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A general account of bonding<br />
in older men, whose powers are half dead, whose organs and passages are<br />
spent, and whose semen is not abundant. Precisely the same thing is found<br />
proportionally in the other emotions which have an analogy or contrast or<br />
dependence on the passion of love.<br />
17. The temperaments of things that can be bound. Because of their temperament,<br />
those who are melancholy are more bound to indignation, sadness,<br />
pleasure and love, for since they are more impressionable, they also have a<br />
stronger sense of pleasure. They are also more prone to contemplation and<br />
to speculation, and in general are moved and agitated more often and more<br />
strongly by their emotions. Hence, in regard to the affairs of Venus, they<br />
regard pleasure as an end in itself rather than as a means to propagate the<br />
species. Next to them are people who are choleric, in comparison to which<br />
the sanguine are less agitated. Those who are phlegmatic are less lustful<br />
than the others, but are more greedy. Nevertheless, the fact remains that<br />
everyone has his role in obeying nature. The melancholy are bound by a<br />
greater force of imagination; the sanguine by a greater ability to emit sperm<br />
and by their hot temper; the phlegmatic by their greater abundance of<br />
fluids; and the caloric by their being more strongly and more sharply<br />
agitated and stimulated by a hot spirit.<br />
18. The signs of things that can be bound. Physiognomy also has its part to<br />
play in these considerations. There are people who have slender and sinewy<br />
tibias, and who are similar to goats and to satyrs in having a wide concave<br />
nose, deep breathing and a languid face. Such people love more intensely<br />
and pursue sexual license more strongly. At the same time, they are easily<br />
appeased and do not have any emotion for a long time.<br />
19. The duration of things that can be bound. With respect to bonds, old men<br />
are more stable but less suitable; young men are more unstable but more<br />
suitable; but middle aged men are bound suitably, skilfully and in a stable<br />
manner.<br />
20. The reaction of things that can be bound. Mutual agreeableness gives rise<br />
to mutual bonds. Thus, there are bonds in jokes, in wit and in theatrical<br />
performances. In these ways, even those who are ugly and deformed can<br />
bind those who have feelings for them. Let us add that we have often tried<br />
to think about what it would be like to have a huge and lustful body, since<br />
the following imaginary verses were composed to be cast as a spell upon a<br />
young boy or girl:<br />
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