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. Jason should to Hypsipyle return
  2. A sad reply, and Sappho cease to mourn:
  3. Nor him whom she can ne'er possess, desire,
  4. But give to Phoebus fane her votive lyre.
  5. As much as you in lofty epics deal,
  6. You, Macer, show that you love's passion feel,
  7. And sensible of beauty's powerful charm,
  8. You hear their call amid the noise of arms.
  9. A place for Paris in your verse we find,
  10. And Helen's to the young adult'rer kind;
  11. There lovely Laodamia mourns her lord,
  12. The first that fell by Hector's fatal sword.
  13. If well I know you, and your mind can tell,
  14. The theme's as grateful, and you like as well
  15. To tune your lyre for Cupid as for Mars,
  16. And Thracian combats change for Paphian wars;
  17. If well I know you, and your works design
  18. Your will, you often quit your camp for mine.
  1. If for thyself thou wilt not watch thy whore,
  2. Watch her for me that I may love her more.
  3. What comes with ease we nauseously receive,
  4. Who but a sot would scorn to love with leave?
  5. With hopes and fears my flames are blown up higher;
  6. Make me despair, and then I can desire.
  7. Give me a jilt to tease my jealous mind;
  8. Deceits are virtues in the female kind.
  9. Corinna my fantastic humour knew,
  10. Play'd trick for trick, and kept herself still new;
  11. She, that next night I might the sharper come,
  12. Fell out with me, and sent me fasting home.
  13. Or some pretence to lie alone would take ;
  14. Whene'er she pleas'd her head and teeth would ache:
  15. Till having won me to the highest strain,
  16. She took occasion to be sweet again.
  17. With what a gust, ye gods, we then embrac'd!
  18. How ev'ry kiss was dearer than the last!
  19. Thou whom I now adore, be edified,
  20. Take care that I may often be denied;
  21. Forget the promis'd hour, or feign some fright,
  22. Make me lie rough on bulks each other night.
  23. These are the arts that best secure thy reign,
  24. And this the food that must my fires maintain.
  25. Gross easy love does, like gross diet, pall;
  26. In squeasy stomachs honey turns to gall.
  27. Had Danae not been kept in brazen tow'rs,
  28. Jove had not thought her worth his golden show'rs:
  29. When Juno to a cow turn'd Io's shape,
  30. The watchman help'd her to a second leap.
  31. Let him who loves an easy whetstone whore,
  32. Pluck leaves from trees, and drink the common shore.