nd sometimes loosing life itself," as Calisto did for
his lovely Melibaea. Hear some of their own confessions, protestations,
complaints, proffers, expostulations, wishes, brutish attempts, labours in
this kind. Hercules served Omphale, put on an apron, took a distaff and
spun; Thraso the soldier was so submissive to Thais, that he was resolved
to do whatever she enjoined. [5428]_Ego me Thaidi dedam; et faciam quod
jubet_, I am at her service. Philostratus in an epistle to his mistress,
[5429]"I am ready to die sweetheart if it be thy will; allay his thirst
whom thy star hath scorched and undone, the fountains and rivers deny no
man drink that comes; the fountain doth not say thou shalt not drink, nor
the apple thou shalt not eat, nor the fair meadow walk not in me, but thou
alone wilt not let me come near thee, or see thee, contemned and despised I
die for grief." Polienus, when his mistress Circe did but frown upon him in
Petronius, drew his sword, and bade her [5430]kill, stab, or whip him to
death, he would strip himself naked, and not resist. Another will take a
journey to Japan, _Longae navigationis molestis non curans_: a third (if
she say it) will not speak a word for a twelvemonth's space, her command
shall be most inviolably kept: a fourth will take Hercules's club from him,
and with that centurion in the Spanish [5431]Caelestina, will kill ten men
for his mistress Areusa, for a word of her mouth he will cut bucklers in
two like pippins, and flap down men like flies, _Elige quo mortis genere
illum occidi cupis_? [5432]Galeatus of Mantua did a little more: for when
he was almost mad for love of a fair maid in the city, she, to try him
belike what he would do for her sake, bade him in jest leap into the river
Po if he loved her; he forthwith did leap headlong off the bridge and was
drowned. Another at Ficinum in like passion, when his mistress by chance
(thinking no harm I dare swear) bade him go hang, the next night at her
doors hanged himself. [5433]"Money" (saith Xenophon) "is a very acceptable
and welcome guest, yet I had rather give it my dear Clinia than take it of
others, I had rather serve him than command others, I had rather be his
drudge than take my ease, undergo any danger for his sake than live in
security. For I had rather see Clinia than all the world besides, and had
rather want the sight of all other things than him alone; I am angry with
the night and sleep that I may not see him, and thank the li