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
without the speciall helpe of him â—hat framed him immortall for being weake in himselfe he cannot by his â—wne strength ascend to so great a maâ—â—sty Or Perhaps because he being â—â—aced in the middle of the Theater of 〈◊〉 many Beauties created both in things â—enerall and more speciall and indiâ—â—duall and as it were dazeled and â—â—inded with the light of them doth â—ot know howe to discerne the better â—â—om the worse Not considering that 〈◊〉 was created to vnderstand and vnâ—â—rstanding the excellency of the creaâ—â—res of God by them to passe to the â—â—owledge of the Creator and so from â—â—e inferior Beauties to the supreme Or â—â—rhaps because hauing fastned the eye of his sense vpon some earthly Beauty pleaseth himselfe so much with the present delight thereof that forgetting the greater Beautie and not knowing any greater delight he placeth therein his last end and chiefest felicity offending thereby both the law of reason and of God Or perhaps because man being made blinde by sense and loue of a momentary delight he desireth not by contemplation to enioy the Beauty of God For neither can the sense or any other powers exercise their operations in any degree of excellencie if not in one onely obiect and at one only time and therefore the eye being fastned in an earthly Beauty with an earthly loue how can he by contemplation behold the celestiall Beautie with angelicall loue How should a man that hath abased his lips by inordinate lust to the standing and stinking poole of a rotten Beauty dippe them in the pure fountaine of the onely fayre by a regular and orderly desire How should he gazing by a sensuall and brutish loue vpon a corporall and corruptible Beauty fasten the subtilitie of his vnderstanding vpon the first fayre who is meerely spirituall and heauenly what proportion hath the Sunne with darkenesse the day with night truth with a â—ye a Prince with a slaue fire with Ise snowe with durte golde with Iron honour with infamie diuine with earthly treasure with pouertie vertue with vice order with confusion infinite with finite immortall with mortall so long therefore as he fasteneth his eye vpon an inferiour Beauty he cannot possibly ascend by contemplaâ—ion to the first fayre Or perhaps because the sense being debased to a thousand concupiscences the Appetite drowned with the lasciuious billowes of intemperancie the taste glutted with the honie of Cupids appearing â—ainties the will placed vpon fraile obâ—ects and willing nothing but to satisâ—ie the desires of the flesh the body more then furiously and inconsiderateâ—y accustomed to Venus beddes the â—oynes alwayes walking to the common forge of euery brothelhouse the â—yes open to nothing but the spectacles â—f Sardanapalus the thoughts ascendâ—ng no higher then the contriuing of â—dulteries and wanton sports Religion â—anished the vailes of chastitie broken â—he bridle of the law nothing regarded All good counsell and ciuill discipline set at naught and man being made more then an enemy to himselfe hee cannot euen by the lawe of custome which is conuerted into an other nature yea a necessitie lift vp the eye of his vnderstanding to heauen and to the contemplation of the first Fayre Problemes of the Affections Where at full are set downe Their Causes properties offices vses and endes Of Loue. VVhy hath nature ordayned that their should be affections in the world Probleme 40. PErhaps because the world being a kinde of well ordered Common-weale where beholdicg the Beautifull â—iâ—position of all visible bodies both â—…ght and heauy neither light nor â—…eauy and contemplating the powerâ—al workmaÌ„ship of the celestial Speares which for the perpetuall generation of 〈◊〉 things are perpetually caried about â—hat great shop of those first Elements â—y them framing and fashioning all â—ompound natures and beholding in â—his Elementall and lower world â—he Citizens thereof which are all liuing creatures and among them the chiefe and principall which is man who is Lord and gouernour of the rest it was fit necessarie that there should be assigned vnto his perfection some order for his military strength which could not otherwise be done then by placing in the minde of man these affections which for the benefit of the whole world by Loue might defend by Hate might offend by Desire of victorie might attempt in the presence of greater forces by counterfeit flights might retire by Delight might reioyce in the benefit of peace by the death of the conquered be stirred vp to Griefe by Hope might willingly offer their neckes to the yoake of labour by Despaire might fight couragiously and