ith
stars themselves ranged about, and left no secret or small mystery in
nature unsearched, since he was enamoured can do nothing now but think and
meditate of love matters, day and night composeth himself how to please his
mistress; all his study, endeavour, is to approve himself to his mistress,
to win his mistress' favour, to compass his desire, to be counted her
servant." When Peter Abelard, that great scholar of his age, _Cui soli
patuit scibile quicquid erat_, [5373]("whose faculties were equal to any
difficulty in learning,") was now in love with Heloise, he had no mind to
visit or frequent schools and scholars any more, _Taediosum mihi valde
fuit_ (as he [5374]confesseth) _ad scholas procedere, vel in iis morari_,
all his mind was on his new mistress.

Now to this end and purpose, if there be any hope of obtaining his suit, to
prosecute his cause, he will spend himself, goods, fortunes for her, and
though he lose and alienate all his friends, be threatened, be cast off,
and disinherited; for as the poet saith, _Amori quis legem det_?[5375]
though he be utterly undone by it, disgraced, go a begging, yet for her
sweet sake, to enjoy her, he will willingly beg, hazard all he hath, goods,
lands, shame, scandal, fame, and life itself.

"Non recedam neque quiescam, noctu et interdiu,
profecto quam aut ipsam, aut mortem investigavero."

"I'll never rest or cease my suit
Till she or death do make me mute."

Parthenis in Aristaenetus [5376]was fully resolved to do as much. "I may
have better matches, I confess, but farewell shame, farewell honour,
farewell honesty, farewell friends and fortunes, &c. O, Harpedona, keep my
counsel, I will leave all for his sweet sake, I will have him, say no more,
_contra gentes_, I am resolved, I will have him." Gobrias,[5377] the
captain, when, he had espied Rhodanthe, the fair captive maid, fell upon
his knees before Mystilus, the general, with tears, vows, and all the
rhetoric he could, by the scars he had formerly received, the good service
he had done, or whatsoever else was dear unto him, besought his governor he
might have the captive virgin to be his wife, _virtutis suae spolium_, as a
reward of his worth and service; and, moreover, he would forgive him the
money which was owing, and all reckonings besides due unto him, "I ask no
more, no part of booty, no portion, but Rhodanthe to be my wife." And when
as he could not compass her by fair means, h