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. To haunt the crowded courts and pick up fees.
  2. Thy rise brings labour to the female band,
  3. And puts the spindle in the spinster's hand:
  4. Light are these toils, and little is the pain
  5. To rise to work, and rest at night again;
  6. But who that e'er knew love's transporting joys,
  7. Could from the arms of youth and beauty rise?
  8. Oft have I wish'd that night would keep her ground,
  9. And all her stars be at thy rising found;
  10. Oft have I wish'd the winds would stop thy way,
  11. Repel thy car, or clouds involve the day.
  12. Dost thou in envy lash each lazy steed,
  13. And whirl thy chariot with unwonted speed?
  14. Black was thy son, and in his hue's express'd
  15. The gloomy passions of his parent's breats;
  16. He, born of Cephalus, his ravish'd sire,
  17. Is a known proof of thy adult'rous fire.
  18. Thou, by his colour, wouldst thy crime conceal;
  19. Ah, that to Tithon I the tale could tell!
  20. Search all the records of Heaven's lechers round,
  21. A fouler story cannot there be found.
  22. In Cephalus' embraces when you lay,
  23. And oft by theft renew'd your wanton play;
  24. When Tithon's impotence you made your sport,
  25. Did you not think the joyous moments short?
  26. Lock'd in his arms did you in transports lie,
  27. Ah! would you not, like me, to Phoebus cry,
  28. "Stop, stop thy rapid course? Am I to blame
  29. That Tithon's old, and cannot feel thy flame?
  30. See how the moon does her Endymion keep
  31. In night conceal'd, and drown'd in dewy sleep.
  32. As lovely is the moon, as fair as thou,
  33. Who freely, where she loves, her favours does bestow.
  34. Jove, when he rob'd Amphitryon of his joy,
  35. Did two whole nights in am'rous thefts employ;
  36. Unknown when in Alcmena's arms he lay,
  37. The night he doubles and suspends the day."
  38. The morning heard my railing, and for shame
  39. Blush'd that by force she must disturb my flame;
  40. Bright Phoebus rushing forth, the glorious day
  41. Drove the dear shades, that hid our joys, away.
  1. I us'd to warn you, not with so much care,
  2. And waste of ointment, to adorn your hair:
  3. That warning now is useless, you have none,
  4. And with your hair that trouble too is gone.
  5. Where are the silken tresses, which adown
  6. Your shoulders hung? A web was never spun
  7. So fine, but, ah! those flowing curls are gone.
  8. Ah fatal art! ah fatal care, and pains!
  9. That robb'd me of the dearest of my chains.