Youmustknow, then, thattheabove-namedgentlemanwheneverhewasatleisure (whichwasmostlyalltheyearround) gavehimselfuptoreadingbooksofchivalrywithsuchardourandaviditythathealmostentirelyneglectedthepursuitofhisfieldsports, andeventhemanagementofhisproperty; andtosuchapitchdidhiseagernessandinfatuationgothathesoldmanyanacreoftillagelandtobuybooksofchivalrytoread, 'scomposition, fortheirlucidityofstyleandcomplicatedconceitswereaspearlsinhissight, particularlywheninhisreadinghecameuponcourtshipsandcartels, whereheoftenfoundpassageslike "thereasonoftheunreasonwithwhichmyreasonisafflictedsoweakensmyreasonthatwithreasonImurmuratyourbeauty;" oragain, "thehighheavens, thatofyourdivinitydivinelyfortifyyouwiththestars, renderyoudeservingofthedesertyourgreatnessdeserves." Overconceitsofthissortthepoorgentlemanlosthiswits, andusedtolieawakestrivingtounderstandthemandwormthemeaningoutofthem; , becauseitseemedtohimthat, greataswerethesurgeonswhohadcuredhim, , however, theauthor'swayofendinghisbookwiththepromiseofthatinterminableadventure, andmanyatimewashetemptedtotakeuphispenandfinishitproperlyasisthereproposed, whichnodoubthewouldhavedone, andmadeasuccessfulpieceofworkofittoo, hadnotgreaterandmoreabsorbingthoughtspreventedhim.
