ar it; for besides many rich
presents of horses, arms, plate, money, jewels, &c., he made one dinner for
him and his company, in which were thirty-two messes and as much provision
left, _ut relatae a mensa dapes decem millibus hominum sufficerent_, as
would serve ten thousand men: but a little after Lionel died, _novae nuptae
et intempestivis conviviis operam dans_, &c., and to the duke's great loss,
the solemnity was ended. So can titles, honours, ambition, make many brave,
but unfortunate matches of all sides for by-respects, (though both crazed
in body and mind, most unwilling, averse, and often unfit,) so love is
banished, and we feel the smart of it in the end. But I am too lavish
peradventure in this subject.

Another let or hindrance is strict and severe discipline, laws and rigorous
customs, that forbid men to marry at set times, and in some places; as
apprentices, servants, collegiates, states of lives in copyholds, or in
some base inferior offices, [5896]_Velle licet_ in such cases, _potiri non
licet_, as he said. They see but as prisoners through a grate, they covet
and catch, but _Tantalus a labris_, &c. Their love is lost, and vain it is
in such an estate to attempt. [5897]_Gravissimum est adamare nec potiri_,
'tis a grievous thing to love and not enjoy. They may, indeed, I deny not,
marry if they will, and have free choice, some of them; but in the meantime
their case is desperate, _Lupum auribus tenent_, they hold a wolf by the
ears, they must either burn or starve. 'Tis _cornutum sophisma_, hard to
resolve, if they marry they forfeit their estates, they are undone, and
starve themselves through beggary and want: if they do not marry, in this
heroical passion they furiously rage, are tormented, and torn in pieces by
their predominate affections. Every man hath not the gift of continence,
let him [5898]pray for it then, as Beza adviseth in his Tract _de
Divortiis_, because God hath so called him to a single life, in taking away
the means of marriage. [5899]Paul would have gone from Mysia to Bithynia,
but the spirit suffered him not, and thou wouldst peradventure be a married
man with all thy will, but that protecting angel holds it not fit. The
devil too sometimes may divert by his ill suggestions, and mar many good
matches, as the same [5900]Paul was willing to see the Romans, but hindered
of Satan he could not. There be those that think they are necessitated by
fate, their stars have so decreed, and theref