NOTE 3 Humorous minds: Lat. phantasticis, "eccentric." Cf. As You Like It, i, 2, 278. B. may be thinking of Montaigne: "It [marriage] is in favor at present rather with simple and common minds, in which it is not troubled by pleasure, curiosity, and ease; the dissolute humors, like mine, which abhor every sort of connection or obligation, are not proper to it: 'and to me it is sweet rather to live with a free neck.' Essays, iii, 5. 4 Said of Ulysses: In Plutarch (Morals, p. 563) Gryllus reproaches Ulysses because, "accustomed to ordinary human love, being himself a mortal, he was unwilling to enter into a union with a goddess." In Adv. viii, 7, B. speaks of Ulysses as a figure of those which prefer custom and habit before all excellency." 66 5 Quarrel: pretext. 6 One of the wise men: Thales, when his mother urged him to marry, put her off, saying he was too young to marry; afterward when she pressed the matter, he replied that he was too old. Plutarch, Symposiacs, iii, quest. 6; quoted also by Montaigne, Essays, ii, 8. IX. OF ENVY 1 The Scripture: Mark vii, 22. 2 Evil influences: cf. With store of ladies, whose bright eyes Milton, L'Allegro, -121. The term "aspect" was used in astrology to indicate the relations of the heavenly bodies to one another; or the positions whence they regarded one another. Cf. The Winter's Tale, ii, 1, 105-107: There's some ill planet reigns: I must be patient till the heavens look 3 Irradiation of the eye: cf. "As for envy, that emitteth some malign and poisonous spirit, which taketh hold of the spirit of another; and is likewise of greatest force when the cast of the eye is oblique. It hath been noted also, that it is most dangerous when an envious eye is cast upon persons in glory and triumph and joy: the reason whereof is, for that at such times the spirits come forth most into the outward parts, and so meet the percussion of the envious eve more at hand; and therefore it hath been noted that after great triumphs men have been ill-disposed for some days following." Natural History, 944. 4 In glory or triumph: cf. Plutarch, Sumposiacs, v, quest. 7, "Of those who are said to bewitch with their eye." NOTE 5 Non est: Plautus, Stichus, i, 3, 54. 6 New men: a term applied in ancient Rome to the first members of families who held high office. 7 Deformed persons: A. quotes Richard III, i, 1, 28–31: And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover To entertain these fair well-spoken days, I am determined to prove a villain, 8 Narses: (c. 478-573) joint commander in Italy with Belisarius in 538-539, and prefect of Italy 554–567; cf. Gibbon, Decline, xliii. 9 Agesilaus: king of Sparta 398-361 B. c. "As for the deformity of his leg, the one being shorter than the other, in the flower of his youth, through his pleasant wit, he used the matter so pleasantly and patiently that he would merrily mock himself: which manner of merry behavior did greatly hide the blame of the blemish." Plutarch, Lives, iv, 160. 10 Tamberlanes: Timur-Leng, "Timur the Lame," the great Tatar conqueror (1333–1405), who for many years held sway "from Delhi to Damascus, and from the Sea of Aral to the Persian Gulf." Christopher Marlowe wrote a wellknown play, acted in 1587, on his life. 11 Men that rise: very likely, as R. thinks, B. had in mind his rival Sir Edward Coke, who, falling under the king's displeasure, was deprived of his place as Chief Justice, but was afterward received again into favor, and had a prominent part in B.'s downfall; cf. Introduction, p. xix. 12 Want work: Lat. "for everywhere they meet with objects of envy." 13 Adrian: emperor of Rome 117-138; said to have banished the architect Apollodorus for criticising the plan of a temple which the emperor had sent to him. 14 Near kinsfolks: cf. "Many there be who have an envious eye to their kinsfolk and companions." Plutarch, Morals, p. 236. 15 Cain's envy: cf. Genesis iv, 1-15. 16 As the sunbeams: cf. "But as the sun, where he passes highest and sends down his beams most directly, has none or very little shadow, so they who are exalted to the meridian of fortune, shining aloof over the head of envy, have scarce anything of their brightness eclipsed." Plutarch, Morals (ed. Goodwin), ii, 98. 17 Those that have joined: B. had read this in Plutarch, Morals, p. 253. 18 Pity ever healeth envy: cf. "Adversities may well stay envy and cause it cease. You shall not see one in misery envied." Plutarch, Morals, p. 235. 19 Politic persons: men in public office. 20 Disavow fortune: Lat. "each one throws the blame upon fortune, as if aware of his own unworthiness." NOTE 21 The cure of witchcraft: "When as therefore they who be infected with envy do cast their eyes upon others, which because they are seated near unto the soul do catch and draw unto them very easily this vice and so shoot their venomous rays like poisoned darts upon them; if such chance to be wounded and hurt thereby, whom they look upon and wistly behold, I see no strange thing, nor a matter incredible. And hereupon it is that those preservatives against witchcraft called probaskania [amulets] are then thought to do good against envy." Plutarch, Symposiacs, v, quest. 7. 22 Remove the lot: take away the spell. If sorcerers healed a bewitched man, they had to pass on the lot or spell to another. 23 Plausible: deserving of applause or approval. 24 The state itself: Lat. "the king or the state itself." At the conclusion of his interview with the King before his condemnation, B. took leave with these words: "Those that will strike at your Chancellor, it is much to be feared, will strike at your Crown." Life, vii, 199. 25 Most depraved: Plutarch says much the same thing in his treatise Of Envy and Hatred, Morals, p. 235. 