Interea tacitae serpunt in viscera flammae : (I

Cooling Carde

De Remedio Amoris

He that to day is not willyng wilt to morrowe be more wilfull 1.

Moreouer take this counsaile, as an article of thy Creede, which I meane to followe as the chiefe argument of my faith, that idleness is the onely nourse and nourisher of sensual appetite, the sole maintenance of youthfull affection 3, the first shaft that Cupide shooteth into the hot liuer of a heedlesse louer #.

Besides this immoderate sleepe, immodest play, vnsatiable swilling of wine, doth so weaken the sences 5, and bewitch the soule, that before we feele the motion of loue, wee are resolued into lust. Eschewe idlenesse my Philautus, so shalt thou easily vnbende the bowe and quenche the brandes of Cupidef. Loue giues place to laboure, laboure and thou shalt neuer loue 7. Cupide is a craftie childe following those at an ynche that studye pleasure, and flyinge those swyftlye that take paines $. Bende thy minde ? to the lawe whereby thou mayst haue vnderstanding of olde and auncient customes, defende thy clientes 10,

1. Qui non est hodie, cras minus aptus erit. (I, 94) (Lyly n’a évidemment pas compris le sens de ce vers.)