Amores

Ovid

Ovid. Ovid's Art of Love (in three Books), the Remedy of Love, the Art of Beauty, the Court of Love, the History of Love, and Amours. Dryden, John, et al., translator. New York: Calvin Blanchard, 1855.

  1. For mighty wars I thought to tune my lute,
  2. And make my measures to my subject suit.
  3. Six feet for ev'ry verse the muse design'd,
  4. But Cupid laughing, when he saw my mind,
  5. From ev'ry second verse a foot purloin'd.
  6. "Who gave thee, boy, this arbitrary sway,
  7. On subjects, not thy own, commands to lay,
  8. Who Phoebus only, and his laws obey ?
  9. 'Tis more absurd, than if the queen of love
  10. Should in Minerva's arms to battle move;
  11. Or manly Pallas from that queen should take
  12. Her torch, and o'er the dying lover shake.
  13. In fields as well may Cynthia sow the corn,