Elegia VIII.[277]

by Christopher Marlowe — a poem card from Justes Mots

In this elegiac poem, Marlowe speaks to Cypassis, a servant, attempting to persuade her to become his lover by flattering her skills and comparing his desires to those of great classical heroes. The poem celebrates physical passion and appeals to classical precedent (Achilles, Agamemnon) to justify romantic transgression. It exemplifies Renaissance erotic poetry and the conventions of courtship through wit and classical allusion.

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.…

Themes: love · new-baby · wedding · friendship