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. Will catch mens' breasts, and kindle warm desire.
  2. Thus conqu'ring Bacchus looks in Indian groves,
  3. He drawn by tigers, thou by murm'ring doves.
  4. Well then, since I too can increase thy train,
  5. Spend not thy force on me, and rage in vain;
  6. Look on thy kinsman Caesar's happy slaves,
  7. 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,