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. When her shrill shakes afresh his bosom wound,
  2. And from her lips he kisses off the sound;
  3. When her soft fingers touch the silver strings,
  4. And sweetly to the sounding lute she sings;
  5. Who can resist such strong redoubled charms?
  6. Her music melts me, as her beauty warms
  7. If in the dance the nimble nymph I find,
  8. And view how she her pliant limbs does wind,
  9. How artfully she to the music moves,
  10. I cry, "How happy is the man she loves!"
  11. My humour, in a word, is plainly this,
  12. All objects please, and nothing comes amiss.
  13. To love, and be belov'd my sole employ:
  14. Dispos'd to be enjoy'd, and to enjoy.
  15. This lady for her length I like, her spread
  16. Will swell my arms, and fill the joyous bed;
  17. She's like the lusty heroines of old,
  18. And with a strong embrace her lover will enfold.
  19. This lass, because she's little, I approve;
  20. The least are lightest in the sports of love.