prayers unto the gods. [4893]Charicles, by chance, espying that curious picture of smiling Venus naked in her temple, stood a great while gazing, as one amazed; at length, he brake into that mad passionate speech, “O fortunate god Mars, that wast bound in chains, and made ridiculous for her sake!” He could not contain himself, but kissed her picture, I know not how oft, and heartily desired to be so disgraced as Mars was.  And what did he that his betters had not done before him?

[4894]  ------“atque aliquis de diis non tristibus optat
Sic fieri turpis”------

When Venus came first to heaven, her comeliness was such, that (as mine author saith) [4895]"all the gods came flocking about, and saluted her, each of them went to Jupiter, and desired he might have her to be his wife.”  When fair [4896]Antilochus came in presence, as a candle in the dark his beauty shined, all men’s eyes (as Xenophon describes the manner of it) “were instantly fixed on him, and moved at the sight, insomuch that they could not conceal themselves, but in gesture or looks it was discerned and expressed.”  Those other senses, hearing, touching, may much penetrate and affect, but none so much, none so forcible as sight. Forma Briseis mediis in armis movit Achillem, Achilles was moved in the midst of a battle by fair Briseis, Ajax by Tecmessa; Judith captivated that great Captain Holofernes:  Dalilah, Samson; Rosamund, [4897]Henry the Second; Roxolana, Suleiman the Magnificent, &c.

[4898] “[Greek:  nika de kai sidaeron
        kai pur kalae tis ousa.]”

“A fair woman overcomes fire and sword.”

[4899] “Nought under heaven so strongly doth allure
        The sense of man and all his mind possess,
        As beauty’s loveliest bait, that doth procure
        Great warriors erst their rigour to suppress,
        And mighty hands forget their manliness,
        Driven with the power of an heart-burning eye,
        And lapt in flowers of a golden tress. 
        That can with melting pleasure mollify
        Their harden’d hearts inur’d to cruelty.”

[4900]Clitiphon ingenuously confesseth, that he no sooner came in Leucippe’s presence, but that he did corde tremere, et oculis lascivius intueri; [4901]he was wounded at the first sight, his heart panted, and he could not possibly turn his eyes from her.  So doth Calysiris in Heliodorus, lib. 2. Isis Priest, a reverend old man, complain, who by chance at Memphis seeing that Thracian Rodophe, might not hold his eyes off her:  [4902]"I will not conceal it, she overcame me with her presence, and quite assaulted my continency which I had kept unto mine old age; I resisted a long time my bodily eyes with the eyes of my understanding; at last I was conquered, and as in a tempest carried headlong.” [4903] Xenophiles, a philosopher, railed at women downright for many years together, scorned, hated, scoffed at them; coming at last into Daphnis a fair maid’s company (as he condoles his mishap to his friend Demaritis), though free before, Intactus nullis ante cupidinibus, was far in love, and quite overcome upon a sudden. Victus sum fateor a Daphnide, &c.  I confess I am taken,