Page:Bacons Essays 1908 West.djvu/51

ESSAY X] nothing but in Love. Neither is it meerely in the Phrase ; For whereas it hath beene well said that the Arch-flatterer, with whom all the petty Flatterers have Intelligence, is a Man's Selfe, Certainly the Lover is more. For there was never Proud Man thought so absurdly well of himselfe as the Lover doth of the Person loved: And therefore it was well said, That it is impossible to love and to be wise. Neither doth this weaknesse appeare to others onely, and not to the Party Loved, But to the Loved most of all, except the Love be reciproque. For it is a true Rule, that Love is ever rewarded, either with the Reciproque, or with an inward and secret Contempt. By how much the more Men ought to beware of this Passion, which loseth not only other things but itselfe. As for the other losses, the Poet's Relation doth well figure them; That he that preferred Helena, quitted the Gifts of luno and Pallas. For whosoever esteemeth too much of Amorous Affection, quitteth both Riches and Wisedome. This Passion hath his Flouds in the very times of Weaknesse, which are great Prosperitie and great Adversitie, though this latter hath beene lesse observed: Both which times kindle Love, and make it more fervent, and therefore shew it to be the Childe of Folly. They doe best, who, if they cannot but admit Love, yet make it keepe Quarter, And sever it wholly from their serious Affaires and Actions of life; For if it checke once with Businesse, it troubleth Men's For tunes, and maketh Men that they can no wayes be true to their owne Ends. I know not how, but Martiall Men are given to Love: I thinke it is but as they are given to Wine, For Perils commonly aske to be paid in Pleasures. There is in Man's Nature a secret Inclination and Motion towards love of others, which, if it be not spent upon some one or a few, doth naturally spread it selfe towards many, and maketh men become Humane and Charitable, As it is seene sometime in Friars. Nuptiall love maketh Mankinde;