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. 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;