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her； as it is also her part； in my opinion； in pleasures that are proper
to her； to inspire and infuse into the body all the sentiment it is
capable of； and to study how to make them sweet and useful to it。 For it
is good reason； as they say； that the body should not pursue its
appetites to the prejudice of the mind； but why is it not also the reason
that the mind should not pursue hers to the prejudice of the body？
I have no other passion to keep me in breath。 What avarice； ambition；
quarrels； lawsuits do for others who； like me； have no particular
vocation； love would much more commodiously do； it would restore to me
vigilance； sobriety； grace； and the care of my person； it would reassure
my countenance； so that the grimaces of old age； those deformed and
dismal looks； might not come to disgrace it； would again put me upon
sound and wise studies； by which I might render myself more loved and
esteemed； clearing my mind of the despair of itself and of its use； and
redintegrating it to itself； would divert me from a thousand troublesome
thoughts； a thousand melancholic humours that idleness and the ill
posture of our health loads us withal at such an age； would warm again；
in dreams at least； the blood that nature is abandoning； would hold up
the chin； and a little stretch out the nerves； the vigour and gaiety of
life of that poor man who is going full drive towards his ruin。 But I
very well understand that it is a commodity hard to recover： by weakness
and long experience our taste is become more delicate and nice； we ask
most when we bring least； and are harder to choose when we least deserve
to be accepted： and knowing ourselves for what we are； we are less
confident and more distrustful； nothing can assure us of being beloved；
considering our condition and theirs。 I am out of countenance to see
myself in company with those young wanton creatures：
〃Cujus in indomito constantior inguine nervus；
Quam nova collibus arbor inhaeret。〃
＇〃In whose unbridled reins the vigour is more inherent than in the
young tree on the hills。〃Horace； Epod。； xii。 19。＇
To what end should we go insinuate our misery amid their gay and
sprightly humour？
〃Possint ut juvenes visere fervidi。
Multo non sine risu；
Dilapsam in cineres facem。〃
＇〃As the fervid youths may behold； not without laughter； a burning
torch worn to ashes。〃Horace； Od。； iv。 13； 21。＇
They have strength and reason on their side； let us give way； we have
nothing to do there： and these blossoms of springing beauty suffer not
themselves to be handled by such benumbed hands nor dealt with by mere
material means； for； as the old philosopher answered one who jeered him
because he could not gain the favour of a young girl he made love to：
〃Friend； the hook will not stick in such soft cheese。〃 It is a commerce
that requires relation and correspondence： the other pleasures we receive
may be acknowledged by recompenses of another nature； but this is not to
be paid but with the same kind of coin。 In earnest； in this sport； the
pleasure I give more tickles my imagination than that they give me； now；
he has nothing of generosity in him who can receive pleasure where he
confers noneit must needs be a mean soul that will owe all； and can be
content to maintain relations with persons to whom he is a continual
charge； there is no beauty； grace； nor privacy so exquisite that a
gentleman ought to desire at this rate。 If they can only be kind to us
out of pity； I had much rather die than live upon charity。 I would have
right to ask； in the style wherein I heard them beg in Italy： 〃Fate ben
per voi；〃＇〃Do good for yourself。〃＇ or after the manner that Cyrus
exhorted his soldiers； 〃Who loves himself let him follow me。〃〃Consort
yourself；〃 some one will say to me； 〃with women of your own condition；
whom like fortune will render more easy to your desire。〃 O ridiculous
and insipid composition！
〃Nolo
Barbam vellere mortuo leoni。〃
＇〃I would not pluck the beard from a dead lion。〃Martial＇
Xenophon lays it for an objection and an accusation against Menon； that
he never made love to any but old women。 For my part； I take more
pleasure in but seeing the just and sweet mixture of two young beauties；
or only in meditating on it in my fancy； than myself in acting second in
a pitiful and imperfect conjunction；
