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. All in the silence of the night is drown'd.
  2. Here, hopeless of admittance, I attend,
  3. While on my head the pearly dews descend.
  4. Unlock the gate, the morning will not stay,
  5. Unlock the gate, I will no longer pray,
  6. But force by sword and fire my readier way.
  7. What need of fire or sword? myself alone,
  8. More pow'rful, than or sword or fire am grown.
  9. Around your heads shall flaming torches fly,
  10. And Jove the house shall burn, as well as I.
  11. Night, love, and wine encourage and inflame:
  12. These triumph over fear, and that o'er shame.
  13. All ways I've tried, but all successless prove,
  14. Nor threats can fright thee, nor entreaties move;
  15. Deaf to my pray'rs as to my tears thou'rt blind,
  16. Thy gate is less obdurate than thy mind.
  17. But see, the ruddy morn begins to rise,
  18. And paints with rosy streaks the eastern skies,
  19. While crowing cocks the lab'rer's sloth revile,
  20. And summon wretches to their daily toil.