ne, _veniunt a veste sagittae_ the greatest
provocations of lust are from our apparel; God makes, they say, man shapes,
and there is no motive like unto it;

[4998] "Which doth even beauty beautify,
And most bewitch a wretched eye,"

a filthy knave, a deformed quean, a crooked carcass, a mawkin, a witch, a
rotten post, a hedgestake may be so set out and tricked up, that it shall
make as fair a show, as much enamour as the rest: many a silly fellow is so
taken. _Primum luxuriae, aucupium_, one calls it, the first snare of lust;
[4999]_Bossus aucupium animarum, lethalem arundinem_, a fatal reed, the
greatest bawd, _forte lenocinium, sanguineis lachrymis deplorandum_, saith
[5000]Matenesius, and with tears of blood to be deplored. Not that
comeliness of clothes is therefore to be condemned, and those usual
ornaments: there is a decency and decorum in this as well as in other
things, fit to be used, becoming several persons, and befitting their
estates; he is only fantastical that is not in fashion, and like an old
image in arras hangings, when a manner of attire is generally received; but
when they are so new-fangled, so unstaid, so prodigious in their attires,
beyond their means and fortunes, unbefitting their age, place, quality,
condition, what should we otherwise think of them? Why do they adorn
themselves with so many colours of herbs, fictitious flowers, curious
needleworks, quaint devices, sweet-smelling odours, with those inestimable
riches of precious stones, pearls, rubies, diamonds, emeralds, &c.? Why do
they crown themselves with gold and silver, use coronets and tires of
several fashions, deck themselves with pendants, bracelets, earrings,
chains, girdles, rings, pins, spangles, embroideries, shadows, rebatoes,
versicolour ribands? why do they make such glorious shows with their
scarves, feathers, fans, masks, furs, laces, tiffanies, ruffs, falls,
calls, cuffs, damasks, velvets, tinsels, cloth of gold, silver, tissue?
with colours of heavens, stars, planets: the strength of metals, stones,
odours, flowers, birds, beasts, fishes, and whatsoever Africa, Asia,
America, sea, land, art, and industry of man can afford? Why do they use
and covet such novelty of inventions; such new-fangled tires, and spend
such inestimable sums on them? "To what end are those crisped, false hairs,
painted faces," as [5001]the satirist observes, "such a composed gait, not
a step awry?" Why are they like so many Sybarites, or N