Love
‹ 3 · Outline · 5 ›
4.The controversy over romantic love as folly or virtue
4a.Love as folly and peril to wisdom and duty
See also: Honor 7d
Euripides, HippolytusVol. 8
- p. 331He wishes to make Love tame and denounces it as an evil.read · scan
Aristophanes, The FrogsVol. 8
- p. 470–472Aeschylus disdains portraying love-sick women; Euripides' tales of Phaedra's passion are criticized.read · scan
Ecclesiastes; or, The PreacherVol. 44
- p. 343–344The woman whose heart is snares is called more bitter than death; a bitter view of women.read · scan
Plutarch, CaesarVol. 12
- p. 303Some say the Egyptian war arose from Caesar's passion for Cleopatra.read · scan
Plutarch, AntonyVol. 12
- p. 339Love of Cleopatra kindles Antony's dormant passions and corrupts his goodness and sound judgment.read · scan
- p. 341Antony's captivation by Cleopatra leads him to neglect wife and empire.read · scan
- p. 362–363Cleopatra's feigned dying passion unmans Antony, who abandons the Median campaign and returns to Alexandria.read · scan
- p. 366Antony's infatuation with Cleopatra leads him to dismiss Octavia and neglect duty, even ordering his body sent to her.read · scan
- p. 367–368Antony's subjection to Cleopatra drives away friends and lets a woman exercise his authority.read · scan
- p. 369Antony has become an appendage to Cleopatra, deferring to his mistress against military judgment.read · scan
- p. 370Cleopatra prevails on a sea-fight, already planning her flight, while Antony yields to her.read · scan
- p. 372Antony follows Cleopatra's fleeing ship, proving that a lover's soul lives in another's body, deserting men fighting for him.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 128–130He dismisses Cellini's love affairs as vanities without consequence.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 12–13Rozinante calls his master's love folly, no wit, while verses envy Dulcinea and Quixote's devotion.read · scan
- p. 223Sancho threatens Dulcinea if she answers unreasonably, questioning why a famous knight goes mad for her.read · scan
Francis Bacon, Essays, Civil and MoralVol. 3
- p. 26Bacon condemns romantic love as a folly of the stage and a mischief in life: it is impossible to love and be wise.read · scan
- p. 26–28Love flourishes in prosperity and adversity, is child of folly, and should be severed from serious business; nuptial, friendly and wanton love differ in effect.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, Edward the SecondVol. 46
- p. 15–16The king dotes on Gaveston while Isabella suffers rejection.read · scan
- p. 17Edward defends Gaveston because he loves him more than all the world.read · scan
- p. 35–38Edward's love for Gaveston leads him to reject his own brother Kent and defy the earls.read · scan
Thomas Dekker, The Shoemaker's HolidayVol. 47
- p. 491Lincoln blames Lacy's love for the mayor's daughter Rose for his neglect of duty and loss of the king's favor.read · scan
- p. 531–532The king excuses Lacy's absence from France as love's desire rather than lack of valour; lovers refuse to part.read · scan
Philip Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old DebtsVol. 47
- p. 862Wellborn discerns Allworth's love for Margaret Overreach and warns him of its folly.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 13Theatre awakens love, seeming reasonable and innocent.read · scan
- p. 13–14Leaving the theatre, hearts filled with love's tenderness and persuaded of its innocence, eager to awaken it in others.read · scan
John Dryden, All for Love; or, The World Well LostVol. 18
- p. 26Cleopatra's love for Antony celebrated by Alexas; Ventidius says it unmanned and ruined him.read · scan
- p. 29Antony defends Cleopatra as worth more worlds; Ventidius says a worthless woman outweighs three continents.read · scan
- p. 29Antony's passion for Cleopatra wars with loyalty to his friend; he loves beyond life, conquest and empire.read · scan
- p. 46Antony recounts how his love for Cleopatra consumed him; days were all love.read · scan
- p. 46Antony charges that love for Cleopatra ruined him; she replies that love once past sours to hate.read · scan
Voltaire, Letters on the EnglishVol. 34
- p. 109–110Descartes did not think love derogatory to a philosopher; grieved for his daughter.read · scan
Samuel Johnson, Life of Addison, 1672-1719Vol. 27
