Paradoxes Problems Essays Characters, Part 5
An Essay of Valour.
I Am of opinion that nothing is so potent either to procure or merit Love, as Valour, and I am glad I am so, for thereby I shall do my self much ease, because Valour never needs much wit to maintain it: To speak of it in it self, It is a quality which he that hath, shall have least need of, so the best League between Princes is a mutual fear of each other, it teacheth a man to value his reputation as his life, and chiefly to hold the Lye unsufferable, though being alone, he finds no hurt it doth him, It leaves it self to others censures, for he that brags of his own valour, disswades others from believing it, It feareth a word no more then an Ague, It always makes good the Owner, for though he be generally held a fool, he shall seldom hear so much by word of mouth, and that enlargeth him more than any spectacles, for it maketh a little fellow be called a tall man, it yeilds the wall to none but a woman, whose weakness is her prerogative, or a man seconded with a woman as an usher, which always goes before his betters, It makes a man become the witness of his own words, and stand to whatever he hath said, and thinketh it a reproach to commit his reviling unto the Law, it furnisheth youth with action, and age with discourse, and both by futures, for a man must ever boast himself in the present tense, and to come nearer home, nothing drawes a woman like to it; for Valour towards men, is an Emblem of an ability towards women, a good quality signifies a better. Nothing is more behooffull for that Sex; for from it they receive protection, and we free from the danger of it: Nothing makes a shorter cut for obtaining, for a man of Arms is always void of Ceremony, which is the wall that stands between Pyramus and Thisbe, that is, Man and Woman, for there is no pride in women but that which rebounds from our own basenesse (as Cowards grow Valiant upon those that are more Cowards) so that only by our pale asking, we teach them to deny, and by our shamefac'dness, we put them in minde to be modest, whereas indeed it is cunning Rhetorick to perswade the hearers that they are that already which he would have them to be; This kinde of bashfulness is far from men of Valour, and especially from souldiers, for such are ever men (without doubt) forward and confident, losing no time least they should lose oportunity, which is the best Factor for a Lover, and because they know women are given to dissemble, they will never believe them when they deny, Whilome before this age of wit, and wearing black, were broke in upon us, there was no way known to win a Lady but by Tylting, Turnying, and riding through Forrests, in which time these slender striplings with little legs were held but of strength enough to marry their widows, and even in our days there can be given no reason of the Inundation of Servingmen upon their Mistresses, but (only) that usually they carry their Masters Weapons, and his Valour; To be accounted handsome, just, learned, or well favoured, all this carries no danger with it, but it is to be admitted to the Title of Valiant Acts, at least the adventuring of his mortality, and al women take delight to hold him safe in their arms who hath 'scapt thither through many dangers: To speak at once, Man hath a priviledge in Valour; In clothes and good faces we but imitate women, and many of that Sex will not think much (as far as an answer goes) to dissemble wit too. So then these neat youths, these women in mens apparel are too near a woman to be beloved of her, They be both of a Trade, but be grim of aspect, and such a one a Glass dares take, and she will desire him for neatness and varietie; A skar in a mans face is the same that a mole in a womans; a Jewel set in white to make it seem more white, for a skar in a man is a mark of honour and no blemish, for 'tis a skar and a blemish too in a Souldier to be with out one: Now as for al things else which are to procure Love, as a good face, wit, good clothes, or a good body, each of them I confess may work somewhat for want of a better, That is, if Valour be not their Rivall; A good face avails nothing if it be in a coward that is bashfull, the utmost of it is to be kiss'd, which rather encreaseth then quencheth appetite; He that sends her gifts sends her world also, that he is a man of small gifts otherwise, for wooing by signes and tokens implies the Author dumb; and if Ovid who writ the Law of Love, were alive (as he is extant) would allow it as good a diversity, that gifts should be sent as gratuities, not as bribes; Wit getteth rather promise then Love, Wit is not to be seen, and no woman takes advice of any in her loving, but of her own eyes, and her waiting womans; Nay which is worse, Wit is not to be felt, and so no good fellow; Wit apply'd to a woman makes her dissolve (or disclose) her simpering, and discover her teeth with laughter, and this is surely a purge for love; for the beginning of love is a kind of foolish melancholy, as for the man that makes his Taylor his Bawd, and hopes to inveagle his Love with such a coloured suit, surely the same deeply hazards the loss of her favour upon every change of his clothes; So likewise for the other, that Courts her silently with a good body, let me certifie him that his clothes depend upon the comelynesse of the body, and so both upon opinion; she that hath been seduced by Apparel, let me give her to wit, that men always put off their clothes before they go to bed: and let her that hath been enamour'd of her servants body, understand, that if she saw him in a skin of cloth, that is, in a suit made to the pattern of his body, she would see slender cause to love him ever after; there are no clothes sit so well in a womans eye, as a suit of Steel, though not of the fashion, and no man so soon surpriseth a womans affections, as he that is the subject of all whisperings, and hath always twenty stories of his own deeds depending upon him; Mistake me not, I understand not by valour one that never fights but when he is back'd with drink or anger, or hiss'd on with beholders, nor one that is desperate, nor one that takes away a Servingmans weapons when perchance it cost him his quarters wages, nor yet one that wears a privy Coat of defence and therein is confident, for then such as made Bucklers, would be accounted the Catalines of this Commonwealth—I intend one of an even Resolution grounded upon reason, which is always even, having his power restrained by the Law of not doing wrong. But now I remember I am for Valour and therefore I must be a man of few words.