Amores

21. The harass'd whore, who liv'd a wretch to please,
22. Has leave to be a bawd, and take her ease.
23. For me then, who have truly spent my blood,
24. Love, in thy service, and so boldly stood
25. In Celia's trenches, were't not wisely done,
26. E'en to retire, and live at peace at home ?
27. No-might I gain a godhead to disclaim
28. My glorious title to my endless flame,
29. Divinity with scorn I would forswear,
30. Such sweet, dear, tempting devils women are.
31. Whene'er those flames grow faint, I quickly find
32. A fierce black storm pour down upon my mind;
33. Headlong I'm hurl'd like horsemen who in vain
34. Their fury-flaming coursers would restrain.
35. As ships, just when the harbour they attain,
36. Are snatch'd by sudden blasts to sea again,
37. So Love's fantastic storms reduce my heart,
38. Half rescu'd, and the god resumes his dart.
39. Strike here, this undefended bosom wound,
40. And for so brave a conquest be renown'd.
41. Shafts fly so fast to me from ev'ry part,
42. You'll scarce discern the quiver from my heart.
43. What wretch can bear a livelong night's dull rest,
44. Or think himself in lazy slumbers blest?
45. Fool-is not sleep the image of pale death?
46. There's time for rest when fate has stopp'd your breath.
47. Me may my soft deluding dear deceive,
48. I'm happy in my hopes, while I believe:
49. Now let her flatter, then as fondly chide,
50. Often may I enjoy, oft be denied.
51. With doubtful steps the god of war does move,
52. By thy example, in ambiguous love.
53. Blown to and fro, like down from thy own wing,
54. Who knows when joy or anguish thou wilt bring?
55. Yet at thy mother's and thy slave's request,
56. Fix an eternal empire in my breast;
57. And let th' inconstant charming sex,
58. Whose wilful scorn does lovers vex,
59. Submit their hearts before thy throne;
60. 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,
21. Stretch'd out for something far more sweet than sleep.
22. Others from ruin fly, to mine I run,
23. To be by women pleasingly undone,
24. Longing for two, since undestroy'd by one.
25. Still let my slender limbs for love suffice;
26. I want no nerves, but want the bulky size.
27. My limbs, tho' lean are not in vain display'd;
28. From me no female ever rose a maid.
29. Oft have I, when a luscious night was spent,
30. Saluted morn, nor cloy'd nor impotent.
31. Happy, who gasps in love his latest breath;
32. Give me, ye gods, so softly sweet a death !
33. Let the rough warriors grapple on the plain,
34. And with their blood immortal honour gain;
35. Let the vile miser plough for wealth the deep,
36. And, shipwrek'd in the unfatbom'd waters, sleep
37. May Venus grant me but my last desire,
38. In the full height of rapture to expire.
39. Perhaps some friend, with kindly dew supplied,
40. Weeping will say, "As Ovid liv'd, he died."

Poem 11, in which the poet prays that his Mistress will be safe as she travels by sea, is not here translated.

1. Io Triumphe! I have won the prize,
2. For in my arms the fair Corinna lies.
3. Nor jealous husband, nor a guardian's care,
4. Nor door defended with a double bar,
5. Could fence against a lover's artifice,
6. For in my arms the fair Corinna lies.
7. With reason of my victory I boast,
8. The conquest gain'd, and yet no blood is lost;
9. I scal'd no walls, I pass'd no ditch profound,
10. Safe were my wars, and all without a wound.
11. My only work a charming girl to gain;
12. The pleasure well rewards the little pain.
13. Ten years the Greeks did in one siege employ,
14. But levell'd were, at length, the walls of Troy;
15. What glory was there by th' Atrides won,
16. So many chiefs before a single town!
17. Not thus did I my pleasant toils pursue,
18. And the whole glory to myself is due;
19. Myself was horse and foot, myself alone
20. The captain and the soldier was in one,
21. And fought beneath no banner but my own.
22. Whether by strength I combated, or wile,
23. Fortune did ever on my actions smile;
24. I only owe my triumph to my care,
25. And by my patience only won the fair.
26. Nor was my cause of quarrel new; the same
27. Set Europe and proud Asia in a flame.
28. For Helen, ravish'd by the Dardan boy,
29. Was the war wag'd that sunk the pride of Troy;
30. The Centaurs double form'd, half man, half beast,
31. Defil'd with horrid war the nuptial feast;
32. Inflam'd by wine and woman's magic charms,
33. They turn'd the jolly face of joy to arms.
34. 'Twas woman urg'd the strife; a second fair
35. Involv'd the Trojans in a second war.
36. What wreck, what ruin, did a Woman bring
37. On peaceful Latium, and its pious king!
38. When Rome was young and in her infant state
39. What woes did woman to our sires create!
40. Into what peril was that city brought,