The Works of Christopher Marlowe Volume III Part 12

And, as first wronged, the wronged sometimes banish; Thy fault with his fault so repulsed will vanish. 80 But never give a s.p.a.cious time to ire; Anger delayed doth oft to hate retire.

And let thine eyes constrained learn to weep, That this or that man may thy cheeks moist keep.

Nor, if thou cozenest one, dread to forswear, Venus to mocked men lends a senseless ear.

Servants fit for thy purpose thou must hire, To teach thy lover what thy thoughts desire.

Let them ask somewhat; many asking little, Within a while great heaps grow of a t.i.ttle. 90 And sister, nurse, and mother spare him not; By many hands great wealth is quickly got.

When causes fail thee to require a gift By keeping of thy birth, make but a s.h.i.+ft.

Beware lest he, unrivalled, loves secure; Take strife away, love doth not well endure.

On all the bed men's tumbling[179] let him view, And thy neck with lascivious marks made blue.

Chiefly show him the gifts, which others send: If he gives nothing, let him from thee wend. 100 When thou hast so much as he gives no more, Pray him to lend what thou may'st ne'er restore.

Let thy tongue flatter, while thy mind harm works; Under sweet honey deadly poison lurks.

If this thou dost, to me by long use known, (Nor let my words be with the winds hence blown) Oft thou wilt say, 'live well;' thou wilt pray oft, That my dead bones may in their grave lie soft."

As thus she spake, my shadow me betrayed; With much ado my hands I scarcely stayed; 110 But her blear eyes, bald scalp's thin h.o.a.ry fleeces, And rivelled[180] cheeks I would have pulled a-pieces.

The G.o.ds send thee no house, a poor old age, Perpetual thirst, and winter's lasting rage.

FOOTNOTES:

[169] Not in Isham copy or ed A.

[170] "Est quaedam, nomine Dipsas, a.n.u.s."

[171]

"Nigri non illa parentem Memnonis in roseis sobria vidit equis."

Cunningham suggests that "wise" was "one of the thousand and one euphemisms for 'inebriated.'"

[172] The spelling in old eds. is "wrong."

[173]

"Virus amantis equae."

[174] "Si te non emptam vellet emendus erat." (Marlowe's copy must have read "amandus.")

[175] Proved their strength. "Qui _latus argueret_ corneus arcus erat."

[176] The usual reading is "_Ut_ celer admissis labitur _amnis aquis_."

[177] "Vestis bona _quaerit haberi_."

[178] Old eds. "liues."

[179] "Ille viri toto videat _vestigia_ lecto."

[180] "_Rugosas_ genas."

ELEGIA IX.[181]

Ad Attic.u.m, amantem non oportere desidiosum esse, sicuti nec militem.

All lovers war, and Cupid hath his tent; Attic, all lovers are to war far sent, What age fits Mars, with Venus doth agree; 'Tis shame for eld in war or love to be.

What years in soldiers captains do require, Those in their lovers pretty maids desire.

Both of them watch: each on the hard earth sleeps: His mistress' door this, that his captain's keeps.

Soldiers must travel far: the wench forth send,[182]

Her valiant lover follows without end. 10 Mounts, and rain-doubled floods he pa.s.seth over, And treads the desert snowy heaps do[183] cover.

Going to sea, east winds he doth not chide, Nor to hoist sail attends fit time and tide.

Who but a soldier or a lover's bold To suffer storm-mixed snows with night's sharp cold?

One as a spy doth to his enemies go, The other eyes his rival as his foe.

He cities great, this thresholds lies before: This breaks town gates, but he his mistress' door. 20 Oft to invade the sleeping foe 'tis good, And armed to shed unarmed people's blood.

So the fierce troops of Thracian Rhesus fell, And captive horses bade their lord farewell.

Sooth,[184] lovers watch till sleep the husband charms, Who slumbering, they rise up in swelling arms.

The keepers' hands[185] and corps-du-gard to pa.s.s, The soldier's, and poor lover's work e'er was.

Doubtful is war and love; the vanquished rise, And who thou never think'st should fall, down lies. 30 Therefore whoe'er love slothfulness doth call, Let him surcease: love tries wit best of all.

Achilles burned, Briseis being ta'en away; Trojans destroy the Greek wealth, while you may.

Hector to arms went from his wife's embraces, And on Andromache[186] his helmet laces.

Great Agamemnon was, men say, amazed, On Priam's loose-trest daughter when he gazed.

Mars in the deed the blacksmith's net did stable; In heaven was never more notorious fable. 40 Myself was dull and faint, to sloth inclined; Pleasure and ease had mollified my mind.

A fair maid's care expelled this sluggishness, And to her tents willed me myself address.

Since may'st thou see me watch and night-wars move: He that will not grow slothful, let him love.

FOOTNOTES:

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

[182] "Mitte puellam."

[183] Old eds. "to."

[184] So ed. B.--Ed. C "such."

[185] "Custodum transire _ma.n.u.s_ vigilumque catervas." (For "hands" the poet should have written "bands.")

[186] "Et galeam capiti quae daret uxor erat."

ELEGIA X.[187]

Ad puellam, ne pro amore praemia poscat.

Such as the cause was of two husbands' war, Whom Trojan s.h.i.+ps fetch'd from Europa far, Such as was Leda, whom the G.o.d deluded In snow-white plumes of a false swan included.

Such as Amymone through the dry fields strayed, When on her head a water pitcher laid.

Such wert thou, and I feared the bull and eagle, And whate'er Love made Jove, should thee inveigle.

Now all fear with my mind's hot love abates: No more this beauty mine eyes captivates. 10 Ask'st why I change? because thou crav'st reward; This cause hath thee from pleasing me debarred.

While thou wert plain[188] I loved thy mind and face: Now inward faults thy outward form disgrace.