seasons, and to some, as they spy their advantage; and then coy, close
again, so nice, so surly, so demure, you had much better tame a colt, catch
or ride a wild horse, than get her favour, or win her love, not a look, not
a smile, not a kiss for a kingdom. [5125]Aretine's Lucretia was an
excellent artisan in this kind, as she tells her own tale, "Though I was by
nature and art most beautiful and fair, yet by these tricks I seemed to be
far more amiable than I was, for that which men earnestly seek and cannot
attain, draws on their affection with a most furious desire. I had a suitor
loved me dearly" (said she), "and the [5126]more he gave me, the more
eagerly he wooed me, the more I seemed to neglect, to scorn him, and which
I commonly gave others, I would not let him see me, converse with me, no,
not have a kiss." To gull him the more, and fetch him over (for him only I
aimed at) I personated mine own servant to bring in a present from a
Spanish count, whilst he was in my company, as if he had been the count's
servant, which he did excellently well perform: [5127]_Comes de monte
Turco_, "my lord and master hath sent your ladyship a small present, and
part of his hunting, a piece of venison, a pheasant, a few partridges, &c.
(all which she bought with her own money), commends his love and service to
you, desiring you to accept of it in good part, and he means very shortly
to come and see you." Withal she showed him rings, gloves, scarves,
coronets which others had sent her, when there was no such matter, but only
to circumvent him. [5128]By these means (as she concludes) "I made the poor
gentleman so mad, that he was ready to spend himself, and venture his
dearest blood for my sake." Philinna, in [5129]Lucian, practised all this
long before, as it shall appear unto you by her discourse; for when
Diphilus her sweetheart came to see her (as his daily custom was) she
frowned upon him, would not vouchsafe him her company, but kissed Lamprius
his co-rival, at the same time [5130]before his face: but why was it? To
make him (as she telleth her mother that chid her for it) more jealous; to
whet his love, to come with a greater appetite, and to know that her favour
was not so easy to be had. Many other tricks she used besides this (as she
there confesseth), for she would fall out with, and anger him of set
purpose, pick quarrels upon no occasion, because she would be reconciled to
him again. _Amantium irae amoris redintegratio_, a