Part 6

II. BY reason the several _Branches_ of these HEADS are so very many and different, that to discuss ’em all _Here_, as I ought to do, would too much swell the _Bulk_ of the _Volume_, and enhance the _Price_ of this _BOOK_; which I design for the Good of the _poorer_ Sort of _Women_, as well as the Benefit of the _Rich_. However, what is most _Essential_ and necessarily _Requisite_, shall not be omitted (at least _coincidently_) in its _proper Place_. Wherefore I shall leave the VIRGIN, after a digressive Hint in the following _Section_, upon her darling _Passion_, [_LOVE_]: and supposing her to have _alter’d_ her _Condition_, I shall thenceforward treat her as a WIFE.

CHAP. IV. _Of LOVE._

_LOVE_ is the _first Impression_ that affects the APPETITE; proceeding from the _Pleasure_ conceiv’d in a _Real_ or _Imaginary GOOD_.

IT is the _CEMENT_ of _Affections_, and the _Effect_ of a certain _Congruity of Minds_; sympathetically arising from the _DIASTOLE_ and _SYSTOLE_ of _affected Hearts_.

IT is (as a certain _Author_ defines it) a sacred _Frenzy_ of the _Soul_, and a _Divine Madness_, elevating _Men_ to the Pitch of _Saints_, and rendring them the Care of Benigner DÆMONS: so far that they are every where _safe_, being under the Protection of _GODS_ and _Men_; as the _Poet_ familiarly expresses it, _Quisquis Amore tenetur, eat tutúsq; sacèrq_;——

IT is a kind of a wonderful satisfactory _Death_, and a voluntary _Separation_ of SOUL and BODY. The LOVER’S _Mind_ is in _one Place_; his _Body_, in _Another_; and _He_ himself is _No Where_, if he be not with the _Object_ of his _LOVE_: So that (in a manner) it transforms the _LOVER_ into the _Object beloved_; and all this without any _evident Trouble_, or if there be any _Trouble_, still the _Trouble_ is _lov’d_, with apparent Satisfaction and Delight. As it is ingeniously said, _Ubi Amatur, non laboratur; & si laboratur, labor Amatur_.

_LOVE_ always springs and blooms with fresh _Desires_, with young and vigorous _Inclinations_. It is so riveted in our _Natures_, that our _Blood_ must first grow cold and be congeal’d by _Death_, before this _FLAME_ can be extinguish’d: Nay, sometimes it is more _fervent_, tho’ of shorter Duration, in our _latest Hours_, than in our _Prime_. For like as the _OIL_ which feeds a _Lamp_, when almost spent, the _startled Flame_ begins to rouze itself, and _burn afresh_, as if it would fain subsist a _little longer_; tho’ on the very DREGS of its accustomed Fuel, it crackles and flashes with greater _Noise_ and _Lustre_ than before, but presently _expires_: So does the _Amorous Fire_, when we are nearest our _Dissolution_, begin to trouble us most, and makes our SOUL to blaze with greater FEVERS of _Desire_ and _Grief_, knowing its _Period_ to be near at hand.

_LOVE_ is like the _Palm-Tree_, the more oppressed with _Weights_, the _Higher_ it grows. It always desires to encrease, dilate, and stretch itself farther still, leading to an _Harmonious Union_ of HEARTS. _Riches_ cannot purchase _Love_. Neither _Threats_ nor _Violence_ can either force or restrain it; which being free by _Nature_, as proceeding from the _Freedom of the Will_, disdains all COMPULSION; _subduing_ all, and _unsubdued_ by any Opposition. In short, it is so generous, that whereas all other _Affections_ and _Actions_ aim at different _Rewards_; _LOVE_ only is contented with _Love_, holding nothing else as a _sufficient Recompence_.

_LOVE_ made _Ulysses_, rather than forsake his dear _Penelope_, refuse _IMMORTALITY_ itself at _Calipso_’s hands.

_LOVE_ is the oldest of our _Passions_, in that it came into the World with us; and from thence it becomes _habitual_ to a _good NATURE_, and a _brave SOUL_.

