The Anatomy of Melancholy Part 68

"Quincia obiit, sed non Quincia sola obiit, Quincia obiit, sed c.u.m Quincia et ipse obii; Risus obit, obit gratia, lusus obit.

Nec mea nunc anima in pectore, at in tumulo est."

"Quincia my dear is dead, but not alone, For I am dead, and with her I am gone: Sweet smiles, mirth, graces, all with her do rest, And my soul too, for 'tis not in my breast."

How many doting lovers upon the like occasion might say the same? But these are toys in respect, they will hazard their very souls for their mistress'

sake.

"Atque aliquis interjuvenes miratus est, et verb.u.m dixit, Non ego in caelo cuperem Deus esse, Nostram uxorem habens domi Hero."

"One said, to heaven would I not desire at all to go, If that at mine own house I had such a fine wife as Hero."

Venus forsook heaven for Adonis' sake,--[5483]_caelo praefertur Adonis_.

Old Janivere, in Chaucer, thought when he had his fair May he should never go to heaven, he should live so merrily here on earth; had I such a mistress, he protests,

[5484] "Caelum diis ego non suum inviderem, Sed sortem mihi dii meam inviderent."

"I would not envy their prosperity, The G.o.ds should envy my felicity."

Another as earnestly desires to behold his sweetheart he will adventure and leave all this, and more than this to see her alone.

[5485] "Omnia quae patior mala si pensare velit fors, Una aliqua n.o.bis prosperitate, dii Hoc precor, ut faciant, faciant me cernere coram, Cor mihi captivum quae tenet hocce, deam."

"If all my mischiefs were recompensed And G.o.d would give we what I requested, I would my mistress' presence only seek, Which doth mine heart in prison captive keep."

But who can reckon upon the dotage, madness, servitude and blindness, the foolish phantasms and vanities of lovers, their torments, wishes, idle attempts?

Yet for all this, amongst so many irksome, absurd, troublesome symptoms, inconveniences, fantastical fits and pa.s.sions which are usually incident to such persons, there be some good and graceful qualities in lovers, which this affection causeth. "As it makes wise men fools, so many times it makes fools become wise; [5486]it makes base fellows become generous, cowards courageous," as Cardan notes out of Plutarch; "covetous, liberal and magnificent; clowns, civil; cruel, gentle; wicked, profane persons, to become religious; slovens, neat; churls, merciful; and dumb dogs, eloquent; your lazy drones, quick and nimble." _Feras mentes domat cupido_, that fierce, cruel and rude Cyclops Polyphemus sighed, and shed many a salt tear for Galatea's sake. No pa.s.sion causeth greater alterations, or more vehement of joy or discontent. Plutarch. _Sympos. lib. 5. quaest. 1_, [5487] saith, "that the soul of a man in love is full of perfumes and sweet odours, and all manner of pleasing tones and tunes, insomuch that it is hard to say (as he adds) whether love do mortal men more harm than good."

It adds spirits and makes them, otherwise soft and silly, generous and courageous, [5488]_Audacem faciebat amor_. Ariadne's love made Theseus so adventurous, and Medea's beauty Jason so victorious; _expectorat amor timorem_. [5489]Plato is of opinion that the love of Venus made Mars so valorous. "A young man will be much abashed to commit any foul offence that shall come to the hearing or sight of his mistress." As [5490]he that desired of his enemy now dying, to lay him with his face upward, _ne amasius videret eum a tergo vulneratum_, lest his sweetheart should say he was a coward. "And if it were [5491]possible to have an army consist of lovers, such as love, or are beloved, they would be extraordinary valiant and wise in their government, modesty would detain them from doing amiss, emulation incite them to do that which is good and honest, and a few of them would overcome a great company of others." There is no man so pusillanimous, so very a dastard, whom love would not incense, make of a divine temper, and an heroical spirit. As he said in like case, [5492]

_Tota ruat caeli moles, non terreor_, &c. Nothing can terrify, nothing can dismay them. But as Sir Blandimor and Paridel, those two brave fairy knights, fought for the love of fair Florimel in presence--

[5493] "And drawing both their swords with rage anew, Like two mad mastives each other slew, And s.h.i.+elds did share, and males did rash, and helms did hew; So furiously each other did a.s.sail, As if their souls at once they would have rent, Out of their b.r.e.a.s.t.s, that streams of blood did trail Adown as if their springs of life were spent, That all the ground with purple blood was sprent, And all their armour stain'd with b.l.o.o.d.y gore, Yet scarcely once to breath would they relent.

