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. And now unarm'd, shall prove no glorious prey.
  2. Go take thy mother's doves, thy myrtle crown,
  3. And for thy chariot, Mars shall lend his own;
  4. There thou shalt sit in thy triumphant pride,
  5. And, whilst glad shouts resound on ev'ry side,
  6. Thy gentle hands thy mother's doves shall guide.
  7. And there to make thy glorious pomp and state,
  8. A train of sighing youths, and maids shall wait,
  9. Yet none complain of an unhappy fate.
  10. There newly conquer'd I, still fresh my wound,
  11. Will march along, my hands with myrtle bound;
  12. There modesty, with veils thrown o'er her face,
  13. Now doubly blushing at her own disgrace;
  14. There sober thoughts, and whatso'er disdains
  15. Love's rules, shall feel his power, and bear his chains:
  16. Then all shall fear, all bow, yet all rejoice;
  17. "Io triumphe" be the public voice.
  18. Thy constant guards, soft fancy, hope and fear,
  19. Anger, and soft caresses shall be there:
  20. By these strong guards are men and gods o'erthrown;
  21. These conquer for thee, Love, and these alone,
  22. Thy mother, from the sky thy pomp shall grace,
  23. And scatter sweetest roses in thy face:
  24. There glorious Love shall ride, profusely dress'd
  25. With all the richest jewels of the east:
  26. Rich gems thy quiver, and thy wheels infold,
  27. And hide the poorness of the baser gold.
  28. Then thou shalt conquer many, then.thy darts
  29. Shall scatter thousand wounds on tender hearts:
  30. Thy shafts themselves will fly, thy neighb'ring fire
  31. Will catch mens' breasts, and kindle warm desire.
  32. Thus conqu'ring Bacchus looks in Indian groves,
  33. He drawn by tigers, thou by murm'ring doves.
  34. Well then, since I too can increase thy train,
  35. Spend not thy force on me, and rage in vain;
  36. Look on thy kinsman Caesar's happy slaves,
  37. The same victorious arm that conquers, saves.
  1. Be just, dear maid, an equal passion prove,
  2. Or show me cause why I should ever love.
  3. I do not at your cold disdain repine,
  4. Nor ask your love, do you but suffer mine.
  5. I dare not aim at more exalted bliss,
  6. And Venus will bestow her vot'ry this.
  7. Take hin, who will for endless ages serve:
  8. Take him whose faithful flame will never swerve
  9. Though no illustrious names my race adorn;
  10. Who am but of equestrian order born;
  11. Though a few ploughs serve my paternal fields,
  12. Nor my small table many dishes yields;
  13. Yet Bacchus, Phoebus, and the tuneful nine,
  14. Are all my friends, and to my side incline,
  15. And love's great god, at last, will make me thine.
  16. Heav'n knows, dear maid, I love no other fair;
  17. In thee lives all my love, my heav'n lies there.
  18. Oh! may I by indulgent Fate's decree,
  19. With thee lead all my life, and die with thee.
  20. Thy beauties yield me my transporting theme;
  21. And while I celebrate thy charming name,
  22. My verse shall be as sacred as my flame.
  23. Jove's sev'ral rapes, his injur'd Io's wrongs,
  24. Are made immortal in his poet's songs.
  25. Verse still reveals where Leda's flames began,
  26. Rais'd by the secret godhead in the swan,
  27. The story of the rape Europa bore,
  28. Shall last while winds shall rage, or waters roar.
  29. Your name shall live like theirs, while verse endures,
  30. And mine be ever writ, and read with yours.
  1. Your husband will be with us at the treat,
  2. May that be the last supper he shall eat.
  3. And am poor I, a guest invited there,
  4. Only to see, while he may touch the fair?
  5. To see you kiss, and hug your nauseous lord,
  6. While his lewd hand descends below the board?
  7. No wonder that Hippodamia's charms,
  8. At such a sight, the Centaurs urg'd to arms:
  9. That in a rage, they threw their cups aside,
  10. Assail'd the bridegroom, and would force the bride.
  11. I am not half a horse, (I would I were :)
  12. Yet hardly can from you my hands forbear.
  13. Take, then, my counsel; which observ'd, may be,
  14. Of some importance both to you and me.
  15. Be sure to come before your man be there,
  16. There's nothing can be done, but come howe'er.
  17. Sit next him, (that belongs to decency;)
  18. But tread upon my foot in passing by.
  19. Read in my looks what silently they speak,
  20. And slily, with your eyes, your answer make.
  21. My lifted eye-brow shall declare my pain,
  22. My right hand to his fellow shall complain;
  23. And on the back a letter shall design,