Book II, Elegy 18

Continued complainings beget disgust in many a heart; oft doth a silent lover bend a woman's will. If aught thou hast espied, deny thou sawest aught, or if aught perchance hath pained thee deny the pain!

What if my youthful prime were white with the white hair of eld, and drooping wrinkles furrowed my cheeks?

Tithonus was old, yet Aurora despised him not, nor suffered him to lie lonely in the chambers of the East. Oft as she departed did she caress him amid the waves where she hath her home, or ever turning to her task she washed her yoked steeds, and when nigh Ind she laid her down to rest in his embrace she made moan that day returned too soon. As she climbed her car she cried, "High heaven is unkind," and offered unwilling service to the world. Deeper her joy, while old Tithonus lived, than heavy her grief when Memnon perished. So fair a maid as she had no shame to sleep beside an aged man, nor to heap kisses on his hoary locks.

But thou, faithless, hatest me for all my youth, though thyself at no far distant day shalt be a stooping crone. Still my care grows less when I remember that Cupid oft frowns on him to whom of old he was so kind.

Even now, mad girl, dost ape the painted Briton and wanton with foreign dyes upon thy cheek? Beauty is ever best as nature made it; foul shows the Belgian rouge on Roman cheeks. May many an ill befall the maid in hell, that in her folly dyes her hair with lying hue. Away with these things! I at least shall find thee fair; fair enough art thou to me if only thou visit me often. If one stain her brows with azure dye, does that make azured beauty fair? Thou hast no brother nor any son, wherefore let me and me alone be to thee at once both brother and son. Let thine own bed ever keep thee safe from scandal, nor sit thou with face too much adorned. I shall believe tales that rumour tells of thee; therefore sin not; scandal o'erleaps the bounds of land and sea.