So mortal was their malice and so sore, That both resolved (than yield) to die before."

Every base swain in love will dare to do as much for his dear mistress'

sake. He will fight and fetch, [5494]Argivum Clypeum, that famous buckler of Argos, to do her service, adventure at all, undertake any enterprise.

And as Serra.n.u.s the Spaniard, then Governor of Sluys, made answer to Marquess Spinola, if the enemy brought 50,000 devils against him he would keep it. The nine worthies, Oliver and Rowland, and forty dozen of peers are all in him, he is all mettle, armour of proof, more than a man, and in this case improved beyond himself. For as [5495]Agatho contends, a true lover is wise, just, temperate, and valiant. [5496]"I doubt not, therefore, but if a man had such an army of lovers" (as Castilio supposeth) "he might soon conquer all the world, except by chance he met with such another army of inamoratos to oppose it." [5497]For so perhaps they might fight as that fatal dog and fatal hare in the heavens, course one another round, and never make an end. Castilio thinks Ferdinand King of Spain would never have conquered Granada, had not Queen Isabel and her ladies been present at the siege: [5498]"It cannot be expressed what courage the Spanish knights took, when the ladies were present, a few Spaniards overcame a mult.i.tude of Moors." They will undergo any danger whatsoever, as Sir Walter Manny in Edward the Third's time, stuck full of ladies' favours, fought like a dragon. For _soli amantes_, as [5499]Plato holds, _pro amicis mori appetunt_, only lovers will die for their friends, and in their mistress'

quarrel. And for that cause he would have women follow the camp, to be spectators and encouragers of n.o.ble actions: upon such an occasion, the [5500]Squire of Dames himself, Sir Lancelot or Sir Tristram, Caesar, or Alexander, shall not be more resolute or go beyond them.

Not courage only doth love add, but as I said, subtlety, wit, and many pretty devices, [5501]_Namque dolos inspirat amor, fraudesque ministrat_, [5502]Jupiter in love with Leda, and not knowing how to compa.s.s his desire, turned himself into a swan, and got Venus to pursue him in the likeness of an eagle; which she doing, for shelter, he fled to Leda's lap, _et in ejus gremio se collocavit_, Leda embraced him, and so fell fast asleep, _sed dormientem Jupiter compressit_, by which means Jupiter had his will.

Infinite such tricks love can devise, such fine feats in abundance, with wisdom and wariness, [5503]_quis fallere possit amantem_. All manner of civility, decency, compliment and good behaviour, _plus solis et leporis_, polite graces and merry conceits. Boccaccio hath a pleasant tale to this purpose, which he borrowed from the Greeks, and which Beroaldus hath turned into Latin, Bebelius in verse, of Cymon and Iphigenia. This Cymon was a fool, a proper man of person, and the governor of Cyprus' son. but a very a.s.s, insomuch that his father being ashamed of him, sent him to a farmhouse he had in the country, to be brought up. Where by chance, as his manner was, walking alone, he espied a gallant young gentlewoman, named Iphigenia, a burgomaster's daughter of Cyprus, with her maid, by a brook side in a little thicket, fast asleep in her smock, where she had newly bathed herself: "When [5504]Cymon saw her, he stood leaning on his staff, gaping on her immovable, and in amaze;" at last he fell so far in love with the glorious object, that he began to rouse himself up, to bethink what he was, would needs follow her to the city, and for her sake began to be civil, to learn to sing and dance, to play on instruments, and got all those gentlemanlike qualities and compliments in a short s.p.a.ce, which his friends were most glad of. In brief, he became, from an idiot and a clown, to be one of the most complete gentlemen in Cyprus, did many valorous exploits, and all for the love of mistress Iphigenia. In a word, I may say thus much of them all, let them be never so clownish, rude and horrid, Grobians and s.l.u.ts, if once they be in love they will be most neat and spruce; for, [5505]_Omnibus rebus, et nitidis nitoribus antevenit amor_, they will follow the fas.h.i.+on, begin to trick up, and to have a good opinion of themselves, _venustatem enim mater Venus_; a s.h.i.+p is not so long a rigging as a young gentlewoman a tr.i.m.m.i.n.g up herself against her sweetheart comes.

