Bacon's "Of Love" : A Brief Summary

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1. The stage or the theater is a platform where Love is celebrated more than other issues of mankind. On the stage, love is a matter for comedies or tragedies, but in real life it is very much more problematic.

2. Some times the mischiefs of love are like that of the sirens (sea nymphs who would sing and lure mariners to danger). Or sometimes it is like that of a fury (in Greek mythology they are spirits who punish the guilty and are the justice makers in the world).

3. Great men in history have never been transported to a mad degree of love. It is proof that noble minds can keep out this "weak passion".

4. But there are exceptions, such as Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony; who was a roman general who loved Cleopatra) and Appius Claudius (was a roman politician who loved a woman named Virginia). Antony was a voluptuous man where as Claudius was an austere and wise man.

5. Therefore love can find entrance into anywhere. Love is like a thief who will find entrance into an open as well as well fortified heart, if we do not keep careful watch.

6. Epicurus, wrongly says : "Satis magnum alter alteri theatrum sumus", that is, we ourselves are a great spectacle for others. It is this sensual appeal that we need to change, to resist falling in love. Our eyes are given for higher purposes and not to waste time like this.

7. Speaking in "perpetual hyperbole", is a trait of love. The lover is more into flattery than the most intelligent arch flatterer. When a person loves someone, they tend to think of all their great qualities which are often imaginative and absurd. Therefore, we have a saying "It is impossible to love and to be wise". This is reciprocal, that is, applies to all lovers; women and men.

8. Love is either rewarded with reciprocal true love or by "inward and secret contempt".

9. Men loose not only other things by falling in love but they loose love itself in the end and all will be for nothing. For example, those who crave for amorous affection will most probably quit their riches and wisdom to pursue it.

10. This passion comes only when we are weak, which can be a great prosperity as well as a great adversity. It is prosperity for those whom love gives strength in weakness. It is adversity for whom the passion of love misleads him to further trouble.

11. It is a mystery that married men are able to be in love. It might be as they are attracted to wine. But there is in every man an inclination to love all members of the society and thus be humane and charitable.

12. "Nuptial love maketh mankind; friendly love perfecteth it; but wanton love corrupteth and embaseth it".
That is marital love ensures the continual of the human race; love of friendship between a man & a woman is the best of all relations; but love which has no bounds of reason, corrupts it.

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