iligent thy locks to braid,
And, for her skill, to thee a grateful maid.
Should I solicit her that is so just,--
To take repulse, and cause her show my lust?
I swear by Venus, and the winged boy's bow,
Myself unguilty of this crime I know.

FOOTNOTES:

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

ELEGIA VIII.[277]

Ad Cypassim ancillam Corinnae.

Cypassis, that a thousand ways trim'st hair,
Worthy to kemb none but a goddess fair,
Our pleasant scapes show thee no clown to be,
Apt to thy mistress, but more apt to me.
Who that our bodies were comprest bewrayed?
Whence knows Corinna that with thee I played?
Yet blushed I not, nor used I any saying,
That might be urged to witness our false playing.
What if a man with bondwomen offend,
To prove him foolish did I e'er contend? 10
Achilles burnt with face of captive Briseis,
Great Agamemnon loved his servant Chryseis.[278]
Greater than these myself I not esteem:
What graced kings, in me no shame I deem.
But when on thee her angry eyes did rush,
In both thy[279] cheeks she did perceive thee[280] blush.
But being present,[281] might that work the best,
By Venus deity how did I protest!
Thou goddess dost command a warm south blast,
My self oaths in Carpathian seas to cast. 20
For which good turn my sweet reward repay,
Let me lie with thee, brown Cypass, to-day.
Ungrate, why feign'st new fears, and dost refuse?
Well may'st thou one thing for thy mistress use.[282]
If thou deniest, fool, I'll our deeds express,
And as a traitor mine own faults confess;
Telling thy mistress where I was with thee,
How oft, and by what means, we did agree.

FOOTNOTES:

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

[278] "Serva Phoebas" (_i.e._ Cassandra).

[279] Old eds. "my."

[280] So ed. B.--Ed. C "the."

[281]

"At quanto, si forte refers, _praesentior_ ipse,
Per Veneris feci numina magna fidem."

[282] The original has "Unum est e dominis emeruisse satis."

ELEGIA IX.[283]

Ad Cupidinem.

O Cupid, that dost never cease my smart!
O boy, that liest so slothful in my heart!
Why me that always was the soldier found,
Dost harm, and in thy[284] tents why dost me wound?
Why burns thy brand, why strikes thy bow thy friends?
More glory by thy vanquished foes ascends.