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

FOOTNOTES:

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

[319] "Findat."

[320] Ed. B "in fields."—Ed. C "in field."

[321] Old eds. "swearest."

[322] Old eds. "your."

[323] "Et faciles curvis vallibus este viæ."

To serve a wench if any think it shame,

He being judge, I am convinced of blame.

Let me be slandered, while my fire she hides,

That Paphos, and [325] flood-beat Cythera guides.

Would I had been my mistress' gentle prey,

Since some fair one I should of force obey.

Beauty gives heart; Corinna's looks excell;

Ay me, why is it known to her so well?

But by her glass disdainful pride she learns,

Nor she herself, but first trimmed up, discerns.10

Not though thy face in all things make thee reign,

(O face, most cunning mine eyes to detain!)

Thou ought'st therefore to scorn me for thy mate,

Small things with greater may be copulate.

Love-snared Calypso is supposed to pray

A mortal nymph's [326] refusing lord to stay.

Who doubts, with Peleus Thetis did consort,

Egeria with just Numa had good sport.

Venus with Vulcan, though, smith's tools laid by,

With his stump foot he halts ill-favouredly.20

This kind of verse is not alike; yet fit,

With shorter numbers the heroic sit.

And thou, my light, accept me howsoever;

Lay in the mid bed, there be my lawgiver.

My stay no crime, my flight no joy shall breed,

Nor of our love, to be ashamed we need.

For great revenues I good verses have,

And many by me to get glory crave.

I know a wench reports herself Corinne;

What would not she give that fair name to win?30

But sundry floods in one bank never go,

Eurotas cold, and poplar-bearing Po;

Nor in my books shall one but thou be writ,

Thou dost alone give matter to my wit.

FOOTNOTES:

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

[325] Old eds. "and the."

[326] Marlowe reads "nymphæ" for "nymphe."

Elegia XVIII.[327]

To tragic verse while thou Achilles train'st,

And new sworn soldiers' maiden arms retain'st,

We, Macer, sit in Venus' slothful shade,

And tender love hath great things hateful made.

Often at length, my wench depart I bid,

She in my lap sits still as erst she did.

I said, "It irks me:" half to weeping framed,

"Ay me!" she cries, "to love why art ashamed?"

Then wreathes about my neck her winding arms,

And thousand kisses gives, that work my harms:10

I yield, and back my wit from battles bring,

Domestic acts, and mine own wars to sing.

Yet tragedies, and sceptres fill'd my lines,

But though I apt were for such high designs,

Love laughèd at my cloak, and buskins painted,

And rule, so soon with private hands acquainted.

My mistress' deity also drew me fro it,

And love triumpheth o'er his buskined poet.

What lawful is, or we profess love's art:

(Alas, my precepts turn myself to smart!)20

We write, or what Penelope sends Ulysses,

Or Phillis' tears that her Demophoon misses.

What thankless Jason, Macareus, and Paris,

Phedra, and Hippolyte may read, my care is.

And what poor Dido, with her drawn sword sharp,

Doth say, with her that loved the Aonian harp.

As [328] soon as from strange lands Sabinus came,

And writings did from divers places frame,

White-cheeked Penelope knew Ulysses' sign,

The step-dame read Hippolytus' lustless line.30

Æneas to Elisa answer gives,

And Phillis hath to read, if now she lives.

Jason's sad letter doth Hypsipyle greet;

Sappho her vowed harp lays at Phœbus' feet.

Nor of thee, Macer, that resound'st forth arms,

Is golden love hid in Mars' mid alarms.

There Paris is, and Helen's crimes record,

With Laodamia, mate to her dead lord,

Unless I err to these thou more incline,

Than wars, and from thy tents wilt come to mine.40

FOOTNOTES:

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

[328] The original has "Quam cito de toto rediit meus orbe Sabinus," &c.

Elegia XIX.[329]

Fool, if to keep thy wife thou hast no need,

Keep her from me, my more desire to breed;

We scorn things lawful; stolen sweets we affect;

Cruel is he that loves whom none protect.

