The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Works of Christopher Marlowe, by A. H. Bullen (Ed.).

FOOTNOTES:

[210] Not in Isham copy or ed. A.

[211] The original has "colorati Seres."

[212] So ed. B.—Ed. C "And."

[213] "Temere."

[214] Old eds. "They."

[215] Cunningham and the editor of 1826 may be right in reading "trammels" (i.e. ringlets). "Trannel" was the name for a bodkin. (The original has "Ut fieret torto flexilis orbe sinus.")

[216] "Nuda Dione."

[217] "Nescio quam pro me laudat nunc iste Sygambram."

Elegia XV.

Envy, why carp'st thou my time's spent so ill?

And term'st [218] my works fruits of an idle quill?

Or that unlike the line from whence I sprung [219]

War's dusty honours are refused being young?

Nor that I study not the brawling laws,

Nor set my voice to sail in every cause?

Thy scope is mortal; mine, eternal fame.

That all the world may [220] ever chant my name.

Homer shall live while Tenedos stands and Ide,

Or to [221] the sea swift Simois shall [222] slide.10

Ascræus lives while grapes with new wine swell,

Or men with crookèd sickles corn down fell.

The [223] world shall of Callimachus ever speak;

His art excelled, although his wit was weak.

For ever lasts high Sophocles' proud vein,

With sun and moon Aratus shall remain.

While bondmen cheat, fathers [be] hard,[224] bawds whorish,

And strumpets flatter, shall Menander flourish.

Rude Ennius, and Plautus [225] full of wit,

Are both in Fame's eternal legend writ.20

What age of Varro's name shall not be told,

And Jason's Argo,[226] and the fleece of gold?

Lofty Lucretius shall live that hour,

That nature shall dissolve this earthly bower.

Æneas' war and Tityrus shall be read,

While Rome of all the conquered [227] world is head.

Till Cupid's bow, and fiery shafts be broken,

Thy verses, sweet Tibullus, shall be spoken.

And Gallus shall be known from East to West,

So shall Lycoris whom he lovèd best.30

Therefore when flint and iron wear away,

Verse is immortal and shall ne'er decay.

To [228] verse let kings give place and kingly shows,

And banks o'er which gold-bearing Tagus flows.

Let base-conceited wits admire vild things;

Fair Phœbus lead me to the Muses' springs.

About my head be quivering myrtle wound,

And in sad lovers' heads let me be found.

The living, not the dead, can envy bite,

For after death all men receive their right.40

Then though death racks [229] my bones in funeral fire,

I'll live, and as he pulls me down mount higher.

Envy, why twitt'st thou me, my time's spent ill?

And call'st my verse fruits of an idle quill?

Or that (unlike the line from whence I sprung)

War's dusty honours I pursue not young?

Or that I study not the tedious laws;

And prostitute my voice in every cause?

Thy scope is mortal; mine eternal fame,

Which through the world shall ever chant my name.

Homer will live, whilst Tenedos stands, and Ide,

Or to the sea, fleet Symois doth slide:10

And so shall Hesiod too, while vines do bear,

Or crookèd sickles crop the ripened ear.

Callimachus, though in invention low,

Shall still be sung, since he in art doth flow;

No loss shall come to Sophocles' proud vein;

With sun and moon Aratus shall remain.

Whilst slaves be false, fathers hard, and bawds be whorish,

Whilst harlots flatter, shall Meander flourish.

Ennius, though rude, and Accius' high-reared strain,

A fresh applause in every age shall gain.20

Of Varro's name, what ear shall not be told?

Of Jason's Argo and the fleece of gold?

Then, shall Lucretius' lofty numbers die,

When earth, and seas in fire and flames shall fry.

Tityrus, Tillage, Æney shall be read,[231]

Whilst Rome of all the conquered world is head.

Till Cupid's fires be out, and his bow broken,

Thy verses, neat Tibulus, shall be spoken.

Our Gallus shall be known from East to West,

So shall Lycoris, whom he now loves best.30

The suffering ploughshare or the flint may wear,

But heavenly poesy no death can fear.

Kings shall give place to it, and kingly shows,

The banks o'er which gold-bearing Tagus flows.

Kneel hinds to trash: me let bright Phœbus swell,

With cups full flowing from the Muses' well.

