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 |  |
Arnalte to the Traveller.
With quicke returne my sister to me cameFrom faire Lucenda (whose transcendent name
I ever honour) this she certifi'd;
But yet her answer she from me did hide,
Thinking at length t'imprint into my minde
That for my good, which now did prove unkinde.
Yet all her words they could me not perswade,
Nor would I credit ought, though't did invade
My pensive breast; for what my sister told,
'Twas ambiguous, 'surance did not hold
League with her fictions; for if the effect
Proves false or feign'd, it cannot truth direct.
These sundry reasons mov'd me to suppose
My sister had not gain'd what she prepos'd.
Then sad dispaire did straight possesse my breast,
And expel'd hope of any helpe or rest:
Thus destitute of any meanes to ease,
M'afflicted minde, or sorrowes to appease,
I did resolve to faine, as if at nought
I priz'd Lucenda, not to cherish thought
Of her perfections; for I notice had
She carelesse was, and void of all regard
Concerning my afflictions; m'unkinde Fate
Shee did not taxe, or once compassionate.
But to the purpose, my resolv'd intent
I executed, made experiment,
Praying my sister for to certifie
Vnto Lucenda, that hence-forward I
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Vnto her service, though she seem'd Divine.
And that hereafter I would learne to live
Like to my selfe, and not my freedome give
Unto a Lady, who did disregard
My life and love, and gave me no reward:
My sister said a word she would not misse,
Yet e're she went I her advised this,
That she should marke, and with a curious eye
Observe the blushes of her Phismony:
And above all, when that she should declare
Her message to her, then to have a care
For to behold the lookes which she should glance,
With the mutations of her countenance:
For by the gesture one may sooner finde,
Than by the words the meaning of the minde;
And by the colour that doth come and goe,
The hearts intentions one may plainely know.
As also to regard when she should cease,
If that Lucenda too should hold her peace;
Or else make shew as if shee did not care
For all the love or honour I her beare:
And if she should respond whether it were
Suddaine or doubtfull, utter'd with a feare:
For hard it is such things for to obscure,
If love be perfect, or affection pure.
Now did my sister, having understood
My will and pleasure, write in lines of blood
Within her heart, and lodged in her minde,
What I had told her, and then went to finde
Vertuous Lucenda; who when sh'ad found,
The place consenting, this she did propound.
| A Small Treatise betwixt Arnalte and Lucenda Entituled The Evill-intreated Lover, Or The Melancholy Knight | |