How many doting lovers upon the like occasion might say the same?  But these are toys in respect, they will hazard their very souls for their mistress’ sake.

       “Atque aliquis interjuvenes miratus est, et verbum dixit,
        Non ego in caelo cuperem Deus esse,
        Nostram uxorem habens domi Hero.”

       “One said, to heaven would I not
          desire at all to go,
        If that at mine own house I had
          such a fine wife as Hero.”

Venus forsook heaven for Adonis’ sake,—­[5483]_caelo praefertur Adonis_.  Old Janivere, in Chaucer, thought when he had his fair May he should never go to heaven, he should live so merrily here on earth; had I such a mistress, he protests,

[5484] “Caelum diis ego non suum inviderem,
        Sed sortem mihi dii meam inviderent.”

       “I would not envy their prosperity,
        The gods should envy my felicity.”

Another as earnestly desires to behold his sweetheart he will adventure and leave all this, and more than this to see her alone.

[5485] “Omnia quae patior mala si pensare velit fors,
        Una aliqua nobis prosperitate, dii
        Hoc precor, ut faciant, faciant me cernere coram,
        Cor mihi captivum quae tenet hocce, deam.”

       “If all my mischiefs were recompensed
        And God would give we what I requested,
        I would my mistress’ presence only seek,
        Which doth mine heart in prison captive keep.”

But who can reckon upon the dotage, madness, servitude and blindness, the foolish phantasms and vanities of lovers, their torments, wishes, idle attempts?

Yet for all this, amongst so many irksome, absurd, troublesome symptoms, inconveniences, fantastical fits and passions which are usually incident to such persons, there be some good and graceful qualities in lovers, which this affection causeth.  “As it makes wise men fools, so many times it makes fools become wise; [5486]it makes base fellows become generous, cowards courageous,” as Cardan notes out of Plutarch; “covetous, liberal and magnificent; clowns, civil; cruel, gentle; wicked, profane persons, to become religious; slovens, neat; churls, merciful; and dumb dogs, eloquent; your lazy drones, quick and nimble.” Feras mentes domat cupido, that fierce, cruel and rude Cyclops Polyphemus sighed, and shed many a salt tear for Galatea’s sake.  No passion causeth greater alterations, or more vehement of joy or discontent.  Plutarch. Sympos. lib. 5. quaest. 1, [5487] saith, “that the soul of a man in love is full of perfumes and sweet odours, and all manner of pleasing tones and tunes, insomuch that it is hard to say (as he adds) whether love do mortal men more harm than good.”  It adds spirits and makes them, otherwise soft and silly, generous and courageous, [5488]_Audacem faciebat amor_.  Ariadne’s love made Theseus so adventurous,