A painter's shop, a flowery meadow, no so gracious aspect in nature's storehouse as a young maid, _nubilis puella_, a Novitsa or Venetian bride, that looks for a husband, or a young man that is her suitor; composed looks, composed gait, clothes, gestures, actions, all composed; all the graces, elegances in the world are in her face. Their best robes, ribands, chains, jewels, lawns, linens, laces, spangles, must come on, [5506]_praeter quam res pat.i.tur student elegantiae_, they are beyond all measure coy, nice, and too curious on a sudden; 'tis all their study, all their business, how to wear their clothes neat, to be polite and terse, and to set out themselves. No sooner doth a young man see his sweetheart coming, but he smugs up himself, pulls up his cloak now fallen about his shoulders, ties his garters, points, sets his band, cuffs, slicks his hair, twires his beard, &c. When Mercury was to come before his mistress,

[5507] ------"Chlamydemque ut pendeat apte Collocat, ut limbus totumque appareat aurum."

"He put his cloak in order, that the lace.

And hem, and gold-work, all might have his grace."

Salmacis would not be seen of Hermaphroditus, till she had spruced up herself first,

[5508] "Nec tamen ante adiit, etsi properabat adire, Quam se composuit, quam circ.u.mspexit amictus, Et finxit vultum, et meruit formosa videri."

"Nor did she come, although 'twas her desire, Till she compos'd herself, and trimm'd her tire, And set her looks to make him to admire."

Venus had so ordered the matter, that when her son [5509]Aeneas was to appear before Queen Dido, he was

"Os humerosque deo similis (namque ipsa decoram Caesariem nato genetrix, lumenque juventae Purpureum et laetos oculis afflarat honores.")

like a G.o.d, for she was the tire-woman herself, to set him out with all natural and artificial impostures. As mother Mammea did her son Heliogabalus, new chosen emperor, when he was to be seen of the people first. When the hirsute cyclopical Polyphemus courted Galatea;

[5510] "Jamque tibi formae, jamque est tibi cura placendi, Jam rigidos pectis rastris Polypheme capillos, Jam libet hirsutam tibi falce recidere barbam, Et spectare feros in aqua et componere vultus."

"And then he did begin to prank himself, To plait and comb his head, and beard to shave, And look his face i' th' water as a gla.s.s, And to compose himself for to be brave."

He was upon a sudden now spruce and keen, as a new ground hatchet. He now began to have a good opinion of his own features and good parts, now to be a gallant.

"Jam Galatea veni, nec munera despice nostra, Certe ego me novi, liquidaque in imagine vidi Nuper aquae, placuitque mihi mea forma videnti."

"Come now, my Galatea, scorn me not, Nor my poor presents; for but yesterday I saw myself i' th' water, and methought Full fair I was, then scorn me not I say."

