---
title: "The Art of Love · Ars Amatoria"
author: "Ovid"
translator: "Perseus Digital Library"
languages: [la, en]
shelf: "Classical Latin"
section: 2 of 6
url: https://scriptura.si/works/ovid-ars-amatoria/2/
cite: "Ovid, tr. Perseus Digital Library, The Art of Love · Ars Amatoria, section 2. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/ovid-ars-amatoria/2/"
---

# The Art of Love · Ars Amatoria

*Ovid, tr. Perseus Digital Library*

A mock-serious handbook of seduction in Augustan Rome.

> Latin: ed. Rudolf Ehwald, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-latinLit, phi0959.phi004, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Perseus Digital Library, from the Perseus Digital Library (phi0959.phi004.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 2. Book I · lines 399–772

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/ovid-ars-amatoria/2/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/ovid-ars-amatoria/2/#p-N

[¶0] All things the stations of their seasons keep;
And certain times there are to sow and reap.
Ploughmen and sailors for the season stay,
One to plough land, and one to plough the sea;
So should the lover wait the lucky day.
Then stop thy suit, it hurts not thy design;
But think another hour she may be thine.
And when she celebrates her birth at home,
Or when she views the public shows of Rome;
Know all thy visits then are troublesome.
Defer thy work, and put not then to sea,
For that's a boding and a stormy day.
Else take thy time, and when thou canst, begin;
To break a Jewish sabbath, think no sin;
Nor e'en on superstitious days abstain;
Nor when the Romans were at Allia slain.
Ill omens in her frowns are understood;
When she's in humour, ev'ry day is good.
But than her birthday seldom comes a worse,
When bribes and presents must be sent of course;
And that's a bloody day that costs thy purse.
Be stanch; yet parsimony will be vain:
The craving sex will still the lover drain.
No skill can shift them off, nor art remove;
They will be begging when they know we love.
The merchant comes upon th' appointed day,
Who shall before thy face his wares display.
To choose for her she craves thy kind advice,
Then begs again to bargain for the price;
But when she has her purchase in her eye,
She hugs thee close, and kisses thee to buy;
"'Tis what I want, and 'tis a pen'orth too;
In many years I will not trouble you."
If you complain you have no ready coin,-
No matter, 'tis but writing of a line;
A little bill, not to be paid at sight:
(Now curse the time when thou wert taught to write.)
She keeps her birthday; you must send the cheer:
And she'll be born a hundred times a year.
With daily lies she dribs thee into cost;
That ear-ring dropt a stone, that ring is lost.
They often borrow what they never pay;
What e'er you lend her, think it thrown away.
Had I ten mouths and tongues to tell each art,
All would be wearied ere I told a part.

> Latin: Tempora qui solis operosa colentibus arva,
Fallitur, et nautis aspicienda putat;
Nec semper credenda ceres fallacibus arvis,
Nec semper viridi concava puppis aquae,
Nec teneras semper tutum captare puellas:
Saepe dato melius tempore fiet idem.
Sive dies suberit natalis, sive Kalendae,
Quas Venerem Marti continuasse iuvat,
Sive erit ornatus non ut fuit ante sigillis,
Sed regum positas Circus habebit opes,
Differ opus: tunc tristis hiems, tunc Pliades instant,
Tunc tener aequorea mergitur Haedus aqua;
Tunc bene desinitur: tunc siquis creditur alto,
Vix tenuit lacerae naufraga membra ratis.
Tu licet incipias qua flebilis Allia luce
Vulneribus Latiis sanguinolenta fluit,
Quaque die redeunt, rebus minus apta gerendis,
Culta Palaestino septima festa Syro.
Magna superstitio tibi sit natalis amicae:
Quaque aliquid dandum est, illa sit atra dies.
Cum bene vitaris, tamen auferet; invenit artem
Femina, qua cupidi carpat amantis opes.
Institor ad dominam veniet discinctus emacem,
Expediet merces teque sedente suas:
Quas illa, inspicias, sapere ut videare, rogabit:
Oscula deinde dabit; deinde rogabit, emas.
Hoc fore contentam multos iurabit in annos,
Nunc opus esse sibi, nunc bene dicet emi.
Si non esse domi, quos des, causabere nummos,
Littera poscetur — ne didicisse iuvet.
Quid, quasi natali cum poscit munera libo,
Et, quotiens opus est, nascitur illa, sibi?
Quid, cum mendaci damno maestissima plorat,
Elapsusque cava fingitur aure lapis?
Multa rogant utenda dari, data reddere nolunt:
Perdis, et in damno gratia nulla tuo.
Non mihi, sacrilegas meretricum ut persequar artes,
Cum totidem linguis sint satis ora decem.

