uer moued but by corporall things â—ed vnited to matter subiect to corâ—ption and only present and besides â—at beeing led by no kinde of experiâ—ce but giuing credit to deceiuing â—dgement and to that onely deâ—ght which is present nothing respecting that which is most noble most honest most honourable being all full of solace and delight they desire nothing else but sports and pastimes as Beautifull spectacles maskes and meriments birds dogges hoby-horses and a thousand the like ridiculous toyes and inuentions Or Perhaps our great grandmother Nature seeing the simplicitie of their nature for wisdome is gotten by the vse and experience of of humane things altogether caryed with a sweete kinde of forgetfulnesse of things of greater weight and better befitting riper yeares was willing to enflame their minds with a desire of light and friuilous things to the end they might passe their tender age without tint tediousnesse that idlenesse brings with it Or Perhaps because the powers doe neuer worke vpon their subiects aboue their owne force but more or lesse strongly according to their owne power and excellencie therfore children being by nature weake tender soft and delicate and little or nothing accustomed to matters aboue their owne reache what maruell is it if they esteeme most of those things that are most agreeable to their natures as the sappe and sweete of euery sweetnesse of milke hony fruite drinks and whatsoeuer may giue best delight vnto their pallats as olde wiues tales childish sportes apish imitations of euery art euery inuention As the melodie of euery sound euery instrument and whatsoeuer else may bring delight without labour VVhy doth the Desire of immortality make men bold and resolute in vndergoing labors and dangers Probleme 86. PErhaps because the ende or reward being great and excellent it requiâ—eth great hearts great labours great meanes and if neede be great dangers â—oo For a victorie gotten without fight without danger without stratageme is neuer celebrated and commended but for a gift of fortune And â—herefore he that desireth to be excelâ—ent let him frame his endeauors â—o the thing hee desires for Hercules without his greate Labours had beene without his honors Or
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
and others is very great and presuming withall of their power and blood there is not any thing so high and so difficult that can limit their hopes and so much the rather if to their power and nobility there bee added aboundance of wealth which corrupteth euen Balsame it selfe But yong men by reason of their youthfull heate being carried by the store and plenty of those spirits which abound in them and wanting that great experience which makes men wise and depending rather vppon that which is to come then what is past full of boldnes they hope all things though farre aboue their owne strength whereas old men contrarily ruling and directing themselues rather by that which is past then that which is to come from that experience they haue had in being often deceaued in their hopes they feare to hope any more Or perhaps because riches and power and nobility being three principall worldy excellencies vpon the bright splendor whereof a◅ eyes do gaze as all men desire them so they desire to follow those that ha◅ them which rich honorable personages being well aduised of they imagin they haue with them their heart too nay the loue affection of as many as for their riches loue them therfore they feare not to hope for as much as they imagin to be worth the hoping be it neuer so hard and difficult And yong men hauing multitude of friends delighting to please themselues with vaine and strange imaginations hope in the strength of their own armes which forasmuch as it is groūded vpon a weak foundation is many times deceiued VVhy doth Hope deceiue many Probleme 110. PEerhaps because fewe followe that morall discipline which trayneth men vp to knowledge wisedome fewe that consider the times weigh the accidents know the qualities of persōs truely esteeme of euery force iudge of euery place euery end set iust and true limits to their owne desires Whereby it cometh to passe that many hoping much but not hoping with knowledge and discretion hop without their hopes as they doe who seeke the ende by vniust meanes Or Perhaps because many beeing rather friends to idlenesse and delicacy then labour and watchings and yet willing either out of bold simplicity or ignorant presumption to Hope for better effects then idlenesse is accustomed to produce they faile as much in the fruition of their hopes as they erre in the meanes to attaine them For it much more becometh a wise man to take much paynes and to hope little then to labour slowly and yet to bee puffed vp with vaine hopes Or Perhaps because men for the most part chusing the ende not withall considering their owne forces to attaine that ende and that which is worse not consulting with fit oportune meanes but being indiffetently carried with a kind of plebeian fury they indure many strange encounters and vnexpected crosses in their promised hopes And therefore if they did consider hereof aright they would not complaine so much of Fortune as of their own indiscretion for what proportion is there betwixt the plough and the sword that he that is accustomed to the tillage of his land and the keeping of his flockes should