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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Lucenda to Arnalte. |
 | A Small Treatise betwixt Arnalte and Lucenda Entituled The Evill-intreated Lover, Or The Melancholy Knight |  |
Lucenda to Arnalte.
Thou deem'st, Arnalte, by thy cunning shift,Thy filed talke, and this thy fancied drift
T'o'recome my vertues, and my spotlesse fame,
Which would redound unto my utter shame:
Which if you hope to purchase, or inherit,
As the true Crowne belonging to your merit,
In truth you'le faile, for ever to obtaine
What you expect, by this your course so vaine.
For this Ile tell you Sir, you may conceive
What likes you best, but 'twill in fine deceive
Your expectations: for Sir, know you must
That in my weake defence as much I trust,
As you, in your perswasions: therefore flye
These resolutions, doe no more relye
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From thy demands, and to thy selfe grant peace:
This J advise thee, 'cause it will proclaime
Farre more your wisedome, than if you maintaine
These fond resolves; for in the least respect,
You'le ne're accomplish what you doe proiect:
And that you may, Arnalte be more sure,
Know of a certaine, all the Worlds great power
Cannot in sunder breake the well-bar'd gate
Of the fix'd purpose which I doe relate.
Saile by this Land-marke, for it will addresse
Thee to the haven of true happinesse:
Though I have daign'd at this same present time
To answer thee, why it hath onely beene
To this intent, that having no assurance,
You might not hope, or let your suit of durance:
Since in these cases it's Speransa's kind,
Sooner than ease, prolong'd delaies to finde:
Or if my tongue (too mild) doe not expresse
A severe harshnesse, (for you must confesse
You have deserv'd it, and should I inflict,
You cannot taxe me, since you merit it)
In some respects, is for to favourise
Thy loyalty, observed by my eyes.
I doe not question, or will I deny
But that you love me, which to testifie,
Thou oftner seek'st me than I doe desire;
Yet howsoe're, thy paines must lose their higher:
For I pronounce your hope shall so farre flye
As your request and importunity
Proves tedious to me. I no more will heare
These irksome treats, which doe offend my eare:
Perhaps 't may be, you thinke, because my words
Are mild and pleasing, that my deeds 'l accord
With them in kindnesse; being exempted free
From rigorous strictnesse, or severity.
Doe not still sooth your hopes, I plainely tell,
If such a thought within your breast doth dwell,
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If your insulting love you don't o'rethrow,
Or else divert its course, Ile give it o're
Unto some one who shall you not deplore,
But have the power justly to plaine of thee,
And eke avenge, and wreake this iniurie.
For these same reasons, it's my wil'd-desire
You leave dispute, without delay retire:
For better 'tis with speed for to apply
Some saving meanes, some helping remedy,
Than by delayes protracting, to inforce
Betwixt the soule and body a divorce:
This to advertise I did think most fit,
Since there's more losse than gaine for thee in it:
Yet howsoever this my counsaile laud,
And my well-wishes to the world applaud.
Be not so rashly bold, to dare to tell,
That with my speech I have not us'd you well.
For I declare, if such discourse you 'gin,
As but to say you have abused bin,
That great ill hap shall surely thee befall,
Which I will slight, not it regard at all.
Henceforth you ought your hot desires suppresse,
And curbe your will, and to your selfe grant peace;
Which I believe you'le doe: for as your eyes,
Drown'd up in teares your vow'd-good-will likewise,
Doe manifest, and plainely shew to me,
That 'twill more pleasing, and delightfull be
To thee Arnalte, rather to present
Pleasures unto me, than sad discontent.
This if you slight, the love which you maintaine
I shall suspect, though you it true proclaime;
And to your selfe it will procure but losse,
And unto me but angers vexing crosse.
Now to the end that your intents may prove
Your selfe as prudent as your sighes you love:
And that your actions may expresse you thus,
To be as wise, as you are amorous:
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Which you ought keep your selfe for to protect.
| A Small Treatise betwixt Arnalte and Lucenda Entituled The Evill-intreated Lover, Or The Melancholy Knight | |