[5511] "Non sum adeo informis, nuper me in littore vidi, c.u.m placidum ventis staret mare"------

'Tis the common humour of all suitors to trick up themselves, to be prodigal in apparel, _pure lotus_, neat, combed, and curled, with powdered hair, _comptus et calimistratus_, with a long love-lock, a flower in his ear, perfumed gloves, rings, scarves, feathers, points, &c. as if he were a prince's Ganymede, with everyday new suits, as the fas.h.i.+on varies; going as if he trod upon eggs, as Heinsius writ to Primierus, [5512]"if once he be besotten on a wench, he must like awake at nights, renounce his book, sigh and lament, now and then weep for his hard hap, and mark above all things what hats, bands, doublets, breeches, are in fas.h.i.+on, how to cut his beard, and wear his locks, to turn up his mustachios, and curl his head, prune his pickedevant, or if he wear it abroad, that the east side be correspondent to the west;" he may be scoffed at otherwise, as Julian that apostate emperor was for wearing a long hirsute goatish beard, fit to make ropes with, as in his Mysopogone, or that apologetical oration he made at Antioch to excuse himself, he doth ironically confess, it hindered his kissing, _nam non licuit inde pura puris, eoque suavioribus labra labris adjungere_, but he did not much esteem it, as it seems by the sequel, _de accipiendis dandisve osculis non laboro_, yet (to follow mine author) it may much concern a young lover, he must be more respectful in this behalf, "he must be in league with an excellent tailor, barber,"

[5513] "Tonsorem pucrum sed arte talem, Qualis nec Thalamis fuit Neronis;"

"have neat shoe-ties, points, garters, speak in print, walk in print, eat and drink in print, and that which is all in all, he must be mad in print."

Amongst other good qualities an amorous fellow is endowed with, he must learn to sing and dance, play upon some instrument or other, as without all doubt he will, if he be truly touched with this loadstone of love. For as [5514]Erasmus hath it, _Musicam docet amor et Poesia_, love will make them musicians, and to compose ditties, madrigals, elegies, love sonnets, and sing them to several pretty tunes, to get all good qualities may be had.

[5515]Jupiter perceived Mercury to be in love with Philologia, because he learned languages, polite speech, (for Suadela herself was Venus' daughter, as some write) arts and sciences, _quo virgini placeret_, all to ingratiate himself, and please his mistress. 'Tis their chiefest study to sing, dance; and without question, so many gentlemen and gentlewomen would not be so well qualified in this kind, if love did not incite them. [5516]"Who,"

saith Castilio, "would learn to play, or give his mind to music, learn to dance, or make so many rhymes, love-songs, as most do, but for women's sake, because they hope by that means to purchase their good wills, and win their favour?" We see this daily verified in our young women and wives, they that being maids took so much pains to sing, play, and dance, with such cost and charge to their parents, to get those graceful qualities, now being married will scarce touch an instrument, they care not for it.

Constantine _agricult. lib. 11. cap. 18_, makes Cupid himself to be a great dancer; by the same token as he was capering amongst the G.o.ds, [5517]"he flung down a bowl of nectar, which distilling upon the white rose, ever since made it red:" and Calistratus, by the help of Dedalus, about Cupid's statue [5518]made a many of young wenches still a dancing, to signify belike that Cupid was much affected with it, as without all doubt he was.

For at his and Psyche's wedding, the G.o.ds being present to grace the feast, Ganymede filled nectar in abundance (as [5519]Apuleius describes it), Vulcan was the cook, the Hours made all fine with roses and flowers, Apollo played on the harp, the Muses sang to it, _sed suavi Musicae super ingressa Venus saltavit_, but his mother Venus danced to his and their sweet content. Witty [5520]Lucian in that pathetical love pa.s.sage, or pleasant description of Jupiter's stealing of Europa, and swimming from Phoenicia to Crete, makes the sea calm, the winds hush, Neptune and Amphitrite riding in their chariot to break the waves before them, the tritons dancing round about, with every one a torch, the sea-nymphs half naked, keeping time on dolphins' backs, and singing Hymeneus, Cupid nimbly tripping on the top of the waters, and Venus herself coming after in a sh.e.l.l, strewing roses and flowers on their heads. Praxiteles, in all his pictures of love, feigns Cupid ever smiling, and looking upon dancers; and in St. Mark's in Rome (whose work I know not), one of the most delicious pieces, is a many of [5521]satyrs dancing about a wench asleep. So that dancing still is as it were a necessary appendix to love matters. Young la.s.ses are never better pleased than when as upon a holiday, after evensong, they may meet their sweethearts, and dance about a maypole, or in a town-green under a shady elm. Nothing so familiar in. [5522]France, as for citizens' wives and maids to dance a round in the streets, and often too, for want of better instruments, to make good music of their own voices, and dance after it.

