与爱情有关的英语演讲稿

与爱情有关的英语演讲稿

与爱情有关的英语演讲稿

1

you may observe, that amongst all the great and worthy

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, and great business, do keep

out this weak passion. you must except, nevertheless, marcus

antonius, the half partner of the empire of rome, and appius

claudius, the decemvir and lawgiver; whereof the former was

indeed a voluptuous man, and inordinate; but the latter was an

austere and wise man: and therefore it seems though rarely that

love can find entrance, not only into an open heart, but also into a

heart well fortified, if watch be not well kept.

it is a poor saying of epicurus, satis magnum alter alteri

theatrum sumus; as if man, made for the contemplation of heaven,

and all noble objects, should do nothing but kneel before a little

idol, 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 of this passion, 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