so curious in this behalf, as those old Romans, our modern
Venetians, Dutch and French, that if two parties clearly love, the one
noble, the other ignoble, they may not by their laws match, though equal
otherwise in years, fortunes, education, and all good affection. In
Germany, except they can prove their gentility by three descents, they
scorn to match with them. A nobleman must marry a noblewoman: a baron, a
baron's daughter; a knight, a knight's; a gentleman, a gentleman's: as
slaters sort their slates, do they degrees and families. If she be never so
rich, fair, well qualified otherwise, they will make him forsake her. The
Spaniards abhor all widows; the Turks repute them old women, if past
five-and-twenty. But these are too severe laws, and strict customs, _dandum
aliquid amori_, we are all the sons of Adam, 'tis opposite to nature, it
ought not to be so. Again: he loves her most impotently, she loves not him,
and so _e contra_. [5839]Pan loved Echo, Echo Satyrus, Satyrus Lyda.

"Quantum ipsorum aliquis amantem oderat,
Tantum ipsius amans odiosus erat."

"They love and loathe of all sorts, he loves her, she hates him; and is
loathed of him, on whom she dotes." Cupid hath two darts, one to force
love, all of gold, and that sharp,--[5840]_Quod facit auratum est_; another
blunt, of lead, and that to hinder;--_fugat hoc, facit illud amorem_, "this
dispels, that creates love." This we see too often verified in our common
experience. [5841]Choresus dearly loved that virgin Callyrrhoe; but the
more he loved her, the more she hated him. Oenone loved Paris, but he
rejected her: they are stiff of all sides, as if beauty were therefore
created to undo, or be undone. I give her all attendance, all observance, I
pray and intreat, [5842]_Alma precor miserere mei_, fair mistress pity me,
I spend myself, my time, friends and fortunes, to win her favour, (as he
complains in the [5843]Eclogue,) I lament, sigh, weep, and make my moan to
her, "but she is hard as flint,"--_cautibus Ismariis immotior_--as fair and
hard as a diamond, she will not respect, _Despectus tibi sum_, or hear me,

[5844] ------"fugit illa vocantem
Nil lachrymas miserata meas, nil flexa querelis."

What shall I do?

"I wooed her as a young man should do,
But sir, she said, I love not you."

[5845] "Durior at scopulis mea Coelia, marmore, ferro,
Robore, rupe, antro, cornu, adamante, gelu."

"Rock, marbl