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 |
 |
|
Arnalte to the Traveller.
|
 | A Small Treatise betwixt Arnalte and Lucenda Entituled The Evill-intreated Lover, Or The Melancholy Knight |  |
Arnalte to the Traveller.
Scarce had Lucenda ended this her talke,But that the houre forc'd us for to walke:
For't came to passe, so many people ran
Into the Church, that both of us were faine
For to depart; yet not without the grace
Which faire Lucenda did to me vouchsafe;
For she permitted my rude lips to touch
Her faire white hands, more white than snow unsmucht.
My Sister then, and I, we bad fare-well,
And so return'd, each where we us'd to dwell.
81
Might I have had the choysest of all
The Worlds rich wealth, and be ingag'd to lose
The hap I purchas't, I would it refuse:
This to affirme I doe summon in
All constant Lovers, who have tossed bin
In Cupids Blanket, for they know full well,
That such a favour doth all wealth excell.
Thus did I part content; my sister then
Seeing me gaine my pristine health agen,
With all essaies endeavour'd t'entertaine
My new delights to ratifie my paine;
Desiring me that I would then repaire
Into the Countrey for to take the aire,
For she'de a house of pleasure, which did lye
Not farre from Thebes, for it was hard by.
To this her motion I did soone consent,
And then as soone we on our journey went.
Where when arriv'd, I found the place to be
Seated by Natures carefull industry,
Uery commodious for th'exercise
Of healthfull hunting; (which some men doe prize
Above all sports) this mov'd me cause my men
Bring me some Birding-Peeces, that (friend) then
I might essay, what with th'agitation
Of that same pastime, and its recreation,
For to recover my decayed health,
Which sad affliction had o'rethrowne by stealth
Now while I sojourn'd with my sister deare,
Shee feasted me, and made me such good cheare,
That in a short space I did there regaine
My manly colour, and my strength againe.
But on a day that I resolv'd to ride
Abroad a hunting, just as I would stride
My horse's backe, divers sad auguries
Did then appeare unto my wondring eyes,
Which did presage, and eke denounce my fate,
My future ruine, and its wretched state:
82
Faire, bright, and calme, straight-wayes did appeare
Tempestuous, cloudy, winde and raine did flye
With stormy rage, and darknesse vail'd the skie:
Also a Grey-hound, which I much did prise,
Ranne 'twixt my leggs, & there yelpt forth such cries
And horrid howlings, that they did confound
M'amazed sences with their bawling sound.
Yet I alas, who made but small account
Of such predictions, on my Steed did mount:
Nor all those lets could not my purpose stay,
But with my Hawke upon my fist away
Into the fields I rod, where scarsely I
Had 'gun my quest, but then immediately
I call'd to minde that it was long agone
Since I had seene the Gentleman, of whom
I have already spoke; and that since I
Had shewn to him the love and loyalty,
And deare affection which I alwayes beare
Vnto Lucenda, he no more did care
T'associate me, but by degrees did shun
My company, or where I us'd to come;
Nor ne're came nigh me where I us'd to dwell,
Or once inquir'd, were I ill or well,
Ceasing to be so courteous, or so kind,
As formerly I did his friendship finde.
No sparke of goodnesse in his breast did shine,
Towards me all friendship did in him decline:
But 'cause I knew it was the proper kind
Of divers men who have a wavering minde,
Not to be constant to their friends, but fickle,
For as they please, they can love much or little;
It mov'd me thinke that he had gain'd a touch
Of that infection, poison'd with too much
Ignoblenesse, which was the speciall cause
Of his non-servance of kind friendships Lawes.
And then againe I thought 'tmight sooner be
That Lightnings flame should blast Apollo's Tree,
83
The least of torments, if he could me cure.
Whilst thus I mus'd the depth of truth to sound,
My Hawke fell downe starke dead unto the ground;
Which sudden chance did straight wayes multiply
The doubts I had of Yerso's loyalty:
For suddenly my heart it was surpris'd
With grievous startings, and assaults: beside,
I did remember how my well-shap'd Hownd
Had whin'd that morning, grovelling on the ground.
Then thus disturb'd, I did resolve to speed
Backe to my Sister, mounted on my Steed;
But as I rode, I found my selfe to be
Vpon a Mount, whence I might plainely see
Lucenda's Mansion, which did fairely lye
Vnto the prospect of my roaving eye;
And also heard the noise and perfect sound
Of Drummes and Haubois, which did there rebound
Their pleasant Echoes 'gainst the Mountaines, and
The neighbouring Hills, that there did proudly stand,
Rearing their heads in such a lofty wise,
As if they meant to parley with the skies.
