ELEGIA I.

Quemadmodum a Cupidine pro bellis amores scribere coactus sit.

WE which were Ovid's five books,* now are three;
For these before the rest preferreth he.
If, reading five, thou plain'st of tediousness,
Two ta'en away, thy + labour will be less.

With Muse prepar'd, I meant ‡ to sing of arms,
Choosing a subject fit for fierce alarms:
Both verses were alike, till Love, men say,
Began to smile, and took § one foot away.

Rash boy, who gave thee power to change a line?
We are the Muses' prophets, none of thine.
What if thy mother take Diana's bow,
Shall Dian fan when love begins to glow?
In woody groves is't meet that Ceres reign,
And quiver-bearing Dian till the plain?
Who'll set the fair-tress'd Sun in battle-ray,
While Mars doth take th' Aonian harp to play?
Great are thy kingdoms, over-strong, and large:
Ambitious imp, why seek'st thou further charge?

* We which were Ovid's five books, &c.] When Mr. Collier (Bridgewater Cat., p. 189) quoted these four lines as a proof that Marlowe "took some liberties with his original," he was not aware that they are a literal translation of Ovid's Epigramma in Amores suos.

tthy] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "the."

↑ prepar'd, I meant] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "vpreard, I

meane.

§ took] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "take."

What] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "That.-We read in the original,

"Quid? si præripiat flava Venus arma Minerva,
Ventilet accensas flava Minerva faces?"

But Marlowe must have read "Diana" and "Diana."

Are all things thine? the Muses' Tempe* thine?
Then scarce can Phoebus say, "This harp is mine."
When in this work's + first verse I trod aloft,
Love slack'd my Muse, and made my num-
bers § soft.

I have no mistress nor no favorite,
Being fittest matter for a wanton wit:

Thus I complain'd; but Love unlock'd his quiver,
Took out the shaft ordain'd my heart to shiver,
And bent his sinewy bow upon his knee,
Saying, "Poet, here's a work beseeming thee."
O, woe is me! he never shoots but hits :

I burn; love in my idle bosom sits.

Let my first verse be six, my last five feet:
Farewell, stern war, for blunter poets meet!
Elegian Muse, that warblest amorous lays,
Girt my shine brow with sea-bank myrtle-sprays!¶

Although the nights be long, I sleep not tho;*
My sides are sore with tumbling to and fro.
Were Love the cause, it's like I should descry
him;

Or lies he close, and shoots where none can spy him?

'Twas so; he struck + me with a slender ‡ dart; "Tis cruel Love turmoils my captive heart. Yielding, or struggling,§ do we give him might? Let's yield a burden easlly borne is light. I saw a brandish'd fire increase in strength; Which being not shak'd,|| I saw it die at length. Young oxen newly-yok'd are beaten more Than oxen which have drawn the plough before;

And rough jades' mouths with stubborn bits are torn,

But manag'd horses' heads are lightly borne.
Unwilling lovers Love doth more torment
Than such as in their bondage feel content.
Lo, I confess, I am thy captive, I!

And hold my conquer'd hands for thee to tie.
What need'st thou war? I sue to thee for

grace:

With arms to conquer armless men is base.
Yoke Venus' doves, put myrtle on thy hair:
Vulcan will give thee chariots rich and fair.
The people thee applauding, thou shalt stand,
Guiding the harmless pigeons with thy ** hand:
Young men and women shalt thou lead as thrall;
So will thy triumph ++ seem magnifical:
I, lately caught, will have a new-made wound,
And captive-like be manacled and bound:
Good meaning, shame,‡‡ and such as seek love's
wrack,

Shall follow thee, their hands tied at their back:
Thee all shall fear, and worship as a king;
Iö triumphing shall thy people sing:
Smooth speeches, fear,§§ and rage shall by thee

t struck] So ed. C.-Ed. A "strok."-Ed. B "strook." slender] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "tender."

§ struggling] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "striuing." shak'd] So ed. A.-Eds. B, C "slackt."

which] So eds. A, B.-Ed. C "that."

** thy] So eds. B, C.-Not in ed. A.

tt triumph] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "triumphes." ✰✰ Good meaning, shame] "Mens Bona . . . Et Pudor." §§ fear] Our poet's copy of Ovid had "Terror." The right reading is "Error."

thine] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "thy."

