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 |  |
Answer of Yerso to Arnalte.
Of thee, and to thee Arnalte I complaine,Since in your breast you harbour and retaine
Doubt and suspicion, with the fiend distrust,
And that of me more-o're taxe you I must,
Since you transgresse the limits of affection,
Seeking strange wayes, and not your friends protectiō
Ill done it was so long for to obscure,
Or hide from me the ills you doe endure:
Put case it's thus, that Loves ordained Lawes
Binde you to silence, not to blab your cause;
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If you conceale your paine, you being griev'd:
For 'tis a Maxime, and most true indeed,
“Who spare to aske, must likewise spare to speed.
Thou maist, Arnalte, this thy selfe assure,
The griefe of thy afflictions will endure
More constant with me than my words to plaine,
Or to condole thy sorrowes and thy paine.
But could thy torments but divided be,
I'de be a partner in thy misery:
Yet what in actions cannot be exprest,
Shall be accomplish'd through my willingnesse.
Thou dost declare, that in the splendent eyes
Of bright Lucenda treason hidden lyes,
Which traiterously thy life doth overthrow,
From those faire eyes my cares doe likewise grow:
For if in thee shee moves afflicting passion,
My life she ruines with a strange distruction.
Yet to the end our wills may both accord,
(Free from discordance, of true friends abhor'd)
From this day forward I will banish quite
The thought of her who us'd me to delight:
Assuring you that Ile conclude a peace
To pleasure thee, and cause my war to cease,
Though it doe grieve me very vehemently,
Ile it effect to gaine my liberty,
And turne thee over to the bondage which
Thou dost desire, satisfie thy wish;
And that the rather, 'cause I will secure
My liberty, for of no hap I'me sure;
By my retreat I shall infranchis'd be,
And you'le remaine still in captivity.
Thou pray'st me also that I'de thee advise,
Receive thy plaints, and listen to thy cryes:
If from my counsaile could such profit grow,
As flowing teares from thy sad sorrowes, know
Thou shouldst be healed straight, exempted free
From ill or paine, or any misery.
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That thou'dst be vanquisht, & by force brought under
The cruell bondage of so weake a foe,
Who will usurpe, and you must duty owe.
And thou (brave spirit) who art memoriz'd
For thy great acts above the lofty skies,
Thou art enthralled, alas, now confin'd
Vnto the will of a weake womans minde.
Oh call to minde how thy bright shining fame
Will be ecclipsed, if thou dost this same,
And thy rare worth, how will it blasted be
With the report of shamefull infamy?
Flye these abuses, and couragiously
Resist fond love with valour manfully.
Nor say I this because I would dehort
Thee from thy purpose, or at least exhort
Thee not to love; for I would have thee dare
To cherish it, but with a pallid feare:
And seeking shun it, wish, yet not crave,
For to enjoy what you doe wish to have.
Or would I have thee all at once expell
Love from thy heart, (affections chiefest cell)
For then thou wouldst as great a hazard runne,
As it appeares thou hast already done
Through thy consentment: since thou dost obey
To love false soothings, or his flatt'ring laye.
Love is a cheater, he pretends most faire,
In stead of hap he'le leave you nought but care:
Who loves him least, and doth him most neglect,
His Lawes reward him with a due respect.
I am perswaded you'de doe wondrous well,
Should you repeat, and plainely to him tell
The basenesse of his deedes, how shamelesse he
Abuseth thee through his base treachery.
Let no dispaire too much with thee reside,
And have a care how you doe love confide.
Consider Hope, how it is her condition,
Though things seeme easie, not to grant fruition:
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Gives end to things unstedfast, variable:
And thus Lucenda, Authresse of thy woe,
In time she may some pitty to thee show,
And please thy sences, with her Organ voyce
Revive thy spirits, and thy heart rejoyce:
Now if you will advised by me be,
Thou shalt obtaine what seemeth hard to thee.
Come to my house, use it, oh doe not stand
On termes I pray, it is at your command:
Thou hast me injur'd, having all this time
Delay'd it, thou knowing I am thine:
But 'cause hence-forward Ile more carefull be
To cure thy wounds, applying remedy,
Than to prove tedious with my words or talke,
Ile silent be: and now wilt please you walke?
| A Small Treatise betwixt Arnalte and Lucenda Entituled The Evill-intreated Lover, Or The Melancholy Knight | |