Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MENAPHON: DORON'S ECLOGUE, JOINED WITH CARMELA'S, by ROBERT GREENE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MENAPHON: DORON'S ECLOGUE, JOINED WITH CARMELA'S, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Sit down, carmela; here are cobs for kings
Last Line: Come, kiss and part, for fear my mother comes.
Subject(s): Country Life; Love; Man-woman Relationships; Male-female Relations


DORON.
SIT down, Carmela; here are cobs for kings,
Sloes black as jet or like my Christmas shoes,
Sweet cider which my leathern bottle brings;
Sit down, Carmela, let me kiss thy toes.

CARMELA.
Ah Doron! ah my heart! thou art as white
As is my mother's calf or brinded cow;
Thine eyes are like the glow-worms in the night;
Thine hairs resemble thickest of the snow.

The lines within thy face are deep and clear
Like to the furrows of my father's wain;
The sweat upon thy face doth oft appear
Like to my mother's fat and kitchen-gain.

Ah, leave my toe, and kiss my lips, my love!
My lips are thine, for I have given them thee;
Within thy cap 'tis thou shalt wear my glove;
At foot-ball sport thou shalt my champion be.

DORON.
Carmela dear, even as the golden ball
That Venus got, such are thy goodly eyes;
When cherries' juice is jumbled therewithal,
Thy breath is like the steam of apple-pies.

Thy lips resemble two cucúmbers fair;
Thy teeth like to the tusks of fattest swine;
Thy speech is like the thunder in the air:
Would God, thy toes, thy lips, and all were mine!

CARMELA.
Doron, what thing doth move this wishing grief!

DORON.
'Tis Love, Carmela, ah, 'tis cruel Love!
That, like a slave and caitiff villain-thief,
Hath cut my throat of joy for thy behove.

CARMELA.
Where was he born?

DORON.
In faith, I know not where;
But I have heard much talking of his dart:
Ay me, poor man! with many a trampling tear
I feel him wound the fore-horse of my heart.

What, do I love? O, no, I do but talk:
What, shall I die for love? O, no, not so:
What, am I dead? O, no, my tongue doth walk:
Come, kiss, Carmela, and confound my woe.

CARMELA.
Even with this kiss, as once my father did,
I seal the sweet indentures of delight:
Before I break my vow the gods forbid,
No, not by day, nor yet by darksome night.

DORON.
Even with this garland made of hollyhocks
I cross thy brows from every shepherd's kiss:
Heigh-ho, how glad am I to touch thy locks!
My frolic heart even now a freeman is.

CARMELA.
I thank you, Doron, and will think on you;
I love you, Doron, and will wink on you.
I seal your charter-patent with my thumbs:
Come, kiss and part, for fear my mother comes.





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