Jealousie, its Æquivocations, Name, Definition, Extent, severall kindes; of Princes, Parents, Friends. In Beasts, Men: before marriage, as Corrivals; or after, as in this place.

Valescus de Taranta cap. de Melanchol. Ælian Montaltus, Felix Platerus, Guianerius, put Jealousie for a cause of Melancholy, others for a Symptome; because melancholy persons amongst these passions and perturbations of the minde, are most obnoxious to it.

But me thinks for the latitude it hath, and that prerogative above other ordinary symptomes, it ought to be treated of as a Species apart, being of so great and eminent note, so furious a passion, and almost of as great extent as Love it self, as Benedetto Varchi holds, No love without a mixture of Jealousie, qui non Zelat, non amat.

For these causes I will dilate, and treat of it by it self, as a bastard-branch or kinde of Love Melancholy, which, as Heroical Love goeth commonly before marriage, doth usually follow, torture, and crucifie in like sort, deserves therefore to be rectified alike, requires as much care and industry, in setting out the severall causes of it, prognosticks and cures.

Which I have more willingly done, that he that is or hath been jealous, may see his error as in a glass; he that is not, may learn to detest, avoid it himself, and dispossess others that are any wise affected with it.

Jealousie is described and defined to be a certain suspition which the lover hath of the party he chiefly loveth, lest he or she should be enamoured of another: or any eager desire to enjoy some beauty alone, to have it proper to himself only: a fear or doubt, lest any forrainer should participate or share with him in his love.

Or (as Scaliger adds) a fear of losing her favour, whom he so earnestly affects. Cardan cals it a Zeal for love, and a kinde of envy lest any man should beguile us. Ludovicus Vives defines it in the very same words, or little differing in sense.

There be many other Jealousies, but improperly so called all; as that of Parents, Tutors, Guardians over their children, friends whom they love, or such as are left to their wardship or protection.

Storax non rediit hac nocte à cœna Æschinus, Neque servulorum quispiam qui adversum ierant?

As the old man in the Comœdy cried out in passion, and from a sollicitous fear and care he had of his adopted son; not of beauty, but lest they should miscarry, do amiss, or any way discredit, disgrace (as Vives notes) or endanger themselves and us.

Ægeus was so sollicitous for his son Theseus, (when he went to fight with the Minotaure) of his success, lest he should be foiled, Prona est timori semper in pejus fides.

We are still apt to suspect the worst in such doubtful cases, as many wives in their husbands absence, fond mothers in their childrens, lest if absent they should be misled or sick, and are continually expecting news from them, how they do fare, and what is become of them, they cannot endure to have them long out of their sight: Oh my sweet son, O my dear childe, &c.

Paul was jealous over the Church of Corinth, as he confesseth, 2 Cor. 11.12. With a godly jealousie, to present them a pure Virgin to Christ; and he was affraid still, lest as the Serpent beguiled Eva through his subtilty, so their mindes should be corrupt from the simplicity that is in Christ.

God himself in some sense is said to be jealous, I am a jealous God, and will visit: so Psal. 79.5. Shall thy jealousie burn like fire for ever? But these are improperly called Jealousies, and by a Metaphor, to shew the care and solicitude they have of them.

Although some Jealousies express all the Symptomes of this which we treat of, fear, sorrow, anguish, anxiety, suspicion, hatred, &c. the object only varied. That of some fathers is very eminent, to their sons and heirs; for though they love them dearly being children, yet now comming toward mans estate they may not well abide them, the son and heire is commonly sick of the father, and the father again may not well brook his eldest son, inde simultates, plerumque contentiones & inimicitiæ;

But that of Princes is most notorious, as when they fear corrivals (if I may so call them) successors, emulators, subjects, or such as they have offended. Omnisq; potestas impatiens consortis erit: They are still suspitious, lest their authority should be diminished, as one observes;

and as Comineus hath it, It cannot be expressed what slender causes they have of their grief and suspition, a secret disease, that commonly lurks and breeds in Princes families.

Sometimes it is for their honour onely, as that of Adrian the Emperor, that killed all his emulators. Saul envied David; Domitian Agricola, because he did excell him, obscure his honour as he thought, eclipse his fame.

Juno turned Prætus daughters into Kine, for that they contended with her for beauty; Cyparissæ King Eteocles children, were envied of the Goddesses for their excellent good parts, and dancing amongst the rest, saith Constantine, and for that cause flung down headlong from heaven, and buried in a pit, but the earth took pity of them, and brought out Cypress trees to preserve their Memories. Niobe, Arachne, and Marsias can testifie as much.

But it is most grievous when it is for a kingdome it self, or matters of commodity, it produceth lamentable effects, especially amongst Tyrants, in despotico Imperio, and such as are more feared than beloved of their subjects, that get and keep their soveraignty by force, and fear. Quod civibus tenere te invitis scias, &c. as Phalaris, Dionysius, Periander held theirs.

For though fear, cowardise and jealousie, in Plutarchs opinion, be the common causes of tyranny, as in Nero, Caligula, Tiberius, yet most take them to be symptomes.