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. The harass'd whore, who liv'd a wretch to please,
  2. Has leave to be a bawd, and take her ease.
  3. For me then, who have truly spent my blood,
  4. Love, in thy service, and so boldly stood
  5. In Celia's trenches, were't not wisely done,
  6. E'en to retire, and live at peace at home ?
  7. No-might I gain a godhead to disclaim
  8. My glorious title to my endless flame,
  9. Divinity with scorn I would forswear,
  10. Such sweet, dear, tempting devils women are.
  11. Whene'er those flames grow faint, I quickly find
  12. A fierce black storm pour down upon my mind;
  13. Headlong I'm hurl'd like horsemen who in vain
  14. Their fury-flaming coursers would restrain.
  15. As ships, just when the harbour they attain,
  16. Are snatch'd by sudden blasts to sea again,
  17. So Love's fantastic storms reduce my heart,
  18. Half rescu'd, and the god resumes his dart.
  19. Strike here, this undefended bosom wound,
  20. And for so brave a conquest be renown'd.
  21. Shafts fly so fast to me from ev'ry part,
  22. You'll scarce discern the quiver from my heart.
  23. What wretch can bear a livelong night's dull rest,
  24. Or think himself in lazy slumbers blest?
  25. Fool-is not sleep the image of pale death?
  26. There's time for rest when fate has stopp'd your breath.
  27. Me may my soft deluding dear deceive,
  28. I'm happy in my hopes, while I believe:
  29. Now let her flatter, then as fondly chide,
  30. Often may I enjoy, oft be denied.
  31. With doubtful steps the god of war does move,
  32. By thy example, in ambiguous love.
  33. Blown to and fro, like down from thy own wing,
  34. Who knows when joy or anguish thou wilt bring?
  35. Yet at thy mother's and thy slave's request,
  36. Fix an eternal empire in my breast;
  37. And let th' inconstant charming sex,
  38. Whose wilful scorn does lovers vex,
  39. Submit their hearts before thy throne;
  40. The vassal world is then thy own.
  1. What you affirm'd, my friend, is prov'd untrue,
  2. That none at once could madly dote on two.
  3. Deceiv'd, unarm'd, we Cupid soon o'ercame,
  4. And I glow shameless with a double flame.
  5. They both are fair, both dress'd so nicely well,
  6. That the pre-eminence is hard to tell.
  7. Sometimes for this, sometimes for that I burn,
  8. And each more beauteous sparkles in her turn.
  9. Each claims my passion, and my heart divides
  10. As to and fro the doubtful galliot rides.
  11. Here driven by winds, and there redriven by tides.
  12. Why doubly chain'd ? was not a single fair
  13. Enough to load me with perpetual care?
  14. Why are more leaves brought to the shady wood,
  15. Stars to the sky, or waters to the flood ?
  16. Yet better so than not to love at all;
  17. Still on my foes may such dull blessings fall.
  18. May they, insipidly supine, be spread
  19. Along the middle of a widowed bed;
  20. While I with sprightliness love's vigil's keep,