not in vaine by Feare might learne to prouide for future wants either of victuall or munition by Boldnesse might not feare to vndergoe any danger for publicke honour and benefit by Anger might be enflamed to shed their bloud and to lose their liues for a generall peace And so all the workes of nature might remaine safely defended from their enemies and quietly enioy that benefit which nature hath bestowed on them Or Perhaps because it being impossible to preserue nature wâ—thout generation and generation not to be had without loue and Loue not working without desire and Desire not moued without hope and Hope not obtayning his wished end without audacitie and Audacitie not doing the vttermost without Anger nay without the violent motion of all the irascible paâ—t and the irascible part not being thoroughly stirred and quickned without some feeling griefe and Griefes being not perfected without feare of greater and Feare being nâ—t cleared without the certaine delight of a present good â—t followeth that all the Affections are necessary for the preseruation of the whole VVhy is some speciall affection predominant ouer euery age Probleme 41. PErhaps because Nature seeketh in euery thing both the vniuersall beâ—efit and priuate good and therefore 〈◊〉 hath ordained that feare should be the predominant in all mothers ouer their tender infants to the ende that the vniuersall generation of humane kind might be preserued their owne children thereby to their owne benefit carefully guarded attended which by reason of their owne weaknes they cannot doe And for this cause it hath likewise giuen to Childhood delight in childish sports and pastimes Shame to be a bridle as it were to that age to withhold them from dishonest vntowardly actions To youth Loue desire of generation to men of riper yeares hope and courage to the performance of acts worthy glory immortallity to olde men pitty compassion in iudging and censuring humaÌ„e accidents feare to make theÌ„ circumspect and wary in that smale remnant of their life which is behinde to decrepite olde age paine griefe sorowes as forerunners and messengers of appoching death And that to the ende they may therby be driuen to despaire of all humane helpes and in god alone put their whole trust and confidence Or Perhaps to the end that man in the change and alteration of his life might likewise change his wil desires passing
alwaies to that which may be most worthy and best befitting his yeares for hence it is that men desiring thinges contrary to their age with an earnest desire following theÌ„ purchase to theÌ„selues Shame dishonour As for example it is not fit and conuenient that a man of perfect yeares should take delight in the toyes and sportes of little children or that an olde man should follow the fansies of Loue which are proper vnto young men or that women should exercise armes chiualry which is proper vnto man or that a Prince should feare the clattering of his enimies Squadrons which is the property of women and therfore wise nature by these affectâ—ons seeketh a certaine kinde of decent comâ—ines in all humane actions Or Perhaps to the end that humane nature by this meanes might be made more louely sociable for a modest young man doth much pâ—ease and content with his modesty and bashfullnesse and so doth a breast adorned with chast and interâ—hangeable loue we do much coÌ„mend â—he valour of men of riper yeares in the â—erformance of difficult dangerous â—nterprises Wee reuerence the piety â—nd pitty of olde men embrace their â—ounsells when by their owne feares they withhold vs from the execution of our rash and inconsiderate furies And hereby appeareth the great profit and commoditie to this community and decent proportion of euery affection to euery age In that feare vniteth the parents to their children the delight of friendship breedes ciuillity in conuersation the kindled desire of Loue knitteth the hearts and the bodies and the mindes in one and the same will manly courage by defending the weale publicke makes ciuill vnion more perfect and counsell which dependeth vpon the wise and fearefull tongues of old men draweth young men to a true vnity in all their desires Whereby it plainly appeareth that the Affections of the minde make the life of man both pleasant and sociable VVhy would Nature that in euery thing in the world there should be Loue Probleme 42. PErhaps because the first Creator and vniuersall formor of all Nature hauing wrought out of that confused Chaos or rather nothing so noble and so rich a fabricke of the inferiour and superior worlds not mooued thereunto by any necessity but stirred vp by his owne wil would of his infinit