[¶1] By letters, not by words, thy love begin;
And ford the dangerous passage with thy pen;
If to her heart thou aim'st to find the way,
Extremely flatter and extremely pray.
Priam by pray'rs did Hector's body gain;
Nor is an angry god invok'd in vain.
With promis'd gifts her early mind bewitch,
For e'en the poor in promise may be rich.
Vain hopes awhile her appetite will stay;
'Tis a deceitful, but commodious way.
Who gives is mad; but make her still believe
'Twill come, and that's the cheapest way to give.
E'en barren lands fair promises afford,
But the lean harvest cheats the starving lord.
Buy not thy first employment, lest it prove
Of bad example to thy future love;
But get it gratis, and she'll give thee more,
For fear of losing what she gave before.
The losing gamester shakes the box in vain,
And bleeds, and loses on, in hopes to gain.
Write then, and in thy letter, as I said,
Let her with mighty promises be fed.
Cydyppe by a letter was betray'd,
Writ on an apple to th' unwary maid;
She read herself into a marriage vow,
(And every cheat in love the gods allow.)
Learn eloquence, ye noble youth of Rome,-
It will not only at the bar o'ercome:
Sweet words the people and the senate move;
But the chief end of eloquence is love.
But in thy letter hide thy moving arts,
Affect not to be thought a man of parts;
None but vain fools to simple women preach:
A learned letter oft has made a breach.
In a familiar style your thoughts convey,
And write such things as, present, you would say;
Such words as from the heart may seem to move;
'Tis wit enough to make her think you love.
If seal'd she sends it back, and will not read,
Yet hope, in time, the business may succeed.
In time the steer will to the yoke submit,
In time the restive horse will bear the bit.
E'en the hard ploughshare use will wear away,
And stubborn steel in length of time decay.
Water is soft and marble hard, and yet
We see soft water through hard marble eat.
Though late, yet Troy at length in flames expir'd;
And ten years more, Penelope had tir'd.
Perhaps she writes, and answers with disdain,
And sharply bids you not to write again:
What she requires, she fears you would accord;
The jilt would not be taken at her word.

> Latin: Cera vadum temptet, rasis infusa tabellis:
Cera tuae primum conscia mentis eat.
Blanditias ferat illa tuas imitataque amantem
Verba; nec exiguas, quisquis es, adde preces.
Hectora donavit Priamo prece motus Achilles;
Flectitur iratus voce rogante deus.
Promittas facito: quid enim promittere laedit?
Pollicitis dives quilibet esse potest.
Spes tenet in tempus, semel est si credita, longum:
Illa quidem fallax, sed tamen apta dea est.
Si dederis aliquid, poteris ratione relinqui:
Praeteritum tulerit, perdideritque nihil.
At quod non dederis, semper videare daturus:
Sic dominum sterilis saepe fefellit ager:
Sic, ne perdiderit, non cessat perdere lusor,
Et revocat cupidas alea saepe manus.
Hoc opus, hic labor est, primo sine munere iungi;
Ne dederit gratis quae dedit, usque dabit.
Ergo eat et blandis peraretur littera verbis,
Exploretque animos, primaque temptet iter.
Littera Cydippen pomo perlata fefellit,
Insciaque est verbis capta puella suis.
Disce bonas artes, moneo, Romana iuventus,
Non tantum trepidos ut tueare reos;
Quam populus iudexque gravis lectusque senatus,
Tam dabit eloquio victa puella manus.
Sed lateant vires, nec sis in fronte disertus;
Effugiant voces verba molesta tuae.
Quis, nisi mentis inops, tenerae declamat amicae?
Saepe valens odii littera causa fuit.
Sit tibi credibilis sermo consuetaque verba,
Blanda tamen, praesens ut videare loqui.
Si non accipiet scriptum, inlectumque remittet,
Lecturam spera, propositumque tene.
Tempore difficiles veniunt ad aratra iuvenci,
Tempore lenta pati frena docentur equi:
Ferreus adsiduo consumitur anulus usu,
Interit adsidua vomer aduncus humo.
Quid magis est saxo durum, quid mollius unda?
Dura tamen molli saxa cavantur aqua.
Penelopen ipsam, persta modo, tempore vinces:
Capta vides sero Pergama, capta tamen.
Legerit, et nolit rescribere? cogere noli:
Tu modo blanditias fac legat usque tuas.
Quae voluit legisse, volet rescribere lectis:
Per numeros venient ista gradusque suos.
Forsitan et primo veniet tibi littera tristis,
Quaeque roget, ne se sollicitare velis.
Quod rogat illa, timet; quod non rogat, optat, ut instes;
Insequere, et voti postmodo compos eris.

