Of Epistles Amatorie. Chap. 19
DIuers other patternes of sundrie occasions concluded vnder this Tytle, might besydes these heere bee put downe, whereof because I haue so largelie spoken in the discourse before these Epistles, I thinke the examples alreadie proponed to bee sufficient. And nowe the last of all these diuisions yet vnspoken of is Amatorie, whereof because the humours of all sortes with loue possessed, are so infinite and so great an vncertaintie in them remaineth, as that perchance euen in yᵉ verie writing of his letter, the louer himself is somtimes scarce certain of his own intended purpose therein, the lesse must of necessitie be the precepts of the same, for that in some of them wee require and entreate in others expostulate the matters and occasions falling in the necke therof, other times complaine, another while fawne and speake faire, then purge or cleare an accusation supposed agaynst vs. Finallie, innumerable are the deuises wherewith the reynes of loue are conducted. But in as much as I haue heretofore giuen vnto all other titles their seuerall preceptes, I will somwhat also in this place speake to the purpose thereof: In which I must first referre the writer vnto the consideration of the honestie of the action by him pretended to be written of, and then for the places of request, complaint, expostulation, or auoydance of anie thing therein happening to the waight of his owne affection, which how vehemently, or slenderly it weigheth, himselfe can best testifie, and lastly, for the well ordering of either of these, to the examples Petitorie, Expostulatorie, Defensorie, and Excusatorie in this booke plentifullie deliuered, wherein howbeit the matter of loue is no wayes expressed, yet to anie capable or wel disposed conceit, the conueyance thereof cannot in the selfe exchange of the subiect be without some import vnto them.
In this place there might also bee made a distinction of loue where in a Sympathie of minds from man to man aswell vniteth togither by an indissoluble league of amitie their hearts in one, as betwéene man and woman, and that for the most part by a far more waightie league, and more inuiolable discretion. But sith the alteration thereof, as it much differeth in qualitie from the other, is also alike exchaunged by title, that one tearmed by the name of Friendship, and this other chalenging onelie to be deciphered by Loue, these amours in this definition shall onely be intended such, as are modestly tendered from men vnto women, and so accordingly herein to be exampled and written vpon.
And howbeit the little experience I haue had of some conuersing in this kinde of studie, hath sufficientlie taught mee to knowe, that the verie instinct or setled impression of this kinde of fantasie is such a Schoolemaister to inuention, and so cunning a refiner of any well disposed conceit, as that with very small help, it thereby commonlie performeth much more then well could bee otherwise intended. To the helping and putting forwardes whereof, a number of excellent penned discourses onelie pertinent and seruing to the efficacie of those amours, are with the greatest singularitie that may bee deliuered, yet in so much as this booke taking vpon it to set foorth of euerye the tytles therein distinguished, some one or other particular example, may not by the defect of these, seeme to haue anie want of that, which by it hath bin formerlie promised. I haue thought good for order sake, to pursue also in this place, the effect of this Methode. The circumstances whereof by the examples following shall bee tendered.
An Example of an Epistle, for the First Entreatie of Good Will
THe long and considerate regarde, by which in deepe contemplation I haue eyed your most rare and singular vertues, ioyned with so admirable beautie, and much pleasing condition graffed in your person, hath mooued me good Mistresse E. among a number whome entirely I knowe to fauour you, earnestlie to loue you, and therewith to offer my selfe vnto you. Nowe howbeit I may happilie seeme in some eyes, the least in woorthines of a number that daylie frequent you, yet may you vouchsafe in your owne priuate to reckon mee with the greatest in willingnesse, wherein, if a seded and immooueable affection towardes you, if feruent and assured loue grounded vpon the vndecaiable stay and proppe of your vertues, if continuall, nay rather inexterminable vowes, in all perpetuitie addicted vnto your seruices, if neuer ceasing and tormenting griefe vncertainlie carried, by a hazardous expectation, closed in the circle of your gracious conceyte, whether to bring vnto the eares of my soule a sweet murmure of life, or seuere sentence of a present death, may ought at all preuaile either to mooue, entreate, sue, solicite, or perswade you, I then am the man, who shrining in my inwarde thoughts, the dignitie of so woorthie a creature, and prising in deepest weight (though not to the vttermost value) the estimate of so incomparable a beatie, haue resolued liuing to honor you, and dying neuer to serue other but you, from whose delicate looks, expecting no worse acceptance, then may seeme answerable to so diuine an excellencie, I remaine.
Your Most Passionate, Loyall and Perpetually Deuoted, &c.
