etas,
cernere lustrum;"

to say they are younger than they are. Carmides in the said Lucian loved
Philematium, an old maid of forty-five years; [5176]she swore to him she
was but thirty-two next December. But to dissemble in this kind, is
familiar of all sides, and often it takes. [5177]_Fallere credentem res est
operosa puellam_, 'tis soon done, no such great mastery, _Egregiam vero
laudem, et spolia ampla_,--and nothing so frequent as to belie their
estates, to prefer their suits, and to advance themselves. Many men to
fetch over a young woman, widows, or whom they love, will not stick to
crack, forge and feign any thing comes next, bid his boy fetch his cloak,
rapier, gloves, jewels, &c. in such a chest, scarlet-golden-tissue
breeches, &c. when there is no such matter; or make any scruple to give
out, as he did in Petronius, that he was master of a ship, kept so many
servants, and to personate their part the better take upon them to be
gentlemen of good houses, well descended and allied, hire apparel at
brokers, some scavenger or prick-louse tailors to attend upon them for the
time, swear they have great possessions, [5178]bribe, lie, cog, and foist
how dearly they love, how bravely they will maintain her, like any lady,
countess, duchess, or queen; they shall have gowns, tiers, jewels, coaches,
and caroches, choice diet,

"The heads of parrots, tongues of nightingales,
The brains of peacocks, and of ostriches,
Their bath shall be the juice of gilliflowers,
Spirit of roses and of violets,
The milk of unicorns," &c.

as old Volpone courted Celia in the [5179]comedy, when as they are no such
men, not worth a groat, but mere sharkers, to make a fortune, to get their
desire, or else pretend love to spend their idle hours, to be more welcome,
and for better entertainment. The conclusion is, they mean nothing less,

[5180] "Nil metuunt jurare, nihil promittere curant:
Sed simul accupidae mentis satiata libido est,
Dicta nihil metuere, nihil perjuria curant;"

"Oaths, vows, promises, are much protested;
But when their mind and lust is satisfied,
Oaths, vows, promises, are quite neglected;"

though he solemnly swear by the genius of Caesar, by Venus' shrine, Hymen's
deity, by Jupiter, and all the other gods, give no credit to his words. For
when lovers swear, Venus laughs, _Venus haec perjuria ridet_, [5181]Jupiter
himself smiles, a