[¶2] Meantime, if she be carried in her chair,
Approach, but do not seem to know she's there:
Speak softly, to delude the standers by;
Or, if aloud, then speak ambiguously.
If sauntering in the portico she walk,
Move slowly too, for that's a time for talk;
And sometimes follow, sometimes be her guide,
But when the crowds permit, go side by side.
Nor in the playhouse let her sit alone,
For she's the playhouse and the play in one;
There thou may'st ogle, or by signs advance
Thy hand, and seem to touch her hand by chance.
Admire the dancer who her liking gains,
And pity in the play the lover's pails;
For her sweet sake the loss of time despise,
Sit while she sits, and when she rises rise.
But dress not like a fop, nor curl your hair,
Nor with a pumice make your body bare;
Leave those effeminate and useless toys
To eunuchs, who can give no solid joys.
Neglect becomes a man-this Theseus found;
Uncurl'd, uncomb'd, the nymphs his wishes crowned.
The rough Hippolytus was Phaedra's care,
And Venus thought the rude Adonis fair.
Be not too finical, but yet be clean,
And wear well fashioned clothes, like other men;
Let not your teeth be yellow or be foul,
Nor in wide shoes your feet too loosely roll.
Of a black muzzle and long beard beware,
And let a skilful barber cut your hair;
Your nails be pick'd from dirt, and even par'd;
Nor let your nasty nostrils bud with beard.
Cure your unsav'ry breath; gargle your throat;
And free your armpits from the ram and goat.
Dress not, in short, too little or too much;
And be not wholly French nor wholly Dutch.

> Latin: Interea, sive illa toro resupina feretur,
Lecticam dominae dissimulanter adi,
Neve aliquis verbis odiosas offerat auris,
Qua potes ambiguis callidus abde notis.
Seu pedibus vacuis illi spatiosa teretur
Porticus, hic socias tu quoque iunge moras:
Et modo praecedas facito, modo terga sequaris,
Et modo festines, et modo lentus eas:
Nec tibi de mediis aliquot transire columnas
Sit pudor, aut lateri continuasse latus;
Nec sine te curvo sedeat speciosa theatro:
Quod spectes, umeris adferet illa suis.
Illam respicias, illam mirere licebit:
Multa supercilio, multa loquare notis.
Et plaudas, aliquam mimo saltante puellam:
Et faveas illi, quisquis agatur amans.
Cum surgit, surges; donec sedet illa, sedebis;
Arbitrio dominae tempora perde tuae.
Sed tibi nec ferro placeat torquere capillos,
Nec tua mordaci pumice crura teras.
Ista iube faciant, quorum Cybeleïa mater
Concinitur Phrygiis exululata modis.
Forma viros neglecta decet; Minoida Theseus
Abstulit, a nulla tempora comptus acu.
Hippolytum Phaedra, nec erat bene cultus, amavit;
Cura deae silvis aptus Adonis erat.
Munditie placeant, fuscentur corpora Campo:
Sit bene conveniens et sine labe toga:
Lingula ne rigeat, careant rubigine dentes,
Nec vagus in laxa pes tibi pelle natet:
Nec male deformet rigidos tonsura capillos:
Sit coma, sit trita barba resecta manu.
Et nihil emineant, et sint sine sordibus ungues:
Inque cava nullus stet tibi nare pilus.
Nec male odorati sit tristis anhelitus oris:
Nec laedat naris virque paterque gregis.
Cetera lascivae faciant, concede, puellae,
Et siquis male vir quaerit habere virum.

[¶3] Now Bacchus calls me to his jolly rites:
Who would not follow when a god invites?
He helps the poet, and his pen inspires;
Kind and indulgent to his former fires.
Fair Ariadne wander'd on the shore
Forsaken now; and Theseus loves no more;
Loose was her gown, dishevel'd was her hair,
Her bosom naked, and her feet were bare;
Exclaiming, on the water's brink she stood,
Her briny tears augment the briny flood;
She shriek'd and wept, and both became her face,
No posture could that heav'nly form disgrace.
She beat her breast: - "The traitor's gone," said she;
"What shall become of poor forsaken me?
What shall become-" She had not time for more,
The sounding cymbals rattled on the shore.
She swoons for fear, she falls upon the ground;
No vital heat was in her body found.
The Mimallonian dames about her stood,
And scudding satyrs ran before their god.
Silenus on his ass did next appear,
And held upon the mane (the god was clear).
The drunken sire pursues, the dames retire;
Sometimes the drunken dames pursue the drunken sire.
At last he topples over on the plain;
The satyrs laugh, and bid him rise again.
And now the god of wine came driving on,
High on his chariot by swift tigers drawn.
Her colour, voice, and sense forsook the fair;
Thrice did her trembling limbs for flight prepare,
And thrice affrighted did her flight forbear.
She shook like leaves of corn when tempests blow,
Or slender reeds that in the marshes grow.
To whom the god-" Compose thy fearful mind;
In me a truer husband thou shalt find.
With heav'n I will endow thee, and thy star
Shall with propitious light be seen afar,
And guide on seas the doubtful mariner."
He said; and from his chariot leaping light,
Lest the grim tigers should the nymph affright,
His brawny arms around her waist he threw,
(For gods whate'er they please with ease can do,)
And swiftly bore her thence; th' attending throng
Shout at the sight, and sing the nuptial song.
Now in full bowls her sorrow she may steep;
The bridegroom's liquor lays the bride asleep.

