HONS 3RD YEAR

Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

Of Love

THE stage নাট্য মঞ্চ is more beholding দেখা to love, than the life of man. For as to the stage, love is ever matter বিষয় of comedies মিলনাত্তক, and now and then of tragedies; but in life it doth ফুটকি much mischief; sometimes like a siren মায়াবিনি , sometimes like a fury ক্রধ. You may observe লক্ষকরা , that amongst all the great and worthy যোগ্য 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 আত্মা , and great business, do keep out this weak passion উত্তেজনা. You must except বিনা , nevertheless সত্ত্বেও , Marcus Antonius, the half partner of the empire সাম্রাজ্য of Rome, and Appius Claudius, the decimvir রোমের দশ জন শাসকের মধ্যে একজন  and lawgiver উকিল ; whereof the former পূর্ববতই was indeed বস্তুত a voluptuous ইন্দ্রিয় সুখ ব্রদক man, and inordinate অতিরিক্ত; but the latter was an austere কোঠর  and wise man: and therefore it seems (though rarely) that love can find entrance প্রবেশ, not only into an open heart, but also into a heart well fortified সুরক্ষা, if watch be not well kept. It is a poor saying of Epicurus ভোগবিলাস, Satis বনদেবতা  magnum কিচির মিচির  alter ভিন্নপ্রকার  alteri theatrum নাট্যসালা sumus; as if man, made for the contemplation কোন বিষয়ে গভির চিন্তা of heaven, and all noble objects, should do nothing but kneelশোক সুচক ঘণ্টা ধ্বনি  before a little idol পুতুল, 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 অতিরিক্ততা of this passion উত্তেজনা , 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.