Let us, both lovers, hope and fear alike,

And may repulse place for our wishes strike.[330]

What should I do with fortune that ne'er fails me?

Nothing I love that at all times avails me.

Wily Corinna saw this blemish in me,

And craftily knows by what means to win me.10

Ah, often, that her hale [331] head ached, she lying,

Willed me, whose slow feet sought delay, be flying!

Ah, oft, how much she might, she feigned offence;

And, doing wrong, made show of innocence.

So, having vexed, she nourished my warm fire,

And was again most apt to my desire.

To please me, what fair terms and sweet words has she!

Great gods! what kisses, and how many ga'[332] she!

Thou also that late took'st mine eyes away,

Oft cozen [333] me, oft, being wooed, say nay;20

And on thy threshold let me lie dispread,

Suff'ring much cold by hoary night's frost bred.

So shall my love continue many years;

This doth delight me, this my courage cheers.

Fat love, and too much fulsome, me annoys,

Even as sweet meat a glutted stomach cloys.

In brazen tower had not Danäe dwelt,

A mother's joy by Jove she had not felt.

While Juno Iö keeps, when horns she wore,

Jove liked her better than he did before.30

Who covets lawful things takes leaves from woods,

And drinks stolen waters in surrounding floods.

Her lover let her mock that long will reign:

Ay me, let not my warnings cause my pain!

Whatever haps, by sufferance harm is done,

What flies I follow, what follows me I shun.

But thou, of thy fair damsel too secure,

Begin to shut thy house at evening sure.

Search at the door who knocks oft in the dark,

In night's deep silence why the ban-dogs [334] bark.40

Whither [335] the subtle maid lines [336] brings and carries,

Why she alone in empty bed oft tarries.

Let this care sometimes bite thee to the quick,

That to deceits it may me forward prick.

To steal sands from the shore he loves a-life [337]

That can affect [338] a foolish wittol's wife.

Now I forewarn, unless to keep her stronger

Thou dost begin, she shall be mine no longer.

Long have I borne much, hoping time would beat thee

To guard her well, that well I might entreat thee.[339]50

Thou suffer'st what no husband can endure,

But of my love it will an end procure.

Shall I, poor soul, be never interdicted?

Nor never with night's sharp revenge afflicted.

In sleeping shall I fearless draw my breath?

Wilt nothing do, why I should wish thy death?

Can I but loathe a husband grown a bawd?

By thy default thou dost our joys defraud.

Some other seek that may in patience strive with thee,

To pleasure me, forbid me to corrive with thee.[340]60

FOOTNOTES:

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

[330] "Et faciat voto rara repulsa locum."

[331] Old eds, "haole"—The construction is not plain without a reference to the original:—

"Ah, quotiens sani capitis mentita dolores,

Cunctantem tardo jussit abire pede."

[332] So Dyce for "gave" of the old eds.

[333] The reading of the original is "Saepe time insidias."

[334] Dogs tied up on account of their fierceness.

[335] Old eds. "Whether" (a common form of "whither").

[336] "Tabellas."

[337] As dearly as life.

[338] Old eds. "effect."

[339]

"Multa diuque tuli; speravi saepe futurum

Cum bene servasses ut bene verba darem."

[340] "Me tibi rivalem si juvat esse, veta."

P. OVIDII MASONIS AMORUM.

Liber Tertius.

Elegia I.[341]

An old wood stands, uncut of long years' space,

'Tis credible some godhead [342] haunts the place.

In midst thereof a stone-paved sacred spring,

Where round about small birds most sweetly sing.

Here while I walk, hid close in shady grove,

To find what work my muse might move, I strove,

Elegia came with hairs perfumèd sweet,

And one, I think, was longer, of her feet:

A decent form, thin robe, a lover's look,

By her foot's blemish greater grace she took.10

Then with huge steps came violent Tragedy,

Stern was her front, her cloak [343] on ground did lie.

Her left hand held abroad a regal sceptre,

The Lydian buskin [in] fit paces kept her.

And first she [344] said, "When will thy love be spent,

O poet careless of thy argument?

