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Elegia XII. Dolet amicam suam ita suis carminibus innotuisse ut rivales multos sibi pararit. - 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 XII.1
Dolet amicam suam ita suis carminibus innotuisse ut rivales multos sibi pararit.

  • What day was that, which all sad haps to bring,
  • White birds to lovers did not2 always sing?
  • Or is I think my wish against the stars?
  • Or shall I plain some god against me wars?
  • Who mine was called, whom I loved more than any,
  • I fear with me is common now to many.
  • Err I? or by my books3 is she so known?
  • 'Tis so: by my wit her abuse is grown.
  • And justly: for her praise why did I tell?
  • The wench by my fault is set forth to sell.

    10

  • The bawd I play, lovers to her I guide:
  • Her gate by my hands is set open wide.
  • 'Tis doubtful whether verse avail or harm,
  • Against my good they were an envious charm
  • When Thebes, when Troy, when Cæsar should be writ,
  • Alone Corinna moves my wanton wit.
  • With Muse opposed, would I my lines had done,
  • And Phœbus had forsook my work begun!
  • Nor, as use will not poets' record hear,
  • Would I my words would any credit bear.

    20

  • Scylla by us her father's rich hair steals,
  • And Scylla's womb mad raging dogs conceals.
  • We cause feet fly, we mingle hares with snakes,
  • Victorious Perseus a winged steed's back takes.
  • Our verse great Tityus a huge space outspreads,
  • And gives the viper-curlèd dog three heads.
  • We make Enceladus use a thousand arms,
  • And men enthralled by mermaid's1 singing charms.
  • The east winds in Ulysses' bags we shut,
  • And blabbing Tantalus in mid-waters put.

    30

  • Niobe flint, Callist we make a bear,
  • Bird-changèd Progne doth her Itys tear.2
  • Jove turns himself into a swan, or gold,
  • Or his bull's horns Europa's hand doth hold.
  • Proteus what should I name? teeth, Thebes' first seed?
  • Oxen in whose mouths burning flames did breed?
  • Heaven-star, Electra,3 that bewailed her sisters?
  • The ships, whose godhead in the sea now glisters?
  • The sun turned back from Atreus' cursèd table?

    39

  • And sweet-touched harp that to move stones was able?
  • Poets' large power is boundless and immense,
  • Nor have their words true history's pretence.
  • And my wench ought to have seemed falsely praised,
  • Now your credulity harm to me hath raised.

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

[2]Marlowe has put his negative in the wrong place and made nonsense of the couplet:—

  • “Quis fuit ille dies quo tristia semper amanti Omina non albae concinuistis aves?”

[3]Old eds. “lookes.”

[1]“Ambiguae captos virginis ore viros.” (“Ambigua virgo” is the Sphinx.)

[2]The original has “Concinit Odrysium Cecropis ales Ityn.”

[3]Marlowe's copy must have been very corrupt here. The true reading is

  • “Flere genis electra tuas, auriga, sorores?”