Ouids elegies :: :: University of Virginia Library

The lofty Pine from high mount Pelion raught
Ill wayes by rough seas wōdring waues first taught
Which rashly t'wixt the sharpe rockes in the deepe,
Caried the famous golden-fleeced sheepe.
O would that no Oares might in seas haue suncke
The Argos wrackt had deadly waters drunke.
Loe country Gods, and know bed to forsake
Corinna meanes, and dangerous wayes to take.
For thee the East and West winds make me pale,
With Icy Boreas, and the Southerne gale.
Thou shalt admire no woods or Citties there,
The vniust seas all blewish do appeare.
The Ocean hath no painted stones or shelles,
The sucking shore with their aboundance swels.
Maides on the shore, with marble white feet tread,
So farre 'tis safe, but to go farther, dread.
Let others tell how winds fierce battailes wage,
How Scyllaes and Caribdis waters rage.

And with what rocke the feard Cerannia threat,
In what gulfe either Syrtes haue their seate.
Let others tell this, and what each one speakes
Beleeue, no tempest the beleeuer wreakes.
Too late you looke back, when with anchor weighd,
The crooked Barque hath her swift sayles displayd.
The carefull ship-man now feares angry gusts,
And with the waters sees death neere him thrusts,
But if that Triton tosse the troubled floud,
In all thy face will be no crimson bloud.
Then wilt thou Lædas noble twinne-starrs pray,
And he is happy whom the earth holds, say,
It is more safe to sleepe, to read a booke,
The Thracian Harpe with cunning to haue strooke,
But if my words with winged stormes hence slip,
Yet Galatea fauour thou her ship.
The losse of such a wench much blame will gather,
Both to the Sea-nimphs and the Sea-nimphs father.
Go minding to returne with prosperous winde,
Whose blast may hether strongly be inclinde,
Let [illeg.] bend the waues vnto this shore,
Hether the windes blowe, here the spring-tide rore,
Request mild Zephires helpe for thy auaile,
And with thy hand assist thy swelling saile,
I from the shore thy knowne ship first will see,
And say it brings her that preserueth me;
Ile clip and kisse thee with all contentation,
For thy returne shall fall the vowd oblation
And in the forme of beds weele strow soft sand,
Each little hill shall for a table stand:
There wine being fild, thou many things shalt tell,
How almost wrackt thy ship in maine seas fell.

And hasting to me, neither darkesome night,
Nor violent South-windes did thee ought affright.
Ile thinke all true, though it be feigned matter,
Mine owne desires why should my selfe not flatter?
Let the bright day-starre cause in heauen this day be,
To bring that happy time so soone as may be.