ich part of a woman was
most desirable and pleased best? some said the forehead, some the teeth,
some the eyes, cheeks, lips, neck, chin, &c., the controversy was referred
to Lais of Corinth to decide; but she, smiling, said, they were a company
of fools; for suppose they had her where they wished, what would they
[4932]first seek? Yet this notwithstanding I do easily grant, _neque quis
vestrum negaverit opinor_, all parts are attractive, but especially
[4933]the eyes, [4934]

------"videt igne micantes,
Sideribus similes oculos"------

which are love's fowlers; [4935]_aucupium amoris_, the shoeing horns, "the
hooks of love" (as Arandus will) "the guides, touchstone, judges, that in a
moment cure mad men, and make sound folks mad, the watchmen of the body;
what do they not?" How vex they not? All this is true, and (which Athaeneus
_lib. 13. dip. cap. 5._ and Tatius hold) they are the chief seats of love,
and James Lernutius [4936]hath facetely expressed in an elegant ode of his,

"Amorem ocellis flammeolis herae
Vidi insidentem, credite posteri,
Fratresque circum ludibundos
Cum pharetra volitare et arcu," &c.

"I saw Love sitting in my mistress' eyes
Sparkling, believe it all posterity,
And his attendants playing round about
With bow and arrows ready for to fly."

Scaliger calls the eyes, [4937]"Cupid's arrows; the tongue, the lightning
of love; the paps, the tents:" [4938]Balthazar Castilio, the causes, the
chariots, the lamps of love,

------"aemula lumina stellis,
Lumina quae possent sollicitare deos."

"Eyes emulating stars in light,
Enticing gods at the first sight;"

Love's orators, Petronius.

"O blandos oculos, et o facetos,
Et quadam propria nota loquaces
Illic est Venus, et leves amores,
Atque ipsa in medio sedet voluptas."

"O sweet and pretty speaking eyes,
Where Venus, love, and pleasure lies."

Love's torches, touch-box, naphtha and matches, [4939]Tibullus.

"Illius ex oculis quum vult exurere divos,
Accendit geminas lampades acer amor."

"Tart Love when he will set the gods on fire,
Lightens the eyes as torches to desire."

Leander, at the first sight of Hero's eyes, was incensed, saith Musaeus.

"Simul in [4940]oculorum radiis crescebat fax amorum,
Et cor fervebat invecti ignis impetu;