> Latin: Ecce, suum vatem Liber vocat; hic quoque amantes
Adiuvat, et flammae, qua calet ipse, favet.
Cnosis in ignotis amens errabat harenis,
Qua brevis aequoreis Dia feritur aquis.
Utque erat e somno tunica velata recincta,
Nuda pedem, croceas inreligata comas,
Thesea crudelem surdas clamabat ad undas,
Indigno teneras imbre rigante genas.
Clamabat, flebatque simul, sed utrumque decebat;
Non facta est lacrimis turpior illa suis.
Iamque iterum tundens mollissima pectora palmis
'Perfidus ille abiit; quid mihi fiet?' ait.
'Quid mihi fiet?' ait: sonuerunt cymbala toto
Litore, et adtonita tympana pulsa manu.
Excidit illa metu, rupitque novissima verba;
Nullus in exanimi corpore sanguis erat.
Ecce Mimallonides sparsis in terga capillis:
Ecce leves satyri, praevia turba dei:
Ebrius, ecce, senex pando Silenus asello
Vix sedet, et pressas continet ante iubas.
Dum sequitur Bacchas, Bacchae fugiuntque petuntque
Quadrupedem ferula dum malus urget eques,
In caput aurito cecidit delapsus asello:
Clamarunt satyri 'surge age, surge, pater.'
Iam deus in curru, quem summum texerat uvis,
Tigribus adiunctis aurea lora dabat:
Et color et Theseus et vox abiere puellae:
Terque fugam petiit, terque retenta metu est.
Horruit, ut graciles, agitat quas ventus, aristae,
Ut levis in madida canna palude tremit.
Cui deus 'en, adsum tibi cura fidelior' inquit:
'Pone metum: Bacchi, Cnosias, uxor eris.
Munus habe caelum; caelo spectabere sidus;
Saepe reges dubiam Cressa Corona ratem.'
Dixit, et e curru, ne tigres illa timeret,
Desilit; inposito cessit harena pede:
Implicitamque sinu (neque enim pugnare valebat)
Abstulit; in facili est omnia posse deo.
Pars 'Hymenaee' canunt, pars clamant 'Euhion, euhoe!'
Sic coeunt sacro nupta deusque toro.
Ergo ubi contigerint positi tibi munera Bacchi,
Atque erit in socii femina parte tori,
Nycteliumque patrem nocturnaque sacra precare,
Ne iubeant capiti vina nocere tuo.

[¶4] But thou, when flowing cups in triumph ride,
And the lov'd nymph is seated by thy side,
Invoke the god and all the mighty powers,
That wine may not defraud thy genial hours.
Then in ambiguous words thy suit prefer,
Which she may know were all address'd to her.
In liquid purple letters write her name,
Which she may read, and reading find the flame.
Then may your eyes confess your mutual fires,
(For eyes have tongues, and glances tell desires;)
Whene'er she drinks, be first to take the cup;
And where she laid her lips, the blessing sup.
When she to carving does her hand advance,
Put out thy own, and touch it as by chance.
Thy service e'en the husband must attend;
(A husband is a most convenient friend.)
Seat the fool cuckold in the highest place,
And with thy garland his dull temples grace'
Whether below or equal in degree,
Let him be lord of all the company,
And what he says be seconded by thee.
Tis common to deceive thro' friendship's name,
But common though it be, 'tis still to blame;
Thus factors frequently their trust betray,
And to themselves their masters' gains convey.
Drink to a certain pitch, and then give o'er;
Thy tongue and feet may stumble, drinking more.
Of drunken quarrels in her sight beware;
Pot valour only serves to fright the fair.
Eurytion justly fell, by wine oppress't,
For his rude riot at a wedding-feast.
Sing, if you have a voice; and shew your parts
In dancing, if endu'd with dancing arts.
Do anything within your power to please;
Nay, e'en affect a seeming drunkenness;
Clip every word; and if by chance you speak
Too home, or if too broad a jest you break,
In your excuse the company will join,
And lay the fault upon the force of wine.
True drunkenness is subject to offend,
But when 'tis feign'd 'tis oft a lover's friend:
Then safely you may praise her beauteous face,
And call him happy who is in her grace;
Her husband thinks himself the man design'd,
But curse the cuckold in your secret mind.
When all are risen and prepar'd to go,
Mix with the crowd and tread upon her toe;
This is the proper time to make thy court,
For now she's in the vein, and fit for sport.
Lay bashfulness, that rustic virtue, by;
To manly confidence thy thoughts apply.
On fortune's foretop timely fix thy hold;
Now speak and speed. for Venus loves the bold.
No rules of rhetoric here I need afford;
Only begin, and trust the following word:
It will be witty of its own accord.
Act well the lover; let thy speech abound
In dying words, that represent thy wound;
Distrust not her belief; she will be mov'd:
All women think they merit to be lov'd.