- p. 167–168Johnson argues the love scenes are so mingled with the action they cannot be extrinsic.read · scan
Samuel Johnson, Preface to ShakespeareVol. 39
- p. 211Other dramatists make love the universal agent; Shakespeare treats it as one passion among many with little influence on the sum of life.read · scan
Edgar Allan Poe, The Poetic PrincipleVol. 28
- p. 392Cavalier's song rejects lovers' tears and sighing for the fairest lady in favor of honor and battle, setting love beneath martial glory.read · scan
4b.Love against the world: love versus wealth and rank
See also: Wealth 4d · Family 3c
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 8Giovanni declares he sought and loved the girl, not her money, and scorns those who marry for dowry.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 261Blind affection and beauty lead noblemen to choose unequal consorts.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King LearVol. 46
- p. 221France declares love is not love when mixed with mercenary regards; Burgundy abandons Cordelia when dowry is lost.read · scan
- p. 221–224France's love kindles from Cordelia's neglect and takes her dowerless as queen.read · scan
Thomas Dekker, The Shoemaker's HolidayVol. 47
- p. 518–520The Mayor sneers that hot love's traffic yields cold gains, while Eyre encourages the lovers to fear nothing.read · scan
- p. 522–523Jane says heaven made Ralph her love, and his humble clothes make him more beautiful than Hammon's wealth.read · scan
- p. 532King insists love disregards blood and birth, reuniting Lacy and Rose and ending discord: 'Where there is much love, all discord ends.'read · scan
John Webster, The Duchess of MalfiVol. 47
- p. 767The duchess sets aside ceremony to declare her love and claim Antonio as husband; he responds fearfully then constantly.read · scan
Philip Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old DebtsVol. 47
- p. 924Allworth and Margaret pledge constancy; she prefers his love to title and wealth and would suffer death or banishment.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 231–232Brisk's seeming love ends when he learns her charity; Mercy prefers to die a maid.read · scan
John Dryden, All for Love; or, The World Well LostVol. 18
- p. 46Cleopatra proves her love by showing Octavius' offer she refused; Antony is won over and prefers her to fortune, honour and fame.read · scan
- p. 46–53Antony rejects the world for Cleopatra and celebrates unending mutual love that never satiates.read · scan
- p. 57–61Antony defends Cleopatra as having truth beyond beauty, refusing Caesar's bribes of kingdoms.read · scan
- p. 94His power and empire were merchandise to buy her love; the world is empty now that she is gone.read · scan
- p. 106Epilogue asks the audience to favor him who lost the world for love.read · scan
Allan Ramsay, PeggyVol. 40
- p. 401A shepherd's delight in young Peggy's sweet speech, smile and singing, preferred to a crown.read · scan
Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to ConquerVol. 18
- p. 219Hastings loves Miss Neville for her person, not her fortune; Marlow is a cool lover, tongue-tied before women.read · scan
- p. 224–225Hastings and Constance plot to elope; he wants her person, not her jewels.read · scan
- p. 263–264Hastings urges immediate flight, saying love and content outweigh fortune.read · scan
- p. 264–265Marlow declares his passion for Kate, saying her beauty and growing graces overcome pride and fortune.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's FortuneVol. 26
- p. 325–326Minna insists his love is enough and accepts him as a beggar; his pride pains him.read · scan
- p. 357He calls it worthless love that exposes its object to scorn; Minna ironically demands disinterested love.read · scan
- p. 363–364Minna admits she still loves Tellheim yet refuses the ring; he holds equality the strongest tie of love.read · scan
- p. 366–367He loves Minna for herself, not her fortune, and she loves him not for his title.read · scan
Hector Macneil, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 577–578She admits she loves Johnnie but he has nothing, so love yields to gain.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 23–25Would be happy in a moor with his beloved Peggy, even were he a baron, joy is in sharing with her.read · scan
