r Juvenis, sic moribundus amat_.
And who can then withstand it? If once we be in love, young or old, though
our teeth shake in our heads, like virginal jacks, or stand parallel
asunder like the arches of a bridge, there is no remedy, we must dance
trenchmore for a need, over tables, chairs, and stools, &c. And princum
prancum is a fine dance. Plutarch, _Sympos. 1. quaest. 5._ doth in some
sort excuse it, and telleth us moreover in what sense, _Musicam docet amor,
licet prius fuerit rudis_, how love makes them that had no skill before
learn to sing and dance; he concludes, 'tis only that power and prerogative
love hath over us. [5526]"Love" (as he holds) "will make a silent man
speak, a modest man most officious; dull, quick; slow, nimble; and that
which is most to be admired, a hard, base, untractable churl, as fire doth
iron in a smith's forge, free, facile, gentle, and easy to be entreated."
Nay, 'twill make him prodigal in the other extreme, and give a
[5527]hundred sesterces for a night's lodging, as they did of old to Lais
of Corinth, or [5528] _ducenta drachmarum millia pro unica nocte_, as
Mundus to Paulina, spend all his fortunes (as too many do in like case) to
obtain his suit. For which cause many compare love to wine, which makes men
jovial and merry, frolic and sad, whine, sing, dance, and what not.

But above all the other symptoms of lovers, this is not lightly to be
overpassed, that likely of what condition soever, if once they be in love,
they turn to their ability, rhymers, ballad makers, and poets. For as
Plutarch saith, [5529]"They will be witnesses and trumpeters of their
paramours' good parts, bedecking them with verses and commendatory songs,
as we do statues with gold, that they may be remembered and admired of
all." Ancient men will dote in this kind sometimes as well as the rest; the
heat of love will thaw their frozen affections, dissolve the ice of age,
and so far enable them, though they be sixty years of age above the girdle,
to be scarce thirty beneath. Jovianus Pontanus makes an old fool rhyme, and
turn poetaster to please his mistress.

[5530] "Ne ringas Mariana, meos me dispice canos,
De sene nam juvenem dia referre potes," &c.

"Sweet Marian do not mine age disdain,
For thou canst make an old man young again."

They will be still singing amorous songs and ditties (if young especially),
and cannot abstain though it be when they go to, or should be at church. We