Thy mother shall from heaven applaud this show,
And on their faces heaps of roses strow:
With beauty of thy wings thy fair hair gilded,*
Ride, golden Love, in chariots richly builded!
Unless I err, full many shalt thou burn,
And give wounds + infinite at every turn:
In spite of thee, forth will thine ‡ arrows fly;
A scorching flame burns all the standers by.
So, having conquer'd Inde, was Bacchus' hue:
Thee pompous birds, and him two tigers, drew.
Then, seeing I grace thy show in following thee,
Forbear to hurt thyself in spoiling me.
Behold thy kinsman § Cæsar's prosperous bauds,
Who guards the|| conquer'd with his conquering

hands!

ELEGIA III Ad amicam.

I ASK but right: let her that caught me late,
Either love, or cause that I may never hate.
I crave ++ too much: would she but let me love
her!

Jove knows with such-like prayers I daily move her.

Accept him that will serve thee all his youth,
Accept him that will love with ‡‡ spotless truth.
If lofty titles cannot make me thine,§§
That am descended but of knightly line,
(Soon may you plough the little land I have;
I gladly grant my parents given to save,)
Apollo, Bacchus, and the Muses may,¶¶
And Cupid who hath mark'd me for thy prey;
My spotless life, which but to gods gives *** place,
Naked simplicity, and modest grace.

I love but one, and her +++ I love change never:
If men have faith, I'll live with thee for ever;

*With beauty of thy wings thy fair hair gilded] Our poet's copy of Ovid had "Tu, penna pulchros gamina variante capillos."

+ wounds So eds. B, C.--Ed. A wordes." thine] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "thy."

§ kinsman] Old eds. "kinsmans." the Old eds. "thee."

Ther] So ed. A.-Eds. B, C, "he."

** never] So eds. B, C.-Not in ed. A.

tt cravej So ed. A.-Eds. B, C, "aske."

I love with] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "loue thee with." §§ make me thine] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A causo me to be thine."

land] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "landes." TT may] i. e. may make me thine. *** gives] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A “giue." ttt her] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "he."

*

The years that fatal Destiny shall give
I'll live with thee, and die ere thou shalt +
grieve.

Be thou the happy subject of my books,
That I may write things worthy thy fair looks:
By verses hornèd‡ Iö got her name;

And she to whom in shape of swan § Jove came;
And she that on a feign'd bull swam to land,
Griping his false horus with her virgin hand.
So likewise we will through the world be rung,
And with my name shall thine be always sung.

ELEGIA IV.||

Amicam, qua arte quibusve nutibus in cena, presente viro, uti debeat, admonet.

Tuy husband to a banquet goes with me;
Pray God it may his latest supper be!
Shall I sit gazing as a bashful guest,
While others touch the damsel I love best?
Wilt, lying under him, his bosom clip?¶¶
About thy neck shall he at pleasure skip?
Marvel not though the fair bride did incite
The drunken Centaurs to a sudden fight:
I am no half-horse, nor in woods I dwell;
Yet scarce my hands from thee contain I well.
But how thou shouldst behave thyself now know,
Nor let the winds away my warnings*
** blow.
Before thy husband, come; though I not see
What may be done, yet there before him be.
Lie with him gently, when his limbs he spread
Upon the bed; but on my foot first tread.
View me, my becks, and speaking countenance;
Take and return ++ each secret amorous glance.
Words without voice shall on my eyebrows sit;
Lines thou shalt read in wine, by my hand writ.
When our lascivious toys come in thy mind,
Thy rosy cheeks be to thy thumb‡‡ inclin'd.
If aught of me thou speak'st in inward thought,
Let thy soft finger to thy ear be brought.
When I, my light, do or say aught that please
thee,

Turn round thy gold ring, as it were to ease thee.

