asofâ—nesse unto thee To pitty such as are in misery And Brutus she hath given unto none Such a gentle temper and disposition That he who doth not know how thou canst plead Thinkes not thou couldst gainst guilty ones proceed Thou canst at once though they doe seeme conâ—raâ—y Be mild to suiters cruell to the guilty When thou hast undertooke to judge a cause According to the severity of lawes The words that come from thee in generall Seeme as if they were dipt in poyson all May thy cruelty to enemies be knowne Feeling the wounding arrowes of thy tongue Which thou doâ—â— sharpen carefully that none Would thinke thou hadst such a disposition But unto such as fortune hath opprest A woman cannot beare a tenderer brest And this I cheifely then did finde in thee When the most of my friends denied me I will forget them but I will never be Vâ—â—â—indfull of your helpe in 〈◊〉 And â—ster that too neere me doth flow on From Euxine Seas unto his spring shall runne The Sunne shall drive his chariot to the East As it was when Thyestes kept his feast Sooner than you who were much griev'd that I Should be tooke from you all so suddenly Shall accuse me that I have unto him Either ungratefull or forgetfull beene ELEGIE VII To Vestalis VEstalis because you were sent before On purpose unto the cold Euxine shoare To render justice to those Lands which bee 〈◊〉 under the North Axletree You see in what a country I doe â—ie And tâ—at my complaints true can testifie Your words to my complaint much credit brings O young man descended from the Alpine Kings Thou seesâ— the Sea with Ice is frozen up Thou seesâ— the wine is frozen in the cup And thou dost see here how the country Swaine Over the Ister drives his loaden waine And how they doe poyson arrowes you do see That they by two effects may deadly bee And I doe wish thou hadst them onely seene Not by experience knowne to thee had beene For since you did your way through danger make Honour hath beene conferrd on you of late Which honour though it be to you a grace Your vertue doth deserve a higher place This Ister knowes whose streame was dyed red With blood of Getes by tâ—y hand slaughtered And this Aegypsos knowes which thou didst take Which strongly scituate no defence could make This City was as strong by scituation Plac'd on a hill as by fortification From King Sitâ—enius Sa'vages did it winne And as conquerors tâ—ey looke the wealth therein Till Vâ—â—ellius did by water passâ—ge gâ—t For his Army and march'd up against the Gete Thou that valiant Dcâ—nas art descended To march against the enemy wast intended And glistering armour then put on you did For valiant actions never can be bid And marching on the Citie didst assaile Mauger their swords and stones that flew like haile With arrowes shot thou couldst not be withstood Nor with darts dipped in tâ—e vipers blood And there thy body did some wounds sustaine But love of honour takes away all paine Thus Ajax when their ships to Troy did come Resisted the fire-bals which Hector flung But when you fought hand to hand and came nigh That by the sword you might the matter try T is hard to say what valour you did shew And whom you kild or how many you slew And being Conquerour didst tread on the Getes Who by thy sword lay slaughtered there is heapes The Souldiers from their Captaine did fire take Receiving wounds they many wounds did make But yet thy valour did as much exceed As Pegasus surpassed other horses speed Aegypsuâ— tooke in verse Vestalis I Did memorize your deedes to eternity ELEGIE VIII To Sttillius LEarned Suillâ—us your letter was to me Most welcome tâ—ough lately it delivered be â—herein you promise thâ—â— if the gods may Be enclâ—ned by prayer my helpe you â—ill assay Though you availe not your friendly goodwill Obliges me to be your debtor still And may you long continue in this desire Let not my misery make your love to tire Bonds of affinity bind us in one yoake Which I do pray may still remaine unbroke For shee that is thy wife is daughter to me And my wife also sonne in law calstâ—ee Woes me if thou dost frowne when thâ—u hastread My verse and art ashamd of my kinâ—red Yâ—t no cause to be asham'd canst thou finde But Fortune which unto me hath beene blinde Exâ—mine my descent my Ancestrie Were Gentlemen of ancient Pedigree If you examine my lifes integrity Bate me one error I should blamelesse be Then you do thinke interatie may prevaile To entreat the gods humbly do not faile Young Caesar is thy gods his Majestie An Altar is that is well knowne to thee He suffers not his Priests in vainâ— to pray To get some helpe from him therefore assay If he do favour me my Barke hereafter Shall rise againe that 's now suncke in the water Tâ—en I sweeâ—e Insence solmnely will bring Vnto the Altar for an offering And I will tâ—en both testifie and show How much the gods by their owne power can do I will not build a marble Temple â—or thee Germaniâ—us since my fall impovâ—â—ishd mee Let happy fâ—milies Temples build to tâ—ee And Cities that are in prâ—â—perity Ovid will shew his gratitude himselfe By writing verses which are all his wealth Yet he I know a small requitall â—ffords That for life given him doth give backe words But he tâ—at giveth the most he can doe His gratitude abundantly doth shew And in this action â—e hath truely shew'd The high'st perfection of all gratitude When poore men a little Insence sacrifice Vnto the gods they do it not dispise Their little insence is as powerfull even As that which out of a great dish is given The sucking lambe and that which hath beene fed With the Fâ—lisian grasse are offered As sacrifices and with their blood staine The Tarpeian Altars when as they are slaine And yet the thankfull lines of Poets be Most sutable to a Princes dignity Verses doe every where your prayse proclaime And make your worthy deedes still live by fame Vertue doth live by verse and cannot dye But is made knowne unto posterity For time consumeth Iron and hard stone There is nothing that is than time more strong Verses doe beare tâ—eir yeares by verse you know Wâ—o Agamemnon was and also who Did beâ—re armes on his side and what might Did on the other side against him fight Of Thebes or the seven Captaines who had knowne Without verse what shall or hath beene done The gods themselves by verse are deâ—fy'd So that their Majesties doe Poets neede By it tâ—e Chaos natures first rude heape We know was formed into a divers shape Bâ— it the Gyaâ—â—s that affected Heaven By dâ—râ—â—ull thunder unto Styx were driven So Baâ—chus praise bâ— verse abroâ—d was spâ—ed When 〈◊〉 the Indians had 〈◊〉 Hercules in verse hath praised beene Cause â—e Ochâ—lia away did bring And
corne Or how much sweete thâ—me Hybla doth adorne How many birds cut the ayre with their wing How many fishes through the Sea doe swim Before thou canst all my griefes understand Which I have suffered both by Sea and land No people than the Getes more cruell be Yet they have pittyed my misery Which if I should describe to thee in verse An Iliad of my griefes I should rehearse Yet feare I not thou wilt inconstant prove Hâ—ving had many pledges of thy love But since that misery feares everything And joy from me long time hath banishâ— beene â—y sorrowes are into a custome growne As water drops oft falling make a stone â—ollow so Fortune doth me so oft wound That no place for a new stroke can be found Nor is the plough by often use more worne the Appian way by bending wâ—eeles more torne Than is my breast with length of misery â—et I have nothing found that could â—â—lpe me â—ome by the liberall Arâ—s have gotten fame â—ut by my gifts destruction I did gaine My former lâ—â—e was blamelâ—sse without spot Yet this in misery avayl'd me not Great faults are pardon'd when that friends entreate But none at all in my behalâ—e would spâ—ake Tâ—oubles befall some when tâ—ey present be But I was absent when they fell on me Though Caesars wrath not crush where it is bent â—eproch was added to my punishment The time doth often lighten banishment â—ut in the winter I to Sea was sent And Ships oft â—nd tâ—e winter calme enough 〈◊〉 ship found not the Sea more rough â—aithfull companions might some comâ—ort be â—ut I was robbed by