Condemn his eyes, and say there is no trial. Spying his mistress' tears he will lament And say "This blab shall suffer punishment." 60 Why fight'st 'gainst odds? to thee, being cast, do hap Sharp stripes; she sitteth in the judge's lap. To meet for poison or vild facts[247] we crave not; My hands an unsheathed shining weapon have not. We seek that, through thee, safely love we may; What can be easier than the thing we pray? FOOTNOTES: [240] Not in Isham copy or ed. "A." [241] So ed. B.--Ed. C "my." [242] The original has "agmen." Cunningham suggests "pack." If we retain "fact" the meaning is "Danaus' guilt." [243] Old eds. "vn-protested." ("Unde nihil, quamvis non tueare, perit.") [244] So ed. B.--Ed. C "follows." (The sense wanted is "Furiously let him follow" &c.) [245] "Ante suos annos occidit." [246] "Unde vir incestum scire coactus erat." (Here "incestum" is "adultery.") [247] "Scelus." ELEGIA III.[248] Ad Eunuchum servantem dominam. Ay me, an eunuch keeps my mistress chaste, That cannot Venus' mutual pleasure taste. Who first deprived young boys of their best part, With self-same wounds he gave, he ought to smart. To kind requests thou would'st more gentle prove, If ever wench had made lukewarm thy love: Thou wert not born to ride, or arms to bear, Thy hands agree not with the warlike spear. Men handle those; all manly hopes resign, Thy mistress' ensigns must be likewise thine. 10 Please her--her hate makes others thee abhor; If she discards thee, what use serv'st thou for? Good form there is, years apt to play together: Unmeet is beauty without use to wither. She may deceive thee, though thou her protect; What two determine never wants effect. Our prayers move thee to assist our drift, While thou hast time yet to bestow that gift. FOOTNOTES: [248] Not in Isham copy or ed. A. ELEGIA IV. Quod amet mulieres, cujuscunque formÊ sint.