presently betake himselfe to the warres vndertake the managing of his weapon without any premeditated militarie discipline What resemblance is there betwixt the sword and the setled witte of Minerua that hee that is accustomed to the warres should without the knowledge of the lawes vndertake the gouernement of a state For though his ende bee gouernement yet the fruite is feare or rather the hatred of those hee would gouerne if therefore they find themselues frustrated in their hopes let them lament their false perswasions and with true repentance chastice their owne foolish forwardenesse whereby they shall giue better testimony of their discretion then in feeding themselues with those vaine hopes that are no way befitting them Or Perhaps because fewe they are that hearken to the graue admonitions of olde men who beeing furnished with plentye of wisedome and experience are excellent helpes to indiscreet and heedlesse young men and therefore alwayes giuing credit vnto those that rather flatter them then speake the truth whether they be friends or strāgers they wander out of the true path of humane wisedome and are euer deceiued in those hopes they promise vnto themselues Or Perhaps because most men being giuen to pleasure and to please their sense desiring without knowledge and endeauoring without persuerāce though they sweat litle for it yet they promise enough and glorying thēselues in their vaine hopes being depriued of them with much laughter of all that behold them they lament their owne follies when it is too late-For it is absurd to thinke that the appetite should doe his office without reason or the will chuse without the knowledge of the vnderstanding or wil his ende without counsell or that counsell should bee without wisedome or wisedome without experience or experience without time or time without motion Many therefore thre are that are deceiued of their hopes not because Hope doth deceiue but because their Hope is tyed vnto a will without reason their discourse to an ende without meanes and to flesh without the eyes of vnderstanding and therefore the fault is not in their hope but in the want of discretion in attaining their Hopes OF DESPAIRE VVhy hath Nature giuen Despaire Probleme 111. PErhaps because euery agent labouring to an end aboue his strength and not deteyned by this affection would fall into the sinne of folly and ignorāce which bringeth with it much shame dishonour vnto a man that is gouerned by reason and by counsell and wisdom should attempt only those enterprises that are answerable to his owne forces And therfore prudent nature very opportunely hath prouided this affection to the end that the difficulty and impossibility of any eterprise beeing sufficiently knowne wee might easily abstaine from the labours thereof and turne our endeauors to that which is within our powers and better befitting our owne studies Or Perhaps because by this affection Arte and the merit exquisite skil of euery skilfull hand might bee knowne that what one dispaireth to performe another vndertaking and perfecting in laudable manner the one for his arte and ingenie might receiue his dew cōmendations and the other be likewise commended for his wisdome in yeelding that to the sufficiency of another which he knew to bee aboue his owne strength to performe OF FEARE VVhy hath nature giuen Feare Probleme 112. PEerhaps because as Nature for a future difficult good was willing to giue the helpe and assistance of Hope which might carrie vs merrily through our labours vnto the end so she would likewise arme vs against a future difficult euill with this passion of Feare whereby we might with better speed prepared force flie the presence of that euill which bringeth ruine destruction with it if it bee not auoyded And therefore wee see that bruite beasts being taught by
no difficult matter for them to bee â—ossessed of their Loues from thence â—ey conceaue ioye and rest contenâ—d Or Perhaps they take comfort in â—at by teares they knowe that it â—eth in their power to make their â—eloued happy in the seruice of Loue â—d therefore knowing the meanes â—hereby they may shorten their mourâ—ng and wipe awaye their teares â—ey are not grieued with the sight of â—em as otherwise they would bee â—t rather conceaue an inward ioye â—d comfort in them VVhy doe Louers whither soeuer they goe carry with them their amorous passions Probleme 58. PErhaps because to whatsoeuer parte they turne their faces and wheresoeuer they bestowe themselues they do alwayes carry with them imprinted in their mindes the Image of the thing beloued and consequently those passions that arise from it For he that carieth with him the cause proueth likewise the effect as he that carieth fire in his bosome must needes feele the heate thereof And therefore Louers hauing alwayes with them in their mindes the Idea of that they Loue which they neuer cease to contemplate they must necessarily by contemplâ—tion fall into those passions which the present obiect bringeth with it yea farre more violently do they feele the force of theÌ„ because imagination by absence worketh more violently by the power whereof the gesture and grace and Beauty and lineaments and all the parts of the party beloued are made present Or Perhaps because they finding themselues as it were hanted with a continuall desire of seeing and contemplating that which