my company â—or the place of Exile no land doth lâ—e Vnder both Poles so full of misery â—is comfort to our Country to be nâ—ere â—'me in the farthest part of the world heere â—y Caesars power banisht men protected are â—ut Poâ—tus still is troubled with fierce warre To spend the time in ploughing of the â—â—eld â—s a delight which doth some pleasure yeeld But the â—ierce enemy lying neere us will Not suffer us to plough the ground or till The mind and body love a temperate aire Sarnâ—atian fâ—ces with cold frozen are To drinke sweete water doth the pallate plâ—ase Our water is salt like that in the Seas Though all things faile my minde doth overcome And that is it which makes my body strong To beare a burthen you must strive withall But if you bend or yeeld then you will fall And my hope that the Princes wrath may be Appeald doth make me live and câ—mâ—orts me And you no small comfort to me doe yeeld Whose faith I in my troubles have beheld Proceede as you have now begunne I pray Leav◠〈◊〉 a Ship in the miâ—st of the Sea Me and your judgement you shall so preserve Which judg'd that I your friendship did deserve ELEGIE VIII To Cotta THe Caesars Pictures that like the gods be Which Cotta you sent were delivâ—r'd me And that your giâ—t might more acceptance find Livia's there was with the Caesars joyn'd These silver peeces are than gold more blest Whâ—reon the Caesars figures are exprest You could have given no greater wealth to me Then Pictures wherein I three godâ— see To see the gods in Picture comforts me To speake as t were unto their Majesty Me thinkes remote lands doe not me containe But I returned in the City am I doe see Caesars face as I did before Though I scarce have hope to see him more And as before I salute his Majesty If I returnd I could not happier be What doe not we behold but the Pallace Whereto great Caesars presence giveth grace Beholding him me thinkes I Rome doe sâ—e His face presents his Empire unto me Dreame I or doth his Pictuâ—e still appeare To threaten as with me he angry were O spare me then whose vertues doe excâ—ede And in thy just revenge doe not â—roceede Spare me young Prince the glory of our time Whose nature doth to Soveraignty encline By thy land to thee than thy selfe more deare By the gods who doe alwayes heare thy prayeâ— And by your Consort who was found to be Fit oâ—ely to match with your Majesty And by thy Sonne so like in vertues growne Tâ—at to be thine he may be thereby knowne And by all your other kindred who be By your command advanc'd to high degree Abate my punishment and grant that I May live 〈◊〉 from the Sytâ—ian enemy And you that next unto great Caesar are Be not averse unto my humble prayer So may subdued Germany soone be Carry'd in solemne triumph before thee So may thy Father live to Nestors years And thy old mother untill â—he appeares A Cumâ—an Sybâ—ll and mayst thou long Be unto both of them a happy Sonne And you his royall Queene be pleasd to grant The humble prayers of a poore supplyant So may your husband and your progeny Live in health and your royall family So may Drusus onely of your off-spring dye Being snatcht from you by fate in Germany So may thy Sonne on his white horse soone be The revenger of his brothers destiny Ye gentle powers 〈◊〉 this my fearefull prayer Helpe me since you by picture present are I take delight your countenance to see Since thrâ—e gods in one house encluded be Hâ—ppy are they wâ—o in your presence doe Your Majesties â—n â— not your picture view Which since my haplesse fate to me envyes I â—dore the pictures of your Majesties Thus men did know the gods in the skies hid And for great Iove Ioves Image honour did Let not your Images which shall still reside With me here in this hatefull place abide My head shall sooner be cut from my necke My eyes be dig'd out and lye on my cheeke Then I wâ—nt the pictures of your Majesty In banishment they shall my comfort be For you I would â—mbrace if by the stout Arm'd Getes I were encompassd round about And following the Romane Eagles I Will follow the pictures of yâ—ur Majesty But my desires are to deceive me bent Or tâ—ere is hope of milder banishment The Pictures aspects doe more mild appeare And seeme as if they granted my desire And may my fearefull mind the truth presage That Caesars wrath although just may aâ—â—wage ELEGIE IX To Cotys COtys who art of a royall Progenie Fetching from Eumolpus thy Pedigree If Fame have brought the newes unto your â—are That in a Country neere you I live here Then heare my humble speech gentâ—e young man And helpe a banisht man since that yoh can Fortune deliverd me to thee nor I Complaine she was not then my eneâ—y On thy shore to â—â—ceive me shipwrackt please Let not thy land be unsafer than Seas To helpe the distrest is a royall thing And such great men as you are doth beseeme This becomes your fortune which though it be Great is not like your minds nobility For power can never better be expresâ— Than when it heares and grants a just request Thy great descent requireth
thee And oftentimes I have faults deprehended In thy workes which by thee have â—eene amended When the Pierian goddesses did teach Thee how to frame a strong line that might reach Phâ—acis worth who did deserve a straine That might be equall unto Homers vaine This concord in our yeares of youth begunne Continues now when our haires are waite growâ—e But this Land mâ—y first want both cold and warre Which in Pontus most usuall to me are The Northwind may be warme the Southwind be Cold and my fortunes be more kind to me Ere thou of thy friend can forgetfull be This burthen shall not encrease my misery Maist thou of the gods of whom chiefe is he Who daily advances thee to dignity Obtaine some favour for me in the end And constantly a banisht man defend Wouldst thou know my mind nay I perish if I know If one may perish that is in depth of woe I know not what to doe nor what would be Most profitable at this time to me For men in misery have no wisedome left But of all sense and counsell are bereft Therefore seeke how you may helpe me I pray And how you may to my desires make way ELEGIE XIII To Carus O Thou who art to be mentioned by me Mongst my companions of most constancy Carus who truely art to me most deare As thou art by name I salute thee here From whence thou dost receive this salutation The colour of my verse may shew and fashion Because unfit for any publicke view Yet howsoe're it seemes that I them drew The title leafe of thy workers teare away Yet that they are workes of thine I can say Though in old Authours thou art often coateâ— And in tâ—eir annotations oâ—tâ—n noteâ— The strong lines shew their Authour which have bin Worthy of Hercules of whom thou dost sing So my Muse may be knowne bâ—her owne colour And by her faults which doe display her Fuller Thersites was knowne by bad shapes drawne by him As Nirâ—us was in his faire peeces sâ—ene Nor can you wonder if my verse be blame Which I almost a Getickâ— Poet frame For in the Geticke speech a Booke I writ And barbarous words have in our measures set And I have pleasd them so that I began To have amongst the Getes a Poets name While I great Caesars praises did rehearse Whose power did helpe the novelty of my verse Shewing Augustus body mortall was But that his soule did to any dwellings passe While he his Fathers vertue doth equallize Succeeding him in Imperiall dignities And that Livia might Vesta of Matrons be Whom both her Sonne and Husband dignifie That the Princes who their Fathers strength are Their courage by their actions doe declare When I had writ this in the Geticke verse And the last leafe did unto them rehearse They strâ—â—ke tâ—eir arrowes and their heads did shake And a long murmuring noise the Getes did make Saying since he of Caesar writes thus he might By Caesars command be repealed by right Yet Carus I in banishment have beene heâ—e Vnder the Snowy Axletree six yeare Verses helpe me that caus'd me to be sent At first into this most sad banishment By that Love thou bearst sacred Poesie By the name of Friendship esteem'd by thee So many Germanicus subduâ—ng the Enemy Afford matter to your ingenuity So may he prosper in his Sonnes who are Committed to thy