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I Do believe that black is the only proper Colour for a Lovers Face, and those which think other∣wise, either do not love, or else deceive themselves.
He that loves is noble; because love will not cast away his shafts upon ignoble breasts.
Nobilitas sub amore jacet.
Amor ch'en cor gentil ratto s'apprende.
Now black is the noblest Colour, be∣cause 'tis the most ancient c
Tenebrae super universam terram,and be∣cause it preserves the sight; and because also it contains, or comprehends all o∣ther Colours in it, therefore as the most noble, it is the most proper for a Lovers face.
The Lover is dead, as 'twere, hear Plaut.
Ubi sum, ibi non sum, ubi non sum, ibi est animus.
The amorous poyson issuing from a fair womans Eyes, deprives the lover of his life, and would not we have that lovers complexion black, that is thus killed by poyson? Should not the signes of his death be imprinted on his face.
Again, Love is an amorous feaver, which corrupting the noblest blood, cau∣ses his death. Therefore he that loves, dying through the infection of that pe∣stilential feaver, cannot properly have any other colour on his face but Black.
The lover is oblig'd to improve his Ladies honor, but what greater honor,
can the lover do his Lady, then to serve as a shaddow or foyl to set forth her beauty with the greater luster? The charms of beauty are never discern'd so well, as by the inequality of such oppo∣sitions: the snow never seems so pure and rarely white, as when it falls upon the blackest soyle.
The affections of the heart are cha∣ractred, and copied in the face: there∣fore if the heart be in a flame, the face must needs bear the signs of it, and what greater tokens can a lover give, that he nourishes a fire within his brest, then by showing the coales and sooty smoak up∣on his face.
The face can never express its grief for the sick heart, so well as by cloathing it self in such a mourning habit; Nor can the beloved give any credit to his affe∣ction, unless she see him cloud his face with sorrow, grieving for his lost heart, and liberty.
Who can deny, but such a face must needs become an Ethiope, which is con∣tinually exposed so neer the rayes of two most ardent suns.
a Omnia combusta nigrescunt.
That lover which does not cloath his face with black, detracts from the merits of his Mistriss, as if the beams that da••∣ted from her eyes, had not the power to draw a veile of darkness over his face.
The lovers face ought to appear in such a manner, as is most likely to move his Ladies Eye to pitty; and what co∣lour is more likely to obtain that pitty, than black and mourning weeds, which death it self doth mingle with its hor∣rours?
The lover ought to wear upon his face, the signs of what he ever most desires: and what should a lover more desire, either to receive, or steal his amorous enjoyments, than a dark midmight, whereof this black is a good Simbol on his face.
The lovers face ought to be black, thereby to show his Lady the secrecy of his affections, as having hid them from the Eyes, and knowledg of the world a∣mid'st that darkness; or else to demon∣strate his constancy, which like the black receives no alteration, nor cannot mask
it self under any new appearance, as o∣ther colours do.
The lover ought to seek all advan∣tages for his beloved, and therefore hav∣ing a black face, it will preserve her sight: Nor does the black dissipate or segregate those purer Atomes and lively spirits issuing from her eyes.
a Nigrum vim obtinet congregandi.
Black is a sign of an indefatigable and robust strength, ever much desired by the beloved, because they presuppose a great heat in that brest, which hath even cann'd, and scorch'd the very face.
And then tis likewise a sign of a great humility; that even the very beauty of the face, is retreated from thence into the heart, in honor and reverence of her presence.
By the Frontispiece we come to a great knowledge of the work, by this Porch we may give a guess of the whole Fa∣brick: and how can we then describe the amorous Hell in a heart, but by the funest horrors of a black face?
Paleness in a face, is not alwayes a sign of love. Those that betray and they that are betray'd; such as fear, or hope,
or hate, or envy, have ordinarily a con∣stant paleness dwelling on their Cheeks. A lover cannot merit any thing by such a Colour, which may proceed from so may different causes, hardly known by the lover himself.
Other more brisk and lively colours cannot signifie love, a lovers soul is too much oppressed to leave such signs of joy upon the face. The face does first of all declare the passions of the soul, and is the truest Index of the heart: there∣fore to conclude, I do believe, there is no colour that can so well befit a lovers face, as black alone.
Ep. 1.
Nel. 5. dell in f.
Genesis cap. 1:
Arist. de Col.
Arist. loc. cit.