By me Corinna learns, cozening her guard,
To get the door with little noise unbarr'd;
And slipp'd from bed, clothed in a loose night-gown,
To move her feet unheard in sliding down.
Ah, how oft on hard doors hung I engraved,
From no man's reading fearing to be saved.
But, till the keeper went forth, I forget not,
The maid to hide me in her bosom let not.
What gift with me was on her birth-day sent,
But cruelly by her was drown'd and rent.
First of thy mind the happy seeds I knew,
Thou hast my gift, which she would from thee sue.
She left; I said, you both I must beseech,
To empty air may go my fearful speech.
With sceptres and high buskins th' one would dress
So through the world should bright renown express
The other gives my love a conquering name,
Come, therefore, and to long verse shorter frame.
Grant, Tragedy, thy poet, Time's least title:
Thy labour ever lasts; she asks but little.
gave me leave; soft loves in time make haste; Some greater work will urge me on at last.
Ad amicam cursum equorum spectantem.
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
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.
Now would I slack the reins, now lash her 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 fell'd,
Hippodamia's looks while he beheld.
Yet he attain'd, 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.
But spare my wench; thou at her right hand seated;
By thy sides touching, ill she is intreated.
And sit thou rounder, 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 low will I.
Envious garments, so good legs to hide,
The more thou look'st, the more the gown's envied.
Swift Atalanta's flying legs, like these,
Wishin his hands' grasp did Hippomanes.
Coat-tuck'd Diana's legs are painted like them, When strong wild beasts, she, stronger, hunts to strike
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 suppress'd..
Yet in the meantime wilt small winds bestow,
That from thy fan, mov'd by my hand, may blow?
Or is't my heat of mind, not of the sky?
Is't women's love my captive breast doth fry?
While thus I speak, black dust her white robes ray;
Foul dust, from her fair body go away.
Now comes the pomp; themselves let all men cheer:
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.
With augurs Phoebus, Phœbe with hunters stands.
To thee Minerva turn the craftsmen's hands.
Ceres and Bacchus countrymen adore,
Champions please Pollux, Castor loves horsemen
Thee gentle Venus, and the boy that flies,
We praise, great goddess aid my-enterprize.
Let my new mistress grant to be beloved;
She beck'd, and prosperous signs gave as she moved.
What Venus promised, promise thou we pray
Greater than her, by her leave, tho' art, I'll say.
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,
Or while thy tiptoes on the footstool rest.
Now greatest spectacles the Prætor sends,
Four chariot-horses from the lists even ends.
I see whom thou affectest: he shall subdue,
The horses seem, as thy desire they knew.
Alas he runs too far about the ring;
What dost thy waggon in less compass bring.
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 last now conquer, and outrun the rest:
My mistress' wish confirm with my request.
My mistress hath her wish, my wish remain:
He holds the palm: my palm is yet to gain.
She smil'd, and with quick eyes behight some grace:
Pay it not here, but in another place.
De amica quæ perjuraverat.
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 commix'd:
Now shine her looks pure and white 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 me.
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 pained sore.
Say gods: if she unpunish'd you deceive,
For others faults why do I loss receive.
But did you not so envy Cepheus' daughter,
For her ill-beauteous mother judg'd to slaughter.
Tis not enough, she shakes your record off,
And, unreveng'd, mock'd gods with me doth scoff.
But by my pain to purge her perjuries,
Cozen'd, I am the cozener's sacrifice.
God is a name, no substance, fear'd 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 unconquer'd arm.
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