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Elegia X. Ad Græcinum quod eodem tempore duas amet. - 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 X.
Ad Græcinum quod eodem tempore duas amet.

  • Græcinus (well I wot) thou told'st me once,
  • I could not be in love with two at once;
  • By thee deceived, by thee surprised am I,
  • For now I love two women equally:
  • Both are well favoured, both rich in array,
  • Which is the loveliest1 it is hard to say:
  • This seems the fairest, so doth that to me;
  • And2 this doth please me most, and so doth she;
  • Even as a boat tossed by contràry wind,
  • So with this love and that wavers my mind.

    10

  • Venus, why doublest thou my endless smart?
  • Was not one wench enough to grieve my heart?
  • Why add'st thou stars to heaven, leaves to green woods,
  • And to the deep3 vast sea fresh water-floods?
  • Yet this is better far than lie alone:
  • Let such as be mine enemies have none;
  • Yea, let my foes sleep in an empty bed,
  • And in the midst their bodies largely spread:
  • But may soft4 love rouse up my drowsy eyes,
  • And from my mistress' bosom let me rise!

    20

  • Let one wench cloy me with sweet love's delight,
  • If one can do't; if not, two every night.
  • Though I am slender, I have store of pith,
  • Nor want I strength, but weight, to press her with:
  • Pleasure adds fuel to my lustful fire,
  • I pay them home with that they most desire:
  • Oft have I spent the night in wantonness,
  • And in the morn been lively ne'ertheless.
  • He's happy who Love's mutual skirmish slays;
  • And to the gods for that death Ovid prays.

    30

  • Let soldiers1 chase their enemies amain,
  • And with their blood eternal honour gain,
  • Let merchants seek wealth and2 with perjured lips,
  • Being wrecked, carouse the sea tired by their ships;
  • But when I die, would I might droop with doing,
  • And in the midst thereof, set3 my soul going,
  • That at my funerals some may weeping cry,
  • “Even as he led his life, so did he die.”

[1]“Artibus in dubio est haec sit an illa prior.” Dyce suggests that Marlowe read “Artubus.”

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

[3]Eds. B, C, “vast deep sea.”

[4]The original has “saevus” (for which Marlowe seems to have read “suavis”).

[1]Isham copy and ed. A “souldiour … his,” and in the next line “his blood.”

[2]So Cunningham for—

  • “Let merchants seek wealth with perjurèd lips
  • And being wrecked,” &c.

[3]So Isham copy and eds. B, C.—Ed. A “let.”