A Small Treatise betwixt Arnalte and Lucenda Entituled The Evill-intreated Lover, Or The Melancholy Knight Originally written in the Greeke Tongue, by an unknowne Author. Afterwards Translated into Spanish; after that, for the Excellency thereof, into the French Tongue by N. H. next by B. M. into the Thuscan, and now turn'd into English Verse by L. L. [i.e. Leonard Lawrence] a well-wisher to the Muses |
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 | A Small Treatise betwixt Arnalte and Lucenda Entituled The Evill-intreated Lover, Or The Melancholy Knight |  |
Although the Masse, a Service that's divine,
Was celebrated at that present time,
Which claim'd attention with a due respect,
Yet Masse and Service did I then neglect,
And there my thoughts, which should have bin divine
Did poise the meaning of each severall Line:
And having pois'd them, yet I did not spare
To note the sorrow that they did declare.
Yet though I those things saw, I troubled was,
Since of th'effects I could not judge the cause.
But then from Church, Service being done,
We homeward went, where whē that we were come,
Wee free-fac'd Plenty found, who from her store
Had spread the Table with the Cates all-o're,
Then downe we sate, refresh't our appetite,
And dinner past, the sad lamenting Knight
Striving to glad me with some recreation,
The which might keepe me in some agitation;
He 'gan discourse, and in's discourse did show
That he the King and Queene full well did know,
Requiring me most friendly to relate
If they attended were with Courtlike state,
Honour'd and serv'd with true magnificence
As did belong unto their Excellence:
These his demands I well could satisfie,
But let them passe, for with my judging eye
I did perceive that he discourse did frame,
Me for to pleasure and to entertaine:
Not from desire that he had to know,
How it with King or Queene or Court did goe:
And this I judg'd because he was so sad,
For he his sorrow alwayes present had;
For, for the most part he both sigh'd and sorrow'd,
But sometimes listning, then a smile he borrow'd;
And so concluding he me to requite,
Did render thankes, and this he did recite:
Know worthy friend, that not without good reason
Our past discourse was fram'd, nor out of season:
For I to thee the true effects will show,
To finde the Spring from whence my teares doe flow,
Provided this, that you me pledge doe give,
That you'le not faile, nay, by the faith you live,
To publish all that my sad tongue shall tell
To vertuous Ladies, who with wit as well
As modesty are grac't, oh let such know,
How one doth cause me suffer smart and woe
Without just cause, how her obdurate minde
No teares will soften, no intreats make kinde:
That from her sexe she varies, and despight
Their sweet conditions which doe men delight:
Shee tyrannizes, and to vanquisht me,
Shee is more cruell than man to man would be,
Report this to them, and with griefe declare
This sorrowing Note unto their gentle eares,
That they advertis'd may her folly blame,
And of her cruelty with me complaine.
Was celebrated at that present time,
Which claim'd attention with a due respect,
Yet Masse and Service did I then neglect,
And there my thoughts, which should have bin divine
Did poise the meaning of each severall Line:
And having pois'd them, yet I did not spare
To note the sorrow that they did declare.
Yet though I those things saw, I troubled was,
Since of th'effects I could not judge the cause.
But then from Church, Service being done,
We homeward went, where whē that we were come,
Wee free-fac'd Plenty found, who from her store
Had spread the Table with the Cates all-o're,
Then downe we sate, refresh't our appetite,
And dinner past, the sad lamenting Knight
Striving to glad me with some recreation,
The which might keepe me in some agitation;
He 'gan discourse, and in's discourse did show
That he the King and Queene full well did know,
Requiring me most friendly to relate
If they attended were with Courtlike state,
Honour'd and serv'd with true magnificence
As did belong unto their Excellence:
These his demands I well could satisfie,
But let them passe, for with my judging eye
I did perceive that he discourse did frame,
Me for to pleasure and to entertaine:
Not from desire that he had to know,
How it with King or Queene or Court did goe:
10
For he his sorrow alwayes present had;
For, for the most part he both sigh'd and sorrow'd,
But sometimes listning, then a smile he borrow'd;
And so concluding he me to requite,
Did render thankes, and this he did recite:
Know worthy friend, that not without good reason
Our past discourse was fram'd, nor out of season:
For I to thee the true effects will show,
To finde the Spring from whence my teares doe flow,
Provided this, that you me pledge doe give,
That you'le not faile, nay, by the faith you live,
To publish all that my sad tongue shall tell
To vertuous Ladies, who with wit as well
As modesty are grac't, oh let such know,
How one doth cause me suffer smart and woe
Without just cause, how her obdurate minde
No teares will soften, no intreats make kinde:
That from her sexe she varies, and despight
Their sweet conditions which doe men delight:
Shee tyrannizes, and to vanquisht me,
Shee is more cruell than man to man would be,
Report this to them, and with griefe declare
This sorrowing Note unto their gentle eares,
That they advertis'd may her folly blame,
And of her cruelty with me complaine.
“And now ye Ladies, Angels by your hues,
“I am oblie'gd to tender to your views
“This following Worke, the which I heard at large;
“Nor will I faile to execute my charge,
“Since yee by right may claim't; and 'tis most fit
“That to your censures I should tender it.
“I am oblie'gd to tender to your views
“This following Worke, the which I heard at large;
“Nor will I faile to execute my charge,
“Since yee by right may claim't; and 'tis most fit
“That to your censures I should tender it.
| A Small Treatise betwixt Arnalte and Lucenda Entituled The Evill-intreated Lover, Or The Melancholy Knight | |