University of Virginia Library

ELEGIA. 16. Ad amicam, vt adrura suaveniat.

Svlmo , Pelignies third part me containes,
A small, but wholesome soyle with watrie veynes.
Although the Sunne to riue the earth incline,
And the Icarian froward Dog-starre shine.


Pilignian fields which liquid riuers flow,
And on the soft ground fertile greene grasse grow.
With corne the earth abounds, with vines much more,
And some few pastures Pallas Oliues bore.
And by the rising herbes, where cleare springs slide,
A grassie turffe the moistened earth doth hide.
But absent is my sire, lyes ile tell none,
My heate is heere, what moues my heate is gone.
Pollux and Castor, might I stand betwixt,
In heauen without thee would I not be fixt.
Vpon the cold earth pensiue let them lay,
That meane to trauaile some long irkesome way.
Or else will maidens yong-menns mates, to go
If they determine to perseuere so.
Then on the rough Alpes should I tread aloft,
My hard way with my mistresse would seeme soft,
With her I durst the Lybian Sirtes break through,
And raging Seas in boistrous South-winds plough.
No barking Dogs, that Syllaes intrailes beare,
Nor thy gulfes crooked Malea, would I feare.
No flowing waues with drowned ships forth powred,
By cloyed Charibdis, and againe deuoured.
But if sterne Neptunes windie powre preuaile.
And waters force, force helping Gods to faile,
With thy white armes vpon my shoulders seaze,
So sweet a burthen I will beare with eaze.
The youth oft swimming to his Hero kinde,
Had then swum ouer, but the way was blinde,
But without thee, although vine-planted ground
Conteines me, though the streames in fields surround.
Though Hindes in brookes the running waters bring,
And coole gales shake the tall trees leauy spring.


Healthfull Peligny I esteeme nought worth,
Nor doe I like the countrie of my birth.
Sythia, Cilicia, Brittaine are as good,
And rockes dyed crimson with Prometheus blood.
Elmes loue the Vines, the Vines with Elmes abide,
Why doth my mistresse from me oft deuide?
Thou swearest, deuision should not twixt vs rise,
By me, and by my starres, thy radiant eyes.
Maides words more vaine and light then falling leaues,
Which as it seemes, hence winde and sea bereaues,
If any godly care of me thou hast,
Adde deeds vnto thy promises at last.
And with swift Naggs drawing thy little Coach,
(Their reines let loose) right soone my house approach.
But when she comes, your swelling mounts sinck downe
And falling vallies be the smooth-wayes crowne.