T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
From Elegies: Book I. Elegia IV.
By Ovid (43 B.C.–18 A.D.)(Translated by Christopher Marlowe) Amicam, qua arte quibusque nutibus in cæna, presente viro, uti debeat, admonet. |
THY husband to a banquet goes with me, | |
| Pray God it may his latest supper be. | |
| Shall I sit gazing as a bashful guest, | |
| While others touch the damsel I love best? | |
| Wilt lying under him, his bosom clip? | 5 |
| About thy neck shall he at pleasure skip? | |
| Marvel not, though the fair bride did incite | |
| The drunken Centaurs to a sudden fight. | |
| I am no half horse, nor in woods I dwell, | |
| Yet scarce my hands from thee contain I well. | 10 |
| But how thou should’st behave thyself now know, | |
| Nor let the winds away my warnings blow. | |
| Before thy husband come, though I not see | |
| What may be done, yet there before him be. | |
| Lie with him gently, when his limbs he spread | 15 |
| Upon the bed; but on my foot first tread. | |
| View me, my becks, and speaking countenance; | |
| Take, and return each secret amorous glance. | |
| Words without voice shall on my eyebrows sit, | |
| Lines thou shalt read in wine by my hand writ. | 20 |
| When our lascivious toys come to thy mind, | |
| Thy rosy cheeks be to thy thumb inclined. | |
| If aught of me thou speak’st in inward thought, | |
| Let thy soft finger to thy ear be brought. | |
| When I, my light, do or say aught that please thee, | 25 |
| Turn around thy gold ring, as it were to ease thee. | |
| Strike on the board like them that pray for evil, | |
| When thou dost wish thy husband at the devil. | |
| What wine he fills thee, wisely will him drink; | |
| Ask thou the boy, what thou enough dost think. | 30 |
| When thou hast tasted, I will take the cup, | |
| And where thou drink’st, on that part I will sup. | |
| If he gives thee what first himself did taste, | |
| Even in his face his offered goblets cast. | |
| Let not thy neck by his vile arms be prest, | 35 |
| Nor lean thy soft head on his boisterous breast. | |
| Thy bosom’s roseate buds let him not finger, | |
| Chiefly on thy lips let not his lips linger | |
| If thou givest kisses, I shall all disclose, | |
| Say they are mine, and hands on thee impose. | 40 |
| Yet this I’ll see, but if thy gown aught cover, | |
| Suspicious fear in all my veins will hover. | |
| Mingle not thighs, nor to his leg join thine, | |
| Nor thy soft foot with his hard foot combine. | |
| I have been wanton, therefore am perplexed, | 45 |
| And with mistrust of the like measure vexed. | |
| I and my wench oft under clothes did lurk, | |
| When pleasure moved us to our sweetest work. | |
| Do not thou so; but throw thy mantle hence, | |
| Lest I should think thee guilty of offence, | 50 |
| Entreat thy husband drink, but do not kiss, | |
| And while he drinks, to add more do not miss; | |
| If he lies down with wine and sleep opprest, | |
| The thing and place shall counsel us the rest. | |
| When to go homewards we rise all along | 55 |
| Have care to walk in middle of the throng, | |
| There will I find thee or be found by thee, | |
| There touch whatever thou canst touch of me. | |
| Ah me! I warn what profits some few hours! | |
| But we must part, when heaven with black night lours. | 60 |
| At night thy husband clips thee: I will weep | |
| And to the doors sight of thyself [will] keep: | |
| Then will he kiss thee, and not only kiss, | |
| But force thee give him my stolen honey-bliss. | |
| Constrained against thy will give it the peasant, | 65 |
| Forbear sweet words, and be your sport unpleasant. | |
| To him I pray it no delight may bring, | |
| Or if it do, to thee no joy thence spring. | |
| But, though this night thy fortune be to try it, | |
| To me to-morrow constantly deny it. | 70 |