*

Strike on the board, like them that pray for evil,
When thou dost wish thy husband at the devil.
What wine he fills thee, wisely will him drink;"
Ask thou the boy what† thou enough dost think.
When thou hast tasted, I will take the cup,
And where thou drink'st, on that part I will sup.
If he gives thee what first himself did taste,
Even in his face his offer'd gobbets cast.
Let not thy neck by his vile arms be prest,
Nor lean thy soft head on his boisterous breast.
Thy bosom's roseate buds let him not finger;
Chiefly on thy lips let not his lips linger.
If thou giv'st kisses, I shall all disclose,
Say they are mine, and hands on thee impose.
Yet this I'll see: but, if thy gown aught cover,
Suspicious fear in all my veins will hover.
Mingle not thighs, nor to his leg join thine,
Nor thy soft foot with his hard foot combine.
I have been wanton, therefore am || perplex'd,
And with mistrust of the like measure vex'd:
I and my wench oft under clothes did lurk,
When pleasure mov'd us to our sweetest work.
Do not thou so; but throw thy mantle hence,
Lest I should think thee guilty of offence.
Entreat thy husband drink; but do not kiss;
And, while he drinks, to add more do not miss.
If he lies down, with wine and sleep opprest,
The thing and place shall counsel us the rest.
When to go homewards we rise all along,
Have care to walk in middle of the throng.
There will I find thee, or be found by thee:
There touch whatever thou canst touch of me.
Ay me, I warn what profits some few hours!
But we must part when heaven with black night
lours.

At night thy husband clips ** thee: I will weep,
And to the doors sight of thyself [will] keep.tt
Then will he kiss thee, and not only kiss,
But force thee give him my stoln honey-bliss.

* will him drink] i. e. desire him to drink.

Ask thou the boy what] i. e. Ask thou the boy for what, &c.

✰ gobbets] i e. morsels, bits-Old eds. "goblets "-The absolute necessity of the alteration which I have made here, is proved by the original,-" Rejice libatos illius ore cibos." I need hardly add, that Marlowe mistakes the meaning of the line.

§ lean] So ed. C.-Ed. B. "leaue."

Ham] So ed. B.-Ed. C "are."

¶ warn] So ed. B.-Ed. C "warme."

IN summer's heat, and mid-time of the day,
To rest my limbs, upon a bed I lay.
One window shut, the other open stood;
Which gave such light as twinkles in a wood,
Like twilight glimpse at setting of the sun,
Or night being past, and yet not day begun;
Such light to shamefac'd maidens must be shown,
Where they may sport, and seem to be unknown.
Then came Corinna in a long loose gown,
Her white neck hid with tresses ‡ hanging down;
Resembling fair Semiramis going to bed,
Or Läis of a thousand lovers § sped.||

I snatch'd her gown: being thin, the harm was

small;

Yet striv'd she to be cover'd therewithal;
And striving thus, as one that would be cast,
Betray'd herself, and yielded at the last.
Stark naked as she stood before mine eye,
Not one wen¶ in her body could I spy.
What arms and shoulders did I touch and see!
How apt her breasts were to be press'd by me!
How smooth a belly under her waist saw I,
How large a leg, and what a lusty thigh!
To leave the rest, all lik'd ** me passing well:
I cling'd her naked body; ++ down she fell.
Judge you the rest: being tir'd,‡‡ she bade me
kiss:

Jove send me more such afternoons as this!

ELEGIA VI.*

Ad janitorem, ut fores sibi aperiat.
UNWORTHY porter, bound in chains full sore,
On moved hooks set ope the churlish door.
Little I ask a little entrance make;

The gate half-ope my bent side in will take.
Long love my body to such use make[s] slender,
And to get out doth like apt members render.
He shews me how unheard to pass the watch,
And guides my feet, lest, stumbling, falls they
catch.

But in times past I fear'd vain shades and night,
Wondering if any walked without light.

Love, hearing it,† laugh'd with his tender mother,

And smiling said, "Be thou as bold as other." Forthwith love came: no dark night-flying

sprite,

Nor hands prepar'd to slaughter, me affright.
Thee fear I too much; ‡ only thee I flatter:
Thy lightning can my life in pieces batter.
Why enviest me? this hostile den § unbar :
See, how the gates with my tears water'd are!
When thou stood'st naked, ready to be beat,
For thee I did thy mistress fair entreat.

But what entreats for thee sometimes took place,

(O mischief!) now for me obtain small grace. Gratis thou mayst be free; || give like for like; Night goes away; the doors bar backward strike:

Strike; so again hard chains shall bind thes

never,

Nor servile water shalt thou drink for ever.
Hard-hearted porter, dost and wilt not hear?
With stiff oak propp'd the gate doth still appear.
Such rampir'd gates besiegèd cities aid;
In midst of peace why art of arms afraid?
Exclud'st a lover, how wouldst use a foe?
Strike back the bar; night fast away doth go.
With arms or armèd men I come not guarded;
I am alone, were furious Love discarded:
Although I would, I cannot him cashier,
Before I be divided from my gear.

