ero's Poppaea,
Ahasuerus' concubines, so costly, so long a dressing, as Caesar was
marshalling his army, or a hawk in pruning? [5002]_Dum moliuntur, dum
comuntur annus est_: a [5003]gardener takes not so much delight and pains
in his garden, a horseman to dress his horse, scour his armour, a mariner
about his ship, a merchant his shop and shop-book, as they do about their
faces, and all those other parts: such setting up with corks, straightening
with whalebones; why is it, but as a day-net catcheth larks, to make young
men stoop unto them? Philocharus, a gallant in Aristenaetus, advised his
friend Poliaenus to take heed of such enticements, [5004]"for it was the
sweet sound and motion of his mistress's spangles and bracelets, the smell
of her ointments, that captivated him first," _Illa fuit mentis prima ruina
meae_. _Quid sibi vult pixidum turba_, saith [5005]Lucian, "to what use are
pins, pots, glasses, ointments, irons, combs, bodkins, setting-sticks? why
bestow they all their patrimonies and husbands' yearly revenues on such
fooleries?" [5006]_bina patrimonia singulis auribus_; "why use they
dragons, wasps, snakes, for chains, enamelled jewels on their necks, ears?"
_dignum potius foret ferro manus istas religari, atque utinam monilia vere
dracones essent_; they had more need some of them be tied in bedlam with
iron chains, have a whip for a fan, and hair-cloths next to their skins,
and instead of wrought smocks, have their cheeks stigmatised with a hot
iron: I say, some of our Jezebels, instead of painting, if they were well
served. But why is all this labour, all this cost, preparation, riding,
running, far-fetched, and dear bought stuff? [5007]"Because forsooth they
would be fair and fine, and where nature, is defective, supply it by art."
[5008]_Sanguine quae vero non rubet, arte rubet_, (Ovid); and to that
purpose they anoint and paint their faces, to make Helen of
Hecuba--_parvamque exortamque puellam--Europen._[5009]To this intent they
crush in their feet and bodies, hurt and crucify themselves, sometimes in
lax-clothes, a hundred yards I think in a gown, a sleeve; and sometimes
again so close, _ut nudos exprimant artus._ [5010]Now long tails and
trains, and then short, up, down, high, low, thick, thin, &c.; now little
or no bands, then as big as cart wheels; now loose bodies, then great
farthingales and close girt, &c. Why is all this, but with the whore in the
Proverbs, to intoxicate some or other? _oculorum