Part 13

"Vestis bona quaerit haberi."

Old eds. "liues."

"Ille viri toto videat vestigia lecto."

"Rugosas genas."

ELEGIA IX.

Ad Atticum, 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, Her valiant lover follows without end. 10 Mounts, and rain-doubled floods he passeth over, And treads the desert snowy heaps do 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 unarmËd people's blood. So the fierce troops of Thracian Rhesus fell, And captive horses bade their lord farewell. Sooth, lovers watch till sleep the husband charms, Who slumbering, they rise up in swelling arms. The keepers' hands and corps-du-gard to pass, 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 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:

Not in Isham copy or ed. A.

"Mitte puellam."

Old eds. "to."

So ed. B.--Ed. C "such."

"Custodum transire manus vigilumque catervas." (For "hands" the poet should have written "bands.")

"Et galeam capiti quae daret uxor erat."

ELEGIA X.

Ad puellam, ne pro amore prÊmia poscat.

Such as the cause was of two husbands' war, Whom Trojan ships fetch'd from Europa far, Such as was Leda, whom the god 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 I loved thy mind and face: Now inward faults thy outward form disgrace. Love is a naked boy, his years saunce stain, And hath no clothes, but open doth remain. Will you for gain have Cupid sell himself? He hath no bosom where to hide base pelf. Love and Love's son are with fierce arms at odds; To serve for pay beseems not wanton gods. 20 The whore stands to be bought for each man's money, And seeks vild wealth by selling of her coney. Yet greedy bawd's command she curseth still, And doth, constrained, what you do of goodwill. Take from irrational beasts a precedent; 'Tis shame their wits should be more excellent. The mare asks not the horse, the cow the bull, Nor the mild ewe gifts from the ram doth pull. Only a woman gets spoils from a man, Farms out herself on nights for what she can; 30 And lets what both delight, what both desire, Making her joy according to her hire. The sport being such, as both alike sweet try it, Why should one sell it and the other buy it? Why should I lose, and thou gain by the pleasure, Which man and woman reap in equal measure? Knights of the post of perjuries make sale, The unjust judge for bribes becomes a stale. 'Tis shame sold tongues the guilty should defend, Or great wealth from a judgment-seat ascend. 40 'Tis shame to grow rich by bed-merchandise, Or prostitute thy beauty for bad price. Thanks worthily are due for things unbought; For beds ill-hired we are indebted nought. The hirer payeth all; his rent discharged, From further duty he rests then enlarged. Fair dames forbear rewards for nights to crave: Ill-gotten goods good end will never have. The Sabine gauntlets were too dearly won, That unto death did press the holy nun. 50 The son slew her, that forth to meet him went, And a rich necklace caused that punishment. Yet think no scorn to ask a wealthy churl; He wants no gifts into thy lap to hurl. Take clustered grapes from an o'er-laden vine, May bounteous love Alcinous' fruit resign. Let poor men show their service, faith and care; All for their mistress, what they have, prepare. In verse to praise kind wenches 'tis my part, And whom I like eternise by mine art. 60 Garments do wear, jewels and gold do waste, The fame that verse gives doth for ever last. To give I love, but to be asked disdain; Leave asking, and I'll give what I refrain.

FOOTNOTES:

Not in Isham copy or ed. A.

"Simplex."

Sans.

"Nec Venus apta," &c.

Old eds. "to."

"Vendit."

"Non bene conducti testes."

So ed. B.--ed. C "bad merchandise."

Old eds. "many."

The original has "ager."