by
Francis Bacon
(1561-1626)
The stage is more beholding to love, than the life of man. For as to the stage, love is ever matter of comedies, and now and then of tragedies; but in life it doth much mischief; sometimes like a siren, sometimes like a fury.
You may observe, that amongst all the great and worthy persons
(whereof the memory remaineth, either ancient or recent) there is not
one, that hath been transported to the mad degree of love: which
shows that great spirits, and great business, do keep out this weak
passion. You must except, nevertheless, Marcus Antonius, the half
partner of the empire of Rome, and Appius Claudius, the decemvir and
lawgiver; whereof the former was indeed a voluptuous man, and
inordinate; but the latter was an austere and wise man: and therefore
it seems (though rarely) that love can find entrance, not only into
an open heart, but also into a heart well fortified, if watch be not
well kept.
It is a poor saying of Epicurus, Satis magnum alter alteri theatrum
sumus; as if man, made for the contemplation of heaven, and all noble
objects, should do nothing but kneel before a little idol and make
himself a subject, though not of the mouth (as beasts are), yet of
the eye; which was given him for higher purposes. It is a strange
thing, to note the excess of this passion, and how it braves the
nature, and value of things, by this; that the speaking in a
perpetual hyperbole, is comely in nothing but in love. Neither is it
merely in the phrase; for whereas it hath been well said, that the
arch-flatterer, with whom all the petty flatterers have intelligence,
is a man's self; certainly the lover is more. For there was never
proud man thought so absurdly well of himself, 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
weakness appear to others only, 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 itself! As for the other losses,
the poet's relation doth well figure them: that he that preferred
Helena, quitted the gifts of Juno and Pallas. For whosoever
esteemeth too much of amorous affection, quitteth both riches and
wisdom. This passion hath his floods, in very times of weakness;
which are great prosperity, and great adversity; though this latter
hath been less observed: both which times kindle love, and make it
more fervent, and therefore show it to be the child of folly. They do
best, who if they cannot but admit love, yet make it keep quarters;
and sever it wholly from their serious affairs, and actions, of life;
for if it check once with business, it troubleth men's fortunes, and
maketh men, that they can no ways be true to their own ends. I know
not how, but martial men are given to love: I think, it is but as
they are given to wine; for perils commonly ask 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 itself towards many, and maketh men become
humane and charitable; as it is seen sometime in friars. Nuptial love
maketh mankind; friendly love perfecteth it; but wanton love
corrupteth, and embaseth it.
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