Volume III Part 12 (1/2)

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.