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. Of some importance both to you and me.
  2. Be sure to come before your man be there,
  3. There's nothing can be done, but come howe'er.
  4. Sit next him, (that belongs to decency;)
  5. But tread upon my foot in passing by.
  6. Read in my looks what silently they speak,
  7. And slily, with your eyes, your answer make.
  8. My lifted eye-brow shall declare my pain,
  9. My right hand to his fellow shall complain;
  10. And on the back a letter shall design,
  11. Beside a note that shall be writ in wine.
  12. Whene'er you think upon our last embrace,
  13. With your fore-finger gently touch your face.
  14. If any word of mine offend my dear,
  15. Pull with your hand the velvet of your ear;
  16. If you are pleas'd with what I do or say,
  17. Handle your rings, or vith your fingers play.
  18. As suppliants use at altars, hold the board,
  19. Whene'er you wish the devil may take your lord.
  20. When he fills for you, never touch the cup,
  21. But bid th' officious cuckold drink it up:
  22. The waiter on those services employ;
  23. Drink you, and I will snatch it from the boy,
  24. Watching the part where your sweet mouth hath been,
  25. And thence, with eager lips, will suck it in.
  26. If he, with clownish manners, thinks it fit
  27. To taste, and offer you the nasty bit,
  28. Reject his greasy kindness, and restore
  29. Th' unsav'ry morsel he had chew'd before.
  30. Nor let his arms embrace your neck, nor rest
  31. Your tender cheek upon his hairy breast;
  32. Let not his hand within your bosom stray,
  33. And rudely with your pretty bubbies play.
  34. But, above all, let him no kiss receive,
  35. That's an offence I never can forgive;
  36. Do not, oh! do not that sweet mouth resign,
  37. Lest I rise up in arms, and cry 'tis mine.
  38. I shall thrust in betwixt, and void of fear
  39. The manifest adult'rer will appear.
  40. These things are plain to sight, but more I doubt
  41. What you conceal beneath your petticoat;
  42. Take not his leg between your tender thighs,
  43. Nor with your hand provoke my foe to rise.
  44. How many love inventions I deplore,
  45. Which I myself have practis'd all before !
  46. How oft have I been forc'd the robe to lift
  47. In company; to make a homely shift
  48. For a bare bout, ill huddled o'er in haste,
  49. While o'er my side the fair her mantle cast!
  50. You to your husband shall not be so kind,
  51. But lest you should, your mantle leave behind.
  52. Encourage him to tope, but kiss him not,
  53. Nor mix one drop of water in his pot.
  54. If he be fuddled well, and snores apace,
  55. Then we may take advice from time and place.
  56. When all depart, while compliments are loud,
  57. Be sure to mix among the thickest crowd;
  58. There I will be, and there we cannot miss,
  59. Perhaps to grubble, or at least to kiss.
  60. Alas, what length of labor I employ,