vid spied Bathsheba afar off, 2 Sam. xi. 2. The Elders, Susanna,
[4890]as that Orthomenian Strato saw fair Aristoclea daughter of
Theophanes, bathing herself at that Hercyne well in Lebadea, and were
captivated in an instant. _Viderunt oculi, rapuerunt pectora flammae_;
Ammon fell sick for Thamar's sake, 2 Sam. xiii. 2. The beauty of Esther was
such, that she found favour not only in the sight of Ahasuerus, "but of all
those that looked upon her." Gerson, Origen, and some others, contended
that Christ himself was the fairest of the sons of men, and Joseph next
unto him, _speciosus prae filiis hominum_, and they will have it literally
taken; his very person was such, that he found grace and favour of all
those that looked upon him. Joseph was so fair, that, as the ordinary gloss
hath it, _filiae decurrerent per murum, et ad fenestras_, they ran to the
top of the walls and to the windows to gaze on him, as we do commonly to
see some great personage go by: and so Matthew Paris describes Matilda the
Empress going through Cullen. [4891]P. Morales the Jesuit saith as much of
the Virgin Mary. Antony no sooner saw Cleopatra, but, saith Appian, _lib.
1_, he was enamoured of her. [4892]Theseus at the first sight of Helen was
so besotted, that he esteemed himself the happiest man in the world if he
might enjoy her, and to that purpose kneeled down, and made his pathetical
prayers unto the gods. [4893]Charicles, by chance, espying that curious
picture of smiling Venus naked in her temple, stood a great while gazing,
as one amazed; at length, he brake into that mad passionate speech, "O
fortunate god Mars, that wast bound in chains, and made ridiculous for her
sake!" He could not contain himself, but kissed her picture, I know not how
oft, and heartily desired to be so disgraced as Mars was. And what did he
that his betters had not done before him?

[4894] ------"atque aliquis de diis non tristibus optat
Sic fieri turpis"------

When Venus came first to heaven, her comeliness was such, that (as mine
author saith) [4895]"all the gods came flocking about, and saluted her,
each of them went to Jupiter, and desired he might have her to be his
wife." When fair [4896]Antilochus came in presence, as a candle in the dark
his beauty shined, all men's eyes (as Xenophon describes the manner of it)
"were instantly fixed on him, and moved at the sight, insomuch that they
could not conceal themselves, but in gesture or looks it was discer