The EKATOMPATHIA[Greek] Or Passionate Centurie of Loue Diuided into two parts: whereof, the first expresseth the Authors sufferance in Loue: the latter, his long farewell to Loue and all his tyrannie. Composed by Thomas Watson |
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 | The EKATOMPATHIA[Greek] Or Passionate Centurie of Loue |  |
V.
[If't bee not loue I feele, what is it then?]
All this Passion (two verses only excepted) is wholly translated out of Petrarch, where he writeth,
S'amor non è, che dunque è quel ch'i sento?Ma s'egli è amor, per Dio che cosa, e quale?
Se buona, ond'è l'effetto aspro e mortale?
Seria, ond'è si dolce ogni tormento?
Heerein certaine contrarieties, whiche are incident to him that loueth extreemelye, are liuely expressed by a Metaphore. And it may be noted, that the Author in his first halfe verse of this translation varieth from that sense, which Chawcer vseth in translating the selfe same: which he doth vpon no other warrant then his owne simple priuate opinion, which yet he will not greatly stand vpon.
If loue it bee, what kind a thing is loue?
If good, how chance he hurtes so many men?
If badd, how happ's that none his hurtes disproue?
If willingly I burne, how chance I waile?
If gainst my will, what sorrow will auaile?
O liuesome death, O sweete and pleasant ill,
Against my minde how can thy might preuaile?
If I bend backe, and but refraine my will,
If I consent, I doe not well to waile;
And touching him, whome will hath made a slaue,
The Prouerbe saith of olde, Selfe doe, selfe haue,
Thus beeing tost with windes of sundry sorte
Through daung'rous Seas but in a slender Boat,
With errour stuft, and driu'n beside the porte,
Where voide of wisdomes fraight it lies afloate,
I waue in doubt what helpe I shall require,
In Sommer freeze, in winter burne like fire.
| The EKATOMPATHIA[Greek] Or Passionate Centurie of Loue | |