The essays, or councils, civil and moral, of Sir Francis Bacon, Lord Verulam, Viscount St. Alban with a table of the colours of good and evil, and a discourse of The wisdom of the ancients : to this edition is added The character of Queen Elizabeth, never before printed in English.

X. Of Love. (Book 10)

THE Stage is more beholding to Love than the Life of Man. For, as to the Stage, Love is even matter of Comedies, and now and then of Tragedies: but in

Life it doth much mischief; sometimes like a Syren•• sometimes like a Fury. You may observe, that amongst all the great and worthy persons (whereof the Memo∣ry remaineth, either Ancient or Recent) there is not one that hath been transported to the mad degree of Love: which shew, that great Spirits, and great Busi∣ness, do keep out this weak Passion. You must except nevertheless, Marcus Antonius, the half Partner of the Empire of Rome; and Appius Claudius the Decemvir, the Law-giver: whereof the former was indeed a Volup∣tuous Man, and Inordinate; but the Latter was an Au∣stere and Wise Man. And therefore it seems, (though rarely) that Love can find entrance, not only into an open Heart, but also into a Heart well fortified, if watch be not well kept. It is a poor saying of Epicurus, Satis magnum Alter Alteri Theatrum sumus. As if Man, made for the contemplation of Heaven, and all noble Objects, should do nothing but kneel before a little I∣dol, and make himself a Subject, though not of the Mouth (as Beasts are) yet of the Eye, which was given him for higher purposes. It is a strange thing to note the Excess of this passion; and how it braves the Nature and value of things by this, that the speaking in a per∣petual Hyperbole is comely in nothing but in Love. Nei∣ther is it meerly in the Phrase: for, whereas it hath been well said, that the Arch-flatterer, with whom all the petty flatterers have intelligence, is a Man's self; cer∣tainly, the Love is more. For there was never a proud Man thought so absurdly well of himself, as the Lover doth of the Person Loved: and therefore it was well said, that it is impossible to Love, and to be wise. Neither doth this weakness appear to others only, and not to the Party Loved: but to the Loved most of all; except the Love be reciproque: for it is a true rule, that Love is e∣ver rewarded, either with the reciproque, or with an inward and secret Contempt. By how much the more men ought to beware of this Passion, which loseth not only other things, but it self. As for the other losses,

the Poets Relation doth well figure them; that he that preferreth Helena, quitteth the gifts of Juno and Pallas. For whosoever esteemeth too much of amorous affecti∣on, quitteth both Riches and Wisdom. This Passion hath his Floods in the very times of weakness: which are great Prosperity, and great Adversity; though this latter hath been less observed. Both which times kindle Love, and make it more frequent, and therefore shew it to be the Child of Folly. They do best, who, if they can∣not but admit Love; yet make it keep Quarter, and se∣ver it wholly from their serious Affairs and Actions of Life: for if it check once with Business, it troubleth mens Fortunes, and maketh men that they can no ways be true to their own Ends. I know not how, but mar∣tial men are given to Love; I think it is but as they are given to Wine; for Perils commonly ask to be paid in Pleasures. There is in a mans Nature a secret Incli∣nation and Motion towards Love of others; which if it be not spent upon some one, or a few, doth natural∣ly spread it self towards many, and maketh men be∣come Humane and Charitable; as it is seen sometime in Friars. Nuptial Love maketh Mankind; Friendly Love perfecteth it; but wanton Love corrupteth and embaseth it.