Yea many times this love will make old men and women that have more toes than teeth, dance,--"John, come kiss me now," mask and mum; for Comus and Hymen love masks, and all such merriments above measure, will allow men to put on women's apparel in some cases, and promiscuously to dance, young and old, rich and poor, generous and base, of all sorts. Paulus Jovius taxeth Augustine Niphus the philosopher, [5523]"for that being an old man, and a public professor, a father of many children, he was so mad for the love of a young maid (that which many of his friends were ashamed to see), an old gouty fellow, yet would dance after fiddlers." Many laughed him to scorn for it, but this omnipotent love would have it so.

[5524] "Hyacinthino bacillo Properans amor, me adegit Violenter ad sequendum."

"Love hasty with his purple staff did make Me follow and the dance to undertake."

And 'tis no news this, no indecorum; for why? a good reason may be given of it. Cupid and death met both in an inn; and being merrily disposed, they did exchange some arrows from either quiver; ever since young men die, and oftentimes old men dote--[5525]_Sic moritur Juvenis, sic moribundus amat_.

And who can then withstand it? If once we be in love, young or old, though our teeth shake in our heads, like virginal jacks, or stand parallel asunder like the arches of a bridge, there is no remedy, we must dance trenchmore for a need, over tables, chairs, and stools, &c. And princ.u.m pranc.u.m is a fine dance. Plutarch, _Sympos. 1. quaest. 5._ doth in some sort excuse it, and telleth us moreover in what sense, _Musicam docet amor, licet prius fuerit rudis_, how love makes them that had no skill before learn to sing and dance; he concludes, 'tis only that power and prerogative love hath over us. [5526]"Love" (as he holds) "will make a silent man speak, a modest man most officious; dull, quick; slow, nimble; and that which is most to be admired, a hard, base, untractable churl, as fire doth iron in a smith's forge, free, facile, gentle, and easy to be entreated."

Nay, 'twill make him prodigal in the other extreme, and give a [5527]hundred sesterces for a night's lodging, as they did of old to Lais of Corinth, or [5528] _ducenta drachmarum millia pro unica nocte_, as Mundus to Paulina, spend all his fortunes (as too many do in like case) to obtain his suit. For which cause many compare love to wine, which makes men jovial and merry, frolic and sad, whine, sing, dance, and what not.

But above all the other symptoms of lovers, this is not lightly to be overpa.s.sed, that likely of what condition soever, if once they be in love, they turn to their ability, rhymers, ballad makers, and poets. For as Plutarch saith, [5529]"They will be witnesses and trumpeters of their paramours' good parts, bedecking them with verses and commendatory songs, as we do statues with gold, that they may be remembered and admired of all." Ancient men will dote in this kind sometimes as well as the rest; the heat of love will thaw their frozen affections, dissolve the ice of age, and so far enable them, though they be sixty years of age above the girdle, to be scarce thirty beneath. Jovia.n.u.s Ponta.n.u.s makes an old fool rhyme, and turn poetaster to please his mistress.

[5530] "Ne ringas Mariana, meos me dispice canos, De sene nam juvenem dia referre potes," &c.

"Sweet Marian do not mine age disdain, For thou canst make an old man young again."

They will be still singing amorous songs and ditties (if young especially), and cannot abstain though it be when they go to, or should be at church. We have a pretty story to this purpose in [5531]Westmonasteriensis, an old writer of ours (if you will believe it) _An. Dom._ 1012. at Colewiz in Saxony, on Christmas eve a company of young men and maids, whilst the priest was at ma.s.s in the church, were singing catches and love songs in the churchyard, he sent to them to make less noise, but they sung on still: and if you will, you shall have the very song itself.