"Let merchants seek wealth with perjured lips _And_ being wrecked," &c.
[293] So Isham copy and eds. B, C--Ed. A "let."
ELEGIA XI.[294]
Ad amicam navigantem.
The lofty pine, from high Mount Pelion raught,[295]
Ill ways by rough seas wondering waves first taught; Which rashly "twixt the sharp rocks in the deep, Carried the famous golden-fleeced sheep.
O would that no oars might in seas have sunk!
The Argo[296] wrecked had deadly waters drunk.
Lo, country G.o.ds and know[n] bed to forsake Corinna means, and dangerous ways to take.
For thee the East and West winds make me pale, With icy Boreas, and the Southern gale. 10 Thou shalt admire no woods or cities there, The unjust seas all bluish do appear.
The ocean hath no painted stones or sh.e.l.ls, The sucking[297] sh.o.r.e with their abundance swells.
Maids on the sh.o.r.e, with marble-white feet tread, So far "tis safe; but to go farther, dread.
Let others tell how winds fierce battles wage, How Scylla"s and Charybdis" waters rage; And with what rock[s] the feared Ceraunia threat; In what gulf either Syrtes have their seat. 20 Let others tell this, and what each one speaks Believe; no tempest the believer wreaks.[298]
Too late you look back, when with anchors weighed, The crooked bark hath her swift sails displayed.
The careful shipman now fears angry gusts, And with the waters sees death near him thrusts.
But if that Triton toss the troubled flood, In all thy face will be no crimson blood.
Then wilt thou Leda"s n.o.ble twin-stars pray, And, he is happy whom the earth holds, say. 30 It is more safe to sleep, to read a book, The Thracian harp with cunning to have strook.
But if my words with winged storm hence slip, Yet, Galatea, favour thou her ship.
The loss of such a wench much blame will gather, Both to the sea-nymphs and the sea-nymphs" father.
Go, minding to return with prosperous wind, Whose blast may hither strongly be inclined.
Let Nereus bend the waves unto this sh.o.r.e, Hither the winds blow, here the spring-tide roar. 40 Request mild Zephyr"s help for thy avail, And with thy hand a.s.sist thy swelling sail.
I from the sh.o.r.e thy known ship first will see, And say it brings her that preserveth me.
I"ll clip[299] and kiss thee with all contentation; For thy return shall fall the vowed oblation; And in the form of beds we"ll strew soft sand; Each little hill shall for a table stand: There, wine being filled, thou many things shalt tell, How, almost wrecked, thy ship in main seas fell. 50 And hasting to me, neither darksome night, Nor violent south-winds did thee aught affright, I"ll think all true, though it be feigned matter!
Mine own desires why should myself not flatter?
Let the bright day-star cause in heaven this day be, To bring that happy time so soon as may be.
FOOTNOTES:
[294] Not in Isham copy or ed. A.
[295] "Caesa."
[296] Old eds. "Argos."
[297] "Bibuli litoris illa mora est."
[298] Dyce was doubtless right in supposing "wreaks" to be used _metri causa_ for "wrecks." Cunningham wanted to give the meaning "recks;" but that meaning does not suit the context. The original has "credenti nulla procella nocet."
[299] "Excipiamque humeris."
ELEGIA XII.[300]
Exultat, quod amica pot.i.tus sit.
About my temples go, triumphant bays!
Conquered Corinna in my bosom lays.
She whom her husband, guard, and gate, as foes, Lest art should win her, firmly did enclose: That victory doth chiefly triumph merit, Which without bloodshed doth the prey inherit.
No little ditched towns, no lowly walls, But to my share a captive damsel falls.
When Troy by ten years" battle tumbled down, With the Atrides many gained renown: 10 But I no partner of my glory brook, Nor can another say his help I took.
I, guide and soldier, won the field and wear her, I was both horseman, footman, standard-bearer.
Nor in my act hath fortune mingled chance: O care-got[301] triumph hitherwards advance!
Nor is my war"s cause new; but for a queen, Europe and Asia in firm peace had been; The Lapiths and the Centaurs, for a woman, To cruel arms their drunken selves did summon; 20 A woman forced the Trojans new to enter Wars, just Latinus, in thy kingdom"s centre; A woman against late-built Rome did send The Sabine fathers, who sharp wars intend.
I saw how bulls for a white heifer strive, She looking on them did more courage give.
And me with many, but me[302] without murther, Cupid commands to move his ensigns further.
FOOTNOTES:
[300] Not in Isham copy or ed. A.
[301] "Cura parte triumphe mea."
[302] Ed. B "but yet me."--Ed. C "but yet without."
ELEGIA XIII.[303]
Ad Isidem, ut parientem Corinnam servet.
While rashly her womb"s burden she casts out, Weary Corinna hath her life in doubt.
She, secretly from[304] me, such harm attempted, Angry I was, but fear my wrath exempted.
But she conceived of me; or I am sure I oft have done what might as much procure.
Thou that frequent"st Canopus" pleasant fields, Memphis, and Pharos that sweet date-trees yields, And where swift Nile in his large channel skipping,[305]
By seven huge mouths into the sea is slipping. 10 By feared Anubis" visage I thee pray,-- So in thy temples shall Osiris stay, And the dull snake about thy offerings creep, And in thy pomp horned Apis with thee keep,-- Turn thy looks. .h.i.ther, and in one spare twain: Thou givest my mistress life, she mine again.
She oft hath served thee upon certain days, Where the French[306] rout engirt themselves with bays.
On labouring women thou dost pity take, Whose bodies with their heavy burdens ache; 20 My wench, Lucina, I entreat thee favour; Worthy she is, thou should"st in mercy save her.
In white, with incense, I"ll thine altars greet, Myself will bring vowed gifts before thy feet, Subscribing _Naso with Corinna saved_: Do but deserve gifts with this t.i.tle graved.
But, if in so great fear I may advise thee, To have this skirmish fought let it suffice thee.
FOOTNOTES:
[303] Not in Isham copy or ed. A.
[304] Old eds. "with," which must be a printer"s error. (The original has "clam me.")
[305] Old eds. "slipping."