tuition and care As thou dost yeeld what helpe thou canst to me Which is none unlesse I hence removed be ELEGIE XIV To Teuticanâ—s I Send these to thee of whom since thy name Would not stand in my verse I did complaint In which but that they shew I am in health There is not any thing can delight my selfe I hate my health and it is my last prayer That hence I may be removed anywhere I care not whether from hence I shall sent be All Lands will prove better than this I see Let my way by Rockes and by Charyâ—dâ—â— stand So that I may depart out of this Land From Ister unto Styx I le gladly goe Or if thâ—re be a place than Styx more low For weedes are not more hatefull to a field That lately hath beene husbanded and tâ—ll'd The tender Swallow hateth lesse the cold Then Ovid places which the Getes enfold At these my words the Tomitaâ— angry are My verses doe their publicke anger stirre Shall I still by my verse thuâ— harmed be And punisht for rash ingenuity Cut off my fingers that I may not write Why in these â—urtfull weapons doe I delight I bend my course unto those rockes and Seas Where my Barke formerly Shipwracked was Yet Tomitanâ— I have acted no faulâ— I love you though your Country I doe hate Let any one peruse my workes againe Mâ—â—etters doe not of you once complainâ— I doe complaine of cold and inroâ—des made And how the Enemy doth the wals invade Against the place not men I doe complaine You also often â—our owne Country blame The Muse of an old husbandman don't sing How his Country Ascra hath shunned beene Tâ—e writer was within that Country borne Yet Ascra did not her owne Poet scorne Who lov'd his Country more than Vlysses did Yet he the rudenesse of it doth describe Sextius not 'gainst places but abuses Of manners sharpely writ and Rome accuses Who with a patient mind did beare that wrong Nor was the Author amayd by his tongue But people by their owne interpretation Are offended and call my 〈…〉 Would I were happy as my brest is white For I have wounded none with words of spite If blacker than Illyrian pitch it could be I would not wrâ—e gainst those were friends to me You Tomitaâ—s in pittying my misery Shewd that the Grâ—tians lost and gentle be Pelignum nor the Sulâ— O my birth-plaâ—e Could not be more kind to my distressd case So tâ—at you gave more honour unto me Than unto others in prosperity â— onely in your Country doe lâ—ve free Subject unto the Lawes authority My Temples 〈◊〉 crovvned with a wreath of Bâ—yeâ— Given me 'gainst my will by publicke praise Thus as the hospitable Land oâ—Delia Was once beloved of wandring 〈◊〉 Even sâ—Tomes dâ—are to me doth seeme Which hath so kind to me in exile beene If gods had granted 〈◊〉 peacefull be Oâ— further lâ—e from the cold Axletree ELEGIE XV To Sex Pompeius IF any one that yet remembers me Doe aske how Ovid doth in misery Life to Caesar to Sextus health I owe Whom next the gods I honour let him know For in the troubles of my life I have bin At all times much beholding unto him Which are as many as these weedes which grow In the garden of a fertile field and show Of purple colour or a ruddish dye While they within the slender skinne doe lye Or as the eares of Corne in Africa Or as the boughs that grow in Tinolia Or as the Berries are in Sicyon seene Or honycombs which Hibâ—a forth doth bring I confesse my selfe much
can any Soveraigne waters worke it out So sometimes no Art can cure griefe and care Till they by lâ—ngth of time outworne are For when thy words had well confirm'd my mind Arm'd with that courage I in thee did find My Countries love above reason did prevaile And made the comfort of thy writings faile Call it affection or a womanish part I confesse that wretched I have a soft heart Vlisses wisedome cannot doubled be Yet he did wish his Countries smoake to see All thinke their native soyle to be most sweete And in absence they will remember it What more faire than Rome while Scythia cold lyes Yet the Salvage from the City hither flies Thus Pandion daughters shut in a Cage of wire To returne unto the woods doe still desire Wild Buls the Forrests where they haunt approve And the wild Lyons their usuall Dens doe love Yet your words cannot draw out of my brest The sting of banishment that doth it molest Make your selves lesse belov'd of me that I May beare the want of your sweete company For I am banisht from my native Land To an inhumane place of fates command â—n the farthest part of the world I abide Whereas continuall Snow the earth doth hide For here the barren and unfruitfull field No apples nor sweete pleasant grapes doth yeeld No Osiers on the Rivers bankes are seene Nor Oakes upon the Mountaines doe looke greene Nor can you prayse the Sea more than the Land Whose gloomie waves swell at the windes command Wheresoere you looke untill'd fields you may see And vast grounds that to none belonging be The enemie on each hand doth abide And puts us in a fright on either side One side doth feele the strong Bistonian bowes On the other the Sarmatian arrowes throwes Gâ—e and some old example shew to me Of men that bravely bore adversitie Admire the valiant Rutilus who did scorne To make use of a conditionall returne He in Smyrna not in Pontus then did live Smyrna a place which did much pleasure give Sinopeus griefe for his Country was not great For he chose Attica to be his seate Neoclides who the Persian power did quell In a Graecian Cittie banished did dwell Aristides did to Lacedemon flye Which of his Country had no prioritie Patroclus having done a murther runne away From Opus and came to Thessalia He that from Aemonia was a banisht man Vnto the waters of Pirenis came And went Captaine of that ship which sayl'd to Greece To fetch from Câ—lchos the rich golden fleece Cadmus from Sidons wals did coâ—e away That a better foundation he might lay And Tydâ—us banished from Calidon Vnto Adrastus did for succour come And Carthage which faire Venus still defended Receiv'd Aenâ—as and him much befriended What should I shew how the ancient â—omanes sent Their banisht men no farther than Tiber went Should I reckon all the banishment that were Yet from their Country none were sent so farre Then let your wisedome pardon my sad griefe If by your words it doe â—â—nde smâ—ll releefe I 〈◊〉 s if that my griefes could be compos'd My wound of griefe had by your words beene clos'd But I feare you in vaine doe strive to cure me And that you can no helpe at all procure me I speake not this because I wiser am But more knowne to my selfe than the Physician However I your goodwill doe esteeme Which hath most acceptable to me beene ELEGIE V. To his Wife Now age upon my haire a whitenesse sprinckles And on my face hath plough'd up many wrinckles The vigor of my body now doth languish 〈◊〉 all my strength doth ruine to paiâ—e and anguish â—hose sports which pleased me when I was young â—re most unpleasant unto me bâ—come â—or on a suddaine can you me scarce know â—â—nce I by age doe so much changed shew â—eares I confesse this change upon me drawes â—et griâ—fe and labour doe it also cause â— my yeares be reckoned by my misery â—han ancient Nestoâ— I shall older be â—ou see that Oxen through their strength abound â—re worne out with ploughing stiffe clay ground â—nd that ground which doth never fallow lye â—y bearing fruit doth barren wâ—xe thereby the â—orse will be tyr'd out and even fall downe â—hat in the race continually doth runne 〈◊〉 ship decayes that still at Sea doth lye 〈◊〉 she be not moor'd within the docke to dry 〈◊〉 length of troubles makes my strength decline â—nd maketh me grow old before my time 〈◊〉 rest doth feede the body and the mind â—ut immoderate labour weares both out we â—inde â—ecause that Iason hither sayl'd you see â—on he was praised by posteritie â—ut his labours lesser were than mine though fain'd â— great mens actionâ— may be truely scan'd â—or he to Pontus was by Peltas sent â—ho in Thessalia held his government â—aesars wrath hurt me whom all Lands every where â—on the rising to the setting Sunne doe â—eare â—â—monia is to Pontus neerer farre â—han Rome and the cold River Ister are â—o that his journey shorie was than mine â—esides he had some chiefe Graecians aâ— that time Who went along to