Part 11

ELEGIA IV.

Amicam, qua arte quibusque nutibus in cÊna, presente viro, uti debeat, admonet.

Thy husband to a banquet goes with me, Pray God it may his latest supper be. Shall I sit gazing as a bashful guest, While others touch the damsel I love best? Wilt lying under him, his bosom clip? About thy neck shall he at pleasure skip? Marvel not, though the fair bride did incite The drunken Centaurs to a sudden fight. I am no half horse, nor in woods I dwell, Yet scarce my hands from thee contain I well. 10 But how thou should'st behave thyself now know, Nor let the winds away my warnings blow. Before thy husband come, though I not see What may be done, yet there before him be. Lie with him gently, when his limbs he spread Upon the bed; but on my foot first tread. View me, my becks, and speaking countenance; Take, and return each secret amorous glance. Words without voice shall on my eyebrows sit, Lines thou shalt read in wine by my hand writ. 20 When our lascivious toys come to thy mind, Thy rosy cheeks be to thy thumb inclined. If aught of me thou speak'st in inward thought, Let thy soft finger to thy ear be brought. When I, my light, do or say aught that please thee, Turn round thy gold ring, as it were to ease thee. Strike on the board like them that pray for evil, When thou dost wish thy husband at the devil. What wine he fills thee, wisely will him drink; Ask thou the boy, what thou enough dost think. 30 When thou hast tasted, I will take the cup, And where thou drink'st, on that part I will sup. If he gives thee what first himself did taste, Even in his face his offered gobbets cast. Let not thy neck by his vile arms be prest, Nor lean thy soft head on his boisterous breast. Thy bosom's roseate buds let him not finger, Chiefly on thy lips let not his lips linger If thou givest kisses, I shall all disclose, Say they are mine, and hands on thee impose. 40 Yet this I'll see, but if thy gown aught cover, Suspicious fear in all my veins will hover. Mingle not thighs, nor to his leg join thine, Nor thy soft foot with his hard foot combine. I have been wanton, therefore am perplexed, And with mistrust of the like measure vexed. I and my wench oft under clothes did lurk, When pleasure moved us to our sweetest work. Do not thou so; but throw thy mantle hence, Lest I should think thee guilty of offence. 50 Entreat thy husband drink, but do not kiss, And while he drinks, to add more do not miss; If he lies down with wine and sleep opprest, The thing and place shall counsel us the rest. When to go homewards we rise all along Have care to walk in middle of the throng. There will I find thee or be found by thee, There touch whatever thou canst touch of me. Ay me! I warn what profits some few hours! But we must part, when heaven with black night lours. 60 At night thy husband clips thee: I will weep And to the doors sight of thyself keep: Then will he kiss thee, and not only kiss, But force thee give him my stolen honey-bliss. Constrained against thy will give it the peasant, Forbear sweet words, and be your sport unpleasant. To him I pray it no delight may bring, Or if it do, to thee no joy thence spring. But, though this night thy fortune be to try it, To me to-morrow constantly deny it. 70

FOOTNOTES:

Not in Isham copy or ed. A.

So Dyce; old eds. "receive."

"Optabis merito cum mala multa viro."

"Bibat ipse jubeto."

So Dyce for "goblets" of the old eds. ("Rejice libatos illius ore cibos.")

"Fiam manifestus adulter."

The original has "Nocte vir includet."

"Dedisse nega."

ELEGIA V.

CorinnÊ concubitus.

In summer's heat, and mid-time of the day, To rest my limbs upon a bed I lay; One window shut, the other open stood, Which gave such light as twinkles in a wood, Like twilight glimpse at setting of the sun, Or night being past, and yet not day begun; Such light to shamefaced maidens must be shown Where they may sport, and seem to be unknown: Then came Corinna in a long loose gown, Her white neck hid with tresses hanging down, 10 Resembling fair Semiramis going to bed, Or Lais of a thousand wooers sped. I snatched her gown: being thin, the harm was small, Yet strived she to be covered therewithal; And striving thus, as one that would be cast, Betrayed herself, and yielded at the last. Stark naked as she stood before mine eye, Not one wen in her body could I spy. What arms and shoulders did I touch and see! How apt her breasts were to be pressed by me! 20 How smooth a belly under her waist saw I, How large a leg, and what a lusty thigh! To leave the rest, all liked me passing well; I clinged her naked body, down she fell: Judge you the rest; being tired she bade me kiss; Jove send me more such afternoons as this!

