Bel-vedére, or, The Garden of the muses

Of Loue.

Loue is a vertue, measur'd by duteous choice, But not if it be maim'd with wilfull chaunce.

TRue loue is simple like his mother Truth. Firme and vntainted loue, had neuer meane. In long delay, loue most impatient is. Our treasure we may hide, but not our loue. The truest loue is most suspitious. Loues eyes in looking neuer haue their fill. MAY is not loues month, MAY is full of flowers, But dropping APRIL: Loue is full of showers. Leud loue breeds losse, ill peace hath deadly fight. Life is most loath'd, where loue may not preuaile. Loue is the mistresse of a many minds. Loues little sweet, oft finds a longer sower. Loue's like the winters Rose, or Sommers Ice. Loue where it likes, life where it loues would be. Loue doth desire the thing belou'd to see, That like it selfe in louely shape may be. As loue is loth to part, so seare shunnes death. Luke warme desires best fit with crazed loue.

Valour nor loue dwells where diuision is. Nought worth is loue without true constancie. Loue cannot sound well, but in louers tongues. Loues strongest bands, vnkindnes doth vnbind. Firme loue that is in gentle brests begun, No idle charme may easily remooue. Short is the ioy of him that longest loues. Loue neuer can endure a Paragon. The greater loue, the greater is the losse. True loue is often sowne, but seldome growes. Loose loues are vaine, and vanish still to smoake. Loue, that two hearts makes one, so frames one will. Too hard a lesson tis for liuing clay, From loue (in course of nature) to refraine. Firme loue, the dread of daunger doth despise. Loue may not be compeld by masterie. Sweet loue barres lewdnesse from his companie. Causelesse to chaunge loue, is most foule reproch. Loue hateth thought of all vngentlenes. A louers heauen must passe by sorrowes hell. All losse is lesse, yea lesse is infamie, Than losse of loue to him that loues but one. They cannot iudge of loue, that ne're did loue. Loue wants his eyes, yet shoots he passing right. The shrine of loue doth seldome offrings want. What can be said, that louers cannot say? Blind loues, best Poets haue imperfect sight. Loue deeply grounded, hardly is dissembled. Loue is a fiend, a fire, a heauen, a hell, Where pleasure, paine, and sad repentance dwell. Where both deliberate, the loue is light. True loue is mute, and oft amazed stands. Who euer lou'd, that lou'd not at first sight? The darkest night is Cupids brightest day.

Loue alwaies makes those eloquent that loue. There's nothing more than counsell, louers hate. The light of hidden fire, it selfe discouers: And loue that is conceald betraies poore louers. A louer most restraind, the worser fares. Loue is too full of faith, too credulous. Great force and vertue hath a louing looke. No stonie limits can hold out true loue. What loue can doe, that dare it still attempt. Sweet are those bands that true loue doth combine. Loue goes toward loue like schoole-boyes from their bookes: But loue from loue, to schoole with heauie lookes. No loue so sweet as where both soules consent. True perfect loue is quickest of beleefe. It's better loue and liue, than loath and die. Free vent of words, loues fire doth asswage. Lookes doe kill loue, and loue by lookes reuiues. Foule words and frownes will not compell a louer. Louers well wot, what griefe it is to part, When twixt two bodies liueth but one heart. Loue easily commenteth on euery woe. Loues gentle spring doth alwaies fresh remaine. Loue maketh young men thrall, and old men dote. In follie loue is wise and foolish wittie. A louers houres are long, though seeming sho••••. Louers doe say, The heart hath treble wrong, When it is bard the ayding of the tongue. Loue doth with gall and hony both abound. It is not loue, that loues to anger loue. Loue still is free and led with selfe-delight. Sweet is the loue that comes with willingnes. Who learnes to loue, the lesson is so plaine: That once made perfect, neuer lost againe. There is no paine like loues sweet miscrie.

