 | Ouids elegies |  |
ELEGIA. 2. Quod primo amore correptus, in triumphum duci so a cupidine patiatur.
VVhat makes my bed seeme hard seeing it is soft?Or why slips downe the couerlet so oft?
Although the nights be long, I sleepe not tho,
My sides are sore with tumbling to and fro.
Were loue the cause, it's like I should descry him,
Or lyes he close, and shootes where none can spie him.
'Twas so, he stroke me with a slender dart,
'Tis cruell loue turmoyles my captiue heart.
Yeelding or strugling do we giue him might,
Let's yeeld, a burthen easly borne is light.
I saw a brandisht fire increase in strength,
Which being not slackt, I saw it dye at length.
Young Oxen newly yoakt are beaten more,
Then Oxen which haue drawne the plough before.
And rough Iades mouthes with stuborne bits are torne,
But managde horses heads are lightly borne.
Vnwilling louers, loue doth more torment,
Loe I confesse, I am thy captiue I,
And hold my conquer'd hands for thee to tie.
What need'st thou warre, I sue to thee for grace,
With armes to conquer armelesse men is base.
Yoake Venus Doues, put Mirtle on thy haire,
Vulcan will giue thee chariots rich and faire.
The people thee applauding thou shalt stand,
Guiding the harmelesse Pigeons with thy hand.
Yong men, and women shalt thou lead as thrall,
So will thy triumph seeme magnificall.
I lately caught, will haue a new made wound,
And captiue like be manacled and bound.
Good meaning shame, and such as seeke loues wrack
Shall follow thee their hands tyed at their back.
Thee all shall feare, and worship as a King,
Io, triumphing shall thy people sing.
Smooth speaches, feare, and rage shall by thee ride,
Which troupes haue alwayes bene on Cupids side:
Thou with these souldiours, conquerest Gods and men,
Take these away, where is thine honour then?
Thy mother shall from heauen applaude this show,
And on their faces heapes of Roses strow.
With beautie of thy wings thy faire haire guilded,
Ride golden loue in chariots richly builded.
Vnlesse I erre, full many shalt thou burne,
And giue wounds infinite at euery turne.
In spite of thee forth will thine arrowes flye,
A scortching flame burnes all the standers by.
So hauing conquer'd Iude was Bacchus hew,
The pompous Birds, and him two Tygers drew.
Then seeing I grace thy show in following thee,
Behold thy kins-mans Cæsars prosperous bands,
Who guards thee conquered, with his conquering hands.
| Ouids elegies | |