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. But now, I fear, I share her with the town.
  2. Am I deceiv'd or can she be the same,
  3. Who only to my verses owes her fame
  4. My verse a price upon her beauty laid,
  5. And by my praises she her market made;
  6. Whom but myself can I with reason blame?
  7. Without me she had never had a name.
  8. Did I do this, who knew her soul so well?
  9. Dearly to me she did her favours sell;
  10. And when the wares were to the public known,
  11. Why should I think she'd sell to me alone ?
  12. 'Twas I proclaim'd to all the town her charms,
  13. And tempted cullies to her venal arms;
  14. I made their way, I show'd them where to come,
  15. And there is hardly now a rake in Rome
  16. But knows her rates, and thanks my babbling muse:
  17. Her house is now as common as the stews;
  18. For this I'm to the muse oblig'd, and more
  19. For all the mischiefs envy has in store.
  20. This comes of gallantry, while some employ