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. Deserv'd himself the fatal wound to feel.
  2. Couldst thou be capable of Cupid's fires,
  3. Or the least sensible of love's desires,
  4. Some pity thou wouldst have on me, and grant
  5. Thy aid, for what thou canst not know I want.
  6. Ill suits thee now, the warrior's lance to wield,
  7. To mount the manag'd horse, or lift the brazen shield:
  8. Arms are for men, and not for such as thee,
  9. Who shouldst from ev'ry manly thought be free.
  10. No banner shouldst thou, but thy lady's bear,
  11. And have no other leader but the fair.
  12. Much it behoves thee then to strive to gain
  13. Her favour, and thou need'st not strive in vain.
  14. Consult her pleasure, and her will obey,
  15. To favour that's the sure, the ready way:
  16. Without it, how unhappy wilt thou be!
  17. Life is without it of no use to thee.
  18. Thou'rt beautiful, and mayst thy prime enjoy,
  19. And well thy beauty and thy youth employ.
  20. Study to serve thy gentle mistress well,