The mysteries of love & eloquence, or, The arts of wooing and complementing as they are manag'd in the Spring Garden, Hide Park, the New Exchange, and other eminent places : a work in which is drawn to the life the deportments of the most accomplisht persons, the mode of their courtly entertainments, treatments of their ladies at balls, their accustom'd sports, drolls and fancies, the witchcrafts of their perswasive language in their approaches, or other more secret dispatches ...

CAP. 7. The Form.

Q. The first kinde of the Cause, in the Efficient and Matter being expounded; the second followeth, in the Form and the End; what therefore is the Form?

A. The Form is the Cause by which the thing is that which it is.

Q. What is the benefit of it?

A. From hence the thing is distinguished from all other things, and the Form is ingenerated together with the thing it self.

Q. Give some example of it?

A. A reasonable soul is the form of a man, because by it a man is a man, and is distinguished from all other creatures thereby. The form of Geometrical Figures is in Triangles and Quadrangles. Heaven, Earth, Trees, Fishes, are the form of Physical things. From whence the chief explication of things, as it is by nature, so (if it may be found out.) it shall be, as in artificial things it is more easily met withall.

Q. Give an example out of some Orator?

A. Caesar. lib. 7. But all the French walls are almost of this form, the beams long and plain, with equal distance between them about two foot, are placed upon the foundation. These are bound within, and fastened very strongly: for those spaces (of which we spake) are filled up to the top with great stones. These placed and knit together, another row is also added, that the same might keep the spaces: neither do the beams touch one another, but being distant by equal spaces, all of them are strongly fastened, great stones being placed between them. And even so is the whole work knit together un∣til the just height of the wall be fulfilled. This work therefore is not deformed, as well for the comeliness and variety, beams

and stones being by courses, which keep their rowes in right loins, as, because it hath the chief strength for profit and de∣fence of cities; because it doth defend both from the mischief of stones, and the material Ram, which with its forty feet, being oft bound to the long beams inward, can neither be bro∣ken or drawn back again.

Q. Give an example out of some Poet?

A. Aeneid. 1. Virgil describeth the form of his port.

Between two Seas two Islands there doth lie, Side-wayes they'r made, the water runs fast by. Huge double rocks that do reach up to heaven, Under the which the seas lie still and calm: And by that place green woods there are growing, Forth from the same comes great black darkness flowing. Under which rock a den's made very fleet, Wherein's rich living stones, and waters sweet: Houses for Nimphs, and chains for ships there laid, Which would not by the anchor or the chains be staid.