Loue communicate the Essence or being to all creatures By which his loue it likewise pleased him to giue vnto his creatures this pretious affection of Loue to the ende that imitating their Creator they likewise might worke to the common benefit of nature Or Perhaps because the Soueraigne Monarch and chiefe good being an infinite Loue would likewise that all the Creatures which by his infinite Power hee hath framed should cary the same badge with in their bowelles as an open signe and cleare seale of their true Archytect and Creator Or Perhaps because that he hauing formed the whole Vniuerse vnited in him selfe and for him selfe would likewise haue it continued by an amorous chaine of Loue to the end that such vnion by length of time and many succeeding ages should not growe tedious but rather thâ—t all things in generall with their speciall and particular kindes being recomforted by the sweetenesse of Loue should much more desire to continue therein Or Perhaps because hee hauing framed al things in the world in an excellent order for the continuall conseruation of that order gaue such an affection to all his creatures as might spurre them forward with sweete desire to follow and affect their naturall places to procure vnto themselues whatsoeuer might be profitable for their healthes and preseruation to fly the contrarie to engender their like and to preserue themselues and their kinds with the whole vniuerse VVhy is Loue so potent Probleme 43. PErhaps because it hath beginning from an infinite Power and euery effect hath some resemblance or at least carieth with it some kinde of footesteppe of the Excellency of his cause and thereby maketh knowne the power of that which hath framed it so powerfull and excellent Or Perhaps because it hath the Empire rule of all other affections and as a soueraigne Lord hath the whole multitude of them as well of the concupiscible parte as the â—irascible at her commaund and seruice Oâ— Perhaps because it relieth and resteth it selfe vpon powerfull natures as Angells who for Loue wherle about the superiour Spheares in continuall motion As the heauens which for Loue working by influence as a father and first begettor distill a seminall kinde of vertue into all earthly things as the Elements which for Loue are vnited and mingled together to forme a compound body as liuing creatures who for Loue diue into the bottomlesse depths of the water dominere ouer the earth and at their pleasure flye hether and thether in the Ayre As men who for Loue of their Countrie sweate in their armour for the Loue of God suffer martirdome for the Loue of society honour fidelity for Loue of mariage effect honesty for Platonicall Loue contemplate for reasonable Loue esteeme of vertue for zealous Loue feare no dangers no times fly not the horrour of â—eÌ„pests are not coÌ„fouÌ„ded with a thouâ—and deathes to conclude accompt al labours light all losse gaine all difficulty facillity al miserie pleasure all crosses comforts all sower sweete all sorrowe Ioye and death life Or Perhaps because Loue is of so great force and authority that it subiugateth vnto her will the greatest power of the minde that is the will which ruleth and gouerneth al the other both interior and exterior powers and yet the will is many times constrained for the better pleasing and content of Loue to follow those things which it doth altogither abhorre and detest so that hauing so wonderfull an Empire and commaund ouer all the powers both inward and outward of the body and of the minde no maruell if Loue both will and can doe what it will Or Perhaps because Loue aspiring to a good that is great and wonderfully delightfull whereto nature giueth a friendly assistance and incouragement euen from the obiect that is loued gathereth strength with more ease to attaine vnto it whereby the powers irascible doe runne at her commaund with those greater forces that are wont to expugne and ouercome things most hard and dâ—fficult the motiue powers with all the members of the body growe stronge and nimble in her seruice and the heart it selfe being incited and stirred forward by her pricking goâ—ds doth their settle it selfe where Desire though with much difficulty carieth it Or Perhaps because euery first thing and more excellent is in his order more potent As it appeareth in God the first of al other things who is onely saide to be omnipotent in the Seraphins who in knowledge are more noble and more powerfull then all other angells as in heauen which among all other bodies is the mightiest and worketh with greatest power vpon these inferior parts as in the fire which is the
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