ON THE NOBILITY AND EXCELLENCE

...of the female sex, her hips and thighs are more well-formed, her calves more shapely, and the tips of her hands and feet taper into a rounded form, with every single limb full of vital vigor original: "succi plena." In the physiological language of the time, this refers to being full of healthy "juices" or humors, signifying vitality and youth.. Added to this is a modest gait and step, a more graceful movement, more dignified gestures, and furthermore, in the order, symmetry, figure, and constitution of the whole body, she is by far the most beautiful in every respect. In the entire range of creatures, there is no sight so wonderful, nor any miracle so worth seeing, such that no one—unless completely blind—could fail to see that God himself gathered together in woman all the beauty of which the entire world is capable. Because of this, every creature is struck with awe by her, and loves and venerates her for many reasons; so much so that we see it happen in experience that even incorporeal spirits and demons often pine for women with the most burning love. This is no deceptive opinion, but a truth known through many experiences Agrippa is likely referring to the contemporary belief in incubi—spirit beings or fallen angels who were said to be attracted to human women due to their physical perfection..

And to pass over what the poets have handed down to us regarding the loves of the gods and their mistresses—such as Apollo’s love for Daphne; Neptune’s for Salmonea; Hercules’ for Hebe, Iole, and Omphale; and the many loves of other gods, including the very many of Jupiter himself—this divine gift of beauty, so lovable to both gods and men, is celebrated in many places in the Sacred Scriptures original: "sacra eloqua." Literally "Sacred Eloquence," a common Renaissance term for the Bible. as being above all other gifts of grace in women. Genesis 6 Hence we read in Genesis that the "sons of God," seeing that the daughters of men were beautiful, chose wives for themselves from among those they desired. Genesis 12 We also read of Sarah, the wife of Abraham, that she was beautiful beyond the other women of the earth, indeed, the most beautiful of all. So too, when the servant of Abraham had seen Rebecca, Genesis 24 a girl of extraordinary beauty, he said silently to himself: "This is she whom the Lord has prepared for the son of Abraham, Isaac." And Abigail...