The subject is, _Of Love too much_; and the motto, “Too much pleasure leads to death,” is thus set forth, almost literally, by English rhymes:— “In moderation Love is praised and prized, Loss and dishonour in excess it brings: In burning warmth how fail its boasted wings, As simple butterflies in light chastised.” _D’AMOR SOVERCHIO._ [Illustration: _Giovio and Symeoni, 1561._] _Il moderato amor ſi loda & prezza, Ma il troppo apporta danno & diſhonore, Et ſpeſſo manca nel ſouerchio ardore, Qual ſemplice farfalla al lume auuezza._ Coſi piacer conduce à morte. Now can there be unreasonableness in supposing that out of these many Emblem writers Shakespeare may have had some one in view when he ascribed to Portia the words,— “Thus hath the candle singed the moth. O, these deliberate fools! when they do choose, They have the wisdom by their wit to lose.” Act ii. sc. 9, lines 79–81. The opening of the third of the caskets (act. iii. sc. 2, l. 115, vol. ii. p. 328), that made of lead, is also as much an Emblem delineation as the other two, excelling them, indeed, in the beauty of the language as well as in the excellence of the device, a very paragon of gracefulness. “What find I here?” demands Bassanio; and himself replies,— “Fair Portia’s counterfeit! What demi-god Hath come so near creation? Move these eyes? Or whether, riding on the balls of mine Seem they in motion? Here are sever’d lips, Parted with sugar breath: so sweet a bar Should sunder such sweet friends. Here in her hairs The painter plays the spider, and hath woven A golden mesh to entrap the hearts of men, Faster than gnats in cobwebs:[92] but her eyes,— How could he see to do them? Having made one, Methinks it should have power to steal both his, And leave itself unfurnish’d. Yet look, how far The substance of my praise doth wrong this shadow In underprizing it, so far this shadow Doth limp behind the substance. Here’s a scroll, The continent and summary of my fortune. [_Reads_] You that choose not by the view, Chance as fair, and choose as true! Since this fortune falls to you, Be content and seek no new. If you will be pleased with this, And hold your fortune for your bliss, Turn you where your lady is, And claim her with a loving kiss.”