With Muse oppos'd, would I my lines had done,
And Phoebus had forsook my work begun!
Nor, as use will not poets' record hear,
Would I my words would any credit bear.
Scylla by us her father's rich hair steals,
And Scylla's womb mad raging dogs conceals.
We cause feet fly; we mingle hairs with snakes;
Victorious Perseus a wing'd steed's back takes.
Our verse great Tityus a huge space out-spreads,
And gives the viper-curled dog three heads.
We make Enceladus use a thousand arms,
And men enthrall'd by mermaid's singing charms.†
The east winds in Ulysses' bags we shut,
And blabbing Tantalus in mid-waters put.
Niobe flint, Callist we make a bear;
Bird-changed Progne doth her Itys tear.
Jove turns himself into a swan, or gold,
Or his bull's horns Europa's hand doth hold.
Proteus what should I name? teeth, Thebes'
first seed?

Oxen in whose mouths burning flames did breed? Heaven-star, Electra, that bewail'd her sisters ? § The ships, whose god-head in the sea now glisters? The sun turn'd back from Atreus' cursèd table? And sweet-touch'd harp that to move stones was able?

Poets' large power is boundless and immense, Nor have their words true history's pretence. And my wench ought to have seem'd falsely prais'd,

Now your credulity harm to me hath rais'd.

ELEGIA XIII.||

De Junonis festo.

WHEN fruit-fill'd Tuscia should a wife give me, We touch'd the walls, Camillus, won by thee.

* Victorious Perseus] "Victor Abantiades"; which has been explained to mean Bellerophon: but the probability is that Ovid alludes to Perseus; see Burm. ad 1.

And men enthrall'd by mermaid's singing charms] "Ambiguæ captos virginis ore viros." Here, perhaps, Ovid alludes to the Sphinx; see Burm. ad 1.

↑ Bird-changed Progne doth her Itys tear] Very unlike the original" Concinit Odrysium Cecropis ales Ityn." § Heaven-star, Electra, that bewail'd her sisters] Whatever text our translator may have followed here, he has mistaken "electra" for a proper name, and made nonsense of the whole line. (The approved reading is, "Flere genis electra tuas, auriga, sorores?")

Blegia XIII.] Not in ed. A.

The priests to Juno did prepare chaste feasts, With famous pageants, and their home-bred beasts.

To know their rites, well recompens'd my * stay, Though thither leads a rough steep hilly way. There stands an old wood, with thick trees darkclouded:

Who sees it, grants some deity there is shrowded.
An altar takes men's incense and oblation,
An altar made after the ancient fashion.
Here, when the pipe + with solemn tunes doth
sound,

The annual pomp goes on the cover'd ground.‡ White heifers by glad people forth are led, Which with the grass of Tuscan fields are fed, And calves from whose fear'd front no threatening flies,

And little pigs, base hog-sties' sacrifice,

And rams with horns their hard heads wreathèd back;

Only the goddess hated goat did lack;

By whom disclos'd, she in the high woods took,
Is said to have attempted flight forsook.
Now is the goat brought through the boys with
darts, §

And give[n] to him that the first wound imparts.
Where Juno comes, each youth and pretty maid
Shew large ways, with their garments there
display'd.

Jewels and gold their virgin tresses crown,
And stately robes to their gilt feet hang down.
As is the use, the nuns in white ¶ veils clad,
Upon their heads the holy mysteries had.
When the chief pomp comes, loud the people

Nor do I give thee counsel to live chaste,
But that thou wouldst dissemble, when 'tis past.
She hath not trod † awry, that doth deny it :
Such as confess have lost their good names by it.
What madness is't to tell night-pranks by day,
And hidden secrets openly to bewray?

The strumpet with the stranger || will not do,
Before the room be clear, and door put to.
Will you make shipwreck of your honest name,
And let the world be witness of the same?

