itium, nec fretum, nec ensis, neque laqueus gravia videntur_; "'Tis
their desire" (saith Tyrius) "to die."

"Haud timet mortem, cupit ire in ipsos
------obvius enses."

"He does not fear death, he desireth such upon the very swords." Though a
thousand dragons or devils keep the gates, Cerberus himself, Scyron and
Procrastes lay in wait, and the way as dangerous, as inaccessible as hell,
through fiery flames and over burning coulters, he will adventure for all
this. And as [5442]Peter Abelard lost his testicles for his Heloise, he
will I say not venture an incision, but life itself. For how many gallants
offered to lose their lives for a night's lodging with Cleopatra in those
days! and in the hour or moment of death, 'tis their sole comfort to
remember their dear mistress, as [5443]Zerbino slain in France, and
Brandimart in Barbary; as Arcite did his Emily.

[5444] ------_when he felt death,
Dusked been his eyes, and faded is his breath
But on his lady yet casteth he his eye,
His last word was, mercy Emely,
His spirit chang'd, and out went there,
Whether I cannot tell, ne where_.

[5445]When Captain Gobrius by an unlucky accident had received his death's
wound, _heu me miserum exclamat_, miserable man that I am, (instead of
other devotions) he cries out, shall I die before I see my sweetheart
Rhodanthe? _Sic amor mortem_, (saith mine author) _aut quicquid humanitus
accidit, aspernatur_, so love triumphs, contemns, insults over death
itself. Thirteen proper young men lost their lives for that fair
Hippodamias' sake, the daughter of Onomaus, king of Elis: when that hard
condition was proposed of death or victory, they made no account of it, but
courageously for love died, till Pelops at last won her by a sleight.
[5446]As many gallants desperately adventured their dearest blood for
Atalanta, the daughter of Schenius, in hope of marriage, all vanquished and
overcame, till Hippomenes by a few golden apples happily obtained his suit.
Perseus, of old, fought with a sea monster for Andromeda's sake; and our
St. George freed the king's daughter of Sabea (the golden legend is mine
author) that was exposed to a dragon, by a terrible combat. Our knights
errant, and the Sir Lancelots of these days, I hope will adventure as much
for ladies' favours, as the Squire of Dames, Knight of the Sun, Sir Bevis
of Southampton, or that renowned peer,

[5447] "Orlando, who long time