Wine-bibbing banquets tell thy naughtiness,

Each cross-way's corner doth as much express.

Oft some points at the prophet passing by,

And, 'This is he whom fierce love burns,' they cry.20

A laughing-stock thou art to all the city;

While without shame thou sing'st thy lewdness' ditty.

'Tis time to move great things in lofty style,

Long hast thou loitered; greater works compile.

The subject hides thy wit; men's acts resound;

This thou wilt say to be a worthy ground.

Thy muse hath played what may mild girls content,

And by those numbers is thy first youth spent.

Now give the Roman Tragedy a name,

To fill my laws thy wanton spirit frame."30

This said, she moved her buskins gaily varnished,

And seven times shook her head with thick locks garnished.

The other smiled (I wot), with wanton eyes:

Err I, or myrtle in her right hand lies?

"With lofty words stout Tragedy," she said,

"Why tread'st me down? art thou aye gravely play'd?

Thou deign'st unequal lines should thee rehearse;

Thou fight'st against me using mine own verse.

Thy lofty style with mine I not compare,

Small doors unfitting for large houses are.40

Light am I, and with me, my care, light Love;

Not stronger am I, than the thing I move.

Venus without me should be rustical:

This goddess' company doth to me befal.

What gate thy stately words cannot unlock,

My flattering speeches soon wide open knock.

And I deserve more than thou canst in verity,

By suffering much not borne by thy severity.

By me Corinna learns, cozening her guard,

To get the door with little noise unbarred;50

And slipped from bed, clothed in a loose nightgown,

To move her feet unheard in setting [345] down.

Ah, how oft on hard doors hung I engraved,

From no man's reading fearing to be saved!

But, till the keeper [346] went forth, I forget not,

The maid to hide me in her bosom let not.

What gift with me was on her birthday sent,

But cruelly by her was drowned and rent.

First of thy mind the happy seeds I knew;[347]

Thou hast my gift, which she would from thee sue."60

She left;[348] I said, "You both I must beseech,

To empty air [349] may go my fearful speech.

With sceptres and high buskins th' one would dress me,

So through the world should bright renown express me.

The other gives my love a conquering name;

Come, therefore, and to long verse shorter frame.

Grant, Tragedy, thy poet time's least tittle:

Thy labour ever lasts; she asks but little."

She gave me leave; soft loves, in time make haste;

Some greater work will urge me on at last.70

FOOTNOTES:

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

[342] Old eds. "good head."

[343] So Dyce—Old eds. "looke." ("Palla jacebat humi.")

[344] Old eds. "he."

[345] Old eds. "sitting." ("Atque impercussos nocte movere pedes.")

[346] Ed. B "keepes;" ed. C "keepers." This line and the next are a translation of:—

"Quin ego me memini, dum custos saevus abiret,

Ancillae missam delituisse sinu."

[347] The original has

"Prima tuae movi felicia semina mentis."

(Marlowe's copy read "novi.")

[348] "Desierat."

[349] "In vacuas auras." (The true reading is "aures.")

Elegia II.[350]

I sit not here the noble horse to see;

Yet whom thou favour'st, pray may conqueror be.

To sit and talk with thee I hither came,

That thou may'st know with love thou mak'st me flame.

Thou view'st the course; I thee: let either heed

What please them, and their eyes let either feed.

What horse-driver thou favour'st most is best,

Because on him thy care doth hap to rest.

Such chance let me have: I would bravely run,

On swift steeds mounted till the race were done.10

Now would I slack the reins, now lash their hide,

With wheels bent inward now the ring-turn ride,

In running if I see thee, I shall stay,

And from my hands the reins will slip away.

Ah, Pelops from his coach was almost felled,

Hippodamia's looks while he beheld!

Yet he attained, by her support, to have her:

Let us all conquer by our mistress' favour.

In vain, why fly'st back? force conjoins us now:

The place's laws this benefit allow.20

But spare my wench, thou at her right hand seated;

By thy sides touching ill she is entreated.[351]

And sit thou rounder,[352] that behind us see;

For shame press not her back with thy hard knee.

