was her pretty leg and foot:  a soft and white skin, &c. have their peculiar graces, [4926]_Nebula haud est mollior ac hujus cutis est, aedipol papillam bellulam_.  Though in men these parts are not so much respected; a grim Saracen sometimes,—­nudus membra Pyracmon, a martial hirsute face pleaseth best; a black man is a pearl in a fair woman’s eye, and is as acceptable as [4927]lame Vulcan was to Venus; for he being a sweaty fuliginous blacksmith, was dearly beloved of her, when fair Apollo, nimble Mercury were rejected, and the rest of the sweet-faced gods forsaken.  Many women (as Petronius [4928]observes) sordibus calent (as many men are more moved with kitchen wenches, and a poor market maid, than all these illustrious court and city dames) will sooner dote upon a slave, a servant, a dirt dauber, a brontes, a cook, a player, if they see his naked legs or arms, thorosaque brachia, [4929]&c., like that huntsman Meleager in Philostratus, though he be all in rags, obscene and dirty, besmeared like a ruddleman, a gipsy, or a chimney-sweeper, than upon a noble gallant, Nireus, Ephestion, Alcibiades, or those embroidered courtiers full of silk and gold. [4930]Justine’s wife, a citizen of Rome, fell in love with Pylades a player, and was ready to run mad for him, had not Galen himself helped her by chance.  Faustina the empress doted on a fencer.

Not one of a thousand falls in love, but there is some peculiar part or other which pleaseth most, and inflames him above the rest. [4931]A company of young philosophers on a time fell at variance, which part of a woman was most desirable and pleased best? some said the forehead, some the teeth, some the eyes, cheeks, lips, neck, chin, &c., the controversy was referred to Lais of Corinth to decide; but she, smiling, said, they were a company of fools; for suppose they had her where they wished, what would they [4932]first seek?  Yet this notwithstanding I do easily grant, neque quis vestrum negaverit opinor, all parts are attractive, but especially [4933]the eyes, [4934]

------“videt igne micantes,
Sideribus similes oculos”------

which are love’s fowlers; [4935]_aucupium amoris_, the shoeing horns, “the hooks of love” (as Arandus will) “the guides, touchstone, judges, that in a moment cure mad men, and make sound folks mad, the watchmen of the body; what do they not?” How vex they not?  All this is true, and (which Athaeneus lib. 13. dip. cap. 5. and Tatius hold) they are the chief seats of love, and James Lernutius [4936]hath facetely expressed in an elegant ode of his,

       “Amorem ocellis flammeolis herae
        Vidi insidentem, credite posteri,
        Fratresque circum ludibundos
        Cum pharetra volitare et arcu,” &c.

       “I saw Love sitting in my mistress’ eyes
        Sparkling, believe it all posterity,
        And his attendants playing round about
        With bow and arrows ready for to fly.”