A relation of ten years in Europe, Asia, Affrique, and America all by way of letters occasionally written to divers noble personages, from place to place, and continued to this present year / by Richard Fleckno.

LXI. To the Vice Roy of Norway, Anno 55. (Book 61)

Insending him some Verses which he desired. (Book 61)

My Lord,

BEhold your desire has a greater force with me, than any others commands could have, I obeying it even when I was not in estate of obedience, being in the heat of a Feaver, and consequently unapt either to write or compose any thing. If your Lordship find any heat then in these Lines, I will not say tis of the Feaver, nor that of Poetry; but of the desire I have to serve you: and if you like it not, you will think it worth burning at least: so shall it but die a natural death, and but re∣turn

to its first being, being begot in flames. I will detain your Lordship no longer from reading it, being able to write no more, but only that I am

Your Lordships most, &c.

On his choosing Valentines.

HOw great a Freedom he injoyes Who loves not without Counterpoise, Since be th' attraction what it will, He stands upon firm basis still: So tother day my chance it was, Choosing Valentines in a place, T' have one draw me, and I an other, Who so counterballanc't t'other, Neithers Captive I was made, Both such equal Beauty had, Eithers Captive else had been, Had I both assunder seen, So true tis when two such as those, We to our equal choice propose, We should dye e'r we could choose Which to take, or which refuse. No danger's then of eithers harms, Whilst th'one undoes the others charms: But when these Circes are alone, Then all the loving harm is done; So she who made Alcides spin, His Club layd by, and Lions skin,

Should soon have seen with what disdain He would have snatcht them up again, And thrown his servile work aside, Soon as some Dame he had espy'd I'th' room with Omphale appear, At all parts equalizing her; So great a freedom he enjoys, Who loves not without counterpoise, Since be th'attraction what it will, He stands upon firm basis still.