The frost-drad [232] myrtle shall impale my head,

And of sad lovers I'll be often read.

Envy the living, not the dead doth bite,

For after death all men receive their right.40

Then when this body falls in funeral fire,

My name shall live, and my best part aspire.

FOOTNOTES:

[218] Isham copy and ed. A "tearmes our."

[219] Dyce's correction for "come" of the old eds.

[220] Isham copy and ed. A "might."

[221] So Isham copy and ed. A.—Dyce follows ed. B, "Or into sea."

[222] So old eds.—Dyce "doth."

[223] Isham copy and ed. A omit this line and the next.

[224] So Dyce.—Old eds. "fathers hoord." ("Durus pater.")

[225] The poet must have read "animosi Maccius oris." The true reading is "animosique Accius oris."

[226] Old eds. "Argos."

[227] Isham copy and ed. A "conquering."

[228] Isham copy and ed. A "Let kings give place to verse."

[229] So the Isham copy.—Ed. A (followed by Dyce) gives "rocks."—Eds. B and C "rakes" (and so Cunningham).

[230] I.e. Ben Jonson, who afterwards introduced it into the Poetaster (I. 1). This version is merely a revision of the preceding, which must also have been written by Ben Jonson.

[231] "Tityrus et fruges Æneïaque arma legentur."

[232] "Metuentem frigora myrtum."

P. OVIDII NASONIS AMORUM.

LIBER SECUNDUS.

Elegia I.[233]

I, Ovid, poet, of my [234] wantonness,

Born at Peligny, to write more address.

So Cupid wills. Far hence be the severe!

You are unapt my looser lines to hear.

Let maids whom hot desire to husbands lead,[235]

And rude boys, touched with unknown love, me read:

That some youth hurt, as I am, with Love's bow,

His own flame's best-acquainted signs may know.

And long admiring say, "By what means learned,

Hath this same poet my sad chance discern'd?"10

I durst the great celestial battles tell,

Hundred-hand Gyges, and had done it well;

With Earth's revenge, and how Olympus top

High Ossa bore, Mount Pelion up to prop;

Jove and Jove's thunderbolts I had in hand,

Which for [236] his heaven fell on the giants' band.

My wench her door shut, Jove's affairs I left,

Even Jove himself out of my wit was reft.

Pardon me, Jove! thy weapons aid me nought,

Her shut gates greater lightning than thine brought.20

Toys, and light elegies, my darts I took,

Quickly soft words hard doors wide-open strook.

Verses reduce the hornèd bloody moon,

And call the sun's white horses back [237] at noon.

Snakes leap by verse from caves of broken mountains,[238]

And turnèd streams run backward to their fountains.

Verses ope doors; and locks put in the post,

Although of oak, to yield to verses boast.

What helps it me of fierce Achill to sing?

What good to me will either Ajax bring?30

Or he who warred and wandered twenty year?

Or woful Hector whom wild jades did tear?

But when I praise a pretty wench's face,

She in requital doth me oft embrace.

A great reward! Heroes of [239] famous names

Farewell! your favour nought my mind inflames.

Wenches apply your fair looks to my verse,

Which golden Love doth unto me rehearse.

FOOTNOTES:

[233] Not in Isham copy or ed. A.

[234] Old eds. "thy."

[235] A clear instance of a plural verb following a singular subject.

[236] "Quod bene pro cœlo mitteret ille suo."

[237] Old eds. "blacke."

[238] "Carmine dissiliunt, abruptis faucibus, angues." ("Fauces" means both "jaw" and "mountain-gorge." Marlowe has gone desperately wrong.)

[239] Old eds. "O."

Elegia II.[240]

Bagous, whose care doth thy [241] mistress bridle,

While I speak some few, yet fit words, be idle.

I saw the damsel walking yesterday,

There, where the porch doth Danaus' fact [242] display:

She pleased me soon; I sent, and did her woo;

Her trembling hand writ back she might not do.

And asking why, this answer she redoubled,

Because thy care too much thy mistress troubled.

Keeper, if thou be wise, cease hate to cherish,

Believe me, whom we fear, we wish to perish.10

Nor is her husband wise: what needs defence,

When unprotected [243] there is no expense?