This seemed strange unto my listning eare,
For it agree'd not with the time of yeare
To use such pastime: thus I wax't farre more
Pensive, and sad, than e're I was afore,
Growing most jealous of my future losse,
Since that my fortunes prov'd to be so crosse.
Well, there I stay'd so long for to discry
The house, from whence those merry Tones did flye,
That Night o're-tooke me in her Ebon-Coach,
E're to my Sister I could then approach,
Who was accustom'd dayly for to waite
My comming, at the entrance of her gate,
There to embrace me; but at that same Tide
My dearest Sister did not for me bide,
Which did renew againe my past distrust,
And then alas, this of all was worst:
84
Where she did sit, she seem'd to me as dumbe;
A word she spake not, but did sadly looke,
As if all joy had her heart forsooke.
This did amaze me, and I marvail'd much:
For since her silence unto me was such,
I durst not aske her ought, doubting to heare
By her discourse the news I much did feare.
But yet at length I could not so containe
My selfe with silence, or from words refraine,
But that I ask't her whence it did arise
That she sate drooping in that mournfull wise:
At this the flood-gates of her teare-drown'd eyes
Burst ope through fury of her weeping cryes:
Frō whence such streames of chrystal-teares did flow,
That to a deluge they began to grow;
Whose inundations did o're-flow so high,
That they did stop her passage of reply,
So that she could not answer me, untill
Those floods were sunke, that then amaine did swell;
But drying up those teares which trickled downe,
Whose gushing Torrents did her eyes e'ne drowne,
She did declare, how at that present tide,
Lucenda was the faire espoused Bride
Of youthfull Yerso, who I ever deem'd
My faithfull friend, for so he alwayes seem'd.
And that as then she did to me relate
As she did heare, they still did celebrate
The Nuptiall Banquets, and the custom'd Rites
With Maskes, with Revells, and such us'd delights.
When this I heard, I doe protest my friend,
I thought my life would straight have ta'ne an end:
For my poore heart was suddenly assail'd
By woes Armado, that my spirits fail'd;
Which so amaz'd me, that a long while I
Stood mute, and dumbe, nor could a word reply.
Thus were the signes presag'd unto me showne,
And eke the noise I heard unto me knowne;
85
So rudely fell, grovelling on my face;
That those who then were present, did esteeme
I was intranst, for so I then did seeme.
But then as soone as I could breath againe,
I tooke all Letters, subscribed with the name
Of faire Lucenda; nay, I did not leave
One single line which I of her receiv'd,
But tore them all in that same raging vaine:
Then growing wild, through fury of my paine,
I being lost, and voyd of further hope,
Dispaire I welcom'd, who did soone take scope
For to inflame me with tenne thousand thoughts,
Which in my braines a strange distraction wrought,
So that I did unroote my Beard, and tare
From off my head whole handfulls of my haire:
Although such actions (friend) I must confesse
Seeme womanish, and weaknesse doe expresse;
Yet blind-fold Love doth by his Lawes confine
To such extreames his servants many times:
Then some daies past, and that the consolation
Of my deare sister, with her milde perswasion
Had in some sort asswag'd my anxious griefe,
And by her care had tender'd me reliefe,
I gave a speciall order unto those
Who waited on me to weare mourning clothes.
Soone after which, a Damsell to me came
That serv'd Lucenda, that Angelicke Dame:
It was the maid in whom she did repose
Great confidence, and durst to her disclose
Her private secrets, and moreover rest
Her inward thoughts within her trusty breast;
Who certifi'd me in her Mistris name,
How that her Lady was inforc'd and faine
To undergoe that marriage, and that she,
More through the irksome importunity,
And urgent treaties of her Parents, (who
Claim'd her obeysance as their proper due)
86
She was constrain'd t'imbrace him vel or nil.
Having a long while heard her patiently,
And satisfi'd her, she did homewards hye:
But you must know that she rescounter'd me,
Clad with a Gowne of blacke, (which did agree
In outward shew, unto my inward griefe)
About whose hembe (because I will be briefe)
These Lines and Letters were embroydred round,
Which being read, this meaning forth did sound.
| A Small Treatise betwixt Arnalte and Lucenda Entituled The Evill-intreated Lover, Or The Melancholy Knight | |