FOOTNOTES:

Isham copy and ed. A. "spread."

Ed. A. "her faire white body." ("Et nudam pressi corpus ad usque meum.")

ELEGIA VI.

Ad Janitorem, ut fores sibi aperiat.

Unworthy porter, bound in chains full sore, On movËd hooks set ope the churlish door. Little I ask, a little entrance make, The gate half-ope my bent side in will take. Long love my body to such use make slender, And to get out doth like apt members render. He shows me how unheard to pass the watch, And guides my feet lest, stumbling, falls they catch: But in times past I feared vain shades, and night, Wondering if any walkËd without light. 10 Love, hearing it, laughed with his tender mother, And smiling said, "Be thou as bold as other." Forthwith love came; no dark night-flying sprite, Nor hands prepared to slaughter, me affright. Thee fear I too much: only thee I flatter: Thy lightning can my life in pieces batter. Why enviest me? this hostile den unbar; See how the gates with my tears watered are! When thou stood'st naked ready to be beat, For thee I did thy mistress fair entreat. 20 But what entreats for thee sometimes took place, (O mischief!) now for me obtain small grace. Gratis thou mayest be free; give like for like; Night goes away: the door's bar backward strike. Strike; so again hard chains shall bind thee never, Nor servile water shalt thou drink for ever. Hard-hearted Porter, dost and wilt not hear? With stiff oak propped the gate doth still appear. Such rampired gates besiegËd cities aid; In midst of peace why art of arms afraid? 30 Exclud'st a lover, how would'st use a foe? Strike back the bar, night fast away doth go. With arms or armËd men I come not guarded; I am alone, were furious love discarded. Although I would, I cannot him cashier, Before I be divided from my gear. See Love with me, wine moderate in my brain, And on my hairs a crown of flowers remain. Who fears these arms? who will not go to meet them? Night runs away; with open entrance greet them. 40 Art careless? or is't sleep forbids thee hear, Giving the winds my words running in thine ear? Well I remember, when I first did hire thee, Watching till after midnight did not tire thee. But now perchance thy wench with thee doth rest, Ah, how thy lot is above my lot blest: Though it be so, shut me not out therefore; Night goes away: I pray thee ope the door. Err we? or do the turnËd hinges sound, And opening doors with creaking noise abound? 50 We err: a strong blast seemed the gates to ope: Ay me, how high that gale did lift my hope! If Boreas bears Orithyia's rape in mind, Come break these deaf doors with thy boisterous wind. Silent the city is: night's dewy host March fast away: the bar strike from the post. Or I more stern than fire or sword will turn, And with my brand these gorgeous houses burn. Night, love, and wine to all extremes persuade: Night, shameless wine, and love are fearless made. 60 All have I spent: no threats or prayers move thee; O harder than the doors thou guard'st I prove thee, No pretty wench's keeper may'st thou be, The careful prison is more meet for thee. Now frosty night her flight begins to take, And crowing cocks poor souls to work awake. But thou, my crown, from sad hairs ta'en away, On this hard threshold till the morning lay. That when my mistress there beholds thee cast, She may perceive how we the time did waste. 70 Whate'er thou art, farewell, be like me pained! Careless farewell, with my fault not distained! And farewell cruel posts, rough threshold's block, And doors conjoined with an hard iron lock!

FOOTNOTES:

Not in Isham copy or ed. A.

Old eds. "dende."

Sometime ("quondam").

"Ante vel a membris dividar ipse meis."

Qy. "rebound?"

Dyce reads, "If, Boreas, bear'st" (i.e., "thou bear'st"). But the change in the old eds. from the second to the third person is not very harsh.