V verses of Virgil I CHAPTER Our auricular and private confession, I confesse my selfe in publike; religiously and purely. Saint AugusUpon some tine, Origine, and Hippocrates, have published [the] errors of their opinions; I likewise of my maners. greedily long to make my selfe knowne; nor care I at what rate, so it be truly or to say better, I hunger for nothing; but I hate mortally to be mistaken by such as shall happen to know my name. He that doth all for honor and glory, what thinks he to gaine by presenting himselfe to the world in a maske, hiding his true being from the peoples knowledge? Commend a crook-back for his comely stature, he ought to take it as an injury: if you be a coward, and one honoreth you for a valiant man, is it of you he speaketh? you are taken for another: I should like as well, to have him glory in the courtesies and lowtings that are shewed him, supposing himselfe to be ring-leader of a troupe when he is the meanest folower of it. Archelaus King of Macedon, passing through a street som body cast water upon him, was advised by his followers to punish the party: yea but (quoth he) who ever it was, he cast not the water upon me, but upon him he thought I was. Socrates to one that told him he was railed upon and ill spoken of; Tush (said he) there is no such thing in me. For my part, should one commend me to be an excellent Pilote, to be very modest, or most chaste, I should owe him no thanks. Likewise should any man call me traitour, theefe or drunkard, I would deeme my selfe but little wronged by him. Those who misknow themselves, may feed themselves with false approbations; but not I, who see and search my selfe into my very bowels, and know full well what belongs unto me. I am pleased to be lesse commended, provided I be better knowne. I may be esteemed wise for such conditions of wisedome, that I account meere follies. It vexeth me, Virgil that my Essayes serve Ladies in liew of common CHAPTER ware and stuffe for their hall: this Chap. wil pre- V ferre me to their cabinet: I love their society some- Upon some what private; their publike familiarity wants favor verses of and savor. In farewels we heate above ordinary our affections to the things we forgo. I here take my last leave of this worlds pleasures: loe here our last embraces. And now to our theame. Why was the acte of generation made so naturall, so necessary and so just, seeing we feare to speake of it without shame, and exclude it from our serious and regular discourses? we prononce boldly, to rob, to murther, to betray; and this we dare not but betweene our teeth. Are we to gather by it, that the less we breath out in words the more we are allowed to furnish our thoughts with? For words least used, least writen and least concealed should best be un derstood, and most generally knowne No age, no condition are more ignorant of it, then of their bread. They are imprinted in each one, without expressing, without voice or figure. And the sexe that doth it most, is most bound to suppresse it. It is an action we have put in the precincts of silence, whence to draw it were an offence: not to accuse or judge it. Nor dare we [beate] it but in circumlocution and picture. A notable favour, to a criminal offender, to be so execrable, that justice deem it injustice to touch and behold him, freed and saved by the benefit of this condemnations severity. Is it not herein as in matters of books, which being once called-in and forbidden become more saleable and publik? As for me, I will take Aristotle at his word that bashfullnesse is an ornament to youth, but a reproach to age. These verses are preached in the old schoole; a schoole of which I hold more then of the moderne: her vertues seeme greater unto me, her vices lesse. 81 CHAPTER Upon some verses of Virgil [Ceux] qui par trop fuiant Venus estrivent Who strive ore much Venus to shunne, offends Goddesse, thou rul'st the nature of all things. I know not who could set Pallas and the Muses at oddes with Venus, and make them cold and slow in affecting of love; as for me, I se no Deities that better sute together, nor more endebted one to another. Who-ever shal go about to remove amourous imaginations from the Muses, shall deprive them of the best entertainement they have, and of the noblest subject of their work: and who shall debarre Cupid the service and conversation of Poesie, shall weaken him of his best weapons. By this meanes they caste upon the God of acquaintance, of amitie and goodwill; and upon the Goddesses, protectresses of humanity, and justice, the vice of ingratitude, and imputation of churlishnesse. I have not so long beene cashiered from the state and service of this God, but that my memory is still acquainted with the force of his worth and valour. I feele and feeling know, How my old flames regrow. There commonly remaine some reliques of shivering and heate after an ague. Nec mihi deficiat calor hic, hyemantibus annis. When Winter yeares com-on, Let not this heate be gon. As drie, as sluggish and as unwieldy as I am, I feele CHAPTER yet some warme cinders of my passed heate. Qual' l'alto Egeo perche Aquiloneo Noto V Upon some verses of Virgil Non s'accheta ei peró, ma il suono e'l moto, As graund Egean Sea, because the voice Of windes doth cease, which it before enraged, But for so much as I know of it, the power and might of this God, are found more quick and lively in the shadowe of the Poesie, then in their owne essence. Et versus digitos habet.-JUVEN. Sat. vi. 197. Verses have full effect, Of fingers to erect. It representeth a kinde of aire more lovely then love it selfe. Venus is not so faire, nor so alluring all naked, quick and panting, as she is here in Virgill. Dixerat, et niveis hinc atque hinc diva lacertis -VIRG. En. viii. 387. So said the Goddesse, with soft embrace, With radiant lightning through a storme doth glide. CHAPTER Upon some verses of Virgil What therein I finde to be considered, is, that he depainteth her somewhat stirring for a maritall Venus. In this discreete match, appetites are not commonly so fondling; but drowsie and more sluggish. Love disdaineth a man should hold of other then himselfe, and dealeth but faintly with acquaintances begun and entertained under another title; as mariage is. Alliances, respects and meanes, by all reason, waigh as much or more, as the grace and beauty. A man doth not marry for himselfe, whatsoever he aleageth; but as much or more for his posteritie and familie. The use and interest of mariage concerneth our off-spring, a great way beyond us. Therefore doth this fashion please me, to guide it rather by a third Quo rapiet sitiens venerem interjusque recondant. Thirsting to snatch a fit, And inly harbour it. I see no mariages faile sooner, or more troubled, then such as are concluded for beauties sake, and |