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Elegia XI. Ad amicam navigantem. - 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 XI.4
Ad amicam navigantem.

  • The lofty pine, from high Mount Pelion raught,5
  • Ill ways by rough seas wondering waves first taught;
  • Which rashly 'twixt the sharp rocks in the deep,
  • Carried the famous golden-fleecèd sheep.
  • O would that no oars might in seas have sunk!
  • The Argo6 wrecked had deadly waters drunk.
  • Lo, country gods and know[n] bed to forsake
  • Corinna means, and dangerous ways to take.
  • For thee the East and West winds make me pale,
  • With icy Boreas, and the Southern gale.

    10

  • Thou shalt admire no woods or cities there,
  • The unjust seas all bluish do appear.
  • The ocean hath no painted stones or shells,
  • The sucking1 shore with their abundance swells.
  • Maids on the shore, with marble-white feet tread,
  • So far 'tis safe; but to go farther, dread.
  • Let others tell how winds fierce battles wage,
  • How Scylla's and Charybdis' waters rage;
  • And with what rock[s] the feared Ceraunia threat;
  • In what gulf either Syrtes have their seat.

    20

  • Let others tell this, and what each one speaks
  • Believe; no tempest the believer wreaks.2
  • Too late you look back, when with anchors weighed,
  • The crookèd bark hath her swift sails displayed.
  • The careful shipman now fears angry gusts,
  • And with the waters sees death near him thrusts.
  • But if that Triton toss the troubled flood,
  • In all thy face will be no crimson blood.
  • Then wilt thou Leda's noble twin-stars pray,
  • And, he is happy whom the earth holds, say.

    30

  • It is more safe to sleep, to read a book,
  • The Thracian harp with cunning to have strook.
  • But if my words with wingèd storm hence slip,
  • Yet, Galatea, favour thou her ship.
  • The loss of such a wench much blame will gather,
  • Both to the sea-nymphs and the sea-nymphs' father.
  • Go, minding to return with prosperous wind,
  • Whose blast may hither strongly be inclined.
  • Let Nereus bend the waves unto this shore,
  • Hither the winds blow, here the spring-tide roar.

    40

  • Request mild Zephyr's help for thy avail,
  • And with thy hand assist thy swelling sail.
  • I from the shore thy known ship first will see,
  • And say it brings her that preserveth me.
  • I'll clip1 and kiss thee with all contentation;
  • For thy return shall fall the vowed oblation;
  • And in the form of beds we'll strew soft sand;
  • Each little hill shall for a table stand:
  • There, wine being filled, thou many things shalt tell,
  • How, almost wrecked, thy ship in main seas fell.

    50

  • And hasting to me, neither darksome night,
  • Nor violent south-winds did thee aught affright,
  • I'll think all true, though it be feignèd matter!
  • Mine own desires why should myself not flatter?
  • Let the bright day-star cause in heaven this day be,
  • To bring that happy time so soon as may be.

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

[5]“Cæsa.”

[6]Old eds. “Argos.”

[1]“Bibuli litoris illa mora est.”

[2]Dyce was doubtless right in supposing “wreaks” to be used metri causa for “wrecks.” Cunningham wanted to give the meaning “recks;” but that meaning does not suit the context. The original has “credenti nulla procella nocet.”

[1]“Excipiamque humens,”