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Elegia XIII. Ad Auroram ne properet. - Christopher Marlowe, The Works of Christopher Marlowe, vol. 3 (Poems) [1598]

Edition used:

The Works of Christopher Marlowe, ed. A.H. Bullen (London: John C. Nimmo, 1885). Vol. 3.

Part of: The Works of Christopher Marlowe, 3 vols.

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Elegia XIII.
Ad Auroram ne properet.

  • Now o'er the sea from her old love comes she
  • That draws the day from heaven's cold axletree.
  • Aurora, whither slid'st thou? down again!
  • And birds for1 Memnon yearly shall be slain.
  • Now in her tender arms I sweetly bide,
  • If ever, now well lies she by my side.
  • The air is cold, and sleep is sweetest now,
  • And birds send forth shrill notes from every bough.
  • Whither runn'st thou, that men and women love not?
  • Hold in thy rosy horses that they move not.

    10

  • Ere thou rise, stars teach seamen where to sail,
  • But when thou com'st, they of their courses fail.
  • Poor travellers though tired, rise at thy sight,
  • And2 soldiers make them ready to the fight.
  • The painful hind by thee to field is sent;
  • Slow oxen early in the yoke are pent.
  • Thou coz'nest boys of sleep, and dost betray them
  • To pedants that with cruel lashes pay them.
  • Thou mak'st the surety to the lawyer run,
  • That with one word hath nigh himself undone.

    20

  • The lawyer and the client hate thy view,
  • Both whom thou raisest up to toil anew.
  • By thy means women of their rest are barred,
  • Thou settst their labouring hands to spin and card.
  • All3 could I bear; but that the wench should rise,
  • Who can endure, save him with whom none lies?
  • How oft wished I night would not give thee place,
  • Nor morning stars shun thy uprising face!
  • How oft that either wind would break thy coach,
  • Or steeds might fall, forced with thick clouds' approach!

    30

  • Whither go'st thou, hateful nymph? Memnon the elf
  • Received his coal-black colour from thyself.
  • Say that thy love with Cephalus were not known,
  • Then thinkest thou thy loose life is not shown?
  • Would Tithon might but talk of thee awhile!
  • Not one in heaven should be more base and vile.
  • Thou leav'st his bed, because he's faint through age,
  • And early mount'st thy hateful carriage:
  • But held'st1 thou in thine arms some Cephalus,
  • Then would'st thou cry, “Stay night, and run not thus.”

    40

  • Dost punish2 me because years make him wane?
  • I did not bid thee wed an agèd swain.
  • The moon sleeps with Endymion every day;
  • Thou art as fair as she, then kiss and play.
  • Jove, that thou should'st not haste but wait his leisure,
  • Made two nights one to finish up his pleasure.
  • I chid3 no more; she blushed, and therefore heard me,
  • Yet lingered not the day, but morning scared me.

[1]So Dyce for “from” of the old eds.

[2]This line is omitted in ed. A.

[3]Isham copy and ed. A “This.”

[1]Isham copy and ed A “had'st.”

[2]Isham copy and ed. A “Punish ye me.”

[3]So the Isham copy. The other old eds. “chide.”