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 Letter of Lucenda to Arnalte.
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 | A Small Treatise betwixt Arnalte and Lucenda Entituled The Evill-intreated Lover, Or The Melancholy Knight |  |
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A Letter of Lucenda to Arnalte.
I doe believe my Letter will not findeThee, friend Arnalte, glader in thy minde,
Than sad it left me: yet for to complaine
I'de had no cause, had but my hand beene lame,
Or else benumb'd, at that same instant, when
It did touch paper with the well-nib pen,
To write this missive, since it captives me,
Thralling my freedome and my liberty;
Giving to thee that which I never thought,
A gage too precious, where it ow'd thee nought,
Bee not too proud, 'cause unto thee I write,
Nor yet too sad, if henceforth to thy sight
M'Epistles come not; let reason mitigate
Thy present glory, and my missive take.
With shewes well-temper'd give it entertaine,
With wise expressions; doe not thou proclaime
Thy inward ioy, hide it, and disguise
Thy vehement love from all observing eyes.
Remember well when as such victories
Are published, that men then sacrifice
Ladies bright honours, but since friend so well
What's needfull for thee thou thy selfe canst tell:
Be not lesse heedfull those things to direct,
Which may assist me, or my fame protect:
Still have before thy eyes, never forget,
How thee to pleasure I my selfe neglect,
Changing my Title: I who us'd to have
Respect and honour, am become a slave,
To favour thee, for I have hazarded
My reputation, and a discord bred
Within my selfe: for at that instant when
You chant your glory, very, very then
I waile and weepe, since I thee to content,
Suffer great losse unto my detriment,
Staining my honour, spotting of my fame
With base aspersions, blasting of my name.
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From off this paper, and gi'n strict command
Unto my pen not one word more to write?
Ah, but alas, who hath the strength or might
For to withstand thy importunities,
Or ward themselves from thy perswading cryes?
Thou hast gain'd rest unto thy labour now:
For doubt assurance, and moreover thou
Hast cause to glory, and thy selfe to glad,
Since no occasion's left to make thee sad.
Thy sister tells me thou wilt hence depart:
I thee assure 'twould grieve me to the heart:
For those who cannot any helpe expresse,
Ought not direct men unto sad distresse.
To tell the truth, I rather doe mistrust
This is deceit, than reall, true, or just:
Yet to deceive me if you did intend,
I doe declare that thou hast gain'd thy end.
But howsoever, I would have you know
J understood it, though I made no show;
And to the end you thinking to beguile
Or circumvent me, you be not the while
O're-reacht, defrauded; for full well I know,
That amongst yee, who love, doe duty owe:
When that by wiles you to the period come
Of your designes, and slily over-come
Us female Creatures, thinke yee have atchiev'd
A victory most highly to be priz'd.
Deeme not thy selfe so subtile, nor thinke me
So indiscreet, or simple for to be:
But that I have perceiv'd it in that kinde,
That more for pitty of thy vexed minde,
Than dread of thee, these few lines I doe write,
What you endure your sister doth recite.
For she doth so assure me of thy paine,
And with her teares likewise aver the same;
That not alone I thereto credit give:
For, for thy suffrings I both mourne and grieve,
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By this my Letter which doth plainely shew't.
Let this content thee, or else otherwise
You may lose that which you have made your prize:
Comfort thy selfe, and so thy selfe retire
Into thy selfe, never more aspire
To find me out with toylesome labour, why,
Your long discourse, and the small time that J
Can spare to heare it, will exasperate
Afresh your sorrowes, and them aggravate.
| A Small Treatise betwixt Arnalte and Lucenda Entituled The Evill-intreated Lover, Or The Melancholy Knight | |