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. I not compare my lowly lays to thine;
  2. Too weak materials for the vast design.
  3. The style unlabour'd, negligent the dress,
  4. My verse is humbler, and my matter less.
  5. Gay, wanton, soft, my business is to move,
  6. With melting strains, the playful god of love.
  7. Bereft of me, fair Venus wants her charms,
  8. I help the goddess, and prepare her arms.
  9. My luring art, and soothing lays prevail,
  10. Where lofty port, and tragic buskins fail.
  11. I more deserve, by making that my care,
  12. Thy rigid pride allows not thee to bear:
  13. By me, Corinna first was taught to try
  14. Tobreak from prison, and deceive the spy;
  15. I first induc'd the fearful fair to slide
  16. With tremb'ling caution from her husband's side;
  17. When to thy arms, all loose, and disarray'd,
  18. Prepar'd for pleasure, flew the melting maid.
  19. Fix'd on her door, how oft I've hung on high,
  20. Expos'd, and patient of each gazing eye !