t, to the
eternal memory of Phryne the courtesan, as Aelian relates, for she was a
most beautiful woman, insomuch, saith [4832]Athenaeus, that Apelles and
Praxiteles drew Venus's picture from her. Thus young men will adore and
honour beauty; nay kings themselves I say will do it, and voluntarily
submit their sovereignty to a lovely woman. "Wine is strong, kings are
strong, but a woman strongest," 1 Esd. iv. 10. as Zerobabel proved at large
to King Darius, his princes and noblemen. "Kings sit still and command sea
and land, &c., all pay tribute to the king; but women make kings pay
tribute, and have dominion over them. When they have got gold and silver,
they submit all to a beautiful woman, give themselves wholly to her, gape
and gaze on her, and all men desire her more than gold or silver, or any
precious thing: they will leave father and mother, and venture their lives
for her, labour and travel to get, and bring all their gains to women,
steal, fight, and spoil for their mistress's sake. And no king so strong,
but a fair woman is stronger than he is. All things" (as [4833]he proceeds)
"fear to touch the king; yet I saw him and Apame his concubine, the
daughter of the famous Bartacus, sitting on the right hand of the king, and
she took the crown off his head, and put it on her own, and stroke him with
her left hand; yet the king gaped and gazed on her, and when she laughed he
laughed, and when she was angry he flattered to be reconciled to her." So
beauty commands even kings themselves; nay whole armies and kingdoms are
captivated together with their kings: [4834]_Forma vincit armatos, ferrum
pulchritudo captivat; vincentur specie, qui non vincentur proelio_. And
'tis a great matter saith [4835]Xenophon, "and of which all fair persons
may worthily brag, that a strong man must labour for his living if he will
have aught, a valiant man must fight and endanger himself for it, a wise
man speak, show himself, and toil; but a fair and beautiful person doth all
with ease, he compasseth his desire without any pains-taking:" God and men,
heaven and earth conspire to honour him; every one pities him above other,
if he be in need, [4836]and all the world is willing to do him good.
[4837]Chariclea fell into the hand of pirates, but when all the rest were
put to the edge of the sword, she alone was preserved for her person.
[4838]When Constantinople was sacked by the Turk, Irene escaped, and was so
far from being made a captive, that