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. What wretch can bear a livelong night's dull rest,
  2. Or think himself in lazy slumbers blest?
  3. Fool-is not sleep the image of pale death?
  4. There's time for rest when fate has stopp'd your breath.
  5. Me may my soft deluding dear deceive,
  6. I'm happy in my hopes, while I believe:
  7. Now let her flatter, then as fondly chide,
  8. Often may I enjoy, oft be denied.
  9. With doubtful steps the god of war does move,
  10. By thy example, in ambiguous love.
  11. Blown to and fro, like down from thy own wing,
  12. Who knows when joy or anguish thou wilt bring?
  13. Yet at thy mother's and thy slave's request,
  14. Fix an eternal empire in my breast;
  15. And let th' inconstant charming sex,
  16. Whose wilful scorn does lovers vex,
  17. Submit their hearts before thy throne;
  18. 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.