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. She first; "Must love for ever tune thy voice,
  2. Fond idle bard, and trifling in thy choice
  3. Thy wanton songs employ the drunkard's tongue,
  4. In ev'ry street thy ribald lays are sung;
  5. The finger marks thee in thy passing by,
  6. 'Behold, where goes the slave of love,' they cry.
  7. Thy lewd exploits, thou profligate, are grown
  8. The public theme, and talk of all the town;
  9. Whilst unconcern'd, and lost to sense of shame,
  10. Thou still runn'st on nor mind'st thy ruin'd fame.
  11. Enough thou'st told the plaints of fond desire,
  12. Now let a nobler inspiration fire;
  13. Thy matter cramps thy genius, learn to find
  14. A manly subject, and exert thy mind.
  15. In songs for girls, fond toys, and idle play,
  16. Thy muse has wanton'd all her hours away.
  17. But youth at length has fill'd its measure up;
  18. My friend, 'tis time to taste of t'other cup.
  19. Now in my service let thy force be shown,
  20. Assert my honour, and retrieve thy own;
  21. Thy sprightly fancy, and inventive wit,
  22. The lofty style of tragic scenes will fit."
  23. She said; and proudly rising in her gait,
  24. Thrice shook her tresses, and display'd her state.
  25. With open look (nor was my sight beguil'd)
  26. And joyous eyes her rival sweetly smil'd;
  27. Sustain'd her hand a myrtle branch upright?
  28. Or did my fancy form the charming sight?
  29. "Still so severe, 0, tragedy ! (she cried);
  30. And canst thou ne'er forego thy sullen pride?
  31. I not compare my lowly lays to thine;
  32. Too weak materials for the vast design.
  33. The style unlabour'd, negligent the dress,
  34. My verse is humbler, and my matter less.
  35. Gay, wanton, soft, my business is to move,
  36. With melting strains, the playful god of love.
  37. Bereft of me, fair Venus wants her charms,
  38. I help the goddess, and prepare her arms.
  39. My luring art, and soothing lays prevail,
  40. Where lofty port, and tragic buskins fail.
  41. I more deserve, by making that my care,
  42. Thy rigid pride allows not thee to bear:
  43. By me, Corinna first was taught to try
  44. Tobreak from prison, and deceive the spy;
  45. I first induc'd the fearful fair to slide
  46. With tremb'ling caution from her husband's side;
  47. When to thy arms, all loose, and disarray'd,
  48. Prepar'd for pleasure, flew the melting maid.
  49. Fix'd on her door, how oft I've hung on high,
  50. Expos'd, and patient of each gazing eye !