_LOVE_ is the most noble and generous of our _Passions_, it soon removes all puny Obstacles in its way. It is ready, prompt, and dexterous to find _Excuses_ or _Forgiveness_ for the greatest _FAULTS_, and much more to palliate the _Peccadillo_’s of the BELOVED. It does by a peculiar Force and Virtue extirpate all _Revenge_, and blot out the _MEMOIRS_ of _past Unkindnesses_.

_LOVE_ triumphantly _overcomes all Things_. All things yield to its Power; and the more we oppose it, the stronger _Resistance_ it makes. It conquers the greatest _Hearts_, and victoriously subdues the most magnanimous _Souls_. _Alexander_ the Great, was not exempted from this insuperable _Passion_, at the sight of _Darius_’s fair _Daughters_. No, _LOVE_ made _Hercules_, the Son of _JUPITER_ himself, stoop and truckle to the _Female Conqueror_; according to the following known _Distich_,

_“Lenam non potuit, potuit superare Leænant, “Quem Fera non potuit vincere, vicit Hera._

IN fine, I think it is also ingeniously well defin’d in this ensuing _Hexastick_, by Mr. _Howel_[35],

_“Fax grata est, gratum est vulnus, mihi grata Catena est, “Me quibus astringit, lædit & urit Amor; “Sed Flammam extingui, sanari Vulnera, sulvi “Vinc’la, etiam ut possem non ego posse velim: “Mirum equidem Genus hoc Morbi est, Incendia & Ictus “Vinc’laq; vinctus adhuc, læsus & ustus Amo._

Grateful’s to me the _Fire_, the _Wound_, the _Chain_, By which LOVE _burns_, LOVE _binds_, and giveth _Pain_: But for to quench this _Fire_, these _Bonds_ to loose, These _Wounds_ to heal, I would not, could I, choose: Strange _Sickness_, where the _Wounds_, the _Bonds_, the _Fire_ That _burns_, that _bind_, that _hurt_, I must desire.

THE Omniscient CREATOR, at the Beginning, implanted in the Nature of _Both Sexes_ this Faculty of LOVE, accompanied with a fervent Desire of _Procreation_; furnishing them (for this Purpose) with proper adapted ORGANS, and other suitable MEANS of _Generation_: which, in themselves, are no less _wise_ and _wonderful_, than the great DESIGN of propagating the World by successive _Generations_, is _profound_ and _miraculous_; as will more manifestly appear, by explaining their _Order_, _Propriety_, and _Disposition_, in _Sect_. 4. _Chap. 5, 6, &c_.

AND to compensate many subsequent _Griefs_ thereupon, NATURE added to _Man_ and _Woman_ an ardent Desire of mutual _Embraces_, concomitated with certain alluring _Enticements_ to _Multiplication_; to the end that in _Congression_ they might be so delightfully charme’d, as to forget, or at least vilipend and slight all other trifling _Annoyances_.

THUS, in short, _Nature_ hath cared and provided for _Propagation_ and _Posterity_; not only in the _Human Race_, but also in all other _Species_ of Creatures, according to the excellent _Poet_[36];

_“Omne adeo genus in terris hominúmq; Ferarúmq; “Et genus Æquoreum, pecudes, pictæq; Volucres, “In furias ignemq; ruunt_: AMOR _omnibus idem.—— “Quid Juvenis_, &c.——

Thus ev’ry _Creature_, and of ev’ry _Kind_, The secret Joys of sweet COITION find: Not only _Man_’s imperial Race; but they That wing the liquid _Air_, or swim the _Sea_, Or haunt the _Desart_, rush into the _Flame_: For LOVE is Lord of all; and is in all the _same_.

’Tis with this Rage, the _Mother-Lion_ stung, Scours o’er the Plain; regardless of her Young: Demanding _Rites of Love_, she sternly stalks; And hunts her LOVER, in his lonely Walks.

’Tis then the shapeless _Bear_ his Den forsakes; In Woods and Fields a vast Destruction makes. _Boars_ whet their Tusks, to battle _Tygers_ move, Enrag’d with Hunger, more enrag’d with LOVE.