beare him company But in my banishment all my friends left me We in a weake barke ploughing the Sea were But it was a stout Ship that did Iasoâ— beare Nor was Typhis our Pilot or Amintors sonne To reach us how to steare or what course runne Pallas and royall Iuno him protected But none of Heavens powers my ship directed And Cupids stolne pleasures he discerned Which I doe wish from me he had learned He return'd home we in these fields must dye If Caesars wrath endure continually Therefore my troubles heavier doe appeare Most constant wife than those Iason did beare And though when I left the City thou wert young I beleeve thou now with griefe art aged growne Yet I wish the gods would grant I might thee see And kisse thee though thy haire white changed be Embracing thy slender body while I remember That griefe for me did make thee grow thus slender That I with teares might tell my griefes to thee While thou with â—eares didst hearken unto me Relating my past labours while that I Enjoyed thy unhop'd for company That to Caesar and his Consort I might bring Frankinceâ—se as a gratefull offering I wish that Caesars wrath were so appeas'd That faire Auronâ— would but once be pleas'd That she would bring this happy newes away Soone as her Rosy cheâ—ke sends forth the day ELEGIE VI To Maximus NAso that was esteemed in times past Amongst thy other friends not to be last Maximus doth entreate thee now to reade These words which from his banisht Musâ— proceede â—ooke not in them for former straines of wit You know that they in banishment were writ The body by idlenesse doth corrupt grow And water corrupts that doth not move or flow â—o if I had in verse a happy straine â—or want of use I have lost it now againe â—nd Maximus if you will beleeve me I â—hese lines you
read have writ unwillingly â—ly minde my present griefes cannot resist â—ly Muse among the Getes will not me assist Yet to write some verses I doe strive you see Though they as rugged as my fortunes bee And I am asham'd when I have red them over â—ecause I in them so many faults discover â—hat in my judgement who them first did frame â—hey doe deserve to be blotted out againe â—et to mend them then to write them is more paine â—nd my sicke mind no labour can sustaine â—hall I beginne to use an exacter line â—o place with judgement every word of mine â—e that would have my troubles worser grow â—akes the River Lychus into Hebrus flow â—r maketh the high Mountaine Achos add â—eaves to the Alpes of which they great store had Therefore you ought a woâ—nded minde to spare Oxen leave dravving when they gawled are If profit would requite paine undergone And if I should reapeâ—fruite from that I had sowne Yet reckon all my workes no worke of mine Hath brought any profit to me at any time And I doe wish since they no profit bring That they 〈◊〉 neveâ—â— to me harmefull beene Doe you wonder why I wriâ—e even so doe I And with you admite what good I finde thereby Or is the peoplâ—s opinion confirm'd by mâ— Who deny that Poâ—â—s in their 〈◊〉 be Since I so ost deceiv'd with a barren field Doe sow seed in a ground doth nothing yeeld Yet in his owne study every one takes plâ—asure And in his Art delights to spâ—nd his leasure The wounded Fencer that sweares he will not fight Forgets his wounds and in weapons doth delight The Ship wrackt man saies he the Seaâ— will shunne Yet straight doth saile where he before hath swoâ—e Thus in a fruitlâ—sse studyâ— doe labour I forsake the Muses and yet seeke their favour What shall I doe I cannot idle bee Time spent in idlenesse is like deâ—th to me In drinking too much wine I take no pleasure Or in throwing flattering dice to spend my leasure When I have given my body so much â—est As it requires so that it is refresht When I doe wake how shall I then bestow The time which seemeth to â—unne on so slow Shall I learne to bend accordiâ—g to their fashion The Sarmatian Bow forgetting my owne Nation I have not strength in that Art to goe on My minde is than my body farre more strong Considering what I should doe you shall see These unprofitable Arts are best for me By them misfortune out of mind I keepe It is enough if I this fruite doe reape Glory makes students that their verse recited May be approved and of all be liked It s enough for me easie verse to frame Since ther 's no cause to make me take more paine Why should I pollish my lines with great care That the Getes should not like them doe I feare Though it may boldnesse seeme yet boast I doe â—â—ster no better Wit than mine can shew And while I live here t is enough to gaine Among inhumane Getes a Poets naâ—e For Fame in another world should I strive Rome is the place doth fame and fortune give My poore muse with this Theâ—tâ—r is content So I have deserved so the gods are bâ—nt Nor doe I thinke my bookes can thither goe Where the Northwind can hardly come to blow Our climates different are for the cold Beare Which is farre from Rome to the Getes is neere Through many Lands and Seas I can't beleeve My studies should passe censure to receive â—f they were red and did please which is strange â—heir Authors sorrowes would not thereby change What availes it if thou in Syene please â—r Tabroband washt with Indian Seas â—f Countries neere the Pleiadesâ—hee praise Wilt thou goe on in hope thy fame to raise â—ince my best writings hardly thither come â—y famo with me was banished from Rome And now I doe conjecture and beleeve That to speake of my death you all doe leave Since unto you I then indeed was dead Men live not when their fame is buried ELEGIE VII To Graecinus WHen in a forraine Country thou heardst â—ad Of my misfortune was not thy heart sad Graecinus though thou fearest to confesse I know thou wert sad hearing my distresse Such hardnesse with thy ingenuitie And with thy studies doth no lesse agree By witty Arts in which thou tak'st delight The minde is softn'd rudenesse put to flight And none more studious of all Arts can be When the warres and occasions suffer thee Truely when I perceiv'd my owne sad case For I was senslesse long and in a maze Of this misfortune I had also sense That thou who shouldst have beene my strong defence Wer 't absent and my comfort gone with thee Who didst give courage and counsell to me Now though farre of some helpe to me impart Speake words of comfort to my grieved heart Which if you dare beleeve no lying friend By folly not by wickâ—dnesse did ofâ—end 'T were tedious and not safâ— for to touch heere My faults beginning which doth touching feare Aske me not how those wounds have first made beene Touch them not if that you would have them skinne It was no vice and yet a fault nere lesse Or are faults 'gainst the gods held wickednesse Therefore all hope hath not forsooke my mind I may at last Graecinus comfort finde This goddesse when the rest from earth were flowne Remained on the hated earth alone This makes the ditcher bound with fetters live And that his legges shall be free he doth beleeve This makes the Shipwrackt man begin to swim Then when no land at all by him is seene He that by the Physician hath beene left Yet of all hope of life is not bereâ—t The condemned prisoner hopes for life they say Some hanging on the Crosse for life doe pray This goddesse those would hang themselves doth stay Not sâ—ffering them to make themselves away When I to end my griefe with a sword thought Shee chid me and fast hold on me she caught What dost thou doe by â—eares not blood saith she The wrath of a Prince may appeased be Though no hope doth to my deserts belong In Caesars mercy still my hope is strong Intreate his favour Graecinus and joyne With me in this petition of mine And that thou dost move him I understand Else may I buried be in Tomâ—s sand For sooner shall the gentle Doves beginne To leave those Towers where they have lived in Wild beasts and Cattle and the quicke Dived apper Shall first leave their Dens the grasse and water Then Graecinus should forsake his old friend My fate will not such a misfortune send ELEGIE VIII To Messallnus THis Letter which you read friend Messâ—liâ—e Health from the cruell Getes to you doth bring Does not the mention of the place shew whom Was Authour of it and whence it doth come Or dost not know that Naso writ the same Vntill that you at length have read my name Which of