See, Love with me, wine moderate in my brain,
And on my hairs a crown of flowers remain.
Who fears these arms? who will not go to meet
them?

ELEGIA VII.*

Ad pacandam amicam, quam verberaverat.

BIND fast my hands, they have deservèd chains,

them.

Art careless? or is't sleep forbids thee hear, Giving the winds my words running in thine ear? Well I remember, when I first did hire thee, Watching till after mid-night did not tire thee. But now perchance thy wench with thee doth

rest:

Ah, how thy lot is above my lot blest!
Though it be so, shut me not out therefore :
Night goes away; I pray thee, ope the door.
Err we? or do the turnèd hinges sound,
And opening doors with creaking noise abound?
We err; a strong blast seem'd the gates to ope:
Ay me, how high that gale did lift my hope!
If, Boreas, bears't* Orithyia's rape in mind,
Come break these deaf doors with thy boisterous
wind.

Silent the city is; night's dewy host

March fast away: the bar strike from the post; Or I more stern than fire or sword will turn, And with my brand theset gorgeous houses burn.

Night, love, and wine to all extremes persuade; Night, shameless wine, and love are fearless made.

All have I spent: no threats or prayers move

thee;

O, harder than the doors thou guard'st I prove

thee !

No pretty wench's keeper mayst thou be!
The careful prison is more meet for thee.
Now frosty night her flight begins to take,
And crowing cocks poor souls to work awake.
But thou, my crown, from sad hairs ta'en away,
On this hard threshold till the morning lay;
That when my mistress there beholds thee cast,
She may perceive how we the time did wast.‡
Whate'er thou art, farewell; be like me pain'd!
Careless, farewell, with my fault not distain'd.§
And farewell, cruel posts, rough threshold's
block,

And doors conjoin'd with an hard iron lock.

pains;

For rage against my wench mov'd my rash arm; My mistress weeps whom my mad hand did harm.

I might have then my parents dear misus'd,
Or holy gods with cruel strokes abus'd.
Why, Ajax, master of the seven-fold shield,
Butcher'd the flocks he found in spacious field;
And he, who on his mother veng'd his sire,
Against the Destinies durst sharp darts require.+
Could I therefore her comely tresses tear?
Yet was she graced with her ruffled hair.

So fair she was, Atalanta she resembled,
Before whose bow th' Arcadian wild beasts
trembled.

Such Ariadne was, when she bewails
Her perjur'd Theseus' flying vows and sails.
So, chaste Minerva, did Cassandra fall,
Deflower'd except,+ within thy temple-wall.
That I was mad and barbarous all men cried:
She nothing said; pale fear her tongue had
tied.

But secretly her looks with checks did trounce

me;

Her tears, she silent, guilty did pronounce me. Would of mine arms my shoulders had been

scanted!

Better I could part of myself have wanted.
To mine own self have I had strength so
furious,

And to myself could I be so injurious?
Slaughter and mischief's instruments, no better,
Deserved chains these cursèd hands shall fetter.
Punish'd I am, if I a Roman beat;
Over my mistress is my right more great?
Tydides left worst§ signs of villany;
He first a goddess struck; another, I.
Yet he harm'd less: whom I profess'd to love,
I harm'd; a foe did Diomede's anger move.
Go now, thou conqueror, glorious triumphs

raise;

Pay vows to Jove; engirt thy hairs with bays;

If, Boreas, bears't] i. e. If, Boreas, thou bearest.-Old

eds. "If Boreas beares."

↑ these] So ed. B.-Ed. C "the."

wast] i. e. waste,-for the rhyme.

§ with my fault not distain'd] So ed. B.-Ed. C. "-disdaind."-"nec admisso turpis amante."

* Elegia VII.] Not in ed. A. ↑ require] "poscere."

Deflower'd except] I know not how our poet read the original here." Sic, nisi vittatis quod erat, Cassandra, capillis," &c.

§ worst] "Pessima."