The Works of Christopher Marlowe Volume III Part 11

[160] A picturesque rendering of

"Vitreoque madentia rore Tempora noctis eunt."

[161] "Lente nec admisso turpis amante ... vale." Of course "nec" should be taken with "admisso."

ELEGIA VII.[162]

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 G.o.ds with cruel strokes abused.

Why, Ajax, master of the seven-fold shield, Butchered the flocks he found in s.p.a.cious field.

And he who on his mother venged his ire, Against the Destinies durst sharp[163] darts require. 10 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 th' Arcadian wild beasts trembled.

Such Ariadne was, when she bewails, Her perjured Theseus' flying vows and sails.

So, chaste Minerva, did Ca.s.sandra fall Deflowered[164] except within thy temple wall.

That I was mad, and barbarous all men cried: She nothing said; pale fear her tongue had tied. 20 But secretly her looks with checks did trounce me, Her tears, she silent, guilty did p.r.o.nounce me.

Would of mine arms my shoulders had been scanted: Better I could part of myself have wanted.

To mine own self have I had strength so furious, And to myself could I be so injurious?

Slaughter and mischiefs 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? 30 Tydides left worst signs[165] of villainy; He first a G.o.ddess 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, "Io, a strong man conquered this wench," hollow.

Let the sad captive foremost, with locks spread On her white neck, but for hurt cheeks,[166] be led. 40 Meeter it were her lips were blue with kissing, And on her neck a wanton's[167] 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. 50 Sighing she stood, her bloodless white looks shewed, Like marble from the Parian mountains hewed.

Her half-dead joints, and trembling limbs I saw, Like poplar leaves blown with a stormy flaw.

Or slender ears, with gentle zephyr shaken, Or waters' tops with the warm south-wind taken.

And down her cheeks, the trickling tears did flow, Like water gushing from consuming snow.

Then first I did perceive I had offended; My blood the tears were that from her descended. 60 Before her feet thrice prostrate down I fell, My feared hands thrice back she did repel.

But doubt thou not (revenge doth grief appease), With thy sharp nails upon my face to seize; Bescratch mine eyes, spare not my locks to break (Anger will help thy hands though ne'er so weak); And lest the sad signs of my crime remain, Put in their place thy kembed[168] hairs again.

FOOTNOTES:

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

[163] I should like to omit this word, to which there is nothing to correspond in the original.

[164] Marlowe has misunderstood the original "Sic nisi vittatis quod erat Ca.s.sandra capillis."

[165] "Pessima Tydides scelerum monumenta reliquit."

[166] An awkward translation of

"Si sinerent laesae, candidia tota, genae."

[167] So ed. B.--Ed. C. "wanton."

[168] Old eds. "keembed." ("Pone recompositas in statione comas.")

ELEGIA VIII.[169]

Execratur lenam quae puellam suam meretricis arte inst.i.tuebat.

There is--whoe'er will know a bawd aright, Give ear--there is an old trot Dipsas hight.[170]

Her name comes from the thing: she being wise,[171]

Sees not the morn on rosy horses rise, She magic arts and Thessal charms doth know, And makes large streams back to their fountains flow; She knows with gra.s.s, with threads on wrung[172] wheels spun, And what with mares' rank humour[173] may be done.

When she will, cloudes the darkened heaven obscure, When she will, day shines everywhere most pure. 10 If I have faith, I saw the stars drop blood, The purple moon with sanguine visage stood; Her I suspect among night's spirits to fly, And her old body in birds' plumes to lie.

Fame saith as I suspect; and in her eyes, Two eyeb.a.l.l.s shine, and double light thence flies.

Great grandsires from their ancient graves she chides, And with long charms the solid earth divides.

She draws chaste women to incontinence, Nor doth her tongue want harmful eloquence. 20 By chance I heard her talk; these words she said, While closely hid betwixt two doors I laid.

"Mistress, thou knowest thou hast a blest youth pleased, He stayed and on thy looks his gazes seized.

And why should'st not please; none thy face exceeds; Ay me, thy body hath no worthy weeds!

As thou art fair, would thou wert fortunate!

Wert thou rich, poor should not be my state.

Th' opposed star of Mars hath done thee harm; Now Mars is gone, Venus thy side doth warm, 30 And brings good fortune; a rich lover plants His love on thee, and can supply thy wants.

Such is his form as may with thine compare, Would he not buy thee, thou for him should'st care."[174]

She blushed: "Red shame becomes white cheeks; but this If feigned, doth well; if true, it doth amiss.

When on thy lap thine eyes thou dost deject, Each one according to his gifts respect.

Perhaps the Sabines rude, when Tatius reigned To yield their love to more than one disdained. 40 Now Mars doth rage abroad without all pity, And Venus rules in her aeneas' city.

Fair women play; she's chaste whom none will have Or, but for bashfulness, herself would crave.

Shake off these wrinkles that thy front a.s.sault; Wrinkles in beauty is a grievous fault.

Penelope in bows her youths' strength tried, Of horn the bow was that approved[175] their side.

Time flying slides hence closely, and deceives us, And with swift horses the swift year[176] soon leaves us. 50 Bra.s.s shines with use; good garments would[177] be worn; Houses not dwelt in, are with filth forlorn.

Beauty, not exercised, with age is spent, Nor one or two men are sufficient.

Many to rob is more sure, and less hateful, From dog-kept flocks come preys to wolves most grateful.

Behold, what gives the poet but new verses?

And therefore many thousand he rehea.r.s.es.

The poet's G.o.d arrayed in robes of gold, Of his gilt harp the well-tuned strings doth hold. 60 Let Homer yield to such as presents bring, (Trust me) to give, it is a witty thing.

Nor, so thou may'st obtain a wealthy prize, The vain name of inferior slaves despise.

Nor let the arms of ancient lines[178] beguile thee; Poor lover, with thy grandsires I exile thee.

Who seeks, for being fair, a night to have, What he will give, with greater instance crave.

Make a small price, while thou thy nets dost lay; Lest they should fly; being ta'en, the tyrant play. 70 Dissemble so, as loved he may be thought, And take heed lest he gets that love for naught.

Deny him oft; feign now thy head doth ache: And Isis now will show what 'scuse to make.

Receive him soon, lest patient use he gain, Or lest his love oft beaten back should wane.

To beggars shut, to bringers ope thy gate; Let him within hear barred-out lovers prate.