Marlowe's Translation
of Ovid's Elegia 5:
Corinnae concubitus

    In summers heate and mid-time of the day
    To rest my limbes upon a bed I lay,
    One window shut, the other open stood,
    Which gave such light as twinkles in a wood,
    Like twilight glimpse at setting of the Sunne,
    Or night being past, and yet not day begunne.
    Such light to shamefast maidens must be showne,
    Where they may sport, and seeme to be unknowne.
    Then came Corinna in a long loose gowne,
    Her white neck hid with tresses hanging downe,
    Resembling fayre Semiramis going to bed,
    Or Layis of a thousand lovers sped.
    I snatcht her gowne: being thin, the harme was small,
    Yet strived she to be covered therewithall.
    And striving thus as one that would be cast,
    Betrayde her selfe, and yeelded at the last.
    Starke naked as she stood before mine eye,
    Not one wen in her body could I spie.
    What armes and shoulders did I touch and see,
    How apt her breasts were to be prest by me.
    How smooth a belly under her wast saw I,
    How large a legge, and what a lustie thigh?
    To leave the rest, all liked me passing well,
    I clinged her naked body, downe she fell,
    Judge you the rest, being tirde she bad me kisse;
    Jove send me more such after-noones as this.

    written before 1593
    printed posthumously c.1602


    Contributed by Pete Wilson





Flora.  Tiziano, 1515
Flora by Tiziano, 1515.

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Created on April 13, 1997 by Anniina Jokinen.Last updated on January 20, 2007.