> Latin: Hic tibi multa licet sermone latentia tecto
Dicere, quae dici sentiat illa sibi:
Blanditiasque leves tenui perscribere vino,
Ut dominam in mensa se legat illa tuam:
Atque oculos oculis spectare fatentibus ignem:
Saepe tacens vocem verbaque vultus habet.
Fac primus rapias illius tacta labellis
Pocula, quaque bibet parte puella, bibas:
Et quemcumque cibum digitis libaverit illa,
Tu pete, dumque petis, sit tibi tacta manus.
Sint etiam tua vota, viro placuisse puellae:
Utilior vobis factus amicus erit.
Huic, si sorte bibes, sortem concede priorem:
Huic detur capiti missa corona tuo.
Sive erit inferior, seu par, prior omnia sumat:
Nec dubites illi verba secunda loqui.
Tuta frequensque via est, per amici fallere nomen:
Tuta frequensque licet sit via, crimen habet.
Inde procurator nimium quoque multa procurat,
Et sibi mandatis plura videnda putat.
Certa tibi a nobis dabitur mensura bibendi:
Officium praestent mensque pedesque suum.
Iurgia praecipue vino stimulata caveto,
Et nimium faciles ad fera bella manus.
Occidit Eurytion stulte data vina bibendo;
Aptior est dulci mensa merumque ioco.
Si vox est, canta: si mollia brachia, salta:
Et quacumque potes dote placere, place.
Ebrietas ut vera nocet, sic ficta iuvabit:
Fac titubet blaeso subdola lingua sono,
Ut, quicquid facias dicasve protervius aequo,
Credatur nimium causa fuisse merum.
Et bene dic dominae, bene, cum quo dormiat illa;
Sed, male sit, tacita mente precare, viro.
At cum discedet mensa conviva remota,
Ipsa tibi accessus turba locumque dabit.
Insere te turbae, leviterque admotus eunti
Velle latus digitis, et pede tange pedem.
Conloquii iam tempus adest; fuge rustice longe
Hinc pudor; audentem Forsque Venusque iuvat.
Non tua sub nostras veniat facundia leges:
Fac tantum cupias, sponte disertus eris.
Est tibi agendus amans, imitandaque vulnera verbis;
Haec tibi quaeratur qualibet arte fides.
Nec credi labor est: sibi quaeque videtur amanda;
Pessima sit, nulli non sua forma placet.

[¶5] Sometimes a man begins to love in jest,
And after feels the torment he possess't.
For your own sakes be pitiful, ye fair,
For a feign'd passion may a true prepare.
By flatteries we prevail on womankind,
As hollow banks by streams are undermin'd:
Tell her her face is fair, her eyes are sweet;
Her taper fingers praise, and little feet.
Such praises e'en the chaste are pleas'd to hear;
Both maids and matrons hold their beauty dear.
Once naked Pallas with Jove's queen appear'd,
And still they grieve that Venus was preferr'd.
Praise the proud peacock, and lie spreads his train:
Be silent, and lie pulls it in again.
Pleas'd is the courser in his rapid race;
Applaud his running, and he mends his pace.
But largely promise and devoutly swear,
And, if need be, call ev'ry god to hear.
Jove sits above, forgiving with a smile
The perjuries that easy maids beguile.
He swore to Juno by the Stygian lake;
Forsworn, lie dares not an example make,
Or punish falsehood, for his own dear sake.
'Tis for our interest the gods should be;
Let us believe them; I believe they see,
And both reward and punish equally.
Not that they live above like lazy drones,
Or kings below, supine upon their thrones;
Lead then your lives as present in their sight;
Be just in dealings, and defend the right;
By fraud betray not, nor oppress by might.
But 'tis a venial sin to cheat the fair;
All men have liberty of conscience there.
On cheating nymphs a cheat is well design'd,
'Tis a profane and a deceitful kind.
'Tis said that Egypt for nine years was dry,
Nor Nile did floods, nor heav'n did rain supply.
That slaughter'd guests would kindly moisture bring.
The king replied, "On thee the lot shall fall;
Be thou, my guest, the sacrifice for all."
Thus Phalaris Perillus taught to low,
And made him season first the brazen cow.
A rightful doom, the laws of nature cry,
'Tis, the artificers of death should die.
Thus justly women suffer by deceit,
Their practice authorises us to cheat.
Beg her, with tears, thy warm desires to grant;
For tears will pierce a heart of adamant.
If tears will not be squeezed, then rub your eye,
Or 'noint the lids, and seem at least to cry.
Kiss, if you can; resistance if she make,
And will not give you kisses, let her take.
" Fy, fy, you naughty man," are words of course;
She struggles but to be subdu'd by force.
Kiss only soft, I charge you, and beware
With your hard bristles not to brush the fair.
He who has gain'd a kiss, and gains no more,
Deserves to lose the bliss he got before.
If once she kiss, her meaning is exprest;
There wants but little pushing for the rest;
Which if thou dost not gain, by strength or art,
The name of clown then suits with thy desert;
'Tis downright dulness, and a shameful part.
Perhaps she calls it force, but if she 'scape,
She will not thank you for th' omitted rape.
The sex is cunning to conceal their fires;
They would be forc'd e'en to their own desires.
They seem t' accuse you with a down-cast sight,
But in their souls confess you did them right.
Who might be forc'd, and yet untouch'd depart,
Thank with their tongues, but curse you with their heart.
Fair Phoebe and her sister did prefer,
To their dull mates, the noble ravisher.

