Dost me of new crimes always guilty frame? To overcome, so oft to fight I shame. If on the marble theatre I look, One among many is, to grieve thee, took. If some fair wench me secretly behold, Thou arguest she doth secret marks unfold. If I praise any, thy poor hairs thou tearest; If blame, dissembling of my fault thou fearest. If I look well, thou think'st thou dost not move, If ill, thou say'st I die for others' love. 10 Would I were culpable of some offence, They that deserve pain, bear't with patience. Now rash accusing, and thy vain belief, Forbid thine anger to procure my grief. Lo, how the miserable great-eared ass, Dulled with much beating, slowly forth doth pass! Behold Cypassis, wont to dress thy head, Is charged to violate her mistress' bed! The gods from this sin rid me of suspicion, To like a base wench of despised condition. 20 With Venus' game who will a servant grace? Or any back, made rough with stripes, embrace? Add she was diligent thy locks to braid, And, for her skill, to thee a grateful maid. Should I solicit her that is so just,-- To take repulse, and cause her show my lust? I swear by Venus, and the winged boy's bow, Myself unguilty of this crime I know. FOOTNOTES: [276] Not in Isham copy or ed. A. ELEGIA VIII.[277] Ad Cypassim ancillam CorinnÊ. Cypassis, that a thousand ways trim'st hair, Worthy to kemb none but a goddess fair, Our pleasant scapes show thee no clown to be, Apt to thy mistress, but more apt to me. Who that our bodies were comprest bewrayed? Whence knows Corinna that with thee I played? Yet blushed I not, nor used I any saying, That might be urged to witness our false playing. What if a man with bondwomen offend, To prove him foolish did I e'er contend? 10 Achilles burnt with face of captive BrisËis, Great Agamemnon loved his servant ChrysËis.[278] Greater than these myself I not esteem: What gracËd kings, in me no shame I deem. But when on thee her angry eyes did rush, In both thy[279] cheeks she did perceive thee[280] blush. But being present,[281] might that work the best, By Venus deity how did I protest! Thou goddess dost command a warm south blast, My self oaths in Carpathian seas to cast. 20 For which good turn my sweet reward repay, Let me lie with thee, brown Cypass, to-day. Ungrate, why feign'st new fears, and dost refuse? Well may'st thou one thing for thy mistress use.[282] If thou deniest, fool, I'll our deeds express, And as a traitor mine own faults confess; Telling thy mistress where I was with thee, How oft, and by what means, we did agree. FOOTNOTES: [277] Not in Isham copy or ed. A. [278] "Serva Phoebas" (_i.e._ Cassandra). [279] Old eds. "my."