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(Translated by Christopher Marlowe)
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, | 5 |
| Which is the loveliest it is hard to say: | |
| This seems the fairest, so doth that to me; | |
| And 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 deep vast sea fresh water-floods? | |
| Yet this is better far than lie alone: | 15 |
| 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 soft 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, | 25 |
| 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 whom Love’s mutual skirmish slays; | |
| And to the gods for that death Ovid prays. | 30 |
| Let soldiers chase their enemies amain, | |
| And with their blood eternal honour gain, | |
| Let merchants seek wealth and with perjured lips, | |
| Being wrecked, carouse the sea tired by their ships; | |
| But when I die, would I might droop with doing, | 35 |
| And in the midst thereof, set my soul going, | |
| That at my funerals some may weeping cry, | |
| “Even as he led his life, so did he die.” | |
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