The Works of Christopher Marlowe Volume III Part 18

[262] A bad mistranslation of "Et volo non ex hac illa fuisse nota."

[263] Far from the original "Nescio quis pretium grande magister habet."

ELEGIA VI.[264]

In mortem psittaci.

The parrot, from East India to me sent,[265]

Is dead; all fowls her exequies frequent!

Go G.o.dly[266] birds, striking your b.r.e.a.s.t.s, bewail, And with rough claws your tender cheeks a.s.sail.

For woful hairs let piece-torn plumes abound, For long shrild[267] trumpets let your notes resound.

Why Philomel dost Tereus' lewdness mourn?

All wasting years have that complaint now[268] worn.

Thy tunes let this rare bird's sad funeral borrow; Itys[269] a great, but ancient cause of sorrow. 10 All you whose pinions in the clear air soar, But most, thou friendly turtle-dove, deplore.

Full concord all your lives was you betwixt, And to the end your constant faith stood fixt.

What Pylades did to Orestes prove, Such to the parrot was the turtle-dove.

But what availed this faith? her rarest hue?

Or voice that how to change the wild notes knew?

What helps it thou wert given to please my wench?

Birds' hapless glory, death thy life doth quench. 20 Thou with thy quills might'st make green emeralds dark, And pa.s.s our scarlet of red saffron's mark.

No such voice-feigning bird was on the ground, Thou spok'st thy words so well with stammering sound.

Envy hath rapt thee, no fierce wars thou mov'dst; Vain-babbling speech, and pleasant peace thou lov'dst.

Behold how quails among their battles live, Which do perchance old age unto them give.

A little filled thee, and for love of talk, Thy mouth to taste of many meats did balk. 30 Nuts were thy food, and poppy caused thee sleep, Pure water's moisture thirst away did keep.

The ravenous vulture lives, the puttock[270] hovers Around the air, the cadess[271] rain discovers.

And crow[272] survives arms-bearing Pallas' hate, Whose life nine ages scarce bring out of date.

Dead is that speaking image of man's voice, The parrot given me, the far world's[273] best choice.

The greedy spirits[274] take the best things first, Supplying their void places with the worst. 40 Thersites did Protesilaus survive; And Hector died, his brothers yet alive.

My wench's vows for thee what should I show, Which stormy south winds into sea did blow?

The seventh day came, none following might'st thou see, And the Fate's distaff empty stood to thee: Yet words in thy benumbed palate rung; "Farewell, Corinna," cried thy dying tongue.

Elysium hath a wood of holm-trees black, Whose earth doth not perpetual green gra.s.s lack. 50 There good birds rest (if we believe things hidden), Whence unclean fowls are said to be forbidden.

There harmless swans feed all abroad the river; There lives the phoenix, one alone bird ever; There Juno's bird displays his gorgeous feather, And loving doves kiss eagerly together.

The parrot into wood received with these, Turns all the G.o.dly[275] birds to what she please.

A grave her bones hides: on her corps' great grave, The little stones these little verses have. 60 _This tomb approves I pleased my mistress well My mouth in speaking did all birds excell._

FOOTNOTES:

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

[265] Dyce remarks that Marlowe's copy had "ales mihi missus" for "imitatrix ales."

[266] So Dyce for "goodly" of the old eds. ("piae volucres").

[267] Shrill.

[268] So Dyce for "not" of the old eds.

[269] So Dyce for "It is as great."

[270] "Miluus."

[271] "Graculus."

[272] Old eds. "crowes."

[273] Old eds. "words."

[274] Marlowe was very weak in Latin prosedy. The original has "manibus rapiuntur avaris."

[275] Old eds. "goodly" ("_pias_ volueres").

ELEGIA VII.[276]

Amicae se purgat, quod ancillam non amet.

Dost me of new crimes always guilty frame?

To overcome, so oft to fight I shame.

If on the marble theatre I look, One among many is, to grieve thee, took.

If some fair wench me secretly behold, Thou arguest she doth secret marks unfold.

If I praise any, thy poor hairs thou tearest; If blame, dissembling of my fault thou fearest.

If I look well, thou think'st thou dost not move, If ill, thou say'st I die for others' love. 10 Would I were culpable of some offence, They that deserve pain, bear't with patience.

Now rash accusing, and thy vain belief, Forbid thine anger to procure my grief.

Lo, how the miserable great-eared a.s.s, Dulled with much beating, slowly forth doth pa.s.s!

Behold Cypa.s.sis, wont to dress thy head, Is charged to violate her mistress' bed!

The G.o.ds from this sin rid me of suspicion, To like a base wench of despised condition. 20 With Venus' game who will a servant grace?

Or any back, made rough with stripes, embrace?

Add she was diligent thy locks to braid, And, for her skill, to thee a grateful maid.

Should I solicit her that is so just,-- To take repulse, and cause her show my l.u.s.t?

I swear by Venus, and the winged boy's bow, Myself unguilty of this crime I know.

FOOTNOTES:

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

ELEGIA VIII.[277]

Ad Cypa.s.sim ancillam Corinnae.