your friends in banishment doth lye In farthest part of all the world but I And the gods grant that those who reverencâ— show And love to you this Country may not know Let us mongst Ice and Scythian arrowes live If we to death the name of life may give Either the earth with warre doth us oppresse Or else the ayre with cold doth us distresse Or the fierce Gete with Armes doth us assayle Or else the winter sendeth stormes of hayle No grapes or apples in this Country be No part of it from enemies is free May your other friends in happinesse goe on Of which as of the people I once was one Woes me 〈◊〉 that these words doe thee offend And that thou doest deny I was thy friend Pardon my lye if that thy words be true My glory takes away no prayse from yoâ— Who doth not faine himselfe a friend to be To Caesar you shall Caesar be to me Yet I into your friendship have not broken T is enough if the gates of love stand open Though you will have nothing with me to doe Permit me that I may salute thee too Your father did not deny â—e his friend But wished me my studdy to attend At whose death I wept and writ Elegies As my last gift to attend his obsequies I lov'd â— is brother too besides all this As stout Atrides did Tindaridâ—s Yet he scornd not my love nor company If you thinke this did him no injury If not I will confesse that I doe lye Let me lose the love of his family Yet why should I lose it since no power can A friend from doing an offer resâ—raine Though I could wish I could my fault deny All know it was free from impiety If my fault did not pardonable seeme Banishment too small punishment had beene But Caesar saw this who doth all things see That my offence might folly called be He spar'd me for my offences quality And usd his â—laming thunder moderately My life nor country he tooke not away If you by suite his anger could allay But yet my fall was great for t is no wonder He should be wounded that 's strucke with Ioves thunder And though Achilles his â—â—ackned force restraind Peâ—â—as speare wounded deepely from his hand Since direfull judgement hath overtooke me so There 's no cause why thy gate should not me know I frequented your house oft I doe confesse But t was my fortune to doe so I guesse No other house of my love had such proofe For I was alwayes underneath your roofe And your love did not on your selfe reflect But as a brother did your friend respect Besides that then advanced to honour wert Thou mayest both thanke thy fortune and desert If I may wish wâ—at thou desiâ—'st thy selfe That thou mayst give not pay aske the gods welth So thou dost may I mention it to thee Thy goodnesse makes thee bountifull to be And therefore Meâ—â—aline let me be plac'd Amongst your other friends though I be last And grieve that Ovids griefe deserv'd doth seeme If not for 's griefe grieve he hath faulâ—y beene ELEGIE IX To Severus SEverus whom my Soule loves as it selfe Thy Ovid loved of thee doth wish thee health Aske not how I doe for if my griefes were Reckon'd they would enforce from thee a teare It is enough for thee that thou dost know The totall Summe of all my griefe and woe We live without peace and in armes still are The Quiver-bearing Gete still making warre Of so many banisht men I onely am At once a Souldier and a banisht man And that thou mayst my bookes with pardon take I in my Armour did these verses make There stands a City upon Isters side By walls and situation Fortifide Aegypsus if that we may them beleeve Did build it and his name thereto did give This the Gete tooke th' Odrysians being slaine And 'gainst the King did a fierce warre maintaine Discent and vallour caused him to raise An Army which he thither led straight wayes Nor departed not till on his slaughterd foes He did revenge himselfe with bloody blowes And mayst thou valiant King even many a day The glorious Scepter of this Land still sway And besides what fuller wish can thee behove May Martiall Rome and Caesar thee approve But to returne O sweete companion I Complaine the warres encreasd my misery Since farre from you in Scythia I have beene The rising Pleiades have foure Autumnes seene You will not beleeve Ovid thinkes upon The Cities pleasure yet he thinkes thereon Now sweete friends I remember you and after I thinke upon my deare wife and my daughter And on the buildings in the City be For in my fancy I doe all things see The Courts the houses and Theaters lind With Marble and the Porch it brings to minde The fields and gardens into minde it brings The standing Lakes the streames and virgin Springs Yet though I am depriv'd of Cities pleasure I thinke I may in the Country spend my leasure My minde doth not desire to view these fields Or delights the Pelâ—gnian Country yeelds Nor these gardens which upon the mountaines lay By Claudia's house nere the Flaâ—inian way Where I in gardning used to take some paine And to water young plants held it for no shame Some grafts I set if living there doe stand Whose fruite must not be gathered by my hand Which pleasures having lost I wish that I Might here though banisht practise husbandry Goates that doe climbe upon the rockes I would keepe Or leaning on my staffe tend on my sheepe And that my minde with cares might not be broke My labouring Oxen I would daily yoke I would learne words the Getiâ—ke Oxen know With usuall threatnings making them on goe I 'de hold the Plough and heavily on it lye And to soâ— seede on fâ—rrowes I would try And with my long hooke I the fields would weede Or water my garden if that it did neede But how should I doe this there onely be A wall and gate 〈◊〉 us and the enemy But I am glad the fatall sisters did At the birth spinne thee a more happy thread The fiâ—lds and shady Porch thou dost frequent Or the Court where thou little time hast spent In Appian Coach tâ—ou dost the City leave While Vmbria and Aâ—â—ana thee receive Where you wish Caesar would be pleasd againe And that your village migâ—t me â—ntertaine O friend it is too much which you require Contract your wishes moderate your desire Let me live in a Country from warres free This will take off part of my misery ELEGIE X. To Maximus OF Celsus death I in your Letter read Which made teares from my eyes straightway proceed And that which I did never thinke could be I read your Letter most unwillingly No harsher newes my eare did ever strike In Pontus may I never heare the like Me thinkes that I doe see him still surviving My love doth make me thinke he should be living I often thinke how merry
this of thee This worke suites thy divine nobility Eumolpus whence thy famous descent is And Erichthonius perswade thee to this In this you are like gods both of you grant After some suite helpe to your suppliant Why should we honour gods with wonted care But that the gods to helpe us ready are If â—â—piter would not heare prayers at all Should sacrifices in his Temple fall If Seas in passage have not quiet beene Why unto Neptune should I vaine gifts bring If Ceres doe the Ploughmans â—ope deceive Why should she inwards of a Sow receivâ—â— The Goate on Bacchus altar is not laid Vnlâ—sse much wine that Vintage hatâ— beene made We with tâ—at Caesar may the Empire raigne So long as he well governeth the same Thus honour's given both to gods and men For helpe and profit tâ—at 's râ—ceiv'd from them Tâ—en Cotys helpe me who in thy land lye And be thou like thy noble Progeny For one to helpe another in misery Is a duty belongs to humanity Besides there is no better way to gaine Bâ— any other Art favour or fame Anâ—â—â—hates or Leâ—â—â—igon who doth love Alcinous bounty who doth not approve Câ—â—â—andrus nor Capharâ—us thy father is Nor â—et the cruell Tyran Phaâ—aris He 's fierce in waries and not to be withstood So peace once made he nere dâ—siâ—eth blood Besides the liberall Arts being studdied often Expâ—ll all rudenesse and the minde doe soften In which no other King hath thee outwent Or in those gentle studdies more time spent Thy verses witnesse it which thy name showes A Thracianâ—oung man happilâ— did compose Or else some Orphâ—us that doth here abide In thy wit the Bistonian