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. Deep in earth's womb the fatal metal lay;
  2. None then their teeming mother's bowels tore,
  3. In quest of hidden wealth, in various ore;
  4. Fed with the fruits which bounteous nature yields,
  5. In painted gardens, and in golden fields,
  6. From her rich soil are reap'd spontaneous crops,
  7. And from the forest oak sweet honey drops.
  8. No hinds as yet did toil their time away,
  9. Nor with keen clusters wound the parent clay:
  10. As yet no landmark was by lab'rers set,
  11. And none had learned to plough the sea as yet
  12. None as yet knew the use of sails and oars,
  13. Nor ventur'd voyages beyond their shores.
  14. The wit of men the race of men destroys,