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. This gown was by some botching tailor made,
  2. It spoils thy shape; this fucus is ill laid.
  3. Hear me, and be as happy as thou'rt fair:
  4. Damon is rich, and what thou wanst, can spare.
  5. Like thine his face, like thine his eyes are thought.
  6. Would he not buy, he might himself be bought."
  7. Fair Lucia blush'd. "It is a sign of grace,
  8. (Dypsas replied,) that red becomes thy face.
  9. All lovers now by what they give are weighed,
  10. And she is best belov'd that best is paid;
  11. The sun-burnt Latins, in old Tatius' reign,
  12. Did to one man perhaps their love restrain:
  13. Venus in her Aeneas' city rules,
  14. And all adore her deity but fools.
  15. Go on, ye fair, chaste only let such live
  16. As none will ask, and know not how to give.
  17. Life steals away, and our best hours are gone
  18. Ere the true use or worth of them be known.
  19. Things long neglected, of themselves decay;
  20. What we forbear, time rudely makes his prey.
  21. Beauty is best preserv'd by exercise,
  22. Nor for that task can one or few suffice.
  23. Wouldst thou grow rich, thou must from many take:
  24. From one 'twere hard continually to rake.
  25. Without new gowns and coaches, who can live ?
  26. What does thy poet but new verses give?
  27. A poet, the last thing that earth does breed,
  28. Whose wit, for sixpence, any one may read.
  29. Hang the poor lover, and his pedigree;
  30. The thriving merchant, or fat judge, give me.
  31. Love truly none, but seem in love with all,
  32. And at old friends to thy new lovers rail.
  33. Sometimes deny, 'twill appetite procure;
  34. The sharp-set hawks will stoop to any lure.
  35. Then grant again, lest he a habit get
  36. Of living from thee; but be sure thou let
  37. No empty lover in; murmur sometimes,
  38. And at first hurt, reproach him with thy crimes.
  39. Seem jealous, when thou'st been thyself to blame;
  40. 'Twill stop his mouth, if thou the first complain.
  41. All thou hast done be ready to forswear:
  42. For lovers' oaths fair Venus has no ear.
  43. Whilst lie is with thee, let some woman bring
  44. Some Indian stuff or foreign precious thing;
  45. Which thou must say thou want'st, and he must buy,
  46. Though for it six months hence in gaol he lie.
  47. Thy mother, sister, brother, and thy nurse,
  48. Must have a pull each at thy lover's purse.
  49. Let him from rivals never be secure,
  50. That hope once gone, love will not long endure;
  51. Show him the presents by those rivals sent,
  52. So shall his bounty thy request prevent.
  53. When he will give no more, ask him to lend:
  54. If he wants money, find a trusting friend.
  55. Get hangings, cabinets, and looking-glass,
  56. Or any thing for which his word will pass.
  57. Practise these rules, thou'lt find the benefit!
  58. I lost my beauty ere I got this wit."
  59. I at that word step'd from behind the door,
  60. And scarce my nails from her thin cheeks forbore.