land takes pride As on occasion thou thy armes caâ—st take And a â—â—erce slaughter on the â—nemy make Or sometime with thy strong arme sling thy daâ—â— Or as inâ—â—ling thou most cunning art So hâ—ving studyed Arts of Soveraigntie When matters in thy kingdome quiet be Least you in sloth should seeme then to delight Your Mâ—se unto the starres doth take her slight This of our league may some occasion be Bâ—cause we both doe honour Poesie A Poet pâ—ayes a Poet with â—eav'd up â—ands To live though exild safely in your lands For when that I did into Pontus come By poyson mixt I had no murder doâ—e And no false tables forged by me were Which did with counterfeited seales appeare Nor did I any thing which lawes forbid Yet I confesse that I a worse fault did If you aske what the Art of Love I writ My guiltâ— hand did this offence commit Tother offence doe not desire to know Vnder my Art of Love it must hid goe But yet the Iudge did moderate his wrath And unto exile onâ—ly sent me hath And though farre from my Country let me bâ— Safe in this hated place since neere to thee ELEGIE X. To Macer MAcer thou maist know that thy Ovid writ This Letter to thee by the sâ—ale on it Or if the Seale doe not the Authour shew Dost thou know that my hand this Letter drew Or hath length of â—ime made thee both forget That thy eyes know them not before thee set Though hand and seale should both forgotten be You foâ—got not the care you had of me Which for our old acquaintance you should show Or because my wife was a friend to you Or for our studies which you did use And by no Art of love did them abuse That wâ—ich immortall Homer left undone Of Trojan warres was by thy oâ—ne muse sung But unwise Ovid while he did impart The Art of Love was punisht for his Art Yet Poets doe amongst themselves agree Though every one in writing different be We have amongst us all one common Bayes Though all of us dâ—e follow severall wayes Of me though absent you will mindfull be And willingly helpe me in my misery The Citties faire of Asia I have seene And Trinacris while you my guide have beene We saw the Heavens shine with Aetnean flame Which from the Giants mouth beneath it came Aetnean Lakes and Palicus pooles not sweete And where Anapus doth Cyane meete Not farre of that Spring which while it doth shuâ—nâ— The River 〈◊〉 under ground doth runne Here I did spend a great part of the yeare How unlike this place Geticke lands appeare How many other places did we see Whilst you made the way pleasant unto me Both while our Ship cut the waveâ— with his Keele Or tâ—e Coach carry'd us with nimble 〈◊〉 Oft our discourse did make the way to seeme Short while our words more than our steps have beene Oft our discourse was longer than the day While our discourse past Sommers dayes away Of perils at Sea we have beene afraid And to the gods have both together pray'd We acted both together and againe Told others jests which â—o tell was no shame If you remember this though I should be Here all my life time yet you might me see Vnder the North Pole of the world I am â—hich doth above the Sea one point maintaine Yâ—t in my minde I doe thee still be hold And talke with thee under the Pole so cold Famous friend thou art here unknowne to thee Though absent thou art present here with me Me thinkes I see thee here among the Getes Come from the 〈◊〉 love workes these conceites 〈◊〉 Lieu whereof since those lands happier be Have me there alwayes in your memory ELEGIE XI To Rufus OVid by whom the Art of Love was pend These lines in hast doth to thee Ruâ—us sâ—nd That thouâ—h we the whole world asunder be Yet thou maist know I doe remember tâ—ee For I shall sooner sure my name forget Then thy love shall out of my minde be beat And I shall sooner render up my spirit Then I shall be unthankefull to your merit Your merit waâ— your teares which did bedew Your face when mine with sorrow still dry grew Your merit was that comfort to my mind Which you did give and both of us did find My wife deserves praise for her owne conditions Yet she growes better by your admonitions I am glad you will my wives counsellour be As Hector to Iulâ—s Castor to Hermione She strives to be like you in what is good And by heâ— life seemes to be of your blood And what she would doe without provocation She does more fully by your faire perswasion The svvift horse that within the race doth runne Will run more swiftly if he be spurd on Besides in absence thâ—u performst my will And for my sake refusest no paines still Because we cannot may the gods thanke thee Who doe reward those good deeds which they see And may thy vertues with long life be crown'd â—ufus the glory of the Fundane ground OVID DE PONTO LIB. III. ELEGIE I. To his Wife O Sea on which young Iason fiâ—st did row O Land nere wanting enemies and snow When wil the time come Ovid shal you leavâ— While some quieter place doth him receive Must I still live where
barbarisme abounds Must I be buried here in Tomos grounds With favour I speake it if there may be Any peace or favour Poâ—tus within thee With favour thou dost make my baniâ—hment So grievous and my sufferings dost augment Thou dost not see the garland-crownd haymaker Nor dost behold the thin cloath'd sweating reaper Autumne doth yeeld no ripened grapes to thee But all thy seasons extreamâ— cold still be Thou 〈◊〉 up the Seas that fish have beene Oft frozen in the waves while they did swimme Thou hast no springs but of salt brackish water Which doe not quâ—nch thirst but encrease it rather A few poore wither'd trees in the fields grow And the land like the bâ—rren Sea doth â—how No birds doe sing their sweete and pleasant notes But Vultures croâ—ke out of their hollow throates When slâ—ing hither from some remote wood They come to quench their thirst in the salt â—lood Saâ— wormâ—wood growes here in the empty field Which bitter harvest like the place doth yeeld Besides assaults of enemies we feare Whose arrowes dipt in deadlâ— poyson are Besides this Country farre remoâ—e doth lye And none by land or sea can come safely Wonder not then if I desire to be Sent to somâ— place that yeelds lesse misery But wonder wife that these things doe not make Thee weepe and to shed teares even for my sake If you aske what you should seeke seeke some favour You shaâ—l finde it if you doâ— it endeavour Wish and desire that you may it obtaine And breake your slâ—epe with thinking on the same Many wish it for who so unjust is That restlesse banishment doth to me wish It becomâ—s you with all strength to endeavour Conâ—inually to worke for me some â—avour For thou wiâ—e shouldst exceede another friend And first of all shouldst helpe to me extend For to my bookes thou shouldst conforme thy life Which call thee the example of a wife Doe not degenerate but let me see That I the truth of thee did prophesie And see that thou dost take heede to maintaine Thy former glory and well gotten fame Though I complaine not fame will accuse thee Vnlesse as thoâ— oughtst thoâ— takst care of me Fortune exposd me to the peoples view And made me knowne to more than ere I knew Capanâ—us strooke with thunder was more knowne And Amphiaraus when his horse sunke downe Into the earth Vâ—ysses was throughout The world knowne by wandring about And Philoctetes by his wound did gaine A generall knowledge and much glorious fame I meane men with such great ones may â—ancâ—'d be My ruine giveth glory unto me Besides you know my bookes have raisd your fame Equall in honour unto Battis name The world shall view the actions of thy life And approve thee to be a loyall wife He that thy praises doth in my verse read May aske if they from merit doe proceed Since many will thy vertuous life commend So some thy actions will soone reprehend Prevent their envy that they may not say That thou to helpe thy husband didst delay And though I faile to draw the yoke with thee Oâ— marriage yâ—t be still a wife to me Being sicke my Physician I doe looke Stay with me till all life hath mee forsooke And since thou arâ— in health shew unto me Tâ—at love which I in health would shew to thee Our marriage love doth this of thee require Thy nature wife doth thee with love inspire Your house requires this of you whence you