← Table of contents
Shakespeare and the Emblem Writers

Note 130 — Chapter VI · CLASSIFICATION OF THE CORRESPONDENCIES AND PARALLELISMS OF SHAKESPEARE WITH EMBLEM WRITERS. (continued 2)

Reading edition

Shakespeare’s “goddess blind” and his representation of blind Love have their exact correspondence in the motto of Otho Vænius, “Blynd fortune blyndeth loue;” which is preceded by Cicero’s declaration, “Non solùm ipsa fortuna cæca est: sed etiam plerumque cæcos efficit quos complexa est: adeò vt spernant amores veteres, ac indulgeant nouis,”—

“Sometyme blynd fortune can make loue bee also blynd,

And with her on her globe to turne & wheel about,

When cold preuailes to put light loues faint feruor out,

But ferwent loyall loue may no such fortune fynde.”

Explore with AITake your curiosity a little further.

Reading settings