T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
From Elegies: Book III. Elegia IV.
By Ovid (43 B.C.–18 A.D.)(Translated by Christopher Marlowe) Ad virum servantem conjugem. RUDE man, ’tis vain thy damsel to commend | |
| To keeper’s trust: their wits should them defend. | |
| Who, without fear, is chaste, is chaste in sooth: | |
| Who, because means want, doeth not, she doth. | |
| Though thou her body guard, her mind is stained; | 5 |
| Nor, ’less she will, can any be restrained. | |
| Nor can’st by watching keep her mind from sin, | |
| All being shut out, the adulterer is within. | |
| Who may offend, sins least; power to do ill | |
| The fainting seeds of naughtiness doth kill. | 10 |
| Forbear to kindle vice by prohibition; | |
| Sooner shall kindness gain thy will’s fruition. | |
| I saw a horse against the bit stiff-necked, | |
| Like lightning go, his struggling mouth being checked: | |
| When he perceived the reins let slack, he stayed, | 15 |
| And on his loose mane the loose bridle laid. | |
| How to attain what is denied we think, | |
| Even as the sick desire forbidden drink. | |
| Argus had either way an hundred eyes, | |
| Yet by deceit Love did them all surprise, | 20 |
| In stone and iron walls Danäe shut, | |
| Came forth a mother, though a maid there put. | |
| Penelope, though no watch looked unto her, | |
| Was not defiled by any gallant wooer. | |
| What’s kept, we cover more: the care makes theft, | 25 |
| Few love what others have unguarded left. | |
| Nor doth her face please, but her husband’s love: | |
| I know not what men think should thee so move. | |
| She is not chaste that’s kept, but a dear whore: | |
| Thy fear is than her body valued more. | 30 |
| Although thou chafe, stolen pleasure is sweet play; | |
| She pleaseth best, “I fear,” if any say. | |
| A free-born wench, no right ’tis up to lock, | |
| So use we women of strange nations’ stock. | |
| Because the keeper may come say, “I did it,” | 35 |
| She must be honest to thy servant’s credit. | |
| He is too clownish whom a lewd wife grieves, | |
| And this town’s well-known custom not believes; | |
| Where Mars his sons not without fault did breed, | |
| Remus and Romulus, Ilia’s twin-born seed. | 40 |
| Cannot a fair one, if not chaste, please thee? | |
| Never can these by any means agree. | |
| Kindly thy mistress use, if thou be wise; | |
| Look gently, and rough husbands’ laws despise. | |
| Honour what friends thy wife gives, she’ll give many, | 45 |
| Least labour so shall win great grace of any. | |
| So shalt thou go with youths to feasts together, | |
| And see at home much that thou ne’er brought’st thither. | |