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. And centuries, like twenty-one, be strung.
  2. Such was the maid; the parallel had ran
  3. Graceful, if I could add, such was the man.
  4. Some envious deity with vengeance glow'd,
  5. So sweet a gift had been so ill bestow'd.
  6. I burn to clasp her naked in my arms,
  7. Did she not freely open all her charms ?
  8. What boots good fortune, if we want the pow'r
  9. To snatch the pleasures of the favour'd hour?
  10. I, like a miser, only could behold,
  11. And brooded o'er an useless mine of gold;
  12. So Tantalus with fruit untouch'd is curst,
  13. And dies amid the gliding stream of thirst;
  14. So rises early from th' untasted fair,
  15. The grave old prelate, and kneels down to pray'r,
  16. Were yet her melting kisses misenploy'd?
  17. Did she strive vainly to be well enjoy'd ?
  18. Sure she has beauties might deaf rocks enchant,
  19. Bend the proud oak, and soften adamant;
  20. She would have mov'd a man tho' almost dead,