they Loue â—nd so long as they finde themselues â—bsent from it liuing an vnquiet nay â— dying life they multiply their pasâ—ions with the dayes nay howers of â—heir absence and as time encreaseth â—o doe passions Or Perhaps because â—othing can content a Louer in his â—iolent absence not sweete musicke â—ot Beautifull gardens not Louely â—ompany not eloquent tongues not â—uill intertaynment but euery sweete â— turned into sower and nothing can â—ontent but the wished obiect which â—eing farre distant from their inflaâ—ed desires doth engender that griefe â— the heart which can hardly bee exâ—essed by themselues that proue it â—uch lesse by those that are not acâ—ainted with the like miseries VVhy doe Louers so much delight in in the neatnesse of their apparell and bodies Probleme 59. PErhaps because there is nothing more naturall vnto young men then to desire alwayes to seeme beautifull and therefore if nature haue not made them such they endeuour by aâ—â— to seeme that they are not And from this cause proceedeth their exquisitenes their art their diligence their care â— their apparell their gate their speech and in euery thing else their endeauour to seeme nimble of Body strong in forces subtile in wit wise in speech wary in dangers honorable in conditions Or Perhaps because such Elegancy and Neatenesse purchase grace and fauour from their beloued and therefore they vse these meanes as a pleasant baite to possesse them of that which they so earnestly desire Or Perhaps because to make manifest the purity of their mindes they desire to trim and polishe their bodies and to wiâ—â— â—n opinion in the world of great plenâ—y of the goods of fortune they adorne â—heir bodies with sumptuous attire eâ—er endeuoring with themselues to setâ—le a beleefe in the minds of their beâ—oued that they want not much of the â—ull fruition of all humane felicity which consisteth of the goods of the minde of the body and of fortune And therfore it contenteth them much â—o heare that any hath related vnto their â—oues the vertue of their minds knowâ—ng thereby that hee layeth open the â—rincipall part of the felicity and ornaâ—ent of man As for the goods of the â—ody and of fortune they vndertake â—hat taske themselues the goodes of â—he body they make knowne by preâ—nting to the eye of their mistres the â—earnesse of their complections the â—ood proportion of their members â—eir comely cariage their readinesse â— the performance of honorable exâ—oyts the goodnesse of fortune by â—eir rich apparell their Rings their â—iamonds their Rubies their Chaines â—eir golde their Iewells their horses â—eir seruants their multitude of friends â—eir liberality and bounty and their honorable progenitors And all this they doe to giue their best beloued to vnderstand that if by the lawefull band of mariage she wil be his she shall participate of that felicity which all men by all their best endeauors striue and study to attaine Or Perhaps to the end that thereby they may drawe the eyes of their Loues to beholde and contemplate both the richnesse of their attire the variety of their fashions and their comely cariage both in their gate and other gestures of the body For it pleaseth a Louer to see that which he loueth loue to see him VVhy doe louers so much esteeme the giftes of their beloued Probleme 60. PErhaps because they see I knowe not what kinde of grace to shine and shewe it selfe in that gift which cometh from that they best Loue the which they esteeme so much the more by howe much it seemeth to present the excellent and honorable qualities of the giuer Or Perhaps because those gifts are as rich pledges of that grace and fauour whereby they may easely obtaine to the possession of that they Loue And therefore as they that haue any thing in their custody either in value or Beauty extraordinary with an extraordinarie heede and care looke vnto it so they prizing these giftes aboue al their earthly riches doe likewise aboue all take care to keepe them Or Perhaps that they might thereby shewe and giue testimony that if they haue that thing in so high esteeme that commeth from their beloued in howe much more the person that sent it who doth as farre exceede the gift in value as the substance the shadow and a perfect an appearing good VVhy doe Louers so often vse the similitudes of things most excellent to display the Beauty of her they Loue Probleme 61. PErhaps because they haue a singular conceite of their beloued insomuch that being vnable in the least degree that may be to expresse it they are inforced to make vse of the simitude of things most high and excellent Somtimes comparing her to the light sometimes to starres sometimes to the Sunne sometimes to the morning somtimes to the snowe milke the lilly the rose somtimes to the mirtle the marble the alablaster Somtimes to gold rubies diamonds somtimes to the heauens the spring paradise and whatsoeuer is in any degree excellent Or Perhaps because they thinke their beloued to bee the receptacle or store-house of all the beautifull things of the world in whome all perfections are vnited and gathered togither and therefore they thinke themselues sufficiently warranted to vse the whitenesse of the Swanne to expresse her hew the vnspotted purity of the snowe the cristall the diamond to shew her purity the light the starres the sunne to signifie howe cleare her eyes are how