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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Arnalte to the Traveller.
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 | A Small Treatise betwixt Arnalte and Lucenda Entituled The Evill-intreated Lover, Or The Melancholy Knight |  |
Arnalte to the Traveller.
My Letter ended, I did then imploreMy sisters aide, entreating her once more
For to present unto Lucenda's view
This Letter which I have rehearst to you:
This she did grant me, being thereto mov'd
More through my treaties, than her will approv'd:
For shame forbad her, but then pure affection
O're-came all hindrance, and gave her direction.
Then like to those who doe expect their fate,
With speede she hasted for to obviate
Her good or ill, and to Lucenda she
Tender'd the Letter that was sent by me;
But she was forc't unanswer'd to returne
To wretched me, whose heart in flames did burne
Of fiery love, still fewel'd with disdaine,
Which did encrease more furiously my flame.
This mov'd my sister daily to endeavour
T'effect some meanes that she might me deliver.
Then on a day vertuous Lucenda and
My sister meeting, she could not withstand
My sisters treats, though her defence were great,
But did vouchsafe that I with her should speak.
This sentence added wings unto the speed
Of my deare sister, who was glad indeed,
To bring me tidings of so great a blisse,
And thankt great Iove that he had daign'd her this,
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Of the good newes which she did bring to me:
She did rejoyce, and then did declare
What was decree'd of sweet Lucenda, faire
As bright Aurora, Conduct to the Day,
Whose Roseate blushes to our sight displayes
Phœbus approach each day when he doth rise
From Tethys bed, to travaile through the skies.
Who ever saw a Prisoner doom'd to death,
Gaine a Reprivall for his sentenc'd breath,
And that unlook't for, since he hath no hope
But for to breath his last by Sword or Rope;
Is so transported, that he scarce beleeves,
Hearing th'Injunction of those new decrees?
But being assur'd, he with excesse of measure
Courts this his Fortune with a world of pleasure.
Or else a Pilot in a raging storme,
Deemes Barke, and goods, himselfe, and all forlorne,
Since whirling winds feloniously doe crack
His twisted Cables, cause his Anchors slack
Their forked hold, and drive him in despight
Of Steere, or Helme, he knows not wrong or right:
Mounting him one while to the azur'd skie,
And then as soone red rive him furiously
Unto the bottome of the vast extent
Of Neptunes foaming watry Regiment:
Whilst thus he's tost on the Sea-swelling waves,
And well-nigh swallow'd in their watry graves,
Fraught with dispaire, possest he never more,
Shall set his footing on the sandy shore,
Doth suddenly through light of Phœbus ray,
Spies from a farre the prospect of a bay.
Yet former-feare hath so possest his brest,
And present ruine, that he feares this blest
Appearance's but an object of illusion,
His hopes to flatter, ere their last confusion,
But then the winds (though angry) and the light
Give him full view of what he had in sight:
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Doth drive his Barke, that it may safely ride.
Then being safe, and out of dangers way,
He thankes great Iove, and with the cheerefull day
Doth rowse his spirits, and expelleth quite
The sad remembrance of the passed night:
Even thus was I, untill that newes repriev'd
My dying soule, and my sad heart reliev'd.
For scarce my Sister had breath'd out her words,
But sweet content such pleasure me affords.
That whilst I liv'd, I never did possesse
Such sweet delight, and pleasing happinesse:
For, for t'expresse it it's impossible:
My tongue's too weake my owne delights to tell,
My anguishes were metamorphosed
To suddaine joyes, sorrow from me fled
With swiftest speed: with mirth and pleasure then
My soule and heart did joyntly entertaine
That blessed newes, and at that very time
Love did me cherish, saying he was mine.
But then the Guardians of the bright-fac't Day
Had set the houre, and we must away
Unto the place assign'd; for we did come
When as bright Titan, otherwise the Sunne
Comes dancing forth, Heavens Eastern-gate set wide,
To mount his Chariot, which doth for him bide.
Vnto a Chappell then I did retire,
Vnto a Cell, where usually the Fryer
Vs'd for to shrift the people who confesse
Their sinnes, and crimes, with their past wickednesse.
Joyning to which Lucenda straight-wayes came,
And tooke her seate; I seeing of the same,
The place consenting, I began to show
With words and teares my torments and my woes.
| A Small Treatise betwixt Arnalte and Lucenda Entituled The Evill-intreated Lover, Or The Melancholy Knight | |