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 all things at their sole disposal are.
  2. For us are all the instruments of war
  3. Design'd, the sword of Mars, and Pallas' spear;
  4. 'Gainst us alone Apollo's bows are bent,
  5. And at our hands Jove's brandish'd thunder sent.
  6. Yet of the ladies, oh ! how fond are they !
  7. Dare not the inj'ries they receive, repay,
  8. But those who ought to fear them they obey.
  9. Jove to his votaries is most severe;
  10. Temples nor altars does his lightning spare.
  11. Obliging Semele in flames expires,
  12. But those who merit, can escape the fires.
  13. Is this the justice of your pow'rs divine?
  14. Who then will offer incense at a shrine ?
  15. Why do we thus reproach the deities ?
  16. Have they not hearts ?-and surely they have eyes,
  17. Nay, had I been a god, I had believ'd
  18. The lovely criminals, and been deceiv'd;
  19. Had wav'd the judgments to their perj'ries due,
  20. And sworn myself that all they spoke was true.