But furiously he follow [244] his love's fire,

And thinks her chaste whom many do desire:

Stolen liberty she may by thee obtain,

Which giving her, she may give thee again:

Wilt thou her fault learn? she may make thee tremble.

Fear to be guilty, then thou may'st dissemble.

Think when she reads, her mother letters sent her:

Let him go forth known, that unknown did enter.20

Let him go see her though she do not languish,

And then report her sick and full of anguish.

If long she stays, to think the time more short,

Lay down thy forehead in thy lap to snort.

Inquire not what with Isis may be done,

Nor fear lest she to the theàtres run.

Knowing her scapes, thine honour shall increase;

And what less labour than to hold thy peace?

Let him please, haunt the house, be kindly used,

Enjoy the wench; let all else be refused.30

Vain causes feign of him, the true to hide,

And what she likes, let both hold ratified.

When most her husband bends the brows and frowns,

His fawning wench with her desire he crowns.

But yet sometimes to chide thee let her fall

Counterfeit tears: and thee lewd hangman call.

Object thou then, what she may well excuse,

To stain all faith in truth, by false crimes' use.

Of wealth and honour so shall grow thy heap:

Do this, and soon thou shalt thy freedom reap.40

On tell-tales' necks thou seest the link-knit chains,

The filthy prison faithless breasts restrains.

Water in waters, and fruit, flying touch,

Tantalus seeks, his long tongue's gain is such.

While Juno's watchman Iö too much eyed,

Him timeless [245] death took, she was deified.

I saw one's legs with fetters black and blue,

By whom the husband his wife's incest [246] knew:

More he deserved; to both great harm he framed,

The man did grieve, the woman was defamed.50

Trust me all husbands for such faults are sad,

Nor make they any man that hears them glad.

If he loves not, deaf ears thou dost importune,

Or if he loves, thy tale breeds his misfortune.

Nor is it easy proved though manifest;

She safe by favour of her judge doth rest.

Though himself see, he'll credit her denial,

Condemn his eyes, and say there is no trial.

Spying his mistress' tears he will lament

And say "This blab shall suffer punishment."60

Why fight'st 'gainst odds? to thee, being cast, do hap

Sharp stripes; she sitteth in the judge's lap.

To meet for poison or vild facts [247] we crave not;

My hands an unsheathed shining weapon have not.

We seek that, through thee, safely love we may;

What can be easier than the thing we pray?

FOOTNOTES:

[240] Not in Isham copy or ed. "A."

[241] So ed. B.—Ed. C "my."

[242] The original has "agmen." Cunningham suggests "pack." If we retain "fact" the meaning is "Danaus' guilt."

[243] Old eds. "vn-protested." ("Unde nihil, quamvis non tueare, perit.")

[244] So ed. B.—Ed. C "follows." (The sense wanted is "Furiously let him follow" &c.)

[245] "Ante suos annos occidit."

[246] "Unde vir incestum scire coactus erat." (Here "incestum" is "adultery.")

[247] "Scelus."

Elegia III.[248]

Ay me, an eunuch keeps my mistress chaste,

That cannot Venus' mutual pleasure taste.

Who first deprived young boys of their best part,

With self-same wounds he gave, he ought to smart.

To kind requests thou would'st more gentle prove,

If ever wench had made lukewarm thy love:

Thou wert not born to ride, or arms to bear,

Thy hands agree not with the warlike spear.

Men handle those; all manly hopes resign,

Thy mistress' ensigns must be likewise thine.10

Please her—her hate makes others thee abhor;

If she discards thee, what use serv'st thou for?

Good form there is, years apt to play together:

Unmeet is beauty without use to wither.

She may deceive thee, though thou her protect;

What two determine never wants effect.

Our prayers move thee to assist our drift,

While thou hast time yet to bestow that gift.

Elegia IV.

I mean not to defend the scapes [249] of any,

Or justify my vices being many;

For I confess, if that might merit favour,

Here I display my lewd and loose behaviour.

I loathe, yet after that I loathe I run:

Oh, how the burthen irks, that we should [250] shun.

I cannot rule myself but where Love please;

Am [251] driven like a ship upon rough seas.

