Ouid's elegies three bookes. By C.M. Epigrames by I.D.

ELEGIA. 5.

Ad amicam corruptam.

NO loue is so deere (quiuer'd Cupid flie) That my chiefe with should be so oft to die. Minding my fault, with death I wish to reuill, Alas a wench is a perpetuall euill. No intercepted lines thy deedes display, No giftes giuen secretly thy crime bewray. O would my proofes as vaine might be withstood, Aye me poore soule why is my cause so good. He's happy, that his loue dares boldly credit, To whom his wench can say, I neuer did it. He's cruell, and too much his griefe doth fauour, That seekes the conquest by her loose behauiour. Poore wench I sawe when thou didst thinke I slumbred. Not drunke, your faults on the spilt wine I numbred. I saw your nodding eye-browes much to speake, Euen from your cheekes, part of a voyce did breake. Not silent were thine eyes, the boord with wine, Was scribled, and thy fingers writ a line. I knew your speech (what doe not louers see?) And words that seem'd for certaine markes to be. Now many guests were gone, the feast being done, The youthfull sort to diuers pastimes runne. I saw you then vnlawfull kisses ioyne, (Such with my tounge it likes me to purloyne) None such the sister giues her brother graue, But such kinde wenches let their louers haue. Phaebus gaue not Diana such, t'is thought, But Venus often to her Mars such brought.

What doest, I cryed; transportst thou any delight? My lordly hands ile throw vpon my right. Such blisse is onely common to vs two, In this sweet good, why hath a third to do? This, and what griefe inforc'd me say I say'd, A scarlet blush her guilty face arayed. Euen such as by Aurora hath the skie, Or maides that their betrothed husbands spie. Such as a rose mixt with a lilly breedes, Or when the Moone trauailes with charmed steedes. Or such, as least long yeares should rurne the die, Arachne staynes Assyrian iuory. To these, or some of these like was her colour, By chaunce her beauty neuer shined fuller. She viewed the earth: the earth to view, be••eem'd her, She looked sad▪ sad, comely I esteem'd her. Euen kembed as they were, her lockes to rend, And scratch her faire soft checkes I did intend. Seeing her face, mine vpreard armes descended, With her owne armour was my wench defended. I that ere-while was fierce, now humbly sue, Least with worse kisses she should me indue. She laught, and kiss'd so sweetely as might make Wrath-kindled Ioue away his thunder shake. I grieue least others should such good perceiue, And wish hereby them all vnknowne to leaue. Also much better were they then I tell, And euer seem'd as some new sweet befell. ••Tis ill they pleas'd so much, for in my lips, Lay her whole tongue hid, mine in hers she dips. This grieues me not, no ioyned kisses spent, Bewaile I onely, though I them lament.

No where can they be taught but in the bed, I know no maister of so great hire sped.