Book II, Elegy 20

Why weepst thou more bitterly than Briseis torn from Achilles' side? Why weepst with anxious eyes more sadly than captive Andromache? Or why, mad girl, weariest thou the ears of the gods with complaint of my perfidy? Why meanest thou that my loyalty to thee has sunk so low? Not so shrilly does the mourning bird of Attica make her moan embowered in Cecropian leafage, not so does proud Niobe by twice six tombs stream tears down sorrowing Sipylus.

Though my arms were bound with gyves of bronze, though my limbs were immured in Danae's tower, yet for thy sake, my life, would I break bonds of brass and leap o'er the iron walls of Danae's tower. My ears are deaf to all men say of thee; only do thou likewise doubt not my steadfastness. By my mother's, by my father's bones I swear — if I lie, may either ghost take vengeance on me! — that I will abide true to thee, my life, until darkness close my day; one selfsame love, one selfsame hour, shall sweep us both away.

But if neither the glory of thy name nor thy beauty kept me true, yet would the mildness of thy yoke do so. The seventh full moon has spun its course since every street corner hath been speaking of me and thee, and all this time not seldom hath thy door been kind, not seldom have I been admitted to thy bed. Yet not a night have I bought with sumptuous gifts; whate'er I have been in thine eyes, I owe to thy goodwill; great is my debt. Many sought thee, but thou hast sought me only; can I forget the kindness of thy nature? If I do, may ye, Furies of tragedy, plague me, and thou, Aeacus, pass on me the doom of the underworld. May my penalty be one of Tityus' ranging vultures, and may I carry rocks with labour worthy Sisyphus.

But do thou beseech me no more with suppliant tablets: my loyalty shall be at the close what it was when it began. Herein forever am I justified: alone of lovers I neither rashly begin nor rashly end my love.