But on the ground thy clothes too loosely lie:

Gather them up, or lift them, lo, will I.

Envious [353] garments, so good legs to hide!

The more thou look'st, the more the gown's envìed.

Swift Atalanta's flying legs, like these,

Wish in his hands grasped did Hippomenes.30

Coat-tucked Diana's legs are painted like them,

When strong wild beasts, she, stronger, hunts to strike them.

Ere these were seen, I burnt: what will these do?

Flames into flame, floods thou pour'st seas into,

By these I judge; delight me may the rest,

Which lie hid, under her thin veil supprest.

Yet in the meantime wilt small winds bestow,

That from thy fan, moved by my hand, may blow?

Or is my heat of mind, not of the sky?

Is't women's love my captive breast doth fry?40

While thus I speak, black dust her white robes ray;[354]

Foul dust, from her fair body go away!

Now comes the pomp; themselves let all men cheer;[355]

The shout is nigh; the golden pomp comes here.

First, Victory is brought with large spread wing:

Goddess, come here; make my love conquering.

Applaud you Neptune, that dare trust his wave,

The sea I use not: me my earth must have.

Soldier applaud thy Mars, no wars we move,

Peace pleaseth me, and in mid peace is love.50

With augurs Phœbus, Phœbe with hunters stands.

To thee Minerva turn the craftsmen's hands.

Ceres and Bacchus countrymen adore,

Champions please [356] Pollux, Castor loves horsemen more.

Thee, gentle Venus, and the boy that flies,

We praise: great goddess aid my enterprise.

Let my new mistress grant to be beloved;

She becked, and prosperous signs gave as she moved.

What Venus promised, promise thou we pray

Greater than her, by her leave, thou'rt, I'll say.60

The gods, and their rich pomp witness with me,

For evermore thou shalt my mistress be.

Thy legs hang down, thou may'st, if that be best,

Awhile [357] thy tiptoes on the footstool [358] rest.

Now greatest spectacles the Prætor sends,

Four chariot-horses from the lists' even ends.

I see whom thou affect'st: he shall subdue;

The horses seem as thy [359] desire they knew.

Alas, he runs too far about the ring;

What dost? thy waggon in less compass bring.70

What dost, unhappy? her good wishes fade:

Let with strong hand the rein to bend be made.

One slow we favour, Romans, him revoke:

And each give signs by casting up his cloak.

They call him back; lest their gowns toss thy hair,

To hide thee in my bosom straight repair.

But now again the barriers open lie,

And forth the gay troops on swift horses fly.

At least now conquer, and outrun the rest:

My mistress' wish confirm with my request.80

My mistress hath her wish; my wish remain:

He holds the palm: my palm is yet to gain.

She smiled, and with quick eyes behight [360] some grace:

Pay it not here, but in another place.

FOOTNOTES:

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

[351] "Contactu lateris laeditur ista tui."

[352] "Tua contraha crura."

[353]

"Invida vestis eras quod tam bona crura tegebas!

Quoque magis spectes ... invida vestis eras."

[354] Defile.

[355] A strange rendering of "linguis animisque favete."

[356] Ed. B "pleace;" ed. C "place."

[357] Old eds. "Or while."

[358] "Cancellis" (i.e. the rails).

[359] Old eds. "they."

[360] "Promisit."

Elegia III.[361]

What, are there gods? herself she hath forswore,

And yet remains the face she had before.

How long her locks were ere her oath she took,

So long they be since she her faith forsook.

Fair white with rose-red was before commixt;

Now shine her looks pure white and red betwixt.

Her foot was small: her foot's form is most fit:

Comely tall was she, comely tall she's yet.

Sharp eyes she had: radiant like stars they be,

By which she, perjured oft, hath lied to [362] me.10

In sooth, th' eternal powers grant maids society

Falsely to swear; their beauty hath some deity.

By her eyes, I remember, late she swore,

And by mine eyes, and mine were painèd sore.

Say gods: if she unpunished you deceive,

For other faults why do I loss receive.

But did you not so envy [363] Cepheus' daughter,

For her ill-beauteous mother judged to slaughter.

