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. While feats of arms in Phrygian fields you tell,
  2. And how old Tory by Grecion vengeance fell;
  3. I my soft hours in softer songs employ,
  4. And all my leisure give to love and joy.
  5. When to high acts, my voice I strive to raise,
  6. Love laughs at my attempt, and mocks my lays;
  7. "Begone!" I often to my mistress cry,
  8. But have not courage, yet, myself to fly.
  9. Whene'er she sees me in this sullen fit,
  10. She fondles me, and, on my knee will sit:
  11. "Enough of this (say I), for shame give o'er,
  12. Enough of love, we'll play the fool no more."
  13. " Ah, is it then a shame to love?" she cries,
  14. And chides, and melts me with her weeping eyes.
  15. Around my neck her snowy arms she throws,
  16. And to my lips with stifling kisses grows.
  17. How can I all this tenderness refuse ?
  18. At once my wisdom, and my will I lose;
  19. I'm conquer'd, and renounce the glorious train
  20. Of arms, and war, to sing of love again:
  21. My themes are acts, which I myself have done,
  22. And my muse sings no battles but my own.
  23. Once I confess I did the drama try,
  24. And ventur'd with success on tragedy;
  25. My genius with a moving scene agrees,
  26. And if I ventured further I might please:
  27. But love my heroics makes a jest,
  28. And laughs to see me in my buskins drest.
  29. Asham'd, and weary of this tragic whim,
  30. For tender thoughts I quitted the sublime.
  31. My mind my mistress bends another way,
  32. Her must my muse in all her songs obey;
  33. Though oft I do not what I write approve,
  34. Like, or not like it, I must sing of love.
  35. Whether for Ithaca's illustrious dame,
  36. To great Ulysses I a letter frame,
  37. Or for Oenone tender things indite,
  38. Or soft complaints for injur'd Phillis write;
  39. Whether fair Canace's incestuous care
  40. I sooth, or flatter Dido's fierce despair;
  41. Whether I fan Medea's raging fire,
  42. Or for sweet Sappho touch the Lesbian lyre;
  43. Whether I Phaedra's lawless love relate,
  44. Or Theseus' flight and Ariadne's fate:
  45. Oh, that Sabinus, my departed friend,
  46. Could from all quarters now his answers send!
  47. Ulysses' hand should to his queen be known,
  48. And wretched Phaedra hear from Theseus' son;
  49. Dido Aeneas' answer should receive,
  50. And Phillis Demophoon's, if alive;