No one face likes me best, all faces move,

A hundred reasons make me ever love.10

If any eye me with a modest look,

I burn,[252] and by that blushful glance am took;

And she that's coy I like, for being no clown,

Methinks she would be nimble when she's down.

Though her sour looks a Sabine's brow resemble,

I think she'll do, but deeply can dissemble.

If she be learned, then for her skill I crave her;

If not, because she's simple I would have her.

Before Callimachus one prefers me far;

Seeing she likes my books, why should we jar?20

Another rails at me, and that I write,

Yet would I lie with her, if that I might:

Trips she, it likes me well; plods she, what than [253]?

She would be nimbler lying with a man.

And when one sweetly sings, then straight I long,

To quaver on her lips even in her song;

Or if one touch the lute with art and cunning,

Who would not love those hands [254] for their swift running?

And her I like that with a majesty,

Folds up her arms, and makes low courtesy.30

To [255] leave myself, that am in love with all,

Some one of these might make the chastest fall.

If she be tall, she's like an Amazon,

And therefore fills the bed she lies upon:

If short, she lies the rounder: to speak [256] troth,

Both short and long please me, for I love both.

I [257] think what one undecked would be, being drest;

Is she attired? then show her graces best.

A white wench thralls me, so doth golden yellow:

And nut-brown girls in doing have no fellow.40

If her white neck be shadowed with black hair,

Why so was Leda's, yet was Leda fair.

Amber-tress'd [258] is she? then on the morn think I:

My love alludes to every history:

A young wench pleaseth, and an old is good,

This for her looks, that for her womanhood:

Nay what is she, that any Roman loves,

But my ambitious ranging mind approves?

FOOTNOTES:

[249] "Mendosos ... mores."

[250] "Heu quam, quae studeas ponere, ferre grave est."

[251] So eds. B, C.—Isham copy and ed. A "And."

[252] This is Dyce's certain correction for the old eds. "blush." (The originals has "uror.")

[253] Then.

[254] Ed. A "those nimble hands."

[255]

"Ut taceam de me, qui causa tangor ab omni,

Illic Hippolytum pone, Priapus erit."

[256] So Isham copy and ed. A.—Eds. B, C "say."

[257] This and the next three lines are omitted in Isham copy and ed. A.

[258] So eds. B, C.—Isham copy and ed. A "yellow trest."

Elegia V.[259]

No love is so dear,—quivered Cupid, fly!—

That my chief wish should be so oft to die.

Minding thy fault, with death I wish to revel;

Alas! a wench is a perpetual evil.

No intercepted lines thy deeds display,

No gifts given secretly thy crime bewray.

O would my proofs as vain might be withstood!

Ay me, poor soul, why is my cause so good?

He's happy, that his love dares boldly credit;

To whom his wench can say, "I never did it."10

He's cruel, and too much his grief doth favour,

That seeks the conquest by her loose behaviour.

Poor wretch,[260] I saw when thou didst think I slumbered;

Not drunk, your faults on the spilt wine I numbered.

I saw your nodding eyebrows much to speak,

Even from your cheeks, part of a voice did break.

Not silent were thine eyes, the board with wine

Was scribbled, and thy fingers writ a line.

I knew your speech (what do not lovers see?)

And words that seemed for certain marks to be.20

Now many guests were gone, the feast being done,

The youthful sort to divers pastimes run.

I saw you then unlawful kisses join;

(Such with my tongue it likes me to purloin);

None such the sister gives her brother grave,

But such kind wenches let their lovers have.

Phœbus gave not Diana such, 'tis thought,

But Venus often to her Mars such brought.

"What dost?" I cried; "transport'st thou my delight?

My lordly hands I'll throw upon my right.30

Such bliss is only common to us two,

In this sweet good why hath a third to do?"

This, and what grief enforced me say, I said:

A scarlet blush her guilty face arrayed;

Even such as by Aurora hath the sky,

Or maids that their betrothèd husbands spy;

Such as a rose mixed with a lily breeds,

Or when the moon travails with charmèd steeds.

Or such as, lest long years should turn the dye,

Arachne [261] stains Assyrian ivory.40

To these, or some of these, like was her colour:

By chance her beauty never shinèd fuller.

She viewed the earth; the earth to view, beseemed her.

She lookèd sad; sad, comely I esteemed her.

