feet;

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-tressed Sun in battle 'ray, While Mars doth take the Aonian harp to play?

Great are thy kingdoms, over-strong and large,

Ambitious imp, why seek'st thou further charge?

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 slacked my muse, and made my number soft:

I have no mistress nor no favourite,
Being fittest matter for a wanton wit.

Thus I complained, but love unlocked his quiver,

Took out the shaft, ordained my heart to shiver,

And bent his sinewy bow upon his knee, Saying, Poet, here's a work beseeming thee."

meet!

poets

Elegian muse, that warblest amorous lays, Girt my shine brow with seabank myrtle sprays.

ELEGIA II.

Quod primo amore correptus, in triumphum duci se a Cupidine patiatur.

What makes my bed seem hard seeing it is soft?

Or why slips down the coverlet so oft? 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 ca 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 easily borne is light.
I saw a brandished fire increase in strength,
Which being not shak'd, I saw it die at

length.

Young oxen newly yoked are beaten more, Than oxen which have drawn the plough before :

And rough jades' mouths with stubborn bits are torn,

But managed horses' heads are lightly borne.

Unwilling lovers, love doth more torment, Than such as in their bondage feel con

tent.

Lo! I confess, I am thy captive I,

And hold my conquered hands for thee to tie.

th arms to conquer armless men is base. ke Venus' Doves, put myrtle on thy hair,

can will give thee chariots rich and fair : e people thee applauding, thou shalt stand,

ding the harmless pigeons with thy hand.

ng men and women shalt thou lead as thrall,

will thy triumph seem magnifical; lately caught, will have a new made wound,

captive-like be manacled and bound: od meaning, Shame, and such as seek love's wrack

all follow thee, their hands tied at their back.

ee all shall fear, and worship as a king triumphing shall thy people sing. ooth speeches, Fear and Rage shall by thee ride,

ich troops have always been on Cupid's side:

ou with these soldiers conquer'st gods and men,

ke these away, where is thine honour then?

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;

! gladly grant my parents given to save ;) Apollo, Bacchus, and the Muses may; And Cupid who hath marked 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

1 on their faces heaps of roses strow, h beauty of thy wings, thy fair hair gilded,

e golden Love in chariots richly builded! ess I err, full many shalt thou burn, I give wounds infinite at every turn. pite of thee, forth will thine arrows fly, corching flame burns all the standers by.

having conquered Inde, was Bacchus hue;

e pompous birds and him two tigers drew;

n seeing I grace thy show in following thee,

Dear to hurt thyself in spoiling me. old thy kinsman Cæsar's prosperous bands,

guards thee conquered with his conquering hands.

ELEGIA III.

Ad amicam.

came;

And she that on a feigned Bull swam to

land,

Griping his false horns 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 quibusque nutibus in cæna, presente viro, uti debeat, admonet.

Thy 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 contair well.

But how thou should'st 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 to thy mind,

Thy rosy cheeks be to thy thumb inclined. 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 offered 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 givest 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 com

bine.

I have been wanton, therefore am perplexed, And with mistrust of the like measure vexed.

I and my wench oft under clothes did lurk, When pleasure moved us to our sweetes 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 th

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.

Ah 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:

Then will he kiss thee, and not only kiss, But force thee give him my stolen honey bliss.

Constrained against thy will give it the peasant,

Forbear sweet words, and be your sport unpleasant.

To him I pray it no delight may bring,
Or if it do, to thee no joy thence spring.
But, though this night thy fortune be to try
it,

To me to-morrow constantly deny it.

ELEGIA V.

Corinnæ concubitus.

In summer's heat, and mid-time of the dav
To rest my limbs, upon a bed I lay;
One window shut, the other open stood,
Which gave such light as twinkles in
wood,

Like twilight glimpse at setting of the sun,
Or night being past, and yet not day begun.
Such light to shamefaced maidens must be

shown

Where they may sport, and seem to be un known:

Then came Corinna in her long loose gow Her white neck hid with tresses hanging down,

Resembling fair Semiramis going to bed, Or Lais of a thousand wooers sped.

Yet strived she to be covered therewithal, And striving thus as one that would be cast, Betrayed 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 pressed 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 liked me passing well; I clinged her naked body, down she fell : Judge you the rest, being tired 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 makes slender,

And to get out doth like apt members render.

He shows me how unheard to pass the watch,

And guides my feet lest stumbling falls they catch:

But in times past I feared vain shades, and night,

Wondering if any walked without light. Love, hearing it, laughed with his tender mother,

And smiling said, "Be thou as bold as other."

Forthwith love came, no dark night-flying sprite,

Nor hands prepared 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 watered

never,

Nor servile water shalt thou drink for ever.
Hard-hearted Porter, dost and wilt not hear?
With stiff oak propped the gate doth still
appear.

Such rampired gates besieged cities aid,
In midst of peace why art of arms afraid?
Exclud'st a lover, how would'st use a foe?
Strike back the bar, night fast away doth go.
With arms or armed 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?

Night runs away; with open entrance greet 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 midnight 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 turned hinges sound, And opening doors with creaking noise abound?

We err: a strong blast seemed the gates to ope:

Ah me, how high that gale did lift my hope!

If, Boreas, bear'st 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 these 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 may'st 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

waste.

Whate'er thou art, farewell, be like me pained!

Careless farewell, with my fault not distained!

And farewell cruel posts, rough threshold's block,

And doors conjoined with an hard iron lock!

ELEGIA VII.

Ad pacandam amicam, quam verberaverat.

Bind fast my hands, they have deserved chains,

While rage is absent, take some friend the pains.

For rage against my wench moved my rash

arm,

My mistress weeps whom my mad hand did harm.

I might have then my parents dear misused, Or holy gods with cruel strokes abused. Why, Ajax, master of the seven-fold shield, Butchered the flocks he found in spacious field.

And he who on his mother venged his ire, 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 the Arcadian wild beasts
trembled.

Such Ariadne was, when she bewails,

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 cursed hands shall fetter.

Punished I am, if I a Roman beat;
Over my mistress is my right more great?
Tydides left worse signs of villainy,
He first a goddess struck; another I.
Yet he harmed less; whom I professed to
love

I harmed: a foe did Diomede's anger move. Go now thou conqueror, glorious triumphs raise,

Pay vows to Jove; engirt thy hairs with bays.

And let the troops which shall thy chariot follow,

"Iö, a strong man conquered this wench," hollow.

Let the sad captive foremost, with locks spread

On her white neck but for hurt cheeks, be led.

Meeter it were her lips were blue with kissing, And on her neck a wanton's mark not missing.

But, though I like a swelling flood was driven,

And as a prey unto blind anger given, Was't not enough the fearful wench to chide?

Nor thunder, in rough threatenings, haughty pride?

Nor shamefully her coat pull o'er her crown, Which to her waist her girdle still kept down? But cruelly her tresses having rent,

My nails to scratch her lovely cheeks I bent. Sighing she stood, her bloodless white looks showed,

Like marble from the Parian mountains hewed.