I.--_Pleasant Objects of Love_.

Pleasant objects are infinite, whether they be such as have life, or be
without life; inanimate are countries, provinces, towers, towns, cities, as
he said, [4521]_Pulcherrimam insulam videmus, etiam cum non videmus_ we see
a fair island by description, when we see it not. The [4522]sun never saw a
fairer city, Thessala Tempe, orchards, gardens, pleasant walks, groves,
fountains, &c. The heaven itself is said to be [4523]fair or foul: fair
buildings, [4524]fair pictures, all artificial, elaborate and curious
works, clothes, give an admirable lustre: we admire, and gaze upon them,
_ut pueri Junonis avem_, as children do on a peacock: a fair dog, a fair
horse and hawk, &c. [4525]_Thessalus amat equum pullinum, buculum
Aegyptius, Lacedaemonius Catulum_, &c., such things we love, are most
gracious in our sight, acceptable unto us, and whatsoever else may cause
this passion, if it be superfluous or immoderately loved, as Guianerius
observes. These things in themselves are pleasing and good, singular
ornaments, necessary, comely, and fit to be had; but when we fix an
immoderate eye, and dote on them over much, this pleasure may turn to pain,
bring much sorrow and discontent unto us, work our final overthrow, and
cause melancholy in the end. Many are carried away with those bewitching
sports of gaming, hawking, hunting, and such vain pleasures, as [4526]I
have said: some with immoderate desire of fame, to be crowned in the
Olympics, knighted in the field, &c., and by these means ruinate
themselves. The lascivious dotes on his fair mistress, the glutton on his
dishes, which are infinitely varied to please the palate, the epicure on
his several pleasures, the superstitious on his idol, and fats himself with
future joys, as Turks feed themselves with an imaginary persuasion of a
sensual paradise: so several pleasant objects diversely affect diverse men.
But the fairest objects and enticings proceed from men themselves, which
most frequently captivate, allure, and make them dote beyond all measure
upon one another, and that for many respects: first, as some suppose, by
that secret force of stars, (_quod me tibi temperat astrum_?) They do
singularly dote on such a man, hate such again, and can give no reason for
it. [4527]_Non amo te Sabidi_, &c. Alexander admired Ephestion, Adrian
Antinous, Nero Sporus, &c. The physicians refer this to their temperament,
astrologers to trine and sextile aspects, or o