- p. 82–84Scorns the selfish who put money above love and friendship; welcomes kind hearts who aid one another as friends and brothers.read · scan
- p. 250–252Song prefers a humble lassie who loves him to beauty; kindness outshines diamond and love is all-conquering.read · scan
- p. 262–264Song contrasts lord's wife, wed for tocher, with the cottage lass he desires; the lass a man loves best makes him blest.read · scan
- p. 276–278Chorus invites a lass, supremely blest with love, to the birks; fortune's gifts are scorned.read · scan
- p. 316–318Love valued above kings; mind prized over beauty; wish for beloved's happiness; farewell to Mary; old friendship in Auld Lang Syne.read · scan
- p. 346–347A girl's heart is set on Tam Glen despite her family's objections and wealthier suitors.read · scan
- p. 377–379The speaker exalts love for Anna above sun, stars, Kirk and State; life-giving 'wars of Venus' preferred to real war.read · scan
- p. 411–413Lass gives her heart to her Weaver over wealthier wooers and her father's landread · scan
- p. 415–416Lovers courting, spurned, and pleading; a suitor who loves only her dowry and not herread · scan
- p. 432–434Collier lass rejects wealth and rank for love of her collier laddie: love for love is the bargain.read · scan
- p. 439–441Bessie chooses Robie's love over rich Johnie's gear: gold and silver cannot buy a tender heart.read · scan
- p. 441–443Songs prize true mutual love over looks or dowry; Lesley adored; the lover meets his dearie on the lea-rig; betrayal breaks the heart.read · scan
- p. 449–451Lover laments that love depends on poverty and Fortune.read · scan
- p. 451–453Mutual love outranks rank and fortune; longing for a returning lover.read · scan
- p. 455–457True love unto death; Jessie's beauty rules lovers; the miller's love is lost to a rich laird's money.read · scan
- p. 469–472Praise of Phillis and Jeanie; lovers' vows, and the speaker scorns wealth for love.read · scan
- p. 532–534Love for Chloris in simple array outweighs ambition and avarice; a lover's sincere passion and constancy.read · scan
James Hogg, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 763–766Wooing a bonny lassie at evening is the greatest bliss, greater than courtly state; nature's birds share it.read · scan
Sir Walter Scott, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 738–740A maiden would rather rove with Edmund than be queen; love outweighs rank and comfort.read · scan
Thomas Campbell, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 772–774Chieftain flees with Lord Ullin's daughter; the boatman helps for the sake of the lady.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 354The soldier loves the Princess and would gladly be a prince to win her.read · scan
John Greenleaf Whittier, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1351–1353Mutual attraction thwarted by rank; he hums an old love-tune in court.read · scan
Dante Gabriel Rossetti, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1153–1155James and Jane's love born through a prison window and crowned at Scone; love's storm-cloud shadowed by hate.read · scan
4c.Platonic, chivalric and idealizing love
See also: Chivalry 5a · Custom and Convention 9a · Memory and Imagination 5b
Plutarch, AlcibiadesVol. 12
- p. 108–109Socrates's affection, free of unmanly fondness, is contrasted with the suitors' desires.read · scan
- p. 109Alcibiades comes to reciprocate Socrates's love, the Anteros of Plato, admiring him and standing in awe of his virtue.read · scan
- p. 110–111Socrates's words draw tears from Alcibiades, and Socrates pursues him like a fugitive slave.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 376–377His long love for her is restrained by respect.read · scan
Songs from the Elder EddaVol. 49
- p. 396–397She praises Sigurd as above all men, like a leek over grass or gold over silverread · scan
Dante Alighieri, PurgatoryVol. 20
- p. 240Virgil promises to accompany Dante as far as Beatrice, where he must leave him.read · scan
- p. 242Dante writes only as love inspires him, taking up his pen when love breathes.read · scan
- p. 255The name of Beatrice, ever in his breast, overcomes Dante's obstinate fear; Virgil comforts him by speaking of her.read · scan
- p. 258Dante addresses the lady as one warmed with love's own beam.read · scan
