SUBSECT. IV.—_Mirth and merry company, fair objects, remedies_.
Mirth and merry company may not be separated from music, both concerning and necessarily required in this business. Mirth, (saith [3495]Vives) purgeth the blood, confirms health, causeth a fresh, pleasing, and fine colour, prorogues life, whets the wit, makes the body young, lively and fit for any manner of employment. The merrier the heart the longer the life; A merry heart is the life of the flesh, Prov. xiv. 30. Gladness prolongs his days, Ecclus. xxx. 22; and this is one of the three Salernitan doctors, Dr. Merryman, Dr. Diet, Dr. Quiet, [3496]which cure all diseases—Mens hilaris, requies, moderata dieta. [3497]Gomesius, praefat. lib. 3. de sal. gen. is a great magnifier of honest mirth, by which (saith he) we cure many passions of the mind in ourselves, and in our friends; which [3498]Galateus assigns for a cause why we love merry companions: and well they deserve it, being that as [3499]Magninus holds, a merry companion is better than any music, and as the saying is, comes jucundus in via pro vehiculo, as a wagon to him that is wearied on the way. Jucunda confabulatio, sales, joci, pleasant discourse, jests, conceits, merry tales, melliti verborum globuli, as Petronius, [3500] Pliny, [3501]Spondanus, [3502]Caelius, and many good authors plead, are that sole Nepenthes of Homer, Helena's bowl, Venus's girdle, so renowned of old [3503]to expel grief and care, to cause mirth and gladness of heart, if they be rightly understood, or seasonably applied. In a word, [3504]Amor, voluptas, Venus, gaudium, Jocus, ludus, sermo suavis, suaviatio.
Gratification, pleasure, love, joy, Mirth, sport, pleasant words and no alloy,