e of them: Peter Gellius, _lib. 10. de
hist, animal._ tells wonders of a triton in Epirus: there was a well not
far from the shore, where the country wenches fetched water, they,
[4669]tritons, _stupri causa_ would set upon them and carry them to the
sea, and there drown them, if they would not yield; so love tyranniseth in
dumb creatures. Yet this is natural for one beast to dote upon another of
the same kind; but what strange fury is that, when a beast shall dote upon
a man? Saxo Grammaticus, _lib. 10. Dan. hist._ hath a story of a bear that
loved a woman, kept her in his den a long time and begot a son of her, out
of whose loins proceeded many northern kings: this is the original belike
of that common tale of Valentine and Orson: Aelian, Pliny, Peter Gillius,
are full of such relations. A peacock in Lucadia loved a maid, and when she
died, the peacock pined. [4670]"A dolphin loved a boy called Hernias, and
when he died, the fish came on land, and so perished." The like adds
Gellius, _lib. 10. cap. 22._ out of Appion, _Aegypt. lib. 15._ a dolphin at
Puteoli loved a child, would come often to him, let him get on his back,
and carry him about, [4671]"and when by sickness the child was taken away,
the dolphin died." [4672]"Every book is full" (saith Busbequius, the
emperor's orator with the Grand Signior, not long since, _ep. 3. legat.
Turc._), "and yields such instances, to believe which I was always afraid
lest I should be thought to give credit to fables, until I saw a lynx which
I had from Assyria, so affected towards one of my men, that it cannot be
denied but that he was in love with him. When my man was present, the beast
would use many notable enticements and pleasant motions, and when he was
going, hold him back, and look after him when he was gone, very sad in his
absence, but most jocund when he returned: and when my man went from me,
the beast expressed his love with continual sickness, and after he had
pined away some few days, died." Such another story he hath of a crane of
Majorca, that loved a Spaniard, that would walk any way with him, and in
his absence seek about for him, make a noise that he might hear her, and
knock at his door, [4673]"and when he took his last farewell, famished
herself." Such pretty pranks can love play with birds, fishes, beasts:

([4674]Coelestis aestheris, ponti, terrae claves habet Venus,
Solaque istorum omnium imperium obtinet.)

and if all be certain that is cr