Ad amicam.
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ask but right, let her that caught me late,Either love, or cause that I may never hate;I crave[140] too much--would she but let me love her;Jove knows with such-like prayers I daily move her.Accept him that shall serve thee all his youth,Accept him that shall love with spotless truth.If lofty titles cannot make[141] me thine,That am descended but of knightly line,(Soon may you plough the little land I have;I gladly grant my parents given to save;[142]) 10Apollo, Bacchus, and the Muses may;And Cupid who hath marked me for thy prey;My spotless life, which but to gods gives place,Naked simplicity, and modest grace.I love but one, and her I love change never,If men have faith, I'll live with thee for ever.The years that fatal Destiny shall giveI'll live with thee, and die ere thou shalt grieve.Be thou the happy subject of my booksThat I may write things worthy thy fair looks. 20By verses, horned Iˆ got her name;And she to whom in shape of swan[143] Jove came;And she that on a feigned Bull swam to land,Griping his false horns with her virgin hand,So likewise we will through the world be rungAnd with my name shall thine be always sung. FOOTNOTES: [140] Isham copy "aske." [141] Ed. A. "cause me to be thine." [142] "Temperat et sumptus parcus uterque parens." [143] Isham copy and ed. A. "Bull." ELEGIA IV.[144] 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 inciteThe 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. 10But how thou should'st behave thyself now know,Nor let the winds away my warnings blow.Before thy husband come, though I not seeWhat may be done, yet there before him be.Lie with him gently, when his limbs he spreadUpon the bed; but on my foot first tread.View me, my becks, and speaking countenance;Take, and return[145] each secret amorous glance.Words without voice shall on my eyebrows sit,Lines thou shalt read in wine by my hand writ. 20When 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.[146]What wine he fills thee, wisely will[147] him drink;Ask thou the boy, what thou enough dost think. 30When 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[148] 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 lingerIf thou givest kisses, I shall all disclose,[149]Say they are mine, and hands on thee impose. 40Yet 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. 50Entreat 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 alongHave 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. 60At night thy husband clips[150] thee: I will weepAnd 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 cum 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."
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