s the old saying is, the
falling out of lovers is the renewing of love; and according to that of
Aristenaetis, _jucundiores amorum post injurias deliciae_, love is
increased by injuries, as the sunbeams are more gracious after a cloud. And
surely this aphorism is most true; for as Ampelis informs Crisis in the
said Lucian, [5131]"If a lover be not jealous, angry, waspish, apt to fall
out, sigh and swear, he is no true lover." To kiss and coll, hang about her
neck, protest, swear and wish, are but ordinary symptoms, _incipientis
adhuc et crescentis amoris signa_; but if he be jealous, angry, apt to
mistake, &c., _bene speres licet_, sweet sister he is thine own; yet if you
let him alone, humour him, please him, &c., and that he perceive once he
hath you sure, without any co-rival, his love will languish, and he will
not care so much for you. Hitherto (saith she) can I speak out of
experience; Demophantus a rich fellow was a suitor of mine, I seemed to
neglect him, and gave better entertainment to Calliades the painter before
his face, _principio abiit, verbis me insectatus_, at first he went away
all in a chafe, cursing and swearing, but at last he came submitting
himself, vowing and protesting he loved me most dearly, I should have all
he had, and that he would kill himself for my sake. Therefore I advise thee
(dear sister Crisis) and all maids, not to use your suitors over kindly;
_insolentes enim sunt hoc cum sentiunt_, 'twill make them proud and
insolent; but now and then reject them, estrange thyself, _et si me audies
semel atque iterum exclude_, shut him out of doors once or twice, let him
dance attendance; follow my counsel, and by this means [5132]you shall make
him mad, come off roundly, stand to any conditions, and do whatsoever you
will have him. These are the ordinary practices; yet in the said Lucian,
Melissa methinks had a trick beyond all this; for when her suitor came
coldly on, to stir him up, she writ one of his co-rival's names and her own
in a paper, _Melissa amat Hermotimum, Hermotimus Mellissam_, causing it to
be stuck upon a post, for all gazers to behold, and lost it in the way
where he used to walk; which when the silly novice perceived, _statim ut
legit credidit_, instantly apprehended it was so, came raving to me, &c.
[5133]"and so when I was in despair of his love, four months after I
recovered him again." Eugenia drew Timocles for her valentine, and wore his
name a long time after in her bosom: