Clitophon and Lucippe Translated. To the Ladies

Pray, ladies, breath, awhile lay byCaelestial Sydney's ARCADY;Heere's a story that doth claimeA little respite from his flame:Then with a quick dissolving lookeUnfold the smoothnes of this book,To which no art (except your sight)Can reach a worthy epithite;'Tis an abstract of all volumes,A pillaster of all columnesFancy e're rear'd to wit, to beThe smallest gods epitome,And so compactedly expresseAll lovers pleasing wretchednes.

Gallant Pamela's majestyAnd her sweet sisters modestyAre fixt in each of you; you are,Distinct, what these together were;Divinest, that are reallyWhat Cariclea's feign'd to be;That are ev'ry one the Nine,And brighter here Astreas shine;View our Lucippe, and remaineIn her, these beauties o're againe.

Amazement! Noble ClitophonEv'n now lookt somewhat colder onHis cooler mistresse, and she tooSmil'd not as she us'd to do.See! the individuall payreAre at sad oddes, and parted are;They quarrell, aemulate, and standAt strife, who first shal kisse your hand.

A new dispute there lately roseBetwixt the Greekes and Latines, whoseTemples should be bound with glory,In best languaging this story;

Yee heyres of love, that with one SMILEA ten-yeeres war can reconcile;Peacefull Hellens! Vertuous! See:The jarring languages agree!And here, all armes layd by, they doeIn English meet to wayt on you.

"Fair ones, breathe: a while lay byBlessed Sidney's ARCADY:Here's a story that will makeYou not repent HIM to forsake;And with your dissolving lookeVntie the contents of this booke;To which nought (except your sight)Can give a worthie epithite.'Tis an abstract of all volumes,A pillaster of all columnesFancie e're rear'd to wit, to beLittle LOVE'S epitome,And compactedly expresseAll lovers happy wretchednesse.

"Brave PAMELA'S majestieAnd her sweet sister's modestieAre fixt in each of you, you areAlone, what these together wereDivinest, that are reallyWhat Cariclea's feign'd to be;That are every one, the Nine;And on earth Astraeas shine;Be our LEUCIPPE, and remaineIn HER, all these o're againe.

"Wonder! Noble CLITOPHONMe thinkes lookes somewhat colder onHis beauteous mistresse, and she tooSmiles not as she us'd to doe.See! the individuall payreAre at oddes and parted are;Quarrel, emulate, and standAt strife, who first shall kisse your hand.

"A new warre e're while arose'Twixt the GREEKES and LATINES, whoseTemples should be bound with gloryIn best languaging this story:You, that with one lovely smileA ten-yeares warre can reconcile;Peacefull Hellens awfull seeThe jarring languages agree,And here all armes laid by, they doeMeet in English to court you."Rich. Lovelace, Ma: Ar: A: Glou: Eq: Aur: Fil: Nat: Max.

"The happy OBJECT of her eyeWas SIDNEY'S living ARCADY:Whose amorous tale had so betrai'dDesire in this all-lovely maid;That, whilst her check a blush did warm,I read LOVES story in her form."By Charles Cotton, Esq. Lond. 1689, 8vo, p. 392.

Hearke, reader! wilt be learn'd ith' warres?A gen'rall in a gowne?Strike a league with arts and scarres,And snatch from each a crowne?

Wouldst be a wonder? Such a one,As should win with a looke?A bishop in a garison,And conquer by the booke?

Take then this mathematick shield,And henceforth by its rulesBe able to dispute ith' field,And combate in the schooles.

Whilst peaceful learning once againeAnd the souldier so concord,As that he fights now with her penne,And she writes with his sword.

Harke, reader, would'st be learn'd ith' warres,A CAPTAINE in a gowne?Strike a league with bookes and starres,And weave of both the crowne?

Would'st be a wonder? Such a oneAs would winne with a looke?A schollar in a garrison?And conquer by the booke?

Take then this mathematick shield,And henceforth by its rules,Be able to dispute ith' field,And combate in the schooles.

Whil'st peacefull learning once agenAnd th' souldier do concorde,As that he fights now with her penne,And she writes with his sword.Rich. Lovelace, A. Glouces. Oxon.