BUT all ludicrous Diversions apart! I proceed hence to a necessary _Consequence_ of this Noble Natural _PASSION_; _viz._

CHAP. V. _Of COPULATION._

THIS _Conjunction_ of both SEXES, is the _Consummation_ of LOVE, and the _Pinnacle_ of the _Lover_’s natural Felicity. It is the Sum and superlative Degree of their _terrene Happiness_; above which the _Lovers_ cannot aspire, naturally speaking, in _Human Society_.

THIS is also the utmost _Height_ of their eager Desires, and the greatest _Extent_ of their languishing Wishes. It is the _Abatement_, as well as the _Completion_ of their unbounded _Passions_, and the _Tranquillity_ of their restless _Minds_. However yet——

THIS ACT is _Two-fold_; _Fæcund_ and successful, or _Sterile_ and unsuccessful in the Event.

I. AS to the _First_, some most famous AUTHORS have written their Minds freely and copiously upon it, and have given certain pertinent _Instructions_, touching the _Time_, and _Manner_, as well as _Conduct_ of the _Parties_ concern’d, both before and after the ACT: Particularly _Avicenna_[37] (no _Proletarian Writer_, but a most Illustrious and most Learned _Prince_) has insisted at large upon every Case belonging to this Head, together with the _Way_ and _Manner_, as well as the proper _Time_ of begetting either SEX; _“Ubi, inquit, menses defluxerint, sitq; abstersus Uterus, quod quinto ferè die usu venit, aut septimo; Si Vir Mulieri congrediatur, à primo quàm est purgata die ad quintum, MAREM produci: à quinto verò ad octavum, FÆMELLAM: rursus ab octavo ad duodecimum denuo, MASCULUM, &c.”_

WHICH excellent Opinion is fully proved by _Levinus Lemnius_ (another great _Master_ of NATURE): According to whose authentick Judgment also, there are likewise many things[38] of an _occult specifick Quality_, and _secret Effect_, for answering the same ENDS, as well as _Fecundity_ itself: which both common _Reason_ and daily _Experience_ confirm for TRUTH.

BUT because I lie under the Disadvantage (at present) of writing in our _vernacular Tongue_, it may be proper to pass by, what (otherways) might be plentifully said on this _Head_: However I shall observe, that the _Generality_ of RULES are most commonly calculated for _Persons_ of a discording Constitution of natural _Temperaments_ and _Faculties_; which _Difference of Constitution_ brings often false and ungrounded _Reproaches_ upon the Reputation of fruitful WOMEN. From whence it is justly to be remarked, that, tho’ few or no _Children_ are got meerly by ART; yet if a little _Dexterity_ or ingenious _Subtilty_ was used with some WOMEN, there would not (perhaps) _One_ in _Three_ of those, who are rashly accounted so, be found _BARREN_.

II. AS to the _unsuccessful_ ACT of _Coition_, I shall refer what may be offer’d on _that Point_, until I come to treat of _Sterility_, in SECTION viii: And therefore I shall only farther observe _Here_, that the _Parties_ ought not to encounter with full _Stomachs_, _Bellies_, or _Bladders_; much less when BOTH, or EITHER, are _weary_, _fatigu’d_, _depriv’d of Sleep_, _angry_, _troubled in Mind_, or in any other real respect _out of Order_. For in these _Cases_, it is very detrimental to the Health[39] of such imprudent _Parents_; and (if _Conception_ follows) it infallibly _intails_ some respective EVIL upon the _Innocent Production_: Because all the _Affections_ or _Disturbances_ of their MINDS, virtually devolve upon the EMBRYO. And besides, as (by such perverse Means) the _Conception_ becomes _irregular_; so also does the _Maturation_, _Nutrition_, and _Birth_ carry the same _Impression_: For from the least _Perturbation_ of _SPIRIT_, the _Infant_ may contract various _Blemishes_ of BODY, as well as _Errors_ of MIND.

