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Elegia XIV. In amicam, quod abortivum ipsa fecerit. - 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 XIV.2
In amicam, quod abortivum ipsa fecerit.

  • What helps it woman to be free from war,
  • Nor, being armed, fierce troops to follow far,
  • If without battle self-wrought wounds annoy them,
  • And their own privy-weaponed hands destroy them.
  • Who unborn infants first to slay invented,
  • Deserved thereby with death to be tormented.
  • Because thy belly should rough wrinkles lack,
  • Wilt thou thy womb-inclosèd offspring wrack?
  • Had ancient mothers this vile custom cherished,
  • All human kind by their default3 had perished;

    10

  • Or1 stones, our stock's original should be hurled.
  • Again, by some, in this unpeopled world.
  • Who should have Priam's wealthy substance won,
  • If watery Thetis had her child fordone?
  • In swelling womb her twins had Ilia killed,
  • He had not been that conquering Rome did build.
  • Had Venus spoiled her belly's Trojan fruit,
  • The earth of Cæsars had been destitute.
  • Thou also that wert born fair, had'st decayed,
  • If such a work thy mother had assayed.

    20

  • Myself, that better die with loving may,
  • Had seen, my mother killing me, no2 day.
  • Why tak'st increasing grapes from vinetrees full?
  • With cruel hand why dost green apples pull?
  • Fruits ripe will fall; let springing things increase,
  • Life is no light price of a small surcease.3
  • Why with hid irons are your bowels torn?
  • And why dire poison give you babes unborn?
  • At Colchis, stained with children's blood, men rail.
  • And mother-murdered Itys they4 bewail

    30

  • Both unkind parents; but, for causes sad,
  • Their wedlocks' pledges5 venged their husbands bad.
  • What Tereus, what Iason you provokes,
  • To plague your bodies with such harmful strokes?
  • Armenian tigers never did so ill,
  • Nor dares the lioness her young whelps kill.
  • But tender damsels do it, though with pain;
  • Oft dies she that her paunch-wrapt1 child hath slain:
  • She dies, and with loose hairs to grave is sent,
  • And whoe'er see her, worthily2 lament.

    40

  • But in the air let these words come to naught,
  • And my presages of no weight be thought.
  • Forgive her, gracious gods, this one delict,
  • And on the next fault punishment inflict.

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

[3]“Vitio.”

[1]Old eds. “On.”

[2]Old eds. “to-day.”

[3]“Est pretium parvæ non leve vita moræ.”

[4]Dyce's suggestion for “thee” of the old eds. The original has “Aque sua caesum matre queruntur Ityn.”

[5]“Sed tristibus utraque causis Jactura socil sanguinis ulta virum.'

[1]An inelegant translation of “Saepe suos uteros quae necat ipsa perit.”

[2]Marlowe has given a meaning the very opposite of the original—” Et clamant ‘Merito’ qui modo cumque vident.”