jolly, and doth but as men do in
that case, as Jupiter did by Europa, Neptune by Amymone. The poets
therefore did well to feign all shepherds lovers, to give themselves to
songs and dalliances, because they lived such idle lives. For love, as
[4786]Theophrastus defines it, is _otiosi animi affectus_, an affection of
an idle mind, or as [4787]Seneca describes it, _Juventa gignitur, juxu
nutritur, feriis alitur, otioque inter laeta fortunae bonae_; youth begets
it, riot maintains it, idleness nourisheth it, &c. which makes [4788]
Gordonius the physician _cap. 20. part. 2._ call this disease the proper
passion of nobility. Now if a weak judgment and a strong apprehension do
concur, how, saith Hercules de Saxonia, shall they resist? Savanarola
appropriates it almost to [4789]"monks, friars, and religious persons,
because they live solitarily, fair daintily, and do nothing:" and well he
may, for how should they otherwise choose?

Diet alone is able to cause it: a rare thing to see a young man or a woman
that lives idly and fares well, of what condition soever, not to be in
love. [4790]Alcibiades was still dallying with wanton young women,
immoderate in his expenses, effeminate in his apparel, ever in love, but
why? he was over-delicate in his diet, too frequent and excessive in
banquets, _Ubicunque securitas, ibi libido dominatur_; lust and security
domineer together, as St. Hierome averreth. All which the wife of Bath in
Chaucer freely justifies,

_For all to sicker, as cold engendreth hail,
A liquorish tongue must have a liquorish tail_.

Especially if they shall further it by choice diet, as many times those
Sybarites and Phaeaces do, feed liberally, and by their good will eat
nothing else but lascivious meats. [4791]Vinum imprimis generosum, legumen,
fabas, radices omnium generum bene conditas, et largo pipere aspersas,
carduos hortulanos, lactucas, [4792]erucas, rapas, porros, caepas, nucem
piceam, amygdalas dulces, electuaria, syrupos, succos, cochleas, conchas,
pisces optime praeparatos, aviculas, testiculos animalium, ova, condimenta
diversorum generum, molles lectos, pulvinaria, &c. Et quicquid fere medici
impotentia rei venereae laboranti praescribunt, hoc quasi diasatyrion
habent in delitiis, et his dapes multo delicatiores; mulsum, exquisitas et
exoticas fruges, aromata, placentas, expressos succos multis ferculis
variatos, ipsumque vinum suavitate vincentes, et quicquid culina,
pharmacopaea, au