- p. 268Dante feels the power of ancient love for Beatrice revive at her presence, like a child fleeing to his mother.read · scan
- p. 272Beatrice's eyes are the emeralds from which love drew weapons on him; his longing for her grows with satiety.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, ParadiseVol. 20
- p. 296–297Dante turns his gaze to Beatrice, whose radiance overpowers his sight.read · scan
- p. 297Dante's gratitude to Beatrice and her eyes shooting sparks of celestial love.read · scan
- p. 374Dante finds all contentment in Beatrice's looks and joy in obeying his guide.read · scan
- p. 399–401Dante's spirit dallies amorously with his lady's looks.read · scan
- p. 416–417Dante thanks Beatrice for delivering him; Bernard, moved by holy love, comes as a father to guide him.read · scan
Michel de Montaigne, Of the Institution and Education of ChildrenVol. 32
- p. 50–51The pupil should be shown a vigorous natural beauty rather than an effeminate artificial one as object of love.read · scan
Michel de Montaigne, Of FriendshipVol. 32
- p. 75Describes Academy's Greek love, from external beauty toward spiritual friendship, as a love ending in friendship.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 11–12Knights recall their loves and lovesickness, Orlando's madness for Angelica, sharing Quixote's loving fit.read · scan
- p. 20–21A knight-errant without a lady is like a tree without leaves; he chooses Aldonsa Lorenzo, unaware, as Dulcinea.read · scan
- p. 23He apostrophizes Dulcinea as lady of his captive heart, in the manner of romances.read · scan
- p. 23–24He rants of tortures suffered for his lady's love, imitating the phrases of his romances.read · scan
- p. 32He invokes his lady Dulcinea for aid, devoted as her enthralled knight.read · scan
- p. 39He exults in devotion to Dulcinea, imagining her fortunate to have such a knight.read · scan
- p. 60He commends himself devoutly to Lady Dulcinea before battle.read · scan
- p. 65Quixote proclaims himself captive to Dulcinea and sends the rescued lady to report his deeds to her.read · scan
- p. 65–66Quixote calls on Dulcinea, flower of all beauty, to succor him in danger.read · scan
- p. 92Launcelot and Queen Genever's love is cited as the model of knightly amorous service.read · scan
- p. 93–95Knights devote themselves to their ladies as if to gods.read · scan
- p. 95Quixote insists a knight-errant must be enamoured, as heaven must have stars; even Galaor secretly loved.read · scan
- p. 96–97Quixote sighs over his lady Dulcinea, whom he serves as knightly duty and devotion.read · scan
- p. 115–116Knights-errant do penance in deserts for love, as Amadis did for Oriana; Quixote cites this as chivalric precedent.read · scan
- p. 117Quixote declares himself enthralled by love for an ungrateful lady and courteously addresses the hostess in chivalric compliments she cannot understand.read · scan
- p. 153He sends a farewell message to his lady Dulcinea, whose captive knight he is.read · scan
- p. 191Poetry and music are called graces annexed to amorous knights; the found writing is a love letter.read · scan
- p. 211Amadis is the guiding star of valorous and amorous knights who serve under love and chivalry.read · scan
- p. 218Don Quixote describes his 'Platonical' love for Dulcinea, hardly ever seeing her, while Sancho deflates it with her coarse reality.read · scan
- p. 218–220Quixote defends idealized love for Dulcinea, saying poets' mistresses are largely feigned and belief in her worth suffices.read · scan
- p. 284Don Quixote furiously defends Dulcinea, claiming he lives and breathes in her and that her worth gives his arm its valour.read · scan
- p. 290Quixote blesses his fortune for winning Dulcinea's love and insists on her fragrance and graces despite Sancho's earthy report.read · scan
- p. 292–293Dulcinea is 'the light that lightens my senses,' the source of all his achievements.read · scan
- p. 300–301Maritornes and the daughter enjoy tales of lovers embraced and knights lamenting absent ladies.read · scan
- p. 435Don Quixote apostrophizes Dulcinea, sighing with jealous chivalric devotion, even asking the sun not to kiss her.read · scan
- p. 437–438He remembers his lady Dulcinea in his distress and appeals to lovers' gentleness.read · scan
- p. 513–514Dulcinea is honored as Quixote's beloved, for whose sake he roams the fields, and love's deceits are mentioned.read · scan