came Whose honest credit you should still maintaine For unlesse you be a praise-worthy wife None will thinke that you honoâ—rd Martia's life Nor am I unworthy if you le confesse The truth or altogether meritlesse For which thou largely hast requited me So that â—ame if she would cannot hurt thee Encrease thy former good deedes by additâ—on Of helping me let this be thy ambition Entreate that in some quiet Country I May live and this thy love shall testifie My suite is great yet can no harme procure If granted not râ—pâ—lse I can endure Be not slender that my verse moves you To performe that which I doe know you doe The Trumpetâ—r doth valiant men excite And the Captaine doth encourage men to fight That you are honest Time doth testifie Let vertue equallize your honesty The Amazoâ—ian axâ— thou needst not take Or beare in hand a Buckler for my sake Onely entreate great Caesar he would be Though not pleasd â—et lesse angry with me And let thy teares for mercy intercede For they will Caesar move while thou dost pleade Thy husbands misery will afford thee plenty Of teares an â— never let thy eyes be empty My troubles will yeeld matter to be wayle My fortune so that teares can never faile If with thy death thou couldst redâ—eme my life Then thou wouldst follow Admetus deare wife And thou like to Penelope wouldst cheate Thy urgent suiters with a chaste deceite Laodamia would teach thee to dye With thy husband and to beare him company Thou wouldst thinke upon Iphias and desire To throw thy selfe into a funerall fire Thy death or a spunne web I doe not need But that to Caesars wife thou intercede Whose vertâ—es excell least antiquity Should exceede our age for praisd chastity Who Iunoes stoole and Venus beauty had Which made her worthy of the royall bed Why dost thou tremble or her presence feare Thou shalt speake to no wicked Progne there Noâ—Agamemnons wife Aegistus daughter Nor Scylla that baâ—kes in Sâ—â—â—lian water Noâ—Telegonus mother clâ—anging shapes Nor Medusa with haire full of curled snakes But a Princesse who made fortune to find Eyes and is falsely accusd to be blind Who next to Caesar is most famous growne â—ven from the rising to the setting Sunne Then chuse a time that for suite fit may be â—east thou faile wanting opportunity The Oracles have not at all times spoken Nor doe the Temples at all times stand open When Citties state is happy as 't is now â—o that no griefe contracts the peoples brow When that Augustâ—s house and Progeny Which like the Capitoll ador'd should be Doth flourish in height of prosperity As now it doth and may it still so be Then take a happy opportunity When thou dost thinke thy words shall powerfull be â—f he be busie then thy suite deferre â—east â—ashnâ—sse should destroy my hopes bewaâ—e And yet againe I doe not bid thee goe To him when he hath no affaires to doe Since he â—ath hardly leasure to put on Those royall robâ—s which unto him belong When with tâ—e ancient Senators he doth sit In the Court then to goe to him 't is fit Wâ—en thou commâ—st before Iunoes Majesty Looke you remember then to speake for me Defend not my offence for it â—s best That an ill cause in silence be supprest And therefore in thy speech take onely care To pleade for me by earnest suite and prayer Then presently thou mayest shed teares and weepe And prostrate thy selfe at their royall feeâ—e Aske that from the
Temple Caesar hath assignd Before plac'd in the Temple of his mind Iupiter 'gainst some hath his thunder sent Whose faults have not deserv'd sâ—ch punishment When Neptunes cruell waves have many drown'd How many worthy of that death are found When the most stout in warres are sâ—aine Mars must Iudging himselfe confesse his doom 's unjust If you enquire of us none will deny That our sufferings doe procâ—ed from equity Besides those who are drownd or in warres slaine Can never be restor'd to life againe But Caesar hath call'd some from banishment Or else tooke off part of their punishment And I most earnestly doe pray that I Might be one of that happy company Then since we under such a good Prince are To receive a banisht mans words dost thou feare Thou mighest if Busires held the government Who in a Brazen Bull did men torment Wrong not his gentlenesse with thy feare hereafter Art thou afraid of rockes in a calme water That I to write to you unnam'd have usd Me thinkes that I can hardly be excusd But fea rt had tooke sway my use of reason Griefe made me voyde of counsell at that season Not Caesars wrath but my fault feare excited And with my owne name I was even afrighted Then grant unto your Poet nâ—w that he May in his verses name and mention thee T were our diseraces if my booke should make No mention of thee for acquaintance sake Yet least his feare should breake thy sleepe I will No more than thou wilt be officious still Vnlesse thou wilt thou shalt be still unknowne I will enforce a kindnesse upon none Though â—ou may safely love me openly Yet if you doubt it love me secretly ELEGIE VII To his friend I want words the same so oft to enâ—eate And am asham'd one suite still to repeate I thinke my verse to you doth teadious grow Still of one theame since you my suite doe know For â—ou know what my Letter doth reveale Before you open it and breake the seale Therefore in â—riting let me change my theame That I goe not so oft against the streame Friends pardon me for my good confidence I will no more commit such an offence Least I distrust my wife who doth abide Constant but yet for favour hath not tride Ovid shall beare for worse than this can be Thou hast borne buâ—thens can be felt by thee Tâ—e Oxe tooke from the heard doth shuâ— the plough And to the hard â—oke his necke will not bow But I whom sate hath usd most cruelly Am long since used to all misery To dye on Geticke land i ft be my doome Lâ—t my fate goe on as it hath begun It is delightfull some hope maintaine But not delightfull if it still prove vaine And men doe alwayes wish those things may be Of which they conceive possibility But being undone 't is the next degree Bravely to despaire of all remedy Some wounds we see by curing do grow greater Which if they had not beene toucht had beene better It s easier at first to drowne in water Than tyre with swimming and be drowned after To remove from Sythia why did I beleeve Or that a happier Land might me receive Why should I hope my fatâ— should gentler be Have I ere knowne fortune so kind to me It doth encrease my sorrow and to shew My place of banishment doth griefe renew Yet t is better my friends should not sue for me Than that their suite should not effectuall be My friends so great a suite you dare not make Would you aske he would grant it for my sake Since Caesar doth not this to me deny On Euxine shoare let me dye valiantly ELEGIE VIII To Maximus I Considered what giâ—ts from Tomos I Might send my love to thee to testifie Thou art more worth than silver or gold bright Which in bestowing well thou tak'st delight But yet these places rich in mettail be Which cannot be dug for the enemy The shiny purple hath thy garments dy'd But in Sarmaâ—icke Seas none doth abide The sleeces which the cattle beare are hard And the Mayds know not â—ow to spin or card Instead of carding women grind corne here And heavy water on their heads doe beare The Vine here on the Elme runs not abroad No apples with their waight the boughs doe load But in those sad fields bitter wormewood growes The fruite the bitternesse of this Land showes So that in Poâ—tus I could nothing see That I might send to expresse love to thee Some Sâ—ythian Arroâ—es I have sent to thee Which wounding thy soe may they bloodyed be These are the pens and bookes which here we use In this place Maximus they are our Muse I am asham'd of such a poore present But 〈◊〉 them kindly pray as they are sent ELEâ—IE IX To Brutus BRutus because my bookes are still the same You doe report that some my verses blame Because they sue that I might neerer be And shew how I live with the enemy Of how many faults may one be reprehended T is well if â—y Muse here alone offended I â—ce what faults I in my bookes commit When all approve their verse more than is â—it Autâ—ors doe praise their worke Accius