Nec credi labor est : sibi quaeque videtur amanda
Sapho and Phao
De Arte Amandi
rather to beleeue what their eares heare of flattering men, then what their eyes see in true glasses.
Phao. You degresse, onely to make mee beleeue that women do so lightly beleeue.
Sybilla. Then to the purpose. Chuse such times to break thy suite, as thy Lady is pleasant {. The wooden horse entred Troy, when the soldiers were quaffyng?; and Penelope forsooth, whom fables make so coy, among the pottes wrong her wooers by the fists, when she lowred on their faces. Grapes are minde glasses 3, Venus worketh in Bacchus presse, & bloweth fire vpon his lycour#. When thou talkest with her, let thy speach be pleasant, but not incredible. Chuse such words as may (as many may) melt her mindeÿ. Honney ranckleth, when it is eaten for pleasure, and faire words wound, when they are hearde for loue. Write, and persist in writing 6; they read more then is written to them, & write lesse then they thinke 7. In conceite studie to be pleasaunt, in attire braue, but not too
1. Illa leget tempus (medici quoque tempora servant) - (I, 359) Quo facilis dominae mens sit et apta capi. (I, 360) Mens erit apta capi tune, cum laetissima rerum (I, 361) 2. Tunc cum tristis erat, defensa est [lion armis : (I, 365) Militibus gravidum laeta recepit equum. (I, 366) ? Vina parant animos: faciuntque caloribus aptos: (I, 237) À moins que cette phrase ne résume les vers 567-608 du livre I, où Ovide énumère les secours que le vin peut offrir à l’amant. Cette phrase pourrait aussi être une traduction du proverbe bien connu : « In vino veritas » (Cf. H. de Vocht, De /nvloed van Erasmus, 236) . Et Venus in vinis, ignis in igne fuit. (I, 244) Blanditiis animum furtim deprehendere nune sit : (1,621) 6. Cera tuae primum conscia mentis eat. (I, 440) = Lecturam spera : propositumque tene. (1, 472) 7. Résume probablement I, 473-488, et plus particulièrement : Quod rogat illa, timet : quod non rogat, optat, ut instes (I, 487)
(eu)
LYLY ET OVIDE 597
Sapho and curioust; when she smileth, laugh outright?; if rise, stande
Phao
De Arte Amandi
vp; if sit, lye downe 8. Loose al thy time to keepe time with her. Can you sing, shew your cunning; can you daunce, vse your legges#; can you play vppon any instrument, practise your fingers to please her fancy; seeke out qualyties 5. If she seeme at the first cruell, be not discouraged. I tell the a straung thing, womenne striue, because they would be ouercome : force they call it, but such a welcome force they account it, that continually they study .to be enforced 6. To faire words ioyne sweet kisses 7, which if they gently receiue, I say no more, they will gently receiue 8. But be not pinned alwaies on her sleeues, straungers haue greene rushes, when daily guests are not worth a rushe. Looke pale ?, and learne to be leane 1, that who so seeth thee, may say, the Gentleman is in loue 1, Vse no sorcerie to hasten thy successe 12 : wit is a witch : Ulysses was not faire, but wise, not cunning in charmes, but sweete in speach, whose filed tongue made those inamoured that sought to haue him inchaunted #3. Be not coy, beare, sooth, sweare, die
1. Probablement inspiré par I, 507-526, où Ovide développe la même idée.
Riserit, arride. (IT, 201) Cum surgit, surgas : donec sedet 1lla, sedeto : (I, 505) Si vox est, canta : si mollia brachia, salta : (I, 597) Et quacumque potes dote placere, place. (I, 598) Vim licet appellent : grata est vis 1lla puellis : (TI, 675) Quod juvat, invitae saepe dedisse volunt. (I, 676) Quaecumque est Veneris subita violata rapina, (I, 677) Gaudet :
7. Quis sapiens blandis non misceat oseula verbis ? (T, 665) 8. Oscula qui sumpsit : si non et cetera sumpsit : (I, 671) Haec quoque, quae data sunt, perdere dignus erat. (I, 672) 9. Palleat omnis amans : color est hic aptus amanti : (I, 731) 10. Arguat et macies animum : (I, 735) 11. Ut, qui te videat, dicere possit, amas. (I, 740) 12. Fallitur Haemonias siquis decurrit ad artes : (II, 99) 13. Non formosus erat, sed erat facundus Ulysses : (IT, 123) Et tamen aequoreas torsit amore deas. (II, 124)
OO Qt BR © D
Sapho and Phao
De Arte Amandi
to please thy Lady : these are rules for poore louers {, to others T am no mistresse 2 He hath wit ynough, that can giue ynough 5. Dumbe men are eloquent, if they be liberall. Beleeue me great gifts are little Gods. When thy mistresse doth bend her brow, do not thou bend thy fiste 4. Camokes must be bowed with sleight, not strength 5; water is to be trained with pipes, not stopped with sluses f; fire to be quenched with dust, not with swordes. If thou haue à ryuall, be pacient 7; arte muste winde him out, not malice; time, not might; her chaunge, and thy constancie. Whatsoeuer she weareth, sweare it becomes her 8. In thy loue be secrete ?. Venus cofers, though they bee hollow, neuer sound 10, & when they seeme emptiest, they are fullest.
1. Pauper amet caute : timeat maledicere pauper : (II, 167) Multaque divitibus non patienda ferat. (II, 168) . Pauperibus vates ego sum : (II, 165) . Nihil opus est ill, qui dabit, arte mea. (II, 162) Secum habet ingenium, qui cum libet, accipe dicit : (IT, 163) 4. Si nec blanda satis, nec erit tibi comis amica : (II, 177) Perfer, et obdura.
5. Flectitur obsequio curvatus ab arbore ramus : (II, 179) Franges : si vires experiere tuas. (II, 180) 6. ? Obsequio transnantur aquae : nec vincere possis (II, 181) Flumina : si contra, quam rapit unda, nates. (II, 182) 7. Rivalem patienter habe : (II, 539) 8. Cette phrase résume les vers 297-304 du livre IT : Sive erit in Tyrüs, Tyrios laudabis amictus : Sive erit in Cois; Coa decere puta &c.
9. Praecipue Cytherea jubet sua sacra taceri : (II, 607) 10. Condita si non sunt Veneris mysteria cistis : (II, 609) Nec cava vesanis ictibus aera sonant : (II, 610) Lyly semble n’avoir saisi que très vaguement le sens de ces deux vers.
