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Elegia I.1
Quod pro gigantomachia amores scribere sit coactus.

I, Ovid, poet, of my2 wantonness,
Born at Peligny, to write more address.
So Cupid wills. Far hence be the severe!
You are unapt my looser lines to hear.
Let maids whom hot desire to husbands lead,3
And rude boys, touched with unknown love, me read
That some youth hurt, as I am, with Love's bow,
His own flame's best-acquainted signs may know,
And long admiring say, “By what means learned,
Hath this same poet my sad chance discern'd?”
10
I durst the great celestial battles tell,
Hundred-hand Gyges, and had done it well;
With Earth's revenge, and how Olympus' top
High Ossa bore, Mount Pelion up to prop;
Jove and Jove's thunderbolts I had in hand,
Which for1 his heaven fell on the giants' band.
My wench her door shut, Jove's affairs I left,
Even Jove himself out of my wit was reft.
Pardon me, Jove! thy weapons aid me nought,
Her shut gates greater lightning than thine brought.
20
Toys, and light elegies, my darts I took,
Quickly soft words hard doors wide-open strook.
Verses reduce the hornèd bloody moon,
And call the sun's white horses back2 at noon.
Snakes leap by verse from caves of broken mountains,3
And turnèd streams run backward to their fountains.
Verses ope doors; and locks put in the post,
Although of oak, to yield to verses boast.
What helps it me of fierce Achill to sing?
What good to me will either Ajax bring?
30
Or he who warred and wandered twenty year?
Or woful Hector whom wild jades did tear?
But when I praise a pretty wench's face,
She in requital doth me oft embrace.
A great reward! Heroes of4 famous names,
Farewell! your favour nought my mind inflames.
Wenches apply your fair looks to my verse,
Which golden Love doth unto me rehearse.

[1]Not in Isham copy or ed. A.

[2]Old eds. “thy.”

[3]A clear instance of a plural verb following a singular subject.

[1]“Quod bene pro cœlo mitteret ille suo.”

[2]Old eds. “blacke.”

[3]“Carmine dissihunt, abruptis faucibus, angues.” (“Fauces” means both “jaw” and “mountain-gorge.” Marlowe has gone desperatel) wrong.)

[4]Old eds. “O.”

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Elegia I. Quod pro gigantomachia amores scribere sit coactus. - Christopher Marlowe, The Works of Christopher Marlowe, vol. 3 (Poems) [1598]

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Elegia I.1Quod pro gigantomachia amores scribere sit coactus.

Elegia I.1
Quod pro gigantomachia amores scribere sit coactus.