Erōtomania or A treatise discoursing of the essence, causes, symptomes, prognosticks, and cure of love, or erotique melancholy. Written by Iames Ferrand Dr. of Physick

CAP. XI. The Different kindes of Love-Melancholy,

I Shall not here reckon up all the seve∣rall * 1.1 Loves, Cupids, or Veneres, mentio∣ned by Authors: Hee that desires to see them, may have recourse to Pausanias, in Eliac. and Boeot. Plutarch in Erotic. Tully de Nat. Deor, and other prophane Au∣thors. But my purpose in this place is, to shew you the different kindes of Passio∣nate Love, or Erotique Melancholy, wherein sometimes the Imagination on∣ly is depraved, and sometimes both the Iudgement and Discourse, together with the Imagination.

Galen, speaking of this Disease, in di∣verse * 1.2 places of his workes, saith, that the Dotage of Melancholy persons differeth, according as the Imagination is diversly

affected; the which proceeds from the different Complexion of Bodies: for which reason, Aristotle in his Problems, and Anacreon in his Odes, compares them to drunken folkes. There are some so blinded with their unruly desires, that they can love Hecuba as well as Helen, Thersites as Achilles. Others are so besot∣ted with this Passion, that they place their love on Inanimate and senselesse things: as those of whom Aelian, and Philostra∣tus * 1.3 make mention, who were so desperat∣ly enamoured of a Marble Statue, that they died with the vere griefe they con∣ceived, for that the Senate of Athens re∣fused to sell them those Idols, they so much adored. Xerxes is reported to have been enamoured of a Tree: Alkidias the Rhodian of a Statue of Cupid of Praxite∣les workmanship: Charicles of the Statue of Ʋenus: Narcissus and Eutelides of their own Pictures. Notwithstanding Aristo∣tle * 1.4 in his Morals saies, that that Love which is borne to Inanimate Things, can∣not properly be called Love, because a a man cannot reciprocally be beloved by them agen: and because one cannot desire

in them that Good, wherein consists the Essence of Love.

And here omitting to speake of the fil∣thy brutish loves of Myrrha, Valeria, Tus∣culanaria, Canace, Aristonymus, Fulvius, Tellus, Pasiphaë, Phaedra, Phillis, and o∣thers, of whom, as it is reported by Plu∣tarch, Ovid, Aelian, and others, both Po∣ëts and Historians, some have basely lu∣sted after their Fathers; Others, their Mothers, and Brothers; and some have do∣ted even upon Beasts: I shall onely disco∣ver to you the severall Symptomes that distinguish Love-Melancholy into diverse kinds or species. For we may observe, that Love is sometimes attended on by Iealou∣sy, and sometimes it is free from it: some Love is Furious, and sometimes againe it is milde and Temperate. In like manner doth the diversity of Regions and Climes much conduce to the distinguishing of the severall kindes of Love. And there∣fore * 1.5 it is observed, that the Easterne Peo∣ple pursue their desires, without either Moderation, or Discretion; yet in a kinde of base servile way. Those that inhabit the more Southerne parts, love with Im∣patience,

Rage, and Fury: those that inha∣bit the Westerne Countries are very in∣dustrious in their Love: and the Northern are very slowly moved or touched with Love.

The wily Italian in courting his Mis∣tresse, cunningly dissembles his Love, and * 1.6 insinuates himselfe into her Favour by Pleasant Discourses, Sonnets, and Verses, composed in her Praise: and if hee be so happy as to enjoy her, he is presently jea∣lous of her, and like a Prisoner, keeps her up under Lock and Key: but if he faile in his suit, hee then begins to hate her, as much, as before he loved her; and will not stick to doe her any mischiefe that lies in his power.

The eager and Impatient Spaniard, be∣ing once enflamed with these Desires, runnes headlong on in his Love, & with∣out Intermission followes his suit; and with most pitifull Lamentations Com∣plaining of the Fire that consumes him, Invocates and adores his Mistresse. But when at length by any the most unlawful meanes he hath compassed his Desires; he either growes jealous of her, and so per∣haps

cuts her throat; or else basely pro∣stitutes her for mony: But if hee cannot effect his purpose, he is then ready to run mad, or kill himselfe.

The Effeminate Frenchman endea∣vours to win his Mistresses affection by faire honest meanes, entertaining her with Songs, and Pleasant Discourses. If hee chance to be jealous of her, hee tortures himselfe extreamely, and weeps and la∣ments his own unhappinesse: But if shee chance to put a trick upon him, and de∣ceave him at last; he then begins to brave it, and casts opprobrious and injurious termes upon her, and sometimes too falls to downe-right violence. And if he have once compassed his Desires, and enjoyed her, he presently neglects her, and begins to look after a new one.

The German is of a Disposition quite contrary to that of the Spaniard: for hee comes on in his Love by degrees, & takes fire by litle and litle: And when hee is once Inflamed, he proceeds with Art and Iudgement, and endeavours to winne his Mistresses favour by Gifts. If hee be once jealous of her, he with-drawes his Libe∣rality:

if she deceave him, he makes litle stirre about it; and if he speeds in his suit, his love growes as soone cold againe.

The French is given to flatter, and counterfeit Love: the German hides it: the Spaniard is apt to perswade himselfe that his Mistresse loves him: and the Itali∣an is continually tormented with Iealou∣sie.

The French affects one that is witty & pleasant, though she be not very faire: The Spaniard cares not how dull or hea∣vy she is, so she be faire: the Italian would have her Modest and Fearefull: and the German, likes one that is somewhat har∣dy.

So likewise in the pursuit of their Loves, the Frenchman, of a Wise-man, be∣comes a Foole: the German, after his slow onset, having been held longin su∣spence, of a Foole, becomes a Wise-man: the Spaniard hazards all for the enjoying of his Desires: and the Italian despises all danger whatsoever.

In Breife, the most certaine Differences of Love, are taken from the variety of the Complexions of those that are affected

with this Malady. If a Sanguine man love * 1.7 one of the same complexion, this Love proves happy and full of delight. But if two Cholerick Persons meet together, this is rather a slavery, then true Love, it * 1.8 ••s so subject to Outrages and Anger, not∣withstanding the neerenesse of their Cō∣plexions. There is lesse danger in the Love that happens betwixt a Cholerick per∣son and a Sanguine: for these will bee sometimes in, and sometimes out. The Love that fals out betwixt a Melancholy and a Sanguine person, may bee happy e∣nough, for here the sweetnesse of the San∣guine Disposition will easily correct the untowardlinesse of the Melancholy. But if this later chance to joyne with the Cholerick, it oft proves rather a Plague, then Love; and the end of it for the most part is Despaire: as it fell out to Lucrece, Dido, Phillis, and others above mentio∣ned.

Notes

• * 1.1

  M. Equic. l. 3.
• * 1.2

  Lib. 3. de loc. affect. c. 7.
• * 1.3

  Lib. 6. c. 17.
• * 1.4

  Lib. 8. Eth c. 12. & lib. 2. mag. mor. c. 11.
• * 1.5

  Hip. l. de aëre loc. & aq.
• * 1.6

  Equic. l. 4. de amor. c. 7.
• * 1.7

  Ficin in con. Plat. c. 9. orat. 7.
• * 1.8

  Valler. obs. 7. l. 2.