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. Recall him, Romans, for a second heat,
  2. And clear the course—
  3. Now see your ground you better do maintain,
  4. This lady's favour, and your fame regain;
  5. The prize is his.-As yours successful prove,
  6. So let my wishes, which are all for love;
  7. I'm yet to conquer, and your heart's the prize;
  8. Something she promis'd with her sparkling eyes,
  9. And smil'd ;-" Enough," did I transported cry,
  10. "The rest I leave to opportunity."
  1. Can there be gods ?-has she not falsely swore?
  2. Yet is the beauty that she was before!
  3. The curious tresses of her dangling hair,
  4. As long, and graceful still as e'er they were;
  5. That same inimitable white and red,
  6. Which o'er her face was so distinctly spread,
  7. The roses, and the lilies keep their place,
  8. And ev'ry feature still as justly grace;
  9. Her sparkling eyes their lustre still retain,
  10. That form, that perfect shape does still remain,
  11. As if she ne'er had sinn'd ; and heav'n, ('tis plain)
  12. Suff'ring the fairer sex to break their vows,
  13. To the superior pow'r of beauty bows.
  14. T' inforce my credit to her perjuries,
  15. Oft would she swear by those persuasive eyes;
  16. As if that charm had been too weak to move,
  17. Sh'as added mine;-tell me, ye pow'rs above,
  18. Why all this pain ? why are these guiltless eyes
  19. For her offence th' atoning sacrifice ?
  20. Was't not enough Andromeda has died,
  21. An expiation for her mother's pride ?
  22. Is't not enough, that unconcern'd you see
  23. (Vain witnesses for truth, for faith, for me,)
  24. Such an affront put on divinity,
  25. Yet no revenge the daring crime pursue,
  26. But the deceiv'd must be her victim too?
  27. Either the gods are empty notions, crept
  28. Into the minds of sleepers as they slept,
  29. In vain are fear'd, are but the tricks of law,
  30. To keep the foolish cred'lous world in awe;
  31. Or, if there be a god, he loves the fair,
  32. And all things at their sole disposal are.
  33. For us are all the instruments of war
  34. Design'd, the sword of Mars, and Pallas' spear;
  35. 'Gainst us alone Apollo's bows are bent,
  36. And at our hands Jove's brandish'd thunder sent.
  37. Yet of the ladies, oh ! how fond are they !
  38. Dare not the inj'ries they receive, repay,
  39. But those who ought to fear them they obey.
  40. Jove to his votaries is most severe;
  41. Temples nor altars does his lightning spare.
  42. Obliging Semele in flames expires,
  43. But those who merit, can escape the fires.
  44. Is this the justice of your pow'rs divine?
  45. Who then will offer incense at a shrine ?
  46. Why do we thus reproach the deities ?
  47. Have they not hearts ?-and surely they have eyes,
  48. Nay, had I been a god, I had believ'd
  49. The lovely criminals, and been deceiv'd;
  50. Had wav'd the judgments to their perj'ries due,
  51. And sworn myself that all they spoke was true.
  52. Since then the gods such ample gifts bestow,
  53. As make you absolute o'er men below;
  54. Pray let me find some mercy in your reign,
  55. Or spare at least your lover's eyes from pain.
  1. Vex not thyself and her, vain man, since all
  2. By their own vice or virtue stand or fall.
  3. She's truly chaste, and worthy of that name,
  4. Who hates the ill, as well as fears the shame;
  5. And that vile woman whom restraint keeps in,
  6. Tho' she forbear the act, has done the sin.
  7. Spies, locks, and bolts may keep her brutal part,
  8. But thou'rt an odious cuckold in her heart.
  9. They that have freedom use it least, and so
  10. The power of ill does the design overthrow.
  11. Provoke not vice by a too harsh restraint;
  12. Sick men long most to drink, who know they mayn't.
  13. The fiery courser, whom no art can stay,
  14. Or rugged force, does oft fair means obey;
  15. And he that did the rudest arm disdain,
  16. Submits with quiet to the looser rein.
  17. A hundred eyes had Argus, yet the while
  18. One silly maid did all those eyes beguile;
  19. Danae, tho' shut within a brazen tow'r,
  20. Felt the male virtue of the golden show'r;
  21. But chaste Penelope, left to her own will
  22. And free disposal, never thought of ill;
  23. She to her absent lord preserv'd her truth,
  24. For all th' addresses of the smoother youth,
  25. What's rarely seen, our fancy magnifies;
  26. Permitted pleasure who does not despise ?
  27. Thy care provokes beyond her face, and more
  28. Men strive to make tho cuckold than the whore.
  29. They're wondrous charms we think, and long to know
  30. That in a wife enchants a husband so:
  31. Rage, swear, and curse, no matter, she alone
  32. Pleases, who sighs, and cries, " I am undone."
  33. But could thy spies say, " We have kept her chaste,"
  34. Good servants then, but an ill wife thou hast;
  35. Who fears to be a cuckold is a clown,
  36. Not worthy to partake of this lewd town,
  37. Where it is monstrous to be fair and chaste,
  38. And not one inch of either sex lies waste.
  39. Wouldst thou be happy ? with her ways comply,
  40. And in her case lay points of honour by:
  41. The friendship she begins, wisely improve,
  42. And a fair wife gets one a world of love:
  43. So shalt thou welcome be to ev'ry treat,
  44. Live high, not pay, and never run in debt.
  1. 'Twas in the midst and silent dead of night,