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. Love truly none, but seem in love with all,
  2. And at old friends to thy new lovers rail.
  3. Sometimes deny, 'twill appetite procure;
  4. The sharp-set hawks will stoop to any lure.
  5. Then grant again, lest he a habit get
  6. Of living from thee; but be sure thou let
  7. No empty lover in; murmur sometimes,
  8. And at first hurt, reproach him with thy crimes.
  9. Seem jealous, when thou'st been thyself to blame;
  10. 'Twill stop his mouth, if thou the first complain.
  11. All thou hast done be ready to forswear:
  12. For lovers' oaths fair Venus has no ear.
  13. Whilst lie is with thee, let some woman bring
  14. Some Indian stuff or foreign precious thing;
  15. Which thou must say thou want'st, and he must buy,
  16. Though for it six months hence in gaol he lie.
  17. Thy mother, sister, brother, and thy nurse,
  18. Must have a pull each at thy lover's purse.
  19. Let him from rivals never be secure,
  20. That hope once gone, love will not long endure;
  21. Show him the presents by those rivals sent,
  22. So shall his bounty thy request prevent.
  23. When he will give no more, ask him to lend:
  24. If he wants money, find a trusting friend.
  25. Get hangings, cabinets, and looking-glass,
  26. Or any thing for which his word will pass.
  27. Practise these rules, thou'lt find the benefit!
  28. I lost my beauty ere I got this wit."
  29. I at that word step'd from behind the door,
  30. And scarce my nails from her thin cheeks forbore.
  31. Her few gray hairs in rage I vow'd to pull,
  32. And thrust her drunken eyes into her skull.
  33. "Poor in a dungeon's bottom may'st thou rot,
  34. Die with a blow with thy beloved pot;
  35. No brandy, and eternal thirst, thy lot."
  1. Trust me, my Atticus, in love are wars;
  2. And Cupid has his camp, as well as Mars:
  3. The age that's fit for war best suits with love,
  4. The old in both unserviceable prove,
  5. Infirm in war, and impotent in love.
  6. The soldiers which a general does require,
  7. Are such as ladies would in bed desire:
  8. Who but a soldier, and a lover, can
  9. Bear the night's cold, in show'rs of hail and rain?
  10. One in continual watch his station keeps,
  11. Or on the earth in broken slumbers sleeps;
  12. The other takes his still repeated round
  13. By mistress' house — then lodges on the ground.
  14. Soldiers, and lovers, with a careful eye,
  15. Observe the motions of the enemy: