P. Ouidij Naſonis amorum,
Liber primus.
ELEGIA. I
Quemadmodum à Cupidine pro bellis amores
ſcribere coactus ſit.
VVE which were Ouids fiue books now are three
Fore theſe before the reſt preferreth he.
If reading fiue thou plain'ſt of tediouſneſſe.
Two tane a way, thy labour will be leſſe.
With Muſe prepar'd I meant to ſing of Armes,
Chooſing a ſubiect fit for fierce alarmes.
Both verſes were a like till loue (men ſay)
Began to ſmile and tooke one foote away.
Raſh boy, who gaue thee power to change a line?
We are the Muſes Prophets, none of thine.
What if they mother take Dianas bow,
Shall Dian fanne, when loue begins to glow.
In wooddy groues is't meete that Ceres raigne?
And quiuer-bearing Dian till the plaine.
Who'le ſet the faire treſt ſunne in barrell ray,
While Mars doth take the Aonian Harp to play.
Great are thy kingdomes, ouer ſtrong and large,
Ambitious impe, why ſeek'ſt thou further charge?
Are all things thine? the Muſes Temple thine?
Then ſcarſe can Phoebus ſay, this Harp is mine.
When in this workes firſt verſe I trode aloft,
Loue ſlackt my Muſe, and made my numbers ſoſt.
I haue no miſtreſſe, nor no favorite *
Being fitteſt matter, for a wanton wit. A2r *ThusOVIDS ELEGIES.
Thus I complain'd, but loue vnlockt his quiuer,
Tooke out the ſhaft, ordain'de my heart to ſhiuer:
And bent his ſinewie bow vpon his knee,
Saying Poet, heere's a worke beſeeming thee.
Oh woe is me, he neuer ſhootes but hits,
I burne loue in my idle boſome ſits.
Let my firſt verſe be ſixe, my laſt fiue feete,
Fare-well ſterne warre, for blunter Poets meete. Elegian Muſe, that warbleſt amorous laies,
Girt my ſhine brow with Sea-banke Mirtle praiſe.