WHEREFORE, in fine, as this _Affair_ is to be undertaken with a serene and contented _Mind_, a chearful and undisturbed _Heart_, so it ought to be perform’d with _Moderation_ and _Decency_: Not in any _brutal Manner_ or _Posture_; but according to the rational _Law_ and proper _Instinct_ of _Nature_.

CHAP. VI. _Remarks upon COPULATION._

Supposing now this amicable _Engagement_ of NATURE to be over, I may be modestly allow’d (I hope) to add a few Words upon its necessary _Consequences_; and _First_, of what has happen’d in the ACT, _Retention_, and _Conception_ following.

FIRST then, If the WOMAN has contributed most _Seminal Matter_, it may reasonably be concluded, that the CHILD will favour the MOTHER most: If the MAN predominantly, the FATHER: If _Both_ equally, it will resemble _Both_, or in part the FATHER, and partly the MOTHER.

AND according to _Anaxagoras_, if the SEED has flown into the _Right Side_ of the WOMB, from the Right _Rein_ of the Man, a _Male_ will be conceiv’d; if into the _Left_, from the Left _Rein_, a _Female_; by reason of the _Frigidity_ and _Humidity_ of that Place. Which _Notion_ may seem _probable_; considering, that tho’ the WOMB has but one _Cavity_, yet it has two _Sinuses_[40] for conceiving the _Two different Sexes_: As _Nature_ has in other Respects accordingly given the WOMAN two _Breasts_.

_LACTANTIUS_ also observes[41], That, if peradventure a _Male_ should be conceiv’d of the SEED fallen to the _left Side_, the Place destinated for the _Female_, he will make but a SEMIVIRILE MAN; distinguishable by some _Womanish Qualities_, such as a _weak_ or _tender Heart_, _small Voice_, a _smooth_, or _unbearded Face_, &c: And so, on the contrary, if a _Female_ should be conceiv’d of the SEED fallen to the _right Side_, she will have some distinguishable _Marks_ of VIRILITY; such as a _large Stature_, _robust Members_, _dusky Colour_, _rough hairy Face_, _coarse Voice_, &c: And that because the _Conception_ happen’d in that Place, which _Nature_ had appropriated to the _Male_.

THIS likewise seems to be the best Reason which may be given why _some Women_, like _Hector’s_ WIFE, mentioned in _Homer’s Iliads_, are naturally inclin’d to intermeddle with MEN’S _Affairs_; for having thus (as it were) _originally_ invaded his RIGHT _ex traduce_, they are always for maintaining their _wrong Conquests_, and defending their _unjust Possessions_ in future Progress of Time.

BUT I should rather in this Topick agree with _Velthuysius_[42], that _Both_ SEEDS are each of them naturally endued with the _Faculty_ of generating its _Like_: I mean, the MAN’S, to produce a _Male_; and the WOMAN’S, a _Female_: And that therefore by a natural _Predominancy_, where the _Masculine Faculty_ has prevail’d, a MAN-CHILD is begot; and a GIRL, where the _Feminine Virtue_ has exceeded it.

THIS, in short, is the best and only Reason I know, why _Children_ like to either _Parent_ in SEX, may yet differ in _Physiognomy_, _Manners_, &c: the SEED of the _one_ perhaps prevailing in _making_ the SEX, and That of the _other_, in _determining_ the rest of the Parts. Hence it is, in all Probability, that a CHILD like his _Father_ in SEX, may be like his _Mother_ in natural _Disposition_ and Tenderness of _Constitution_. Although by the way (without doubt) the _Place_ or _Sinus_ of the WOMB, _Matter_, _Heat_, and _Imagination_ of the WOMAN, contribute very much to the _Difference_ of the SEX; as will hereafter more plainly appear at large. AND, in fine, _This_ is the only _Cause_ of the _Conception_ of HERMAPHRODITES, that the emitted _Substance_ of BOTH PARENTS containing the full respective _Faculty_ of EACH, is sufficiently prolifick and prevalent to constitute and distinguish each proper SEX, in one and the same _personal Production_. But before I proceed farther on the _Similitude of Children_, I beg leave previously to describe the _Force_ of _IMAGINATION_.

