Belated Valentine's: "The Illustrated Guide to Medieval Love, Part II"

From the British Library's Medieval manuscripts blog, February 14, 2016:

The Illustrated Guide to Medieval Love, Part II

Walking down your local high street over the past few weeks, you might have noticed some peculiar changes. Card shops have transformed into love-heart themed grottos filled with fluffy bears and pink gift wrap. Florists have been whipping themselves up into a rose-petal and ribbon-induced frenzy. Chocolatiers have been running on overtime, filling heart-shaped box, after heart-shaped box, with chocolate delights.

Yep, you guessed it, it’s Valentine’s Day.

Long-standing followers of this blog may remember our Illustrated Guide to Medieval Love Part I. Now the manuscripts are back, with even more tips to aid your romantic (mis)adventures this Valentine's Day. 

1. When choosing the appropriate spot for a clandestine tryst, try and avoid places overrun with imps or gargoyles. They can be quite the mood killer.

Detail of temptation by lechery, from Matfre Ermengaud, Breviari d'Amor, Southern 

France (Toulouse?), 1st quarter of the 14th century, Royal MS 19 C 1, f. 33r

2. Dragons can also have a nasty habit of interfering with your romantic moment.

Detail of a miniature of Nectanebus in the form of a dragon, kissing Olympias while 

she is at the table with Philip, from Roman d'Alexandre en Prose, Northern France 

or Southern Netherlands, 1st quarter of the 14th century, Royal MS 20 A V, f. 7r

3. If someone offers you the key to their heart, try not to take the phrase too literally. Things could get messy.

Detail of a framed miniature of the God of Love locking the Lover's heart with a large

 gold key, from Guillaume de Lorris, continued by Jean de Meun, Roman de la Rose, 

France (Paris), 4th quarter of the 14th century, Additional MS 42133, f. 15r

....MUCH MORE

The Library is still recovering from the cyber attack, more on finding various treasures in the latest blog post.