Richard Lovelace. Clitophon And Lucippe Translated. To The Ladies.

Richard Lovelace.

	CLITOPHON and LUCIPPE Translated. To The Ladies.
	PRAY Ladies breath, awhile lay by Cælestial Sydney's Arcady ; Heere's a Story that doth Claime A little respite from his Flame : Then with a quick dissolving looke Unfold 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 Columnes Fancy e're rear'd to Wit, to be The smallest Gods Epitome, And so compactedly expresse All Lovers pleasing Wretchednes. Gallant Pamela's Majesty And her sweet Sisters Modesty Are fixt in each of you ; you are Distinct, what these together were, Divinest that are really What Cariclea's feign'd to be ; That are ev'ry one the Nine, And brighter here Astrea's shine, View our Lucippe, and remaine In her, these Beauties o're againe. Amazement ! Noble Clitophon, Ev'n now lookt somewhat colder on His cooler Mistresse, and she too Smil'd not as she us'd to do ; See ! the Individuall Payre Are at sad Oddes, and parted are ; They quarrell, æmulate, and stand At strife, who first shal kisse your hand. A new Dispute there lately rose Betwixt the Greekes and Latines, whose Temple's should be bound with Glory In best languaging this Story ; Yee Heyres of Love, that with one Smile A ten-yeeres War can reconcile ; Peacefull Hellens ! Vertuous ! See? The jarring Languages agree, And here all Armes layd by, they doe In English meet, to wayt on you. Clitophon and Lucippe—Contributed to the translation by Anthony Hodge, Oxford, 1638. Sydney's Arcady—Sir Philip Sidney's (1554-1586) 'Arcadia' was published in 1590.

Source:
Lovelace, Richard. The Poems of Richard Lovelace.
London: Unit Library, Ltd., 1904. 60-62.

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