CHAP. VII. _Of the Power of the IMAGINATIVE FACULTY._

THE _Imagination_ is the strongest and most efficacious of all the SENSES; for the _Vivacity_ of all the _others_ (mention’d in Sect. I. Chap. 5.) in some measure, depend upon it.

IT works upon, and affects, _others_ as well as _ourselves_, and operates in the very _Soul_, as well as _Body_ of Man; moving the Powers of all the _Passions_ of the Mind.

AS it happens frequently by reason of the _Similitude_ of things; that by _seeing_ or _imagining_ ONE to eat some sharp or sour Matter, or _hearing_ it only mention’d, ANOTHER’S _Teeth_ may be set on edge, and his _Tongue_ wax tart; so by seeing _One_ gape, _Another_ often falls a yawning. In like manner, as the _sight_ of any _filthy_ Thing causeth _Nauseousness_; so the _sight_ of Man’s _Blood_, makes many Persons fall a-swooning.

_GUILLAUME de Paris_ writes, that he saw a Man, who at the _SIGHT_ of a _Medicine_, went to _Stool_ as oft as he pleas’d, tho’ it neither in _Substance_, _Odour_, or _Taste_, did affect him; but only by an _Apprehension_ of a kind of _Resemblance_. Which is much the same Case of one in a _Dream_, who thinks he _burns_ and is in a _Fire_, or as much tormented, as if he did _really burn_, tho’ far enough from any Substance of _Fire_; only because of a _Resemblance_ apprehended by the Strength of _IMAGINATION_.

AND besides, this _IMAGINATION_ hath not only such Power over the _Body_, but also over the very _Soul_ of Man; which Power of the _Soul_, hath its respective _Influence_ upon the _Body_: As _Avicen_ remarkably describes a certain _Man_, who (when he pleas’d) could affect his _Body_ with the PALSY.

IT is wonderfully related of _Gallus Vibius_, that he became _Mad_, not casually, but on purpose; for whilst he imitated Mad-Men, he so assimilated their _Madness_ to himself by the _Counterfeit_, that he fell at last into _real_ MADNESS.

ST. _AUSTIN_ mentions _some Men_, who could move their _Ears_; and _others_ who could move the _Crown_ of their Heads to their _Foreheads_, and _replace_ them at Pleasure. He writes of _Another_ also, who could sweat whenever he had a mind.

I have likewise known some _Persons_ myself, who could weep and shed abundance of _Tears_ at Will and Pleasure; _others_, who could bring up what they had _swallow’d_ of any kind, as _Gold_, _Silver_, &c; and _others_ again, who could so naturally _imitate_ and express the VOICES of _Birds_, _Cattle_, _Dogs_, &c; that they could not easily be distinguished.

YEA, and farther yet, many _Learned Authors_[43] testify by divers Examples (of _Cajetava_, _Æmilia_, &c.) that _Women_ have been turn’d into _Men_: Which some would persuade us to believe, to be an _Effect_ of the Force of a vehement _IMAGINATION_, acting upon the _Soul_, with which it is of a near _Affinity_, beyond all the Power of SENSE.

AS to this Point, I am no ways to question the _Veracity_ of what so many excellent Men have confirmed; but (granting it to be so) I think we may find more probable _Reasons_ for it, than all the _Powers_ of _IMAGINATION_, how great soever and marvellous they may be: Whereof I shall mention _That_, which seems to be the most _rational Cause_; viz. An extinguish’d or latent _forming Faculty_[44], which (however) sometimes has _exerted_ itself again, like the BLAZING of a raked or resuscitated _Fire_.

FOR as our _Teeth_ take their Beginning _in_ the WOMB, but are perfected _without_, as _Bartholomæus Eustachius_ teacheth; and as the _Teeth_, call’d _Dentes sapientiæ_, are generated, and break out, even after the 30th Year of our Age: So it may be, that the _virile Genitals_ have been imperfectly begun in the WOMB, and that this _forming Faculty_ has only perfected them by little and little; so that at last they have sprung forth and appear’d, after shaking off the _Pudendum_. And consequently such WOMEN as _Those_ (upon _Dancing-Bouts_, or the like, when the _Blood_ and _natural Heat_ had been strongly exagitated) have turned into MEN.

