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[150] thee: I will weep And to the doors sight of thyself [will] 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[151] it. 70

FOOTNOTES:

[144] Not in Isham copy or ed. A.

[145] So Dyce; old eds. "receive."

[146] "Optabis merito c.u.m mala multa viro."

[147] "Bibat ipse _jubeto_."

[148] So Dyce for "goblets" of the old eds. ("Rejice libatos illius ore _cibos_.")

[149] "Fiam manifestus adulter."

[150] The original has "Nocte vir _includet_."

[151] "Dedisse nega."

ELEGIA V.

Corinnae 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.[152]

I s.n.a.t.c.hed 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 b.r.e.a.s.t.s were to be pressed by me! 20 How smooth a belly under her waist saw I, How large a leg, and what a l.u.s.ty thigh!

To leave the rest, all liked me pa.s.sing well; I clinged her naked[153] body, down she fell: Judge you the rest; being tired she bade me kiss; Jove send me more such afternoons as this!

FOOTNOTES:

[152] Isham copy and ed. A. "spread."

[153] Ed. A. "her faire white body." ("Et _nudam_ pressi corpus ad usque meum.")

ELEGIA VI.[154]

Ad Janitorem, ut fores sibi aperiat.

Unworthy porter, bound in chains full sore, On moved 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[s] slender, And to get out doth like apt members render.

He shows me how unheard to pa.s.s the watch, And guides my feet lest, stumbling, falls they catch: But in times past I feared vain shades, and night, Wondering if any walked 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[155] 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[156] 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 besieged 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 armed 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.[157]

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 turned hinges sound, And opening doors with creaking noise abound?[158] 50 We err: a strong blast seemed the gates to ope: Ay me, how high that gale did lift my hope!

If Boreas bears[159] Orithyia's rape in mind, Come break these deaf doors with thy boisterous wind.

Silent the city is: night's dewy host[160]

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 c.o.c.ks 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![161]

And farewell cruel posts, rough threshold's block, And doors conjoined with an hard iron lock!

FOOTNOTES:

[154] Not in Isham copy or ed. A.

[155] Old eds. "dende."

[156] Sometime ("quondam").

[157] "Ante vel a membris dividar ipse meis."

[158] Qy. "rebound?"

[159] 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.