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. Venus in her Aeneas' city rules,
  2. And all adore her deity but fools.
  3. Go on, ye fair, chaste only let such live
  4. As none will ask, and know not how to give.
  5. Life steals away, and our best hours are gone
  6. Ere the true use or worth of them be known.
  7. Things long neglected, of themselves decay;
  8. What we forbear, time rudely makes his prey.
  9. Beauty is best preserv'd by exercise,
  10. Nor for that task can one or few suffice.
  11. Wouldst thou grow rich, thou must from many take:
  12. From one 'twere hard continually to rake.
  13. Without new gowns and coaches, who can live ?
  14. What does thy poet but new verses give?
  15. A poet, the last thing that earth does breed,
  16. Whose wit, for sixpence, any one may read.
  17. Hang the poor lover, and his pedigree;
  18. The thriving merchant, or fat judge, give me.
  19. Love truly none, but seem in love with all,
  20. And at old friends to thy new lovers rail.