The Art of Courtly Love

In Chapter 1 of Book 2, Andreas outlines “how love, when it has been acquired, may be kept” (151). Andreas specifies that his advice is for “a lover of either sex” (153). He advises keeping love affairs secret to allow them to develop in their own course. Lovers should also be wise and restrained, help their beloved when necessary, and accede to reasonable requests. Lovers should admit wrongdoing, praise the beloved, and not spend too much time in their beloveds’ company. They should take care to appear appealing but not obsess about appearance. The “solaces of the flesh” can also help retain love when “manner” and “number” (152) do no weary the lover. Andreas advises being generous, courageous, and keeping company with good people. 

Chapter 2 concerns “how a love, once consummated, may be increased” (153). Lovers should not see each other often. Jealousy is “the nurse of love” (153). Love rarely survives an affair being made public, but if it does, then love will increase. The existence of a rival increases love, as do opposition to the affair by parents and “dwelling with delight” (154) on thoughts of the beloved. The beloved’s manner of speaking and carriage can also increase love.