Menaphon: Doron's Eclogue
Menaphon: Doron's Eclogue
Original Text
Robert Greene, Menaphon Camillas alarum to slumbering Euphues (London: T. O[rwin] for S. Clarke, 1589). STC 12272.
1.2Sloes black as jet, or like my Christmas shoes,
1.3Sweet cider, which my leathern bottle brings:
1.4Sit down, Carmela, let me kiss thy toes.
1.5Ah Doron, ah my heart, thou art as white
1.6As is my mother's calf or brinded cow,
1.7Thine eyes are like the glow-worms in the night,
1.9The lines within thy face are deep and clear,
1.10Like to the furrows of my father's wain,
1.11The sweat upon thy face doth oft appear
1.12Like to my mother's fat and kitchen-gain.
1.13Ah leave my toe, and kiss my lips, my love,
1.14My lips and thine, for I have given them thee:
1.15Within thy cap 'tis thou shalt wear my glove
1.16At foot-ball sport thou shalt my champion be.
1.17Carmela dear, even as the golden ball
1.18That Venus got, such are thy goodly eyes,
1.19When cherries' juice is jumbled therewithal,
1.20Thy breath is like the steam of apple pies.
1.21Thy lips resemble two cucumbers fair,
1.22Thy teeth like to the tusks of fattest swine,
1.23Thy speech is like the thunder in the air:
1.24Would God thy toes, thy lips and all were mine.
1.25Doron, what thing doth move this wishing grief?
1.26'Tis Love, Carmela, ah, 'tis cruel Love.
1.27That like a slave and caitiff villain thief,
1.28Hath cut my throat of joy for thy behove.
1.29Where was he born?
1.30In faith I know not where;
1.31But I have heard much talking of his dart.
1.32Ay me, poor man, with many a trampling tear
1.33I feel him wound the fore-horse of my heart.
1.34What, do I love? O no, I do but talk;
1.35What, shall I die for love? O no, not so;
1.36What, am I dead? O no, my tongue doth walk:
1.37Come, kiss, Carmela, and confound my woe.
1.38Even with this kiss, as once my father did,
1.39I seal the sweet indentures of delight;
1.40Before I break my vow the Gods forbid,
1.41No, not by day, nor yet by darksome night.
1.42Even with this garland made of holly-hocks,
1.43I cross thy brows from every shepherd's kiss;
1.44Heigh ho, how glad am I to touch thy locks,
1.45My frolic heart even now a free man is.
1.46I thank you Doron, and will think on you;
1.47I love you Doron, and will wink on you,
1.48I seal your charter patent with my thumbs:
1.49Come, kiss and part, for fear my mother comes.
Notes
1.1] A burlesque pastoral, written at a time when the pastoral was still at the height of its popularity in England. Cf. the passages from Gay's The Shepherd's Week (1714). Back to Line
1.8] sow: the original and edited texts read "snow," but that makes neither rhyme nor reason. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1589
RPO poem Editors
N. J. Endicott
RPO Edition
2RP.1.184; RPO 1997-2000.
Rhyme