From falsehood doth his faith secure;
In love uncertain to believe
I am deceiv'd, doth undeceive.
For if my life on doubt depend,
20And in distrust inconstant steer,
If I essay the strife to end
(When Ignorance were Wisdom here),
All thy attempts how can I blame
To work my death? I seek the same.
The Self-deceiver.] (On Stanley's translations see Introduction.) Juan Perez de Montalvan (1602-1638) belonged to the best age of Spanish literature, and was, in proportion, almost as prolific in plays and autos as his master Lope. He was accused of 'Gongorism', and this piece is one somewhat of 'conviction'.