Even kembèd as they were, her locks to rend,

And scratch her fair soft cheeks I did intend.

Seeing her face, mine upreared arms descended,

With her own armour was my wench defended.

I, that erewhile was fierce, now humbly sue,

Lest with worse kisses she should me endue.50

She laughed, and kissed so sweetly as might make

Wrath-kindled Jove away his thunder shake.

I grieve lest others should such good perceive,

And wish hereby them all unknown [262] to leave.

Also much better were they than I tell,

And ever seemed as some new sweet befell.

'Tis ill they pleased so much, for in my lips

Lay her whole tongue hid, mine in hers she dips.

This grieves me not; no joinèd kisses spent,

Bewail I only, though I them lament.60

Nowhere can they be taught but in the bed;

I know no master of so great hire sped.[263]

FOOTNOTES:

[259] Not in Isham copy or ed. A.

[260] So Dyce for "Poor wench" of the old eds.—The original has "Ipse miser vidi."

[261] "Maeonis Assyrium femina tinxit opus." Dyce remarks that Marlowe "was induced to give this extraordinary version of the line by recollecting that in the sixth book of Ovid's Metamorphoses Arachne is termed 'Maeonis,' while her father is mentioned as a dyer."

[262] A bad mistranslation of "Et volo non ex hac illa fuisse nota."

[263] Far from the original "Nescio quis pretium grande magister habet."

Elegia VI.[264]

The parrot, from East India to me sent,[265]

Is dead; all fowls her exequies frequent!

Go godly [266] birds, striking your breasts, bewail,

And with rough claws your tender cheeks assail.

For woful hairs let piece-torn plumes abound,

For long shrild [267] trumpets let your notes resound.

Why Philomel dost Tereus' lewdness mourn?

All wasting years have that complaint now [268] worn.

Thy tunes let this rare bird's sad funeral borrow;

Itys [269] a great, but ancient cause of sorrow.10

All you whose pinions in the clear air soar,

But most, thou friendly turtle-dove, deplore.

Full concord all your lives was you betwixt,

And to the end your constant faith stood fixt.

What Pylades did to Orestes prove,

Such to the parrot was the turtle-dove.

But what availed this faith? her rarest hue?

Or voice that how to change the wild notes knew?

What helps it thou wert given to please my wench?

Birds' hapless glory, death thy life doth quench.20

Thou with thy quills might'st make green emeralds dark,

And pass our scarlet of red saffron's mark.

No such voice-feigning bird was on the ground,

Thou spok'st thy words so well with stammering sound.

Envy hath rapt thee, no fierce wars thou mov'dst;

Vain-babbling speech, and pleasant peace thou lov'dst.

Behold how quails among their battles live,

Which do perchance old age unto them give.

A little filled thee, and for love of talk,

Thy mouth to taste of many meats did balk.30

Nuts were thy food, and poppy caused thee sleep,

Pure water's moisture thirst away did keep.

The ravenous vulture lives, the puttock [270] hovers

Around the air, the cadess [271] rain discovers.

And crow [272] survives arms-bearing Pallas' hate,

Whose life nine ages scarce bring out of date.

Dead is that speaking image of man's voice,

The parrot given me, the far world's [273] best choice.

The greedy spirits [274] take the best things first,

Supplying their void places with the worst.40

Thersites did Protesilaus survive;

And Hector died, his brothers yet alive.

My wench's vows for thee what should I show,

Which stormy south winds into sea did blow?

The seventh day came, none following might'st thou see,

And the Fate's distaff empty stood to thee:

Yet words in thy benumbèd palate rung;

"Farewell, Corinna," cried thy dying tongue.

Elysium hath a wood of holm-trees black,

Whose earth doth not perpetual green grass lack.50

There good birds rest (if we believe things hidden),

Whence unclean fowls are said to be forbidden.

There harmless swans feed all abroad the river;

There lives the phœnix, one alone bird ever;

There Juno's bird displays his gorgeous feather,

And loving doves kiss eagerly together.

The parrot into wood received with these,

Turns all the godly [275] birds to what she please.

A grave her bones hides: on her corps' great grave,

The little stones these little verses have.60

This tomb approves I pleased my mistress well

My mouth in speaking did all birds excell.