said Ther sites face was good which he had made My judgement is not so led to approve Wâ—at I doe make that I should straight it love You may aske why I will offensive be In verse if I my fault in writing see T is one thing to be sensible of paine Another to take away griefe againe For all are sensible of misery â—ut Art must take away the malady That word which I would change I doe leave in My strength of Iudgement to faile doth begin Someâ—imes why should I doubt to speake the troth To correct them much trouble me it doth Besides I take delight in popular favour Which maketh me in writing take lesse labour And when my inspir'd brest once waâ—me is growne Then my encreasâ—ing worke goes swiftly on But to correct a worke t is a hard thing Homer fore Aristarthâ—s I esteeme Besides the bridâ—e doth hold backe the Horse And cares restraine the mind in her steete course But may the gods grant Caesars wrath may be Appeased and diminished towards me That these bones of mine may be covered And in some quiet land be buried When I would faâ—ne describe my misery My Fortune's visage then aâ—â—â—ighteeth me Me thinkes I am mad while I versâ—s make And mongst the Getes care to correct them take Yet this doth make my lines excusable That to shew change of humours they are able For I sung when I had cause to be glad Now I sing sadly because I am sad While once I sung of joy now of misery And both my workes with my times agree Can I write of this land but bitterly Praying I in some better place may dye I write the same so oft none it respect And my words are become of none effect But that the reader should not
in debt to thee I speake it you by Law neede not force me Amongst your fathâ—rs riches left of late You may count me as part of your estâ—te For as Sicily is subject to your command And all that Country in which Philip raignd And as that house neere to Augâ—stus Court Is yours and all Campania in like sort And all those other Lands which left you were Sextus or by thy selfe since purchaste are So I am yours so that you must confesse That you in Pontus something doe possâ—sse And I wish â—ou may prevailing I may be Plac'd in a Country more friendly to me Which since t is in the gods power therefore try If thou by suite their wrath can'st pacifie For I cann't tell whether I should make thee My helper or apply my suite to thee I trust unto thy helpe yet those who goe With the streame to haste their course doe row I am asham'd one suite alwayes to moove Least it unto your mind should tedious proove What shall I doe desire doth know no end Then grant a pardon to my fault kind friend Oft I desir'd to write some other thing And fall to writing of the same agen My very Letters by themselves encreate And for my removall hence still suite doe make Whether I favour find or fates decree That I shall dye under the Axlettee I will still keepe thy love in memory And this Land shall know I belong to thee And other Nations situate whâ—refore If my Muse can passe the Getes shall it hearâ— ELEGIE XVI To the Envious ENvious man why dâ—st teare verses write By Ovid death can have no power on wit For after death there commeth greater fame And also while I liv'd I â—ad a name While Marsus and strong lin'd 〈◊〉 are Trosan Virgill Pedo shining like a starre And Câ— us that grâ—at â—uno might offend While he did Hercules her Sonne commend And â—everus that gave to 〈◊〉 Heroicke verse with Numa full of subtilty And then Montanus whose vaine did suffice To write Heroickes or else Elegies And by writing in both kindes didst obtaine Vnto thy selfe a twofold Fame and Name He that makes Vlysses write to Penelope When he had wandred ten yeares on the Sea And Heâ—iod that an imperfect worke writ Of dayes and dy'd ere he could finish it Largus whose wit to him his name did yeeld Who brings Aeueuâ— into the French field Or 〈◊〉 us who of Troy doth sing Which Hector did unto destruction bring Or 〈◊〉 scus who by his Pâ—yllis did gaine Much renowne and everlasting name And that Sea Poet whose Verses such seeme As if the Sea gods had composed them He that of Lihyâ— and Râ—mes battailes writ And 〈◊〉 for aâ—l kind of writing â—it He that Peâ—sâ—us actions did pâ—rfoâ—me And Lupuâ— who writ of Iasons returne And he that Hoâ—ers Phâ—acis did translate Rusus that Pindars vaine did imitate And Ture â—â—us who writ high Tragedies Meâ—ssus who pend mâ—rry 〈◊〉 Varus and 〈…〉 did write And Procuâ—us in smoother waies did 〈◊〉 And Tityrus an ancient Shepheard writ And shewd what weapons were for Hunters sit And Fontanus of the Naiodes did sing Who by the Satyâ—es have beloved beene And Capella who his words did also joyne And set together in uncquall line And there are others whose names to rehearse Would tedious be the people â—ath their verse And young men who since that which they did write Was not publisht I cannot them recite Cotta I can't passe o'â—e thee in silence The Light of the Muses the Courts defence The Cotta's and Messalla's give to thee By â—ny descent a double Nobility And though I say 't my Muse once had a name And it was read amongst these men of Fame Then Envy cease in exile to wound me Rake not my ashes abroad cruelly I have lost all onely my life is left To make me know of what I am bereft Why dost delight to thrust thy sword through him That can't be wounded more then he hath been Ovids Consolation to Livia for the death of her Sonne Drusus Nero who dyed in Germany THou that seem'st happy Neroes mother to be Now halfe that name is tooke away from theâ— Livia thou read'st verses made upon Thy Drusus deâ—th thou hast now but one Sonne Thy love is not extâ—nded to both them Nor ask'st when thy Sons are nam'd which they meane Then who is it to limit thy griefe dares Who is it can with words restraine thy teares Woes me when it happens so how easily Can all in others griefe speake valiantly So I might say light sorrowes have strooke thee That thou mightst stronger then thy sorrowes be Though Vertues young example did decease Lately who was both great in armes and peace The Alpes from the foe he did take away And next his brother in the warres bore sway The Suevian and Sicambrian by might He conquered and put Salvages to slâ—ght Rome unknowne Triumphs â—e deserv'd of thee For enlarging thy imperiall dignity And you his Mother of his death not knowing To pay your vowes to Iupiter were going And armed Pallas and to give Maâ—s 〈◊〉 Of gifts and those gods which we ought to adore For your thoughts with his triumpâ— busied were And for his Chariot you perhaps tooke care For a triumph you must keepe a Funeralâ— A â—oâ—be expects Dâ—usus no Capitoll To imagine him return'd thou tookst delight As if the Conquerour had beene in thy sight Thinking heele come and the people shall see Me gratulating of his victory Now I must bring my giftsâ— and offerings make Vnto the gods for my deare Drusus sake I shall meete him and rejoyce in his dignities And I shall kisse his necke his lips and eyes Thus hee le come thus meete me thus kisses joyne Thus hee le discourse thus I shall speake to him Thou nourishest great joâ—eâ— but 〈◊〉 lay by False hopes which flatter thee in misery Lâ—t thy imagination cease to relaâ—â— Happy newes to thy selfe of Drusus state The other branch of Caesars stocke is dead Let Livia let thy haire be loosened What doth thy veâ—tue profit or that thou hast Pleasd Caesar or liv'd all thy life time chast What avâ—iles thy inviolate chastity Which last amongst thy praises must reckon'd be And soâ—ring above vices in despight Of times didst alwayes keepe thy mind upright And that you hurt none though you powerfull were To hurt yet none of your power stood in feare In Campe or Court you usd no power vvhereby You might advance your house and Family Since that injurious Fortune by such wayes Doth raigne and her uncertaine wheele so swayeâ— And here her covetous cruelty doth appeare Who pretends that she hath right every where If Livia should alone from griefe be free Then Fortune could not have such soveraignety Did he not so behave himselfe that he Was never envy'd in Prosperity Besides Caesars house which from death is free Ought to be above humane misery He was fit a sacred watchman to have beene In safety to