HOWEVER _That_ be, I very well know that when the _Soul_ is elevated and inflam’d with a fervent _IMAGINATION_, it may not only _affect_ its own proper _Body_, but also _That_ of ANOTHER.

FOR the _Longing_ of a _Woman_ that has conceiv’d, acts apparently upon _Another’s Body_, when it _marks_ the _Infant_ in her WOMB with the _Figure_ or MARK of the _Thing long’d for_: Besides, who knows not that _one Body_ may be easily affected with the _Vapours_ of _another_ diseased Body? As is plain in Cases of _Plague_, _Leprosy_, and several other _Distempers_. Thus also in the _Effluvia’s_ or _Vapours_ of the EYES, there is so great a _Power_, that they can bewitch and infect the _Beholders_ about them; as the monstrous _Catoblepas_, and _Cockatrice_ or _Basilisk_, kill People with their very _Looks_[45]. So in like manner _Witches_ by their intent Desire to _hurt_, have been thought to bewitch Persons most perniciously by their steady malicious _Looks_ only, directed and inforc’d by _IMAGINATION_.

NOW this Force of _IMAGINATION_ affecting other _Bodies_, holds good even among _Brute-Creatures_; as One bit by a _Mad Dog_, presently falls a-raging, and the LIKENESS of _Dogs_ is clearly impressed upon his _Urine_. Moreover, by _IMAGINATION_ in time of _copulating_, PEACOCKS and other _Birds_, impress a particular _Colour_ upon the _Wings_, &c. of their Brood; and from hence it is, that the Curious may have store of _white young-ones_, by hanging the _Places_ where they _couple_ with white _Linnen-Cloths_, _Papers_, &c: As in _Snowy_ Mountainous Countries we find always _white Peacocks_, _Quails_, _Wolves_, _Hares_, and other _Creatures_.

AND _This_ holy JACOB[46] was not ignorant of, when he used that ingenious subtile _Stratagem_ of placing _white-streaked Rods_ before LABAN’S _Flocks_; which also answer’d effectually, in the _Cattle_’s producing their _speckled and white spotted Young_. In like manner by the same _Experiment_, the curious Admirers may be supply’d with Variety of _spotted Birds_, _speckled Horses_, _Dogs_, &c.

THE _Mind_ also being inflam’d with a vehement _IMAGINATION_, may affect both the _Soul_ and _Body_ of ANOTHER: Which we need not wonder at, considering how much more powerful, fervent, and prevalent the MIND is in its _Motion_, than any exhaling VAPOURS; and that it does not want its proper and peculiar _Mediums_ by which it may operate.

THIS (I think) is also evidently shewn from the many MIRACLES, which we find have been done by _Prophets_, _Apostles_, and other _Holy Men_; (not to mention those _Wonders_ of _Pythagoras_, _Apollonius_, _Empedocles_, &c. which cannot come in Competition with the _Others_, being ascrib’d to _Natural Causes_): Whose _Minds_ being firmly fix’d upon GOD, with full Intent for _Good_, affected both the SOULS and BODIES of _others_, as well as _Themselves_, with what _Divine Gifts_, or other _Blessings_, they wanted.

HENCE it is that _Philosophers_ advise, to shun the _Society_ of wicked and impious Men; because their _Souls_, being full (as it were) of pernicious _Rays_, infect them who are _near_, with a _resembling Contagion_: As they enjoin likewise on the other hand, to keep and frequent the _Fellowship_ of good and fortunate Men; because (by such a _Proximity_) they are diffusive of their own _Good_, and infuse it into _Those_ about them. For as BAD of something _bad_, so GOOD of something _good_, always descends and adheres to the _nighest_; which virtually (like the _Smell of Musk_, or _Assa-Fœtida_) continues a long time its lasting _Impression_.