served to dress her hair, another her neck, a third her hood.  Ahasuerus would [5551]have given Esther half his empire, and [5552]Herod bid Herodias “ask what she would, she should have it.”  Caligula gave 100,000 sesterces to his courtesan at first word, to buy her pins, and yet when he was solicited by the senate to bestow something to repair the decayed walls of Rome for the commonwealth’s good, he would give but 6000 sesterces at most. [5553]Dionysius, that Sicilian tyrant, rejected all his privy councillors, and was so besotted on Mirrha his favourite and mistress, that he would bestow no office, or in the most weightiest business of the kingdom do aught without her especial advice, prefer, depose, send, entertain no man, though worthy and well deserving, but by her consent; and he again whom she commended, howsoever unfit, unworthy, was as highly approved.  Kings and emperors, instead of poems, build cities; Adrian built Antinoa in Egypt, besides constellations, temples, altars, statues, images, &c., in the honour of his Antinous.  Alexander bestowed infinite sums to set out his Hephestion to all eternity. [5554]Socrates professeth himself love’s servant, ignorant in all arts and sciences, a doctor alone in love matters, et quum alienarum rerum omnium scientiam diffiteretur, saith [5555]Maximus Tyrius, his sectator, hujus negotii professor, &c., and this he spake openly, at home and abroad, at public feasts, in the academy, in Pyraeo, Lycaeo, sub Platano, &c., the very bloodhound of beauty, as he is styled by others.  But I conclude there is no end of love’s symptoms, ’tis a bottomless pit.  Love is subject to no dimensions; not to be surveyed by any art or engine:  and besides, I am of [5556]Haedus’ mind, “no man can discourse of love matters, or judge of them aright, that hath not made trial in his own person,” or as Aeneas Sylvius [5557]adds, “hath not a little doted, been mad or lovesick himself.”  I confess I am but a novice, a contemplator only, Nescio quid sit amor nec amo[5558]—­I have a tincture; for why should I lie, dissemble or excuse it, yet homo sum, &c., not altogether inexpert in this subject, non sum praeceptor amandi, and what I say, is merely reading, ex altorum forsan ineptiis, by mine own observation, and others’ relation.

MEMB.  IV.
Prognostics of Love-Melancholy.

What fires, torments, cares, jealousies, suspicions, fears, griefs, anxieties, accompany such as are in love, I have sufficiently said:  the next question is, what will be the event of such miseries, what they foretell.  Some are of opinion that this love cannot be cured, Nullis amor est medicabilis herbis, it accompanies them to the [5559]last, Idem amor exitio est pecori pecorisque magistro.  “The same passion consume both the sheep and the shepherd,” and is so continuate, that by no persuasion almost it may be relieved. [5560]"Bid me not love,” said Euryalus, “bid the mountains come down into the plains, bid the rivers run back to their fountains; I can as soon leave to love, as the sun leave his course;”