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. Did I refuse my sleep, my wine, my friend,
  2. To spur along, and must I here attend ?
  3. No art to help me to my journey's end!
  4. Ye Lapland powers, make me so far a witch,
  5. I may astride get over on a switch.
  6. Or, for some griffin, or that flying horse,
  7. Or any monster to assist my course;
  8. I wish his art that mounted to the moon,
  9. In shorter journey would my job be done.
  10. Why rave I for what crack-brain'd bards devise,
  11. Or name their lewd unconscionable lies ?
  12. Good river, let me find thy courtesy,
  13. Keep within bounds, and mayst thou ne'er be dry.
  14. Thou canst not think it such a mighty boast,
  15. A torrent has a gentle lover cross'd.
  16. Rivers should rather take the lover's side,
  17. Rivers themselves love's wondrous power have tried.
  18. 'Twas on this score Inachus, pale and wan,
  19. Sickly and green, into the ocean ran ;
  20. Long before Troy the ten-years siege did fear,