> Latin: Saepe tamen vere coepit simulator amare,
Saepe, quod incipiens finxerat esse, fuit.
Quo magis, o, faciles imitantibus este, puellae:
Fiet amor verus, qui modo falsus erat.
Blanditiis animum furtim deprendere nunc sit,
Ut pendens liquida ripa subestur aqua.
Nec faciem, nec te pigeat laudare capillos
Et teretes digitos exiguumque pedem:
Delectant etiam castas praeconia formae;
Virginibus curae grataque forma sua est.
Nam cur in Phrygiis Iunonem et Pallada silvis
Nunc quoque iudicium non tenuisse pudet?
Laudatas ostendit avis Iunonia pinnas:
Si tacitus spectes, illa recondit opes.
Quadrupedes inter rapidi certamina cursus
Depexaeque iubae plausaque colla iuvant.
Nec timide promitte: trahunt promissa puellas;
Pollicito testes quoslibet adde deos.
Iuppiter ex alto periuria ridet amantum,
Et iubet Aeolios inrita ferre notos.
Per Styga Iunoni falsum iurare solebat
Iuppiter; exemplo nunc favet ipse suo.
Expedit esse deos, et, ut expedit, esse putemus;
Dentur in antiquos tura merumque focos;
Nec secura quies illos similisque sopori
Detinet; innocue vivite: numen adest;
Reddite depositum; pietas sua foedera servet:
Fraus absit; vacuas caedis habete manus.
Ludite, si sapitis, solas impune puellas:
Hac minus est una fraude tuenda fides.
Fallite fallentes: ex magna parte profanum
Sunt genus: in laqueos quos posuere, cadant.
Dicitur Aegyptos caruisse iuvantibus arva
Imbribus, atque annos sicca fuisse novem,
Cum Thrasius Busirin adit, monstratque piari
Hospitis adfuso sanguine posse Iovem.
Illi Busiris 'fies Iovis hostia primus,'
Inquit 'et Aegypto tu dabis hospes aquam.'
Et Phalaris tauro violenti membra Perilli
Torruit: infelix inbuit auctor opus.
Iustus uterque fuit: neque enim lex aequior ulla est,
Quam necis artifices arte perire sua.
Ergo ut periuras merito periuria fallant,
Exemplo doleat femina laesa suo.
Et lacrimae prosunt: lacrimis adamanta movebis:
Fac madidas videat, si potes, illa genas.
Si lacrimae (neque enim veniunt in tempore semper)
Deficient, uda lumina tange manu.
Quis sapiens blandis non misceat oscula verbis?
Illa licet non det, non data sume tamen.
Pugnabit primo fortassis, et 'improbe' dicet:
Pugnando vinci se tamen illa volet.
Tantum ne noceant teneris male rapta labellis,
Neve queri possit dura fuisse, cave.
Oscula qui sumpsit, si non et cetera sumet,
Haec quoque, quae data sunt, perdere dignus erit.
Quantum defuerat pleno post oscula voto?
Ei mihi, rusticitas, non pudor ille fuit.
Vim licet appelles: grata est vis ista puellis:
Quod iuvat, invitae saepe dedisse volunt.
Quaecumque est veneris subita violata rapina,
Gaudet, et inprobitas muneris instar habet.
At quae cum posset cogi, non tacta recessit,
Ut simulet vultu gaudia, tristis erit.
Vim passa est Phoebe: vis est allata sorori;
Et gratus raptae raptor uterque fuit.