John Donne, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 303–305Donne's lover is love's martyr, bracelet of hair his outward soul; refined love transcends sense and absence.read · scan
Pierre Corneille, PolyeucteVol. 26
- p. 87Severus worships Pauline above the gods; his love is devoted and hopes for her freely given heart.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise LostVol. 4
- p. 257Raphael distinguishes rational love, which refines thought and is a ladder to Heavenly Love, from carnal passion.read · scan
Richard Crashaw, Wishes for the Supposed Mistress; Upon the Book and Picture of the Seraphical Saint TeresaVol. 40
- p. 359–362The poet wishes a mistress whose joys confess virtue and whose love is chaste yet warm.read · scan
Jonathan Swift, Hints towards an Essay on ConversationVol. 27
- p. 97Refined platonic notions of love and friendship in Charles I's court exalt human dignity, while the modern age has lost love and friendship.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's FortuneVol. 26
- p. 367–368Minna seeks a pure, noble love and will not let Tellheim's ardour make him a love-sick swain.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, EgmontVol. 19
- p. 269–270Clara's romantic fascination with Count Egmont, grown from a girlhood image of the hero, contrasts with Brackenburg's unrequited devotion.read · scan
William Blake, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 591–592The lover sees his maiden as an angel; her voice is of heaven and her presence inspires his song.read · scan
William Wordsworth, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 664–666Love is meant to raise the soul to a higher object, annulling self; he counsels her to seek reunion by fortitude.read · scan
Charles Lamb, On the Tragedies of ShakspereVol. 27
- p. 310–311Desdemona's love sees Othello's mind, triumph of virtue over accidents and of imagination over senses.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, A Defence of PoetryVol. 27
- p. 347Freedom of women produced the poetry of sexual love, which became a religion; Petrarch and Dante celebrate love as refining and elevating men.read · scan
Percy Bysshe Shelley, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 849–850The poet offers devotion, 'the desire of the moth for the star,' in place of what men call love.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1243–1246Give all to love, obey the heart; yet keep the beloved free, for when half-gods go the gods arrive.read · scan
Edgar Allan Poe, The Poetic PrincipleVol. 28
- p. 381–383Pinkney's toast celebrates a woman of ideal loveliness and the lover's devotion.read · scan
- p. 391True divine love, not degrading passion, is the purest and truest of poetic themes.read · scan
Robert Browning, A Blot in the 'ScutcheonVol. 18
- p. 372–373Mertoun declares devotion, wishing to be ever by Mildred and worship her.read · scan
John Ruskin, Sesame and LiliesVol. 28
- p. 140–141Dante's poem and the Pisan knight's verses show lovers served and saved by ladies who guide their souls.read · scan
- p. 142–143Chivalry demands the lover's obedient devotion to his lady, sanctifying his strength.read · scan
- p. 143–144Lover's reverent service to his lady should continue in marriage, which seals temporary service into eternal love.read · scan
Ernest Renan, The Poetry of the Celtic RacesVol. 32
- p. 142–143Celtic race carries mystery and intoxication into love, idealizing woman as supreme end of life, as in chivalry.read · scan
- p. 156Ladies chaste and beautiful loved according to laws of chivalry.read · scan
- p. 158Chivalrous love, serving a woman and earning her esteem, first found literary expression in the Breton romances, unlike the brutal or absent love of the Carlovingian poems.read · scan
- p. 159Love as supreme principle of morality and a woman's esteem as highest aim belongs to chivalry, not to antique, Teutonic or Arab spirit.read · scan
George Meredith, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1145The beloved appears as a seraph fair as lily and cherry, borne in dreams and in the flesh.read · scan
Dante Gabriel Rossetti, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1181Her features are described as Love's shrine and servants, answering his bidding.read · scan
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