＇Which Cotton renders； 〃Than to be myself an actor in the second
with a deformed creature。〃＇
I leave that fantastic appetite to the Emperor Galba； who was only for
old curried flesh： and to this poor wretch：
〃O ego Di faciant talem to cernere possim；
Caraque mutatis oscula ferre comis；
Amplectique meis corpus non pingue lacertis！〃
＇Ovid； who （Ex。 Ponto； i。 4； 49） writes to his wife； 〃O would the
gods arrange that such I might see thee； and bring dear kisses to
thy changed locks； and embrace thy withered body with my arms〃＇
Amongst chief deformities I reckon forced and artificial beauties： Hemon；
a young boy of Chios； thinking by fine dressing to acquire the beauty
that nature had denied him； came to the philosopher Arcesilaus and asked
him if it was possible for a wise man to be in love〃Yes；〃 replied he；
〃provided it be not with a farded and adulterated beauty like thine。〃
＇Diogenes Laertius； iv。 3？ The question was whether a wise man
could love him。 Cotton has 〃Emonez； a young courtezan of Chios。〃＇
Ugliness of a confessed antiquity is to me less old and less ugly than
another that is polished and plastered up。 Shall I speak it； without the
danger of having my throat cut？ love； in my opinion； is not properly and
naturally in its season； but in the age next to childhood；
〃Quem si puellarum insereres choro；
Mille sagaces falleret hospites；
Discrimen obscurum； solutis
Crinibus ambiguoque vultu：〃
＇〃Whom if thou shouldst place in a company of girls； it would
require a thousand experts to distinguish him； with his loose locks
and ambiguous countenance。〃Horace； Od。； ii。 5； 21。＇
nor beauty neither； for whereas Homer extends it so far as to the budding
of the beard； Plato himself has remarked this as rare： and the reason why
the sophist Bion so pleasantly called the first appearing hairs of
adolescence 'Aristogitons' and 'Harmodiuses'…＇Plutarch； On Love； c。34。＇
is sufficiently known。 I find it in virility already in some sort a
little out of date； though not so much as in old age；
〃Importunus enim transvolat aridas
Quercus。〃
＇〃For it uncivilly passes over withered oaks。〃
Horace； Od。； iv。 13； 9。＇
and Marguerite； Queen of Navarre； like a woman； very far extends the
advantage of women； ordaining that it is time； at thirty years old； to
convert the title of fair into that of good。 The shorter authority we
give to love over our lives； 'tis so much the better for us。 Do but
observe his port； 'tis a beardless boy。 Who knows not how； in his school
they proceed contrary to all order； study； exercise； and usage are their
ways for insufficiency there novices rule：
〃Amor ordinem nescit。〃
＇〃Love ignores rules。〃 （Or：） 〃Love knows no rule。〃
St。 Jerome； Letter to Chyomatius。
Doubtless his conduct is much more graceful when mixed with inadvertency
and trouble； miscarriages and ill successes give him point and grace；
provided it be sharp and eager； 'tis no great matter whether it be
prudent or no： do but observe how he goes reeling； tripping； and playing：
you put him in the stocks when you guide him by art and wisdom； and he is
restrained of his divine liberty when put into those hairy and callous
clutches。
As to the rest； I often hear the women set out this intelligence as
entirely spiritual； and disdain to put the interest the senses there have
into consideration； everything there serves； but I can say that I have
often seen that we have excused the weakness of their understandings in
favour of their outward beauty； but have never yet seen that in favour of
mind； how mature and full soever； any of them would hold out a hand to a
body that was never so little in decadence。 Why does not some one of
them take it into her head to make that noble Socratical bargain between
body and soul； purchasing a philosophical and spiritual intelligence and
generation at the price of her thighs； which is the highest price she can
get for them？ Plato ordains in his Laws that he who has performed any
signal and advantageous exploit in war may not be refused during the
whole expedition； his age or ugliness notwithstanding； a kiss or any
other amorous favour from any woman whatever。 What he thinks to be so
just in recommendation of military valour； why may it not be the same in
recommendation of any other good quality？ and why does not some woman
take a fancy to possess over her companions the glory of this chaste
l