[¶6] What Deidamia did in days of yore,
The tale is old but worth the telling o'er.
When Venus had the golden apple gain'd,
And the just judge fair Helen had obtained;
When she with triumph was at Troy receiv'd,
The Trojans joyful, while the Grecians griev'd:
They vow'd revenge of violated laws,
And Greece was arming in the cuckold's cause;
Achilles, by his mother warn'd from war,
Disguis'd his sex, and lurk'd among the fair.
What means Aeacides to spin and sew?
With spear and sword in field thy valour show!
And leaving this, the noble Pallas know.
Why dost thou in that hand the distaff wield,
Which is more worthy to sustain the shield?
Or with that other draw the woolly twine,
The same the fates for lector's thread assign?
Banish thy falchion in thy powerful hand,
Which can alone the pond'rous lance command.
In the same room by chance the royal maid
Was lodg'd, and, by his seeming sex, betrayed,
Close to her side the youthful hero laid.
I know not how his courtship he began;
But, to her cost, she found it was a man.
'Tis thought she struggled, but withal 'tis thought
Her wish was to be conquer'd, when she fought.
For when disclos'd, and hast'ning to the field,
He laid his distaff down and took the shield,
With tears her humble suit she did prefer,
And thought to stay the grateful ravisher.
She sighs, she sobs, she begs him not to part;
And now 'tis nature what before was art.
She strives by force her lover to detain,
And wishes to be ravish'd once again.
This is the sex; they will not first begin,
But when compelled, are pleas'd to suffer sin.
Is there, who thinks that woman first should woo?
Lay by thy self-conceit, thou foolish beau.
Begin, and save their modesty the shame;
'Tis well for thee, if they receive thy flame.
'Tis decent for a man to speak his mind;
They but expect th' occasion to be kind.
Ask, that thou may'st enjoy; she waits for this:
And on thy first advance depends thy bliss.
E'en Jove himself was forc'd to sue for love;
None of the nymphs did first solicit Jove.
But if you find your pray'rs increase her pride,
Strike sail awhile, and wait another tide.
They fly when we pursue; but make delay.
And when they see you shaken, they will stay.
Sometimes it profits to conceal your end;
Name not yourself her lover, but her friend.
How many skittish girls have thus been caught?
He prov'd a lover, who a friend was thought.
Sailors by sun and wind are swarthy made;
A tann'd complexion best becomes their trade.
'Tis a disgrace to ploughmen to be fair;
Bluff cheeks they have, and weather-beaten hair.
Th' ambitious youth who seeks an olive crown,
Is sun-burnt with his daily toil, and brown;
But if the lover hopes to be in grace,
Wall be his looks, and meagre be his face.
That colour from the fair compassion draws;
She thinks you sick, and thinks herself the cause.
Orion wander'd in the woods for love.
His paleness did the nymphs to pity move;
His gastly visage argu'd hidden love.
Nor fail a night-cap in full health to wear;
Neglect thy dress, and discompose thy hair.
All things are decent, that in love avail.
Read long by night, and study to be pale.
Forsake your food, refuse your needful rest;
Be miserable that you may be blest.

> Latin: Fabula nota quidem, sed non indigna referri,
Scyrias Haemonio iuncta puella viro.
Iam dea laudatae dederat mala praemia formae
Colle sub Idaeo vincere digna duas:
Iam nurus ad Priamum diverso venerat orbe,
Graiaque in Iliacis moenibus uxor erat:
Iurabant omnes in laesi verba mariti:
Nam dolor unius publica causa fuit.
Turpe, nisi hoc matris precibus tribuisset, Achilles
Veste virum longa dissimulatus erat.
Quid facis, Aeacide? non sunt tua munera lanae;
Tu titulos alia Palladis arte petas.
Quid tibi cum calathis? clipeo manus apta ferendo est:
Pensa quid in dextra, qua cadet Hector, habes?
Reïce succinctos operoso stamine fusos!
Quassanda est ista Pelias hasta manu.
Forte erat in thalamo virgo regalis eodem;
Haec illum stupro comperit esse virum.
Viribus illa quidem victa est, ita credere oportet:
Sed voluit vinci viribus illa tamen.
Saepe 'mane!' dixit, cum iam properaret Achilles;
Fortia nam posita sumpserat arma colo.
Vis ubi nunc illa est? Quid blanda voce moraris
Auctorem stupri, Deïdamia, tui?
Scilicet ut pudor est quaedam coepisse priorem,
Sic alio gratum est incipiente pati.
A! nimia est iuveni propriae fiducia formae,
Expectat siquis, dum prior illa roget.
Vir prior accedat, vir verba precantia dicat:
Excipiet blandas comiter illa preces.
Ut potiare, roga: tantum cupit illa rogari;
Da causam voti principiumque tui.
Iuppiter ad veteres supplex heroïdas ibat:
Corrupit magnum nulla puella Iovem.
Si tamen a precibus tumidos accedere fastus
Senseris, incepto parce referque pedem.
Quod refugit, multae cupiunt: odere quod instat;
Lenius instando taedia tolle tui.
Nec semper veneris spes est profitenda roganti:
Intret amicitiae nomine tectus amor.
Hoc aditu vidi tetricae data verba puellae:
Qui fuerat cultor, factus amator erat.
Candidus in nauta turpis color, aequoris unda
Debet et a radiis sideris esse niger:
Turpis et agricolae, qui vomere semper adunco
Et gravibus rastris sub Iove versat humum.
Et tibi, Palladiae petitur cui fama coronae,
Candida si fuerint corpora, turpis eris.
Palleat omnis amans: hic est color aptus amanti;
Hoc decet, hoc stulti non valuisse putant.
Pallidus in Side silvis errabat Orion,
Pallidus in lenta naïde Daphnis erat.
Arguat et macies animum: nec turpe putaris
Palliolum nitidis inposuisse comis.
Attenuant iuvenum vigilatae corpora noctes
Curaque et in magno qui fit amore dolor.
Ut voto potiare tuo, miserabilis esto,
Ut qui te videat, dicere possit 'amas.'