'Tis not enough, she shakes your record off,

And, unrevenged, mocked gods with me doth scoff.20

But by my pain to purge her perjuries,

Cozened, I am the cozener's sacrifice.

God is a name, no substance, feared in vain,

And doth the world in fond belief detain.

Or if there be a God, he loves fine wenches,

And all things too much in their sole power drenches.

Mars girts his deadly sword on for my harm;

Pallas' lance strikes me with unconquered arm;

At me Apollo bends his pliant bow;

At me Jove's right hand lightning hath to throw.30

The wrongèd gods dread fair ones to offend,

And fear those, that to fear them least intend.

Who now will care the altars to perfume?

Tut, men should not their courage so consume.

Jove throws down woods and castles with his fire,

But bids his darts from perjured girls retire.

Poor Semele among so many burned,

Her own request to her own torment turned.

But when her lover came, had she drawn back,

The father's thigh should unborn Bacchus lack.40

Why grieve I? and of heaven reproaches pen?

The gods have eyes, and breasts as well as men.

Were I a god, I should give women leave,

With lying lips my godhead to deceive.

Myself would swear the wenches true did swear,

And I would be none of the gods severe.

But yet their gift more moderately use,

Or in mine eyes, good wench, no pain transfuse.

FOOTNOTES:

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

[362] Old eds. "by."

[363]

"At non invidiæ vobis Cephëia virgo est,

Pro male formosa jussa parente mori?"

("Invidiæ" here means "discredit, odium.")

Elegia IV.[364]

Rude man, 'tis vain thy damsel to commend

To keeper's trust: their wits should them defend.

Who, without fear, is chaste, is chaste in sooth:

Who, because means want, doeth not, she doth.

Though thou her body guard, her mind is stained;

Nor, 'less [365] she will, can any be restrained.

Nor can'st by watching keep her mind from sin,

All being shut out, the adulterer is within.

Who may offend, sins least; power to do ill

The fainting seeds of naughtiness doth kill.10

Forbear to kindle vice by prohibition;

Sooner shall kindness gain thy will's fruition.

I saw a horse against the bit stiff-necked,

Like lightning go, his struggling mouth being checked:

When he perceived the reins let slack, he stayed,

And on his loose mane the loose bridle laid.

How to attain what is denied we think,

Even as the sick desire forbidden drink.

Argus had either way an hundred eyes,

Yet by deceit Love did them all surprise.20

In stone and iron walls Danäe shut,

Came forth a mother, though a maid there put.

Penelope, though no watch looked unto her,

Was not defiled by any gallant wooer.

What's kept, we covet more: the care makes theft,

Few love what others have unguarded left.

Nor doth her face please, but her husband's love:

I know not what men think should thee so move [366]

She is not chaste that's kept, but a dear whore:[367]

Thy fear is than her body valued more.30

Although thou chafe, stolen pleasure is sweet play;

She pleaseth best, "I fear," if any say.

A free-born wench, no right 'tis up to lock,

So use we women of strange nations' stock.

Because the keeper may come say, "I did it,"

She must be honest to thy servant's credit.

He is too clownish whom a lewd wife grieves,

And this town's well-known custom not believes;

Where Mars his sons not without fault did breed,

Remus and Romulus, Ilia's twin-born seed.40

Cannot a fair one, if not chaste, please thee?

Never can these by any means agree.

Kindly thy mistress use, if thou be wise;

Look gently, and rough husbands' laws despise.

Honour what friends thy wife gives, she'll give many,

Least labour so shall win great grace of any.

So shalt thou go with youths to feasts together,

And see at home much that thou ne'er brought'st thither.

FOOTNOTES:

Elegia XVII.[324]

FOOTNOTES:

Elegia XVIII.[327]

FOOTNOTES:

Elegia XIX.[329]

FOOTNOTES:

P. OVIDII MASONIS AMORUM.

Liber Tertius.

Elegia I.[341]

FOOTNOTES:

Elegia II.[350]

FOOTNOTES:

Elegia III.[361]

FOOTNOTES:

Elegia IV.[364]