The Rules of
Courtly Love,
based on the
De Amore of
Andreas Capellanus
1.
Marriage should not be a deterrent to love.
2. Love cannot exist in the individual who cannot be
jealous.
3. A double love cannot obligate an
individual.
4.
Love constantly waxes and wanes.
5. That which is not freely given by the object of one's love loses its
savour.
6. It is necessary for a male to reach the
age of maturity in order to love.
7. A lover must observe a two-year
widowhood after his beloved's death.
8. Only the most
urgent circumstances should deprive one of love.
9. Only the insistence of love can
motivate one to love.
10. Love cannot coexist with
avarice.
11. A lover should not love anyone who would be
an embarrassing marriage choice.
12.
True love excludes all from its embrace but
the beloved.
13.
Public revelation of love is deadly to love in most instances.
14. The value of love is commensurate with its
difficulty of attainment.
15. The presence of one's beloved causes paleness of complexion.
16. The sign of one's beloved causes
palpitation of the heart.
17. A new love brings an old one to a finish.
18. Good character is the one real requirement for worthiness of love.
19. When love grows faint its
demise is usually certain.
20.
Apprehension is the constant companion of the true lover.
21. Love is reinforced by jealousy.
22. Suspicion of the beloved generates jealousy and therefore intensifies
love.
23. Eating and sleeping diminish greatly when one is
aggravated by love.
24. The lover's every deed is performed with the thought of his beloved in
mind.
25. Unless it please his beloved, no act or thought is worthy to the lover.
26. Love is powerless to withhold anything from love.
27.
There is no such thing as
too much of the pleasure of one's beloved.
28. Presumption on the part of the beloved causes suspicion in the lover.
29. Aggravation of
excessive passion does not usually afflict the true lover.
30.
Thought of the beloved never leaves the true lover.
31.
Two men may love one woman or
two women one man.