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. And madly with new wounds their lives destroy?
  2. The cruel mother who did first contrive
  3. Her babe to butcher ere 'twas scarce alive,
  4. Who thus from nature's tender dictates swerv'd,
  5. To perish by her proper hands deserv'd.
  6. Why do the sex forget their softness? why
  7. Such projects for a foolish fancy try?
  8. The belly must be smooth, no wrinkle there
  9. To shock the lover's wanton glance appear;
  10. His touch as well as sight they fain would please,
  11. And the womb early of its burden ease.
  12. Had woman sooner known this wicked trade,
  13. Among the race of men what havock had they made.
  14. Mankind had been extinct, and lost the seed,
  15. Without a wonder to restore the breed,
  16. As when Deucalion and his Purrha hurl'd
  17. The stones that sow'd with men the delug'd world,
  18. Had Thetis, goddess of the sea, refus'd
  19. To bear the burden, and her fruit abus'd,
  20. Who would have Priam's royal seat destroy'd?