"O fair Cynthia, why do others term thee Unconstant, whom I have ever found immovable?
"A History of English Literature Elizabethan Literature"
George Saintsbury
Nevertheless ought he to be judicious in his giving belief to any thing, or moving himself thereat, nor make his people extreamly afraid of him; but proceed in a moderate way with wisdome, and humanity, that his too much confidence make him not unwary, and his too much distrust intolerable; from hence arises a dispute, whether it is better to be belov'd or feard: I answer, a man would wish he might be the one and the other: but because hardly can they subsist both together, it is much safer to be feard, than be loved; being that one of the two must needs fail; for touching men, we may say this in general, they are unthankful, Unconstant, dissemblers, they avoyd dangers, and are covetous of gain; and whilest thou doest them good, they are wholly thine; their blood, their fortunes, lives and children are at thy service, as is said before, when the danger is remote; but when it approaches, they revolt.
"Machiavelli, Volume I The Art of War; and The Prince"
Niccolò Machiavelli
This must be Angelica, I know it by her mumping Matron here- Ay, ay,'tis she: my mad Captain's with her too, for all his swearing- how this Unconstant Humour makes me love him:- pray, good grave Gentlewoman, is not this Angelica?
"The Works of Aphra Behn, Vol. I (of 6)"
Aphra Behn