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Art of Love

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 2,614 sections

1. 1.1.1

   In Cupid's school, whoe'er would take degree

2. 1.1.2

   Must learn his rudiments by reading me,

3. 1.1.3

   Seamen with sailing art their vessels move;

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   Art guides the chariot: art instructs to love.

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   Of ships and chariots others know the rule;

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   But I am master in Love's mighty school.

7. 1.1.7

   Cupid indeed is obstinate and wild,

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   A stubborn god; but yet the god's a child:

9. 1.1.9

   Easy to govern in his tender age,

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    Like fierce Achilles in his pupilage:

11. 1.1.11

    That hero, born for conquest, trembling stood

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    Before the centaur, and receiv'd the rod.

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    As Chiron mollified his cruel mind

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    With art; and taught his warlike hands to wind

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    The silver strings of his melodious lyre;

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    So love's fair goddess does my soul inspire

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    To teach her softer arts; to sooth the mind,

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    And smooth the rugged breasts of human kind.

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    Yet Cupid and Achilles, each with scorn

20. 1.1.20

    And rage were fill'd; and both were goddess-born.

21. 1.1.21

    The bull reclaim'd and yolk'd, the burden draws:

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    The horse receives the bit within his jaws.

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    And stubborn love shall bend beneath my sway,

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    Tho' struggling oft he tries to disobey.

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    He shakes his torch, he wounds me with his darts;

26. 1.1.26

    But vain his force, and vainer are his arts.

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    The more he burns my soul, or wounds my sight,

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    The more he teaches to revenge the spite.

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    I boast no aid the Delphian god affords,

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    Nor auspice from the flight of chattering birds,

31. 1.1.31

    Nor Clio, nor her sisters, have I seen,

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    As Hesiod saw them on the shady green:

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    Experience makes my work a truth so tried,

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    You may believe; and Venus be my guide.

35. 1.1.35

    Far hence ye vestals be, who bind your hair;

36. 1.1.36

    And wives, who gowns below your ancles wear.

37. 1.1.37

    I sing the brothels loose and unconfin'd,

38. 1.1.38

    Th' unpunishable pleasures of the kind;

39. 1.1.39

    Which all alike for love or money find.

40. 1.35.40

    You, who in Cupid's roll inscribe your name,

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    First seek an object worthy of your flame;

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    Then strive, with art, your lady's mind to gain;

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    And last, provide your love may long remain.

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    On these three precepts all my work shall move:

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    These are the rules and principles of love.

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    Before your youth with marriage is oppress't,

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    Make choice of one who suits your humour best

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    And such a damsel drops not from the sky;

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    She must be sought for with a curious eye.

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    The wary angler, in the winding brook,

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    Knows what the fish, and where to bait his hook.

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    The fowler and the huntsman know by name

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    The certain haunts and harbour of their game.

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    So must the lover beat the likeliest grounds;

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    Th' Assemblies where his quarries most abound:

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    Nor shall my novice wander far astray;

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    These rules shall put him in the ready way.

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    Thou shalt not fail around the continent,

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    As far as Perseus or as Paris went:

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    For Rome alone affords thee such a store,

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    As all the world can hardly shew thee more.

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    The face of heav'n with fewer stars is crown'd,

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    Than beauties in the Roman sphere are found.

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    Whether thy love is bent on blooming youth,

65. 1.35.65

    On dawning sweetness, in unartful truth;

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    Or courts the juicy joys of riper growth;

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    Here may'st thou find thy full desires in both:

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    Or if autumnal beauties please thy sight

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    (An age that knows to give and take delight;)

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    Millions of matrons, of the graver sort,

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    In common prudence, will not balk the sport.

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    In summer's heats thou need'st but only go

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    To Pompey's cool and shady portico;

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    Or Concord's fane; or that proud edifice

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    Whose turrets near the bawdy suburbs rise;

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    Or to that other portico, where stands

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    The cruel father urging his commands.

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    And fifty daughters wait the time of rest,

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    To plunge their poniards in the bridegroom's breast.

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    Or Venus' temple; where, on annual nights,

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    They mourn Adonis with Assyrian rites.

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    Nor shun the Jewish walk, where the foul drove

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    On sabbaths rest from everything but love.

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    Nor Isis' temple; for that sacred whore

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    Makes others, what to Jove she was before;

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    And if the hall itself be not belied,

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    E'en there the cause of love is often tried;

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    Near it at least, or in the palace yard,

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    From whence the noisy combatants are heard.

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    The crafty counsellors, in formal gown,

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    There gain another's cause, but lose their own.

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    Their eloquence is nonpluss'd in the suit;

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    And lawyers, who had words at will, are mute.

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    Venus from her adjoining temple smiles

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    To see them caught in their litigious wiles;

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    Grave senators lead home the youthful dame,

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    Returning clients when they patrons came.

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    But above all, the Playhouse is the place;

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    There's choice of quarry in that narrow chace:

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     There take thy stand, and sharply looking out,

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Perseus Latin. CTS URN phi0959.phi004.perseus-eng2. Via the Perseus Digital Library / Open Greek and Latin TEI corpora. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0. Source.