Book II, Elegy 29

Yesternight, light of mine eyes, when I wandered heavy with wine and with never a servant's hand to lead me home, a crowd of tiny boys met me; how many I know not, for fear forbade me count them. Some carried little torches and others arrows, while some seemed even to make ready fetters for me. Yet naked were they all. Then one that was more wanton than the rest cried: "Seize him, for ye know him well of old. This is he that the angry woman delivered to us." He spake, and straightway a noose was about my head. Another then bade them thrust me into their midst, while a third cried: "Perish the man that deems us not divine! Whole hours hath she waited thee, though little thou deservest it, while thou, fool, didst seek another's door. When she has loosened the strings of her nightcap of Sidonian purple and turns on thee her slumber-laden eyes, then will sweet odours breathe upon thee such as the herbs of Araby ne'er gave, but Love himself made with his own hands. Spare him now, brothers; now he pledges that his love shall be true: and lo! we have come to the house whither we were bidden." Thus did they lead me back to my mistress' house. "Go now," they cried, "and learn to stay at home of nights."

'Twas morn and I wished to see if alone she took her rest, and behold Cynthia was in her bed alone. I stood amazed; for never seemed she to mine eyes more fair, not even when, clad in purple tunic, she went to lay her dreams before chaste Vesta, for fear some ill might threaten herself and me. So seemed she to me, as she woke from her fresh slumber. Ah, how great is the power of beauty unadorned! "What!" quoth she, "thou that spiest thus early on thy mistress, deemst thou that my ways are like to thine? I am not so fickle: 'tis enough for me to know one lover such as thee, or one perchance of truer love than thine. There are no signs of impress on the couch, the marks of lovers taking their delight, no signs that two have lain therein. See! from my bosom springs no deep-drawn breath, that, as thou knowest, might tell thee that I had been untrue." She spake, and with her right hand resisted and thrust away my kisses, and leapt forth from the bed, loose slippers on her feet. So was I rebuffed by her that kept her love so pure; since then no happy night has e'er been mine.