Great talke of loue proceeds but from the tongue. Loue makes blunt wits, right pleasing Oratours. All loue deceits are held excusable. Loue is most sweet and faire in euery thing. Loue well is said, to be a life in death, That laughes and weepes, and all but with a breath. Such ve••••ue loue hath, to make one of two. The fire of loue is blown by dalliance. Loues speciall lesson, is to please the eye. Loues glorie doth in greatest darknes shine. Loue is a spirit all compact of fire, Not gr••sse to s••••ke, but light and will aspire. Loue paints his longings in faire virgins eyes. If merit looke not well, Loue bids, stand by. Loue loftie, doth despise a lowly eye. Loue neuer will be drawn, but must be led. Although sweet loue to conquer glorious be. Yet is the paine farre greater than the fee. He that shewes all his loue, doth loue but lightly. Fauours make happy louers euer dumbe. The latest wonne, is alwaies lou'd the longer. Equall estate, doth nourish equall loue. Loue in braue spirits, kindles goodly fire, Which to great height of honour doth aspire. Loue makes at once, sicke, sound, aliue, and dead. Loue makes diuided creatures liue in one. Loue is a thing that feeds on care and feare. Poore is the loue that pouertie impaires. All loues conceits are excellently wittie. Two eyes him needeth, both to watch and wake. That louers will deceiue and find their scape. That loue is singular, is least in sight. A pregnant loue conceits a thousand things. Wanton conceits are rife, where loue is wittie,

Disdaine to true loue yet was euer foe. That loue is it which alwaies lasteth long. That tends to neither of the louers wrong. Vnwoed loue knowes not what pittie meanes. They loue indeed, that dare not say they loue. Loues workes are more than of a mortall temper. Hearts are Loues food, his drinke is louers teares. Loue is a golden bubble full of dreames, That waking breakes, and fils vs with extreames. The gaine is griefe to them that traffique loue. Loue is in prime of youth, a Rose; in age, a Weed. Loue, for a minutes ioy, payes endlesse paine. Meane men in loue haue frownes as well as Kings. Two constant louers being ioyned in one, Yeelding to one another, yeeld to none. Loue truly bred, true triall will abide. Mens loue is written on the Angels brests. Loue, with true friends will alwaies liue and die. Loue is refiner of inuention. The faultes that are in loue▪ by loue committed, By loue for loue doe claime to be remitted. Loue teacheth musicke to vnskilfull men. Loue woon by vertue, still is permanent. The loue of beautie, reason oft beguiles. Loue is the Lord of hope and confidence. Loue whe••s the d••llest wits, his plagues are such: Yet makes the wise by pleasing dote as much. Likenesse in manners maketh loue most pure. Vertue cannot be perfect, wanting loue. Loue is most fortunate where courage liues. Concealed loue burnes with the fiercest flame. Louers best like to see themselues alone, Or with their loues, if needs they must haue one. A cold base loue, cooles not a hot desire.

Hate in the name of loue doth oft presume. Sel••e▪loue, of mischiefe is the only ground. The ••owards warfare is a wanton loue. Where ••rowes a perfect sympathie of hearts, E••h passion in the one, the other paineth. Pure loue did neuer see the face of feare. Lasciuious loue is root of all remorse. Loue wonne in heat, will with a cold be lost. Loue, and high seat, no equals can endure. Louers haue quick all corners searching eyes.

Similies on the same subiect.

LIke as the waxe doth quench, and feed the flame, ••o loue to men giues both despaire and life. As luie finds fit meanes whereby to climbe, So loue sorts out his subiect where him list▪ As fire with violence consumeth wood, So scorne with crueltie doth murder loue. As young vines yeeld most wine, but old brings best, So young loue speaketh much, but old doth most. Like as affection is in louers restlesse. So being perfect, it is likewise endlesse. As fancie must be cured by affection, So loue is onely remedied by loue.

Examples likewise on the same.

PAusanias lou'd his wife with such firme loue, As no description well could set it downe. Prediccas for his loue to Alexander, Refused mightie wealth in Macedon. The Emperour Claudius would not loue or hate, But as he wa•• thereto by others led. Scipio so lou'd the Poet Ennius, That being dead, he kept his picture still.

Zeno, although a Stoicke, yet did yeeld, That loue in young men was most requisite. Cicero not gain-said wise men to loue So they might loue without deepe cares and sighes.