The Works of Christopher Marlowe Volume III Part 27

"That were as white as is the Scithian snow."

[382] "Dominumque vocavit."

[383] So Isham copy and ed. A.--Eds. B, C "When."

[384] "Flava Chlide."

[385] So Isham copy and ed. A.--Eds. B, C "we had."

[386] The verb "embase" or "imbase" is frequently found in the sense of "abase." Here the meaning seems to be "weakened, enfeebled." (Ovid's words are "Sagave poenicea defixit nomina cera.")

[387] So Isham copy and ed. A ("needle points").--Eds. B, C "needles'

points."

[388] So Isham copy and ed. A.--Eds. B, C "The."

[389] "Turpiter."

[390] Neglected.

[391] So eds. B, C.--Isham copy "received in, _and_ in I _got_ me."

[392] So old eds.--Dyce reads "kiss'd."

[393] So eds. B, C.--Isham copy and ed. A "and refusde it."

[394] "Sic aret mediis taciti vulgator in undis."

[395] So eds. B, C.--Isham copy and ed. A "nor."

[396] Isham copy "yeares;" ed. A "yeres;" eds. B, C "eare."

[397] So eds. B, C.--Isham copy and ed. A "Seeing now thou."

[398] So eds. B, C.--Isham copy and ed. A "great hurt."

[399] The original has "Aut te trajectis Aeaea venefica _lanis_," &c.

(As Dyce remarks, Marlowe read "ranis.")

ELEGIA VIII.[400]

Quod ad amica non recipiatur, dolet.

What man will now take liberal arts in hand, Or think soft verse in any stead to stand?

Wit was sometimes more precious than gold; Now poverty great barbarism we hold.

When our books did my mistress fair content, I might not go whither my papers went.

She praised me, yet the gate shut fast upon her, I here and there go, witty with dishonour.

See a rich chuff, whose wounds great wealth inferred, For bloodshed knighted, before me preferred. 10 Fool, can'st thou him in thy white arms embrace?

Fool, can'st thou lie in his enfolding s.p.a.ce?

Know'st not this head[401] a helm was wont to bear?

This side that serves thee, a sharp sword did wear.

His left hand, whereon gold doth ill alight, A target bore: blood-sprinkled was his right.

Can'st touch that hand wherewith some one lies dead?

Ah, whither is thy breast's soft nature fled?

Behold the signs of ancient fight, his scars!

Whate'er he hath, his body gained in wars. 20 Perhaps he'll tell how oft he slew a man, Confessing this, why dost thou touch him than?[402]

I, the pure priest of Phoebus and the Muses, At thy deaf doors in verse sing my abuses.

Not what we slothful know,[403] let wise men learn, But follow trembling camps and battles stern.

And for a good verse draw the first dart forth:[404]

Homer without this shall be nothing worth.

Jove, being admonished gold had sovereign power, To win the maid came in a golden shower. 30 Till then, rough was her father, she severe, The posts of bra.s.s, the walls of iron were.

But when in gifts the wise adulterer came, She held her lap ope to receive the same.

Yet when old Saturn heaven's rule possest, All gain in darkness the deep earth supprest.

Gold, silver, iron's heavy weight, and bra.s.s, In h.e.l.l were harboured; here was found no ma.s.s.

But better things it gave, corn without ploughs, Apples, and honey in oaks' hollow boughs. 40 With strong ploughshares no man the earth did cleave, The ditcher no marks on the ground did leave.

Nor hanging oars the troubled seas did sweep, Men kept the sh.o.r.e and sailed not into deep.

Against thyself, man's nature, thou wert cunning, And to thine own loss was thy wit swift running.

Why gird'st thy cities with a towered wall, Why let'st discordant hands to armour fall?

What dost with seas? with th' earth thou wert content; Why seek'st not heaven, the third realm, to frequent? 50 Heaven thou affects: with Romulus, temples brave, Bacchus, Alcides, and now Caesar have.

Gold from the earth instead of fruits we pluck; Soldiers by blood to be enriched have luck.

Courts shut the poor out; wealth gives estimation.

Thence grows the judge, and knight of reputation.

All,[405] they possess: they govern fields and laws, They manage peace and raw war's b.l.o.o.d.y jaws.

Only our loves let not such rich churls gain: 'Tis well if some wench for the poor remain. 60 Now, Sabine-like, though chaste she seems to live, One her[406] commands, who many things can give.

For me, she doth keeper[407] and husband fear, If I should give, both would the house forbear.

If of scorned lovers G.o.d be venger just, O let him change goods so ill-got to dust.

FOOTNOTES:

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

[401] So ed. B.--Ed. C "his." ("Caput _hoc_ galeam portare solebat.")

[402] Then.

[403] Old eds. knew.

[404] Marlowe has quite mistaken the meaning of the original "Proque bono versu primum deducite pilum."

[405] A very loose rendering of Ovid's couplet--

"Omnia possideant; illis Campusque Forumque Serviat; hi pacem crudaque bella gerant."

[406] So Dyce for "she" of the old eds. ("Imperat ut captae qui dare multa potest.")