Be more advis'd, walk as a puritan,
And I shall think you chaste, do what you can.
Slip still, only deny it when 'tis done,

And, before folk, ¶ immodest speeches shun.
The bed is for lascivious toyings meet;
There use all tricks,** and tread shame under
feet.

When you are up and dress'd, be sage and grave,
And in the bed hide all the faults you have.
Be not asham'd to strip you, being there,
And mingle thighs, yours ever mine ++ to bear;
There in your rosy lips my tongue entomb,
Practise a thousand sports when there you come;
Forbear no wanton words you there would speak,
And with your pastime let the bed-stead creak.
But with your robes put on an honest face,
And blush, and seem as you were full of grace;
Deceive all; let me err, and think I'm right,
And, like a wittol, think thee void of slight.
Why see I lines so oft receiv'd and given?
This bed and that by tumbling made uneven?
Like one start up, your hair toss'd and displac'd,
And with a wanton's tooth your neck new-raz'd?
Grant this, that what you do I may not see; §§
If you weigh not ill speeches, yet weigh me.

* know] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "wit."

trod] So eds. A, C.-Ed. B "tred."

t night-pranks] Ed. A "night-sports." - Eds. B, C, "night's pranckes."

§ And] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "Or."
stranger] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "stanger."

folk] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "people."

** tricks] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "toyes."

tt yours ever mine] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "mine euer yours."

This, &c.] So eds. A, B.-Ed. C "And this," &c.— But the original has "Cur pressus prior est interiorque torus?"

§§ Grant this, that what you do I may not see] Is not

I'll not sift much, but hold thee soon excus'd,
Say but thou wert injuriously accus'd.
Though, while the deed be doing, you be took,
And I see when you ope the two-leav'd book,
Swear I was blind; deny,§ if you be wise,
And I will trust your words more than mine
eyes.

From him that yields, the palm || is quickly got:
Teach but your tongue to say, "I did it not;"
And being justified by two words, think
The cause acquits ¶ you not, but I that ** wink.

ELEGIA XV.++

Ad Venerem, quod elegis finem imponat. TENDER Loves 'mother,‡‡ a new poet get; This last end to my Elegies is set,§§ Which I, Peligny's foster-child, have fram'd, Nor am I by such wanton toys defam'd; Heir of an ancient house, if help that can, Not only by war's rage made gentleman. In Virgil Mantua joys; in Catull Verone; Of me Peligny's nation boasts alone; Whom liberty to honest arms compell'd, When careful Rome in doubt their prowess held: And some guest viewing watery Sulmo's walls, Where little ground to be enclos'd befalls, "How such a poet could you bring forth?" says;

"How small soe'er,¶¶ I'll you for greatest praise."

equivalent to "Tantum non oculos crimen deducis ad ipsos."

* thorough] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "through."

t dead] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A “dying." tdeed] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "deedes."

§ deny] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "yeeld not."

palm] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "garland." Tacquits] So eds. B, C.-Ed. A "acquites."

** I that] So eds. A, B.-Ed. C" that I."-At the end of this elegy ed. A has "C. Marlow."

tt Elegia XV.] Not in ed. A.

"3

1 Tender Loves' mother] "tenerorum mater Amorum. §§ This last end to my Elegies is set] Marlowe's copy of Ovid had "Traditur hæc Elegis ultima charta meis."

How] Marlowe seems to have read here Qui, tantum," &c.

¶¶ soe'er] So od. B.-Ed. C "to erre."

Both Loves, to whom my heart long time did yield,*

Your golden ensigns pluck + out of my field.

* Both Loves, to whom my heart long time did yield] Marlowe's copy of Ovid had "Culte puer, puerique parens mihi tempore longo" (instead of what we now read, Amathusia culti").

† pluck] Old eds. "pluckt."

Horn'd Bacchus graver fury doth distil;
A greater ground with great horse is to till.
Weak Elegies, delightful Muse,* farewell;
A work that, after my death, here shall dwell.

Weak Elegies, delightful Muse] "Imbelles Elegi, genialis Musa.'