Amores

10. Nor of a black, nor of a golden hue
11. They were, but of a dye between the two.
12. How could you hurt, or poison with perfume,
13. Those curls that were so easy to the comb?
14. That to no pains expos'd you, when you set
15. Their shining tresses for young hearts a net?
16. That ne'er provok'd you with your maids to war,
17. For hurting you with your entangled hair?
18. You ne'er were urg'd to some indecent fray,
19. Nor in a fury snatch'd the comb away.
20. The teeth ne'er touch'd you, and her constant care,
21. Without ill arts, would have preserv'd your hair.
22. Behind your chair I oft have seen her stand,
23. And comb and curl it with a gentle hand:
24. Oft have I seen it on your shoulders play
25. Uncomb'd, as on your purple bed you lay.
26. Your artless tresses with more charms appear,
27. Than when adorn'd with all your cost and care.
28. When on the grass the Thracian nymphs recline,
29. Of Bacchus full, and weary of their wine,
30. Less lovely are their locks, than yours, less fair
31. The ringlets of their soft dishevell'd hair:
32. Softer was thine, like fleecy down it felt,
33. And to the finger did as freely yield,
34. How didst thou torture it, the curls to turn,
35. Now with hot irons at thy toilet burn?
36. This rack, with what obedience did it bear?
37. "Ah spare," I cried, "thy patient tresses spare!
38. To hurt them is a sin: this needless toil
39. Forbear, and do not, what adorns thee, spoil.
40. 'Tis now too late to give your labour o'er,
41. Those tortur'd ringlets are, alas ! no more.
42. Ah, cease the cruel thought, and cease to pass
43. Such irksome minutes at your faithful glass !
44. In vain thou seek'st thy silken locks to find;
45. Banish the dear remembrance from thy mind.
46. No weeds destroy'd them with their pois'nous juice,
47. Nor canst thou witches' magic charms accuse,
48. Nor rival's rage, nor dire enchantment blame,
49. Nor envy's blasting tongue, nor fever's flame.
50. The mischief by thy own fair hands was wrought;
51. Nor dost thou suffer for another's fault.
52. How oft I bade thee, but in vain, beware
53. The venom'd essence, that destroy'd thy hair?
54. Now with new arts thou shalt thy pride amuse,
55. And curls, of German captives borrow'd, use.
56. Drusus to Rome their vanquish'd nation sends
57. And the fair slave to thee her tresses lends.
58. With alien locks thou wilt thy head adorn,
59. And conquests gain'd by foreign beauties scorn.
60. How wilt thou blush, with other charms to please,
61. And cry, "How fairer were my locks than these !"
62. By heav'ns, to heart she takes her head's disgrace,
63. She weeps, and covers with her hands her face.
64. She weeps, as in her lap her locks she views;
65. What woman would not weep, such locks to lose!
66. Ah, that they still did on her shoulders flow,
67. Ah, that they now, where once they grew, did grow!
68. Take courage, fair Corinna, never fear,
69. Thou shalt not long these borrow'd tresses wear:
70. Time for your beauty shall this loss repair
71. And you again shall charm with native hair.

Poem 15, in which the poet boasts his work will outlive him, is not here translated.

Poem 1, in which the poet introduces his second book, is not here translated.

Poem 2, addressed to Bagoe, is not here translated.

1. How hard's my hap, to have my fair consign'd
2. To one, who is imperfect in his kind;
3. To one, who ne'er can have the pow'r to prove
4. As woman, or as man, the mutual joys of love!
5. Who practis'd first on boys the cutting steel,
6. Deserv'd himself the fatal wound to feel.
7. Couldst thou be capable of Cupid's fires,
8. Or the least sensible of love's desires,
9. Some pity thou wouldst have on me, and grant
10. Thy aid, for what thou canst not know I want.
11. Ill suits thee now, the warrior's lance to wield,
12. To mount the manag'd horse, or lift the brazen shield:
13. Arms are for men, and not for such as thee,
14. Who shouldst from ev'ry manly thought be free.
15. No banner shouldst thou, but thy lady's bear,
16. And have no other leader but the fair.
17. Much it behoves thee then to strive to gain
18. Her favour, and thou need'st not strive in vain.
19. Consult her pleasure, and her will obey,
20. To favour that's the sure, the ready way:
21. Without it, how unhappy wilt thou be!
22. Life is without it of no use to thee.
23. Thou'rt beautiful, and mayst thy prime enjoy,
24. And well thy beauty and thy youth employ.
25. Study to serve thy gentle mistress well,
26. And merit her good graces by thy zeal;
27. Watch as thou wilt, the trouble thou mayst spare,
28. She'll easily deceive thy utmost care.
29. When two fond lovers are agreed to meet,
30. Canst thou their well-concerted plot defeat?
31. The ways of kindness thou shouldst rather use;
32. By being civil thou wilt nothing lose;
33. And when an opportunity is fail,
34. For thy own sake be friendly to our pray'r.
35. A friend be to thy lady, not a guard,
36. And we, with bounteous hand, thy friendship will reward.

1. Vice by my verse I never will defend,
2. Nor by false arms to fence my own pretend.