[¶7] Shall I complain, or shall I warn you most?
Faith, truth, and friendship, in the world are lost;
A little and an empty name they boast.
Trust not thy friend, much less thy mistress praise;
If he believe, thou man'st a rival raise.
'Tis true, Patroclus, by no lust misled,
Sought not to stain his dear companion's bed.
Nor Pylades Hermione embrac'd;
Ev'n Phaedra to Pirithous still was chaste.
But hope not thou, in this vile age to find
Those rare examples of a faithful mind.
The sea shall sooner with sweet honey flow;
Or from the furze pears and apples grow.
We sin with gust, we love by fraud to gain,
And find a pleasure in our fellow's pain.
From rival foes you may the fair defend;
But would you ward the blow, beware your friend.
Beware your brother, and your next of kin;
But from your bosom friend your care begin.
Here had I ended, but experience finds,
That sundry women are of sundry minds;
With various crotchets fill'd, and hard to please,
They therefore must be caught by various ways.
All things are not produced in any soil;
This ground for wine is proper, that for oil.
So 'tis in men, but more in woman-kind;
Diff'rent in face, in manners, and in mind.
But wise men shift their sails with ev'ry wind;
As changeful Proteus varied oft his shape,
And did in sundry forms and figures 'scape.
A running stream, a standing tree became,
A roaring lion, or a bleating lamb.
Some fish with harpoons, some with darts, are struck,
Some drawn with nets, some hang upon the hook;
So turn thyself; and imitating them,
Try several tricks, and change thy stratagem.
One rule will not for diff'rent ages hold;
The jades grow cunning, as they grow more old.
Then talk not bawdy to the bashful maid;
Broad words will make her innocence afraid.
Nor to an ign'rant girl of learning speak;
She thinks you conjure when you talk in Greek.
And hence 'tis often seen, the simple shun
The learn'd, and into vile embraces run.
Part of my task is done, and part to do:
But here 'tis time to rest myself and you.

> Latin: Conquerar, an moneam mixtum fas omne nefasque?
Nomen amicitia est, nomen inane fides.
Ei mihi, non tutum est, quod ames, laudare sodali;
Cum tibi laudanti credidit, ipse subit.
At non Actorides lectum temeravit Achillis:
Quantum ad Pirithoum, Phaedra pudica fuit.
Hermionam Pylades quo Pallada Phoebus, amabat,
Quodque tibi geminus, Tyndari, Castor, erat.
Siquis idem sperat, laturas poma myricas
Speret, et e medio flumine mella petat.
Nil nisi turpe iuvat: curae sua cuique voluptas:
Haec quoque ab alterius grata dolore venit.
Heu facinus! non est hostis metuendus amanti;
Quos credis fidos, effuge, tutus eris.
Cognatum fratremque cave carumque sodalem:
Praebebit veros haec tibi turba metus.
Finiturus eram, sed sunt diversa puellis
Pectora: mille animos excipe mille modis.
Nec tellus eadem parit omnia; vitibus illa
Convenit, haec oleis; hac bene farra virent.
Pectoribus mores tot sunt, quot in ore figurae;
Qui sapit, innumeris moribus aptus erit,
Utque leves Proteus modo se tenuabit in undas,
Nunc leo, nunc arbor, nunc erit hirtus aper.
Hi iaculo pisces, illi capiuntur ab hamis:
Hos cava contento retia fune trahunt.
Nec tibi conveniet cunctos modus unus ad annos:
Longius insidias cerva videbit anus.
Si doctus videare rudi, petulansve pudenti,
Diffidet miserae protinus illa sibi.
Inde fit, ut quae se timuit committere honesto,
Vilis ad amplexus inferioris eat.
Pars superat coepti, pars est exhausta laboris.
Hic teneat nostras ancora iacta rates.