that was brought up in the wilderness, from his infancy, by an old hermit:  now come to man’s estate, he saw by chance two comely women wandering in the woods:  he asked the old man what creatures they were, he told him fairies; after a while talking obiter, the hermit demanded of him, which was the pleasantest sight that ever he saw in his life?  He readily replied, the two [4963]fairies he spied in the wilderness.  So that, without doubt, there is some secret loadstone in a beautiful woman, a magnetic power, a natural inbred affection, which moves our concupiscence, and as he sings,

       “Methinks I have a mistress yet to come,
        And still I seek, I love, I know not whom.”

’Tis true indeed of natural and chaste love, but not of this heroical passion, or rather brutish burning lust of which we treat; we speak of wandering, wanton, adulterous eyes, which, as [4964]he saith, “lie still in wait as so many soldiers, and when they spy an innocent spectator fixed on them, shoot him through, and presently bewitch him:  especially when they shall gaze and gloat, as wanton lovers do one upon another, and with a pleasant eye-conflict participate each other’s souls.”  Hence you may perceive how easily and how quickly we may be taken in love; since at the twinkling of an eye, Phaedrus’ spirits may so perniciously infect Lycias’ blood. [4965]"Neither is it any wonder, if we but consider how many other diseases closely, and as suddenly are caught by infection, plague, itch, scabs, flux,” &c.  The spirits taken in, will not let him rest that hath received them, but egg him on. [4966]_Idque petit corpus mens unde est saucia amore_; and we may manifestly perceive a strange eduction of spirits, by such as bleed at nose after they be dead, at the presence of the murderer; but read more of this in Lemnius, lib. 2. de occult. nat. mir. cap. 7. Valleriola lib. 2. observ. cap. 7. Valesius controv. Ficinus, Cardan, Libavius de cruentis cadaveribus, &c.

SUBSECT.  III.—­Artificial allurements of Love, Causes and Provocations to Lust; Gestures, Clothes, Dower, &c.

Natural beauty is a stronger loadstone of itself, as you have heard, a great temptation, and pierceth to the very heart; [4967]_forma verecundae, nocuit mihi visa puellae_; but much more when those artificial enticements and provocations of gestures, clothes, jewels, pigments, exornations, shall be annexed unto it; those other circumstances, opportunity of time and place shall concur, which of themselves alone were all sufficient, each one in particular to produce this effect.  It is a question much controverted by some wise men, forma debeat plus arti an naturae?  Whether natural or artificial objects be more powerful? but not decided:  for my part I am of opinion, that though beauty itself be a great motive, and give an excellent lustre in sordibus, in beggary, as a jewel on a dunghill will shine and cast his rays, it cannot be suppressed, which Heliodorus feigns of Chariclia, though she were in beggar’s weeds:  yet as it is used, artificial is of more force, and much to be preferred.