26 The envious man: cf. Matthew xiii, 25. X. OF LOVE 1 Like a siren: the story is told in The Wisdom of the Ancients, xxxi. "The fable of the Sirens is truly applied to the pernicious allurements of pleasure. These Sirens had their dwelling in certain pleasant islands, whence they kept watch for ships; and when they saw any approaching, they began to sing; which made the voyagers first stay to listen, then gradually draw near, and at last land; when they took and killed them." 2 Like a fury: the Furies were fearful winged maidens, daughters of Earth or of Night, who punished mortals for various crimes, such as disobedience toward parents, disrespect for age, murder, perjury, and violation of the laws of hospitality. 3 Marcus Antonius (83-30 B. C.) loved Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt. See Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. 4 Appius Claudius: a Roman decemvir. In 449 B. C. Virginius, a plebeian, slew his daughter to prevent her falling into the power of Appius. See Macaulay's Lays of Ancient Rome. B. has apparently confused him with a later Appius Claudius, censor 312-308 B. C. and consul in 307 and 296 B. C., from whom is dated the beginning of Roman jurisprudence. Cf. the following note. 5 Lawgiver: Lat. "chief of law-makers among the Romans." 6 A poor saying: Lat. "mean and feeble." A curious perver NOTE sion of the original. "It was well said by Epicurus, when writing to one of his companions in study: 'This,' said he, 'I intend not for the crowd but for you; for we are theatre enough for each other.' Seneca, Epistles, vii. 7 A little idol: the eye, the slave of which the lover becomes. 8 The lover doth: “But he that loveth (according as Plato saith) is always blinded by the thing which is loved." Plutarch, Morals, p. 245. 9 It was well said: by Publius the Syrian, On Love and Woman · "God scarcely grants a man both to love and to be wise." In Plutarch (Lives, iv, 174) Agesilaus says much the same thing. 10 Reciproque: mutual. 11 He that preferred: Paris. When Peleus and Thetis were married, all the gods except Eris (Strife) were invited to the wedding. In a rage, Eris threw among the guests a golden apple inscribed "To the fairest." Thereupon Hera (Juno), Aphrodite, and Pallas Athene each claimed the apple. Paris had to settle the dispute. Hera promised him the sovereignty of Asia; Athene, renown in war; and Aphrodite, the most beautiful of women (Helen). Paris decided in favor of Aphrodite. His abduction of Helen led to the Trojan War. See Tennyson's Enone. 12 Quitteth both riches and wisdom: "He that was a sordid miser before, falling once in love becomes liberal and loftyminded." Plutarch, Morals (ed. Goodwin), iv, 288. 13 Keep quarter: Lat. "reduce to order." Quarter, originally "a fourth part," came to mean the fourth part of the world, then of any place; cf. headquarters, the Latin Quarter, to give quarter, etc. 14 Martial men: Plutarch, Morals (ed. Goodwin), iv, 283, 286, speaks of the power of love over soldiers. 15 Friendly love: A. remarks that B. here follows Greek and Roman tradition, though the ancient ideal of friendship was higher and the ancient ideal of marriage lower than with us. XI. OF GREAT PLACE 1 No freedom: "They that govern in the commonwealth for honor's sake are no better than honorable slaves of the people, having no more but the bare name of a governor." Plutarch, Lives, v, 180. 2 Cum non sis: Cicero, Letters to Various Persons, vii, 3. "This was written after the battle of Pharsalia [48 B. C.] and the ruin of the cause with which Cicero had at that time identified himself." R. 3 When they would: Plutarch, Morals (ed. Goodwin), v, 98, refers to this difficulty. 4 To can: strictly it should be "to cun "(Old English infinitive cunnan "to know how," preterite-present tense cann). NOTE 5 Conscience: consciousness; so used by Milton in his second sonnet to Cyriack Skinner. 6 God's theatre: spectacle, i. e. can see what God saw. 7 Et conversus Deus: cf. Genesis i, 31; quoted from the Vulgate. 8 Neglect not also: Plutarch (Lives, v, 373) gives similar advice. 9 Without bravery: Lat. "but without boastfulness of thyself.” 10 Helps and advices: Plutarch, Morals (ed. Goodwin), v, 115, gives similar counsel. 11 Facility: readiness to comply or be led. Cf. Essay xiii, p. 39, 1. 8 f. b. 12 Solomon saith: Proverbs xxviii, 21. 13 A place showeth the man: a Greek saying of disputed authority, attributed to Demosthenes, Solon, and Bias. Cf. Plutarch, Lives, v, 369. 14 Saith Tacitus: History, i, 49. 15 Of Vespasian: History, i, 50. 16 Rather call them: this was done by Agesilaus; cf. Plutarch, Lives, iv, 163. XII. OF BOLDNESS 1 Question was asked: the story is told by Cicero, On the Orator, iii, 56, sec. 213; and by Plutarch, Lives of the Ten. Orators, Morals, p. 932. 2 Mountebanks: those who mount benches to show off, quacks. 3 Grounds: principles. 4 If the hill: a common Spanish proverb. The story has not been traced to its origin. 5 Shrunken and wooden posture: Lat. "for then he gets a face reduced to its former state but misshapen.' 6 A stale: stalemate, a move by which the pieces are so placed that one's opponent cannot move without exposing one of his pieces to check. XIII. OF GOODNESS AND GOODNESS OF NATURE 1 The angels to fall: cf. Essay iii, note 26. 2 Busbechius: Busbec, a Flemish scholar and diplomatist (1522-1592), twice sent by Ferdinand I, emperor of Germany, as ambassador to Solyman, about 1555. The story occurs in his Letters from a Turkish Legation, iii. The offender was not a boy but a Venetian goldsmith. Busbec says nothing of his being stoned. The bird was, Busbec thought, a goatsucker, with a short bill and very widegape. 3 Doctors: teachers; cf. doctrine. 4 Machiavel: Florentine statesman and author (1469-1527); wrote The Prince, History of Florence, and other works, |