Page:The Book of the Courtier.djvu/383

 THE THIRD BOOK OF THE COURTIER Lady, are the cause of the Courtier's love for her, the end of his love will necessarily be worthy too: and if nobility, excel- lence in arms and letters and music, if gentleness and the pos- session of so many graces in speech and conversation, be the means whereby the Courtier is to win the lady's love, the end of that love must needs be of like quality with the means whereby it is attained. " Moreover, just as there are divers sorts of beauty in the world, so too there are divers tastes in men; and thus it happens that when they see a woman of that serious beauty, which (whether she be going or staying or joking or jesting or doing what you will) always so tempers her whole behaviour as to induce a certain reverence in anyone who looks upon her, — many are abashed and dare not serve her; and lured by hope, they oftener love attractive and enticing women, so soft and ten- der as to display in words and acts and looks a certain languour- ous passion that promises easily to pass and be changed into love. "To be safe against deceits, some men love another sort of women, who are so free of eye and word and movement as to do the first thing that comes into their mind with a certain sim- plicity which does not hide their thoughts. Nor are there lack- ing other generous souls, who — (esteeming that worth is shown in difficulty, and that it would be a victory most sweet to conquer what to others seems unconquerable), in order to give proof that their valour is able to force a stubborn mind and persuade to love even wills that are contrary and recusant thereto, — readily turn to love the beauties of those women who by eyes and words and behaviour show more austere severity than the others. Wherefore these men who are so self-confident, and who account themselves secure against being deceived, willingly love certain women also who by cunning and art seem to con- ceal a thousand wiles with beauty; or else some others, who along with their beauty have a coquettishly disdainful manner of few words and few laughs, with almost an air of prizing little every man who looks upon them or serves them. " Then there are certain other men who deign to love only those women who in face and speech and every movement carry 227