THis example seeming to be in the superlative degree, it is intended that the direction thereof or the like, shoulde passe vnto such a one, whose birth, education, or other complements, maie sufficientlie answere the greatnesse and efficacie thereof, otherwise to one meanlie demeaned, or farre lesse enabled, to indite or offer the like, it might seeme vnto the writer, a great indignitie, as well in iudgement, as by an apparant want of some other sufficiencie. For which I thought good to admonish thus farre in this place, howbeit in the seconde Chapter of this booke, I haue touching a respect in all writing to bee had vnto the partie, his partes, place and qualitie, plentifullie alreadie discoursed.
Another Example to That Purpose
GOod Mistresse E. I am bolde though a straunger, to make these Letters, messengers at this present of my good meaning towards you, wherein you may please to thinke that I goe not about by pretence of a most entire and heartie good will which I professe to beare you, to make present surmise thereupon, that on so bare an assertion you should immediately credite me, I prise your worthinesse at farre greater value, and weigh your good allowance so much, as I onelie desire, that by your fauorable liking I may intreate to haue accesse vnto you, not doubting but by my being in your presence, I shall so sufficientlie by apparant proofe maintaine the efficacie of that I now protest, and giue you so good occasion to deeme well of mee, as you shall haue no reason to repent you, that vpon so honest and louing request you haue condiscended to my entreatie. Whose health and prosperitie tendering in all things as mine owne, I sende you with my Letter a token of that great affection I beare you, which I most heartilie praie you to accept of, and weare for mee. And euen so doe continue.
Yours, if so you please to accept of me, &c.
An Answere to the First of These Epistles
THat men haue skill, and are by sundrie commendable partes enabled to set foorth their meaning, there needeth, as I thinke no other testimonie then your presente writing, your eloquence is farre beyonde the reach of my poore witte, and the multiplicitie of your praises fitter for a Poeticall Goddesse, then to the erection of anie such earthlie Deesse. For my parte, I houlde them as the fancies and toies of men, issuing from the weakest of their humours, and howe farre my selfe can deserue, none then my selfe can better conceiue. Beeing one of good sorte, as you are, I coulde doe no lesse then write againe vnto you, the rather to satisfie the importunitie of your messenger, wishing such a one to your lot as wel might paragonize those excellencies your write of, and answere euerie waie vnto the substaunce of all those inestimable prayses. So hauing, your loue and your writing, might (as I take it) bee best suted togethers.
Yours, as far as modesty will, to aun-
swere your curtesies, &
A Replie to the Same Answere
GRacious obiect of my pleasing thoughtes, and mistresse of all my inwarde happines, sweete were the lines you wrote, God wot vnto mee your seruant howe comfortable, and how precious, knowing that their premeditation had issue from those your peerlesse excellencies, & the touch of those letters passed the guidance of your delicat hands, how sharp or powerful soeuer be the weight of the same, the lesse shall be the griefe, in that she whom I honour and estimate aboue all others, hath vouchsafed to wish vnto my lot, y accōplishmēt of all those excellencies, which none but her self can paragonize, and wherein she onelie goeth beyond all others. Vouchsafe (sweete Mistris) that what vnto you is intended to bee pleasing, may not seeme disgraced, by the ornamente of Eloquence, the Soueraigne and praise-woorthie Glorie whereof, beautifieth both speeches and reasons. Too dulle are my senses (I confesse) to blaze foorth the weight of your merites, your accomplishmentes beeing so manifold, as whereout (if euer anie earthlie Deesse by anie excellencie were deriued) the same might bee thought to haue alonlie proceeded. You may please of my loue to deeme as of your owne deseuinges the foundation whereof cannot bee so slender, as whereon so weake a thinge as fancie shoulde bee grounded. But as your vertues are permanent, so may you iudge of my loue to be perpetuall. Let it once more accord with your curteous consent, that these letters with the first may haue the like fauourable acceptaunce, whereby you shall kindle in mee no other or greater presumption, then what best fitteth vnto the woorthinesse both of your vertue and calling. With heartes longing and sighes sending, my Letters, and well wishinges speede them togethers, crauing that you will euer holde and deeme of me, as of him that in all protested faith, loue and loyaltie, is and will bee alwaies.
Yours, &c.
An Answere Vnto the Second Letter
SIr, your message is vnto mee as strange as your selfe, who are vnto me a stranger, & what your good meaning vnto me is, I knowe not, for giuing of hastie credite to your assertions, as you seem not to chalenge it, so was I neuer hetherto of my self so hastie to do it, hauing eftsoones bene taught, that of fairest speaches ensueth often the fowlest actions: I cannot condemne your purpose, because I entende the best of your dealings, and howbeit I am in no point so restrained, but that in all reasonable sort that may be, anie accesse may be granted: so when you shall by further notice sufficientlie make apparant that with modestie I may doe it, I shall bee willing so farre foorth as my yeares and present beeing, may minister occasion, in anie thankfull requitall that may bee to yeelde my selfe vnto you. Till which time I returne your token againe and my hartie thankes vnto you by this bearer.
Your friend as one vnacquainted
hetherto may be, &c.