View me, my becks, and speaking countenance;
Take, and receive each secret amorous glance.
Words without voice shall on my eyebrows sit,
Lines thou shalt read in wine by my hand writ.
When our lascivious toys come to thy mind,
Thy rosy cheeks be to thy thumb inclin'd.

If ought of me thou speak'st in inward thought,
Let thy soft finger to thy ear be brought.
When I (my light!) do or say ought that please thee,
Turn round thy gold ring, as it were to ease thee.
Strike on the board like them that pray for evil,
When thou do'st wish thy husband at the devil.
What wine he fills thee, wisely will him drink,
Ask thou the boy, what thou enough do'st think.
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,
Nor leave 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 giv'st kisses, I shall all disclose,
Say they are mine, and hands on thee impose.
Yet this I'll see, but if thy gown ought 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 perplex'd,
And with mistrust of the like measure vex'd.

I and my wench oft under cloths did lurk,
When pleasure mov'd us to our sweetest work.
Do not thou so, but throw thy mantle hence,
Lest I should think thee guilty of offence.
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
Have care to walk in middle of the throng.
There will I find thee or be found by thee,
There touch whatever thou can'st touch of me.
Aye me! I warn what profits some few hours,
But we must part, when heav'n with black night lowers.
At night thy husband clips, [and] 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.
Constrain'd against thy will give it the peasant,
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.

ELEGIA 5.*

Corinnæ concubitus.

IN summer's heat, and mid-time of the day,
To rest my limbs, upon a bed I lay;
One window shut, the other open stood,
Which gave such light, as twinkles in a wood,

Like twilight glimpse at setting of the sun
Or night being past, and yet not day begun ;
Such light to shamefaced maidens must be shown
Where they may sport, and seem to be unknown:
Then came Corinna in a long loose gown,

Her white neck hid with tresses hanging down,
Resembling fair Semiramis going to bed,

Or Lais of a thousand wooers spread.

I snatch'd her gown being thin, the harın was small, Yet striv'd she to be covered therewithal,

And striving thus as one that would be cast,
Betrayed herself, and yielded at the last.
Stark naked as she stood before mine eye,
Not one wen in her body could I spy.
What arms and shoulders did I touch and see,
How apt her breasts were to be press'd by me.
How smooth a belly under her waist saw I,
How large a leg, and what a lusty thigh.
To leave the rest, all lik'd me passing well;
I cling'd her fair naked body, down she fell:
Judge you the rest, being tired she bade me kiss;
Jove send me more such afternoons as this!

ELEGIA 6.

Ad Janitorem, ut fores sibi aperiat.
UNWORTHY porter, bound in chains fullsore,
On moved hooks set ope the churlish door.
Little I ask, a little entrance make,
The gate half ope my bent side in will take.
Long love my body to such use makes slender,
And to get out doth like apt members render.

He shews me how unheard to pass the watch,
And guides my feet lest stumbling falls they catch:
But in times past I fear'd vain shades, and night,
Wondering if any walked without light.

Love hearing it laugh'd with his tender mother,
And smiling said, be thou as bold as other.
Forthwith love came, no dark night-flying spright,
Nor hands prepar'd to slaughter, me affright.
Thee fear I too much only thee I flatter,
Thy lightning can my life in pieces batter.
Why enviest me? this hostile door unbar,
See how the gates with my tears wat'red are.
When thou stood'st naked ready be beat,
For thee I did thy mistress fair intreat.
But what entreats for thee sometimes took place,
(O mischief!) now for me obtain small grace.
Grateful thou mayest be free give like for like;
Night goes away: the door's bar backward strike.
Strike, so again hard chains shall bind thee never,
Nor servile water shalt thou drink for ever.
Hard-hearted Porter doest and wilt not hear,
With stiff oak propp'd the gate doth still appear.
Such rampier'd gates besieged cities aid,
In midst of peace why art of arms afraid?
Exclud'st a lover, how would'st use a foe?
Strike back the bar, night fast away doth go.
With arms or armed men I come not guarded,
I am alone, were furious love discarded.
Although I would, I cannot him cashier,
Before I be divided from my geer.

See Love with me, wine moderate in my brain,
And on my hairs a crown of flowers remain.
Who fears these arms? who will not go to meet them?
Night runs away, with open entrance greet them?
Art careless? or is't sleep forbids thee hear,
Giving the winds my words running in thine ear.
Well I remember when I first did hire thee,
Watching till after mid-night did not tire thee.
But now perchance thy wench with thee doth rest,
Ah how thy lot is above my lot blest :
Though it be so, shut me not out therefore,
Night goes away: I pray thee ope the door.
Err we? or do the turned hinges sound,
And opening doors with creaking noise abound?
We err: a strong blast seem'd the gates to ope:
Ah me how high that gale did lift my hope!
If Boreas bears Orithia's rape in mind,

Come break these deaf doors with thy boisterous wind.
Silent the city is: night's dewy host,

March fast away: the bar strike from the post.
Or I more stern than fire or sword will turn,
And with my brand these gorgeous houses burn.
Night, love, and wine to all extremes persuade :
Night, shameless wine, and love are fearless made.
All have I spent: no threats or prayers move thee,
O harder than the doors thou guardest I prove thee!
No pretty wenches' keeper may'st thou be,
The careful prison is more meet for thee.
Now frosty night her flight begins to take,
And crowing cocks poor souls to work awake.