194

A HISTORY OF BOHEMIAN

LITERATURE

much as he likes — Nothing will be better — His house will be hell —They (=the servants) will take no notice of him — Perhaps even laugh at him. — In your own children too — You can see how different they are — Some give pleasure— Others cause but grief." This quotation is sufficient to prove that Lomnick;^ extended his reflections far beyond the domain of agriculture. His book contains chapters "on wisdom," "on enemies," " on ill-conducted old women," " on female servants and their punishment," " on conjugal fidelity," " on dress," and on many other matters as little connected with his subject. Somewhat later Lomnicky published his Cupids Arrow {Kupidova Stfela), a poem which contributed greatly to his fame amShg his contemporaries. Though the book was not, as has been frequently stated, dedicated to Rudolph II., but to Lord William of Rosenberg, it found great favour with the King of Bohemia, and probably induced that prince to confer on Lomnicky the rank of In this book also a noble, which he had long desired. Lomnicky- poses as a moralist, and inveighs against the Bohemian authors, perhaps the only vices of his age. ones who have seriously criticised Lomnicky's writings, have generally, and perhaps rightly, doubted whether Lomnicky, indeed, his virtuous indignation was sincere. in this very book, confesses that he was a "lover of sweet Venus," and all his works — not even the Advice to a Landowner excepted — show a predilection for risqui Similar in tendency to the subjects and situations. Arrow is Lomnicky's book entitled Dance, a short treatise on

considered

dancing,

the luxurious

prominent

as

an

exaggerated

exertion

of

which was dedicated to his most patron. Lord Peter of Rosenberg. A conbody,