homage gain.

FOOTNOTES:

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

[284] So ed. B.--Ed. C "my."

[285] In some strange fashion Marlowe has mistaken the substantive
"rudis" (the staff received by the gladiator on his discharge) with the
adjective "rudis" (rude). The original has "Tutaque deposito poscitur
ense rudis."

[286] Old eds. "Let her enjoy me;" but the original has "Saepe fruar
domina."

ELEGIA X.

Ad Graecinum quod eodem tempore duas amet.

Graecinus (well I wot) thou told'st me once,
I could not be in love with two at once;
By thee deceived, by thee surprised am I,
For now I love two women equally:
Both are well favoured, both rich in array,
Which is the loveliest[287] it is hard to say:
This seems the fairest, so doth that to me;
And[288] this doth please me most, and so doth she;
Even as a boat tossed by contrary wind,
So with this love and that wavers my mind. 10
Venus, why doublest thou my endless smart?
Was not one wench enough to grieve my heart?
Why add'st thou stars to heaven, leaves to green woods,
And to the deep[289] vast sea fresh water-floods?
Yet this is better far than lie alone:
Let such as be mine enemies have none;
Yea, let my foes sleep in an empty bed,
And in the midst their bodies largely spread:
But may soft[290] love rouse up my drowsy eyes,
And from my mistress' bosom let me rise! 20
Let one wench cloy me with sweet love's delight,
If one can do't; if not, two every night.
Though I am slender, I have store of pith,
Nor want I strength, but weight, to press her with:
Pleasure adds fuel to my lustful fire,
I pay them home with that they most desire:
Oft have I spent the night in wantonness,
And in the morn been lively ne'ertheless,
He's happy who Love's mutual skirmish slays;
And to the gods for that death Ovid prays. 30
Let soldiers[291] chase their enemies amain,
And with their blood eternal honour gain,
Let merchants seek wealth and[292] with perjured lips,
Being wrecked, carouse the sea tired by their ships;
But when I die, would I might droop with doing,
And in the midst thereof, set[293] my soul going,
That at my funerals some may weeping cry,
"Even as he led his life, so did he die."

FOOTNOTES:

[287] "Artibus in dubio est haec sit an i