The Works of Christopher Marlowe Volume III Part 25

Who now will care the altars to perfume?

Tut, men should not their courage so consume.

Jove throws down woods and castles with his fire, But bids his darts from perjured girls retire.

Poor Semele among so many burned, Her own request to her own torment turned.

But when her lover came, had she drawn back, The father's thigh should unborn Bacchus lack. 40 Why grieve I? and of heaven reproaches pen?

The G.o.ds have eyes, and b.r.e.a.s.t.s as well as men.

Were I a G.o.d, I should give women leave, With lying lips my G.o.dhead to deceive.

Myself would swear the wenches true did swear, And I would be none of the G.o.ds severe.

But yet their gift more moderately use, Or in mine eyes, good wench, no pain transfuse.

FOOTNOTES:

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

[362] Old eds. "by."

[363]

"At non invidiae vobis Cepheia virgo est, Pro male formosa jussa parente mori?"

("Invidiae" here means "discredit, odium.")

ELEGIA IV.[364]

Ad virum servantem conjugem.

Rude man, 'tis vain thy damsel to commend To keeper's trust: their wits should them defend.

Who, without fear, is chaste, is chaste in sooth: Who, because means want, doeth not, she doth.

Though thou her body guard, her mind is stained; Nor, 'less[365] she will, can any be restrained.

Nor can'st by watching keep her mind from sin, All being shut out, the adulterer is within.

Who may offend, sins least; power to do ill The fainting seeds of naughtiness doth kill. 10 Forbear to kindle vice by prohibition; Sooner shall kindness gain thy will's fruition.

I saw a horse against the bit stiff-necked, Like lightning go, his struggling mouth being checked: When he perceived the reins let slack, he stayed, And on his loose mane the loose bridle laid.

How to attain what is denied we think, Even as the sick desire forbidden drink.

Argus had either way an hundred eyes, Yet by deceit Love did them all surprise. 20 In stone and iron walls Danae shut, Came forth a mother, though a maid there put.

Penelope, though no watch looked unto her, Was not defiled by any gallant wooer.

What's kept, we covet more: the care makes theft, Few love what others have unguarded left.

Nor doth her face please, but her husband's love: I know not what men think should thee so move[366]

She is not chaste that's kept, but a dear wh.o.r.e:[367]

Thy fear is than her body valued more. 30 Although thou chafe, stolen pleasure is sweet play; She pleaseth best, "I fear," if any say.

A free-born wench, no right 'tis up to lock, So use we women of strange nations' stock.

Because the keeper may come say, "I did it,"

She must be honest to thy servant's credit.

He is too clownish whom a lewd wife grieves, And this town's well-known custom not believes; Where Mars his sons not without fault did breed, Remus and Romulus, Ilia's twin-born seed. 40 Cannot a fair one, if not chaste, please thee?

Never can these by any means agree.

Kindly thy mistress use, if thou be wise; Look gently, and rough husbands' laws despise.

Honour what friends thy wife gives, she'll give many, Least labour so shall win great grace of any.

So shalt thou go with youths to feasts together, And see at home much that thou ne'er brought'st thither.

FOOTNOTES:

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

[365] Old eds. "least." ("Nec custodiri, ni velit, ulla potest.")

[366] The original has "Nescio quid, quod te ceperit, esse putant."

[367] Dyce calls this line an "erroneous version of 'Non proba sit quam vir servat, sed adultera; cara est.'" But Merkel's reading is "Non proba fit quam vir servat, sed adultera cara"--which is accurately rendered by Marlowe.

ELEGIA VI.[368]

Ad amnem dum iter faceret ad amicam.

Flood with reed-grown[369] slime banks, till I be past Thy waters stay: I to my mistress haste.

Thou hast no bridge, nor boat with ropes to throw, That may transport me, without oars to row.

Thee I have pa.s.sed, and knew thy stream none such, When thy wave's brim did scarce my ankles touch.

With snow thawed from the next hill now thou gushest,[370]

And in thy foul deep waters thick thou rushest.

What helps my haste? what to have ta'en small rest?

What day and night to travel in her quest? 10 If standing here I can by no means get My foot upon the further bank to set.

Now wish I those wings n.o.ble Perseus had, Bearing the head with dreadful adders[371] clad; Now wish the chariot, whence corn fields were found, First to be thrown upon the untilled ground: I speak old poet's wonderful inventions, Ne'er was, nor [e'er] shall be, what my verse mentions.

Rather, thou large bank-overflowing river, Slide in thy bounds; so shalt thou run for ever. 20 Trust me, land-stream, thou shalt no envy lack, If I a lover be by thee held back.

Great floods ought to a.s.sist young men in love, Great floods the force of it do often prove.

In mid Bithynia,[372] 'tis said, Inachus Grew pale, and, in cold fords, hot lecherous.

Troy had not yet been ten years' siege out stander, When nymph Neaera rapt thy looks, Scamander.

What, not Alpheus in strange lands to run, The Arcadian virgin's constant love hath won? 30 And Creusa unto Xanthus first affied, They say Peneus near Phthia's town did hide.

What should I name Asop,[373] that Thebe loved, Thebe who mother of five daughters proved, If, Achelous, I ask where thy horns stand, Thou say'st, broke with Alcides' angry hand.

Not Calydon, nor aetolia did please; One Deianira was more worth than these.

Rich Nile by seven mouths to the vast sea flowing, Who so well keeps his water's head from knowing, 40 Is by Evadne thought to take such flame, As his deep whirlpools could not quench the same.

Dry Enipeus, Tyro to embrace, Fly back his stream[374] charged; the stream charged, gave place.

Nor pa.s.s I thee, who hollow rocks down tumbling, In Tibur's field with watery foam art rumbling.

Whom Ilia pleased, though in her looks grief revelled, Her cheeks were scratched, her goodly hairs dishevelled.

She, wailing Mar's sin and her uncle's crime, Strayed barefoot through sole places[375] on a time. 50 Her, from his swift waves, the bold flood perceived, And from the mid ford his hoa.r.s.e voice upheaved, Saying, "Why sadly tread'st my banks upon, Ilia sprung from Idaean Laomedon?

Where's thy attire? why wanderest here alone?

To stay thy tresses white veil hast thou none?

Why weep'st and spoil'st with tears thy watery eyes?

And fiercely knock'st thy breast that open lies?

His heart consists of flint and hardest steel, That seeing thy tears can any joy then feel. 60 Fear not: to thee our court stands open wide, There shalt be loved: Ilia, lay fear aside.

Thou o'er a hundred nymphs or more shalt reign, For five score nymphs or more our floods contain.

Nor, Roman stock, scorn me so much I crave, Gifts than my promise greater thou shalt have."[376]

This said he: she her modest eyes held down.

Her woful bosom a warm shower did drown.

Thrice she prepared to fly, thrice she did stay, By fear deprived of strength to run away. 70 Yet rending with enraged thumb her tresses, Her trembling mouth these unmeet sounds expresses: "O would in my forefathers' tomb deep laid, My bones had been while yet I was a maid: Why being a vestal am I wooed to wed, Deflowered and stained in unlawful bed.