BOOK 2, ELEGY 17
Quod Corinnae soli sit serviturus (That he is going to serve Corinna alone)
To serve a wench if any think it shame, He being judge, I am convinc'd of blame. Let me be slander'd, while my fire she hides, That Paphos, and the flood-beat Cithera guides. Would I had been my mistress' gentle prey, Since some fair one I should of force obey. Beauty gives heart, Corinna's looks excel, Ay me, why is it known to her so well? But by her glass disdainful pride she learns, Nor she herself but first trimm'd up discerns. Not though thy face in all things make thee reign, (O face most cunning mine eyes to detain) Thou ought'st therefore to scorn me for thy mate, Small things with greater may be copulate. Love-snar'd Calypso is suppos'd to pray, A mortal nymph's refusing Lord to stay. Who doubts, with Pelius, Thetis did consort, Egeria with just Numa had good sport, Venus with Vulcan, though smith's tools laid by, With his stump-foot he halts ill-favour'dly. This kind of verse is not alike, yet fit, With shorter numbers the heroic sit. And thou, my light, accept me howsoever, Lay in the mid bed, there be my law-giver. My stay no crime, my flight no joy shall breed, Nor of our love to be asham'd we need, For great revenues I good verses have, And many by me to get glory crave. I know a wench reports herself Corinne, What would not she give that fair name to win? But sundry floods in one bank never go, Eurotas cold, and poplar-bearing Po. Nor in my books shall one but thou be writ, Thou dost alone give matter to my wit.
BOOK 2, ELEGY 18
Ad Macrum, quod de amoribus scribat (To Macer, that he is writing of love)
To tragic verse while thou Achilles train'st, And new-sworn soldiers maiden arms retain'st, We, Macer, sit in Venus' slothful shade, And tender love hath great things hateful made. Often at length, my wench depart, I bid, She in my lap sits still as erst she did. I said 'It irks me': half to weeping fram'd, 'Ay me' she cries, 'to love, why art asham'd?' Then wreathes about my neck her winding arms, And thousand kisss gives, that work my harms: I yield, and back my wit from battles bring, Domestic acts, and mine own wars to sing. Yet Tragedys, and sceptres fill'd my lines, But though I apt were for such high designs, Love laughed at my cloak, and buskins painted, And rule so soon with private hands acquainted. My mistress' deity also drew me fro' it, And love triumpheth o'er his buskin'd poet. What lawful is, or we professe love's art, (Alas my precepts turn myself to smart) We write, or what Penelope sends Ulysses, Or Phillis tears that her Demophoon misses, What thankless Jason, Macareus, and Paris, Phaedra, and Hippolyte may read, my care is, And what poor Dido with her drawn sword sharp, Doth say, with her that lov'd the Aonian harp. As soon as from strange lands Salinus came, And writings did from divers places frame, White-cheek'd Penelope knew Ulisses sign, The stepdame read Hippolytus' lustless line. Aeneas to Elisa answer gives, And Phyllis hath to read; if now she lives. Jason's sad letter doth Hypsipyle greet, Sappho her vow'd harp lays at Phoebus' feet. Nor of thee, Macer, that resound'st forth arms, Is golden love hid in Mars mid-alarms. There Paris is, and Helen's crimes record, With Laodamia, mate to her dead lord. Unless I err, to these thou more incline, Than wars, and from thy tents wilt come to mine.
BOOK 2, ELEGY 19
Ad rivalem, cui uxor curae non erat (To his rival, that his wife was of no concern to him)
Fool, if to keep thy wife thou hast no need, Keep her for me, my more desire to breed. We scorn things lawful, stol'n sweets we affect, Cruel is he, that loves whom none protect. Let us both lovers hope, and fear alike, And may repulse place for our wishes strike. What should I do with fortune that ne'er fails me? Nothing I love, that at all times avails me. Wily Corinna saw this blemish in me, And craftily knows by what means to win me. Ah, often, that her hale head ach'd, she lying, Will'd me, whose slow feet sought delay, be flying. Ah, oft how much she might she feign'd offence; And, doing wrong, made show of innocence. So, having vex'd, she nourish'd my warm fire, And was again most apt to my desire. To please me, what fair terms and sweet words has she, Great gods, what kisses, and how many gave she? Thou also that late took'st mine eyes away, Oft cozen me, oft being woo'd say nay. And on thy threshold let me lie dispread, Suff'ring much cold by hoary nights' frost bred. So shall my love continue many years, This doth delight me, this my courage chears. Fat love, and too much fulsome, me annoys, Ev'n as sweet meat a glutted stomach cloys. In brazen tower had not Danae dwelt, A mother's joy by Jove she had not felt. While Juno Io keeps when horns she wore, Jove liked her better than he did before. Who covets lawful things takes leaves from woods, And drinks stol'n waters in surrounding floods. Her lover let her mock, that long will reign, Ay me, let not my warnings cause my pain. Whatever haps, by suff'rance harm is done, What flies, I follow, what follows me I shun. But thou of thy fair damsel too secure, Begin to shut thy house at evening sure. Search at the door who knocks oft in the dark, In night's deep silence why the ban-dogs bark. Whether the subtle maid lines brings and carries, Why she alone in empty bed oft tarries. Let this care sometimes bite thee to the quick, That to deceits it may me forward prick. To steal sands from the shore he loves alife, That can affect a foolish wittol's wife. Now I forewarn, unless to keep her stronger, Thou dost begin, she shall be mine no longer. Long have I borne much, hoping time would beat thee To guard her well, that well I might entreat thee. Thou suff'rest what no husband can endure, But of my love it will an end procure. Shall I, poor soul, be never interdicted? Nor never with night's sharp revenge afflicted? In sleeping shall I fearless draw my breath? Wilt nothing do, why I should wish thy death? Can I but loath a husband grown a bawd? By thy default thou dost our joys defraud. Some other seek that may in patience strive with thee, To pleasure me, forbid me to corrive with thee.