The Works of Christopher Marlowe Volume III Part 9

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[134]

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 can spy him?

'Twas so; he strook me with a slender dart; 'Tis cruel Love turmoils my captive heart.

Yielding or striving[135] do we give him might, Let's yield, a burden easily borne is light. 10 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.[136]

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

Lo! I confess, I am thy captive I, And hold my conquered hands for thee to tie. 20 What need'st thou war? I sue to thee for grace: With arms to conquer armless men is base.

Yoke Venus' Doves, put myrtle on thy hair, Vulcan will give thee chariots rich and fair: The people thee applauding, thou shalt stand, Guiding the harmless pigeons with thy hand.

Young men and women shalt thou lead as thrall, So will thy triumph seem magnifical; I, lately caught, will have a new-made wound, And captive-like be manacled and bound: 30 Good meaning, Shame, and such as seek Love's wrack Shall follow thee, their hands tied at their back.

Thee all shall fear, and worship as a king Io triumphing shall thy people sing.

Smooth speeches, Fear and Rage shall by thee ride, Which troops have always been on Cupid's side; Thou with these soldiers conquer'st G.o.ds and men, Take these away, where is thine honour then?

Thy mother shall from heaven applaud this show, And on their faces heaps of roses strow, 40 With beauty of thy wings, thy fair hair gilded,[137]

Ride golden Love in chariots richly builded!

Unless I err, full many shalt thou burn, And give wounds infinite at every turn.

In spite of thee, forth will thine arrows fly, A scorching flame burns all the standers by.

So, having conquered Inde, was Bacchus' hue; Thee pompous birds and him two tigers drew; Then seeing I grace thy show in following thee, Forbear to hurt thyself in spoiling me. 50 Behold thy kinsman[138] Caesar's prosperous bands, Who guards the[139] conquered with his conquering hands.

FOOTNOTES:

[134] Then.

[135] So the Isham copy and ed. A. Other eds. "struggling."

[136] "_Frena minus sent.i.t_ quisquis ad arma facit."--Marlowe's line strongly supports the view that "bear hard" in _Julius Caesar_ means "curb, keep a tight rein over" (hence "eye with suspicion"). Cf.

Christopher Clifford's _School of Horsemanship_ (1585):--"But the most part of horses takes it [a 'wil of his owne'] through the unskilfulnesse of the rider by _bearing too hard a hand_ upon them," p. 35.

[137] "Our poet's copy of Ovid had 'Tu _penna pulchros gemina_ variante capillos.'"--_Dyce._ (The true reading "Tu pennas gemma, gemma, variante capillos.")

[138] Old eds. "kinsmans."

[139] Old eds. "thee."

ELEGIA III.

Ad amicam.

I ask but right, let her that caught me late, Either love, or cause that I may never hate; I crave[140] too much--would she but let me love her; Jove knows with such-like prayers I daily move her.

Accept him that shall serve thee all his youth, Accept him that shall love with spotless truth.

If lofty t.i.tles cannot make[141] me thine, That am descended but of knightly line, (Soon may you plough the little land I have; I gladly grant my parents given to save;[142]) 10 Apollo, Bacchus, and the Muses may; And Cupid who hath marked me for thy prey; My spotless life, which but to G.o.ds gives place, Naked simplicity, and modest grace.

I love but one, and her I love change never, If men have faith, I'll live with thee for ever.

The years that fatal Destiny shall give I'll live with thee, and die ere thou shalt grieve.

Be thou the happy subject of my books That I may write things worthy thy fair looks. 20 By verses, horned Io got her name; And she to whom in shape of swan[143] Jove 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.

FOOTNOTES:

[140] Isham copy "aske."

[141] Ed. A. "cause me to be thine."

[142] "Temperat et sumptus parcus uterque parens."

[143] Isham copy and ed. A. "Bull."

ELEGIA IV.[144]

Amicam, qua arte quibusque nutibus in caena, presente viro, uti debeat, admonet.

Thy husband to a banquet goes with me, Pray G.o.d 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 contain I well. 10 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[145] each secret amorous glance.

Words without voice shall on my eyebrows sit, Lines thou shalt read in wine by my hand writ. 20 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.[146]

What wine he fills thee, wisely will[147] him drink; Ask thou the boy, what thou enough dost think. 30 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[148] 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,[149]

Say they are mine, and hands on thee impose. 40 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 combine.

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 sweetest work.

Do not thou so; but throw thy mantle hence, Lest I should think thee guilty of offence. 50 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 the 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.