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Art of Love

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 2,614 sections

1. 1.681.801

   Is there, who thinks that woman first should woo?

2. 1.681.802

   Lay by thy self-conceit, thou foolish beau.

3. 1.681.803

   Begin, and save their modesty the shame;

4. 1.681.804

   'Tis well for thee, if they receive thy flame.

5. 1.681.805

   'Tis decent for a man to speak his mind;

6. 1.681.806

   They but expect th' occasion to be kind.

7. 1.681.807

   Ask, that thou may'st enjoy; she waits for this:

8. 1.681.808

   And on thy first advance depends thy bliss.

9. 1.681.809

   E'en Jove himself was forc'd to sue for love;

10. 1.681.810

    None of the nymphs did first solicit Jove.

11. 1.681.811

    But if you find your pray'rs increase her pride,

12. 1.681.812

    Strike sail awhile, and wait another tide.

13. 1.681.813

    They fly when we pursue; but make delay.

14. 1.681.814

    And when they see you shaken, they will stay.

15. 1.681.815

    Sometimes it profits to conceal your end;

16. 1.681.816

    Name not yourself her lover, but her friend.

17. 1.681.817

    How many skittish girls have thus been caught?

18. 1.681.818

    He prov'd a lover, who a friend was thought.

19. 1.681.819

    Sailors by sun and wind are swarthy made;

20. 1.681.820

    A tann'd complexion best becomes their trade.

21. 1.681.821

    'Tis a disgrace to ploughmen to be fair;

22. 1.681.822

    Bluff cheeks they have, and weather-beaten hair.

23. 1.681.823

    Th' ambitious youth who seeks an olive crown,

24. 1.681.824

    Is sun-burnt with his daily toil, and brown;

25. 1.681.825

    But if the lover hopes to be in grace,

26. 1.681.826

    Wall be his looks, and meagre be his face.

27. 1.681.827

    That colour from the fair compassion draws;

28. 1.681.828

    She thinks you sick, and thinks herself the cause.

29. 1.681.829

    Orion wander'd in the woods for love.

30. 1.681.830

    His paleness did the nymphs to pity move;

31. 1.681.831

    His gastly visage argu'd hidden love.

32. 1.681.832

    Nor fail a night-cap in full health to wear;

33. 1.681.833

    Neglect thy dress, and discompose thy hair.

34. 1.681.834

    All things are decent, that in love avail.

35. 1.681.835

    Read long by night, and study to be pale.

36. 1.681.836

    Forsake your food, refuse your needful rest;

37. 1.681.837

    Be miserable that you may be blest.

38. 1.739.838

    Shall I complain, or shall I warn you most?

39. 1.739.839

    Faith, truth, and friendship, in the world are lost;

40. 1.739.840

    A little and an empty name they boast.

41. 1.739.841

    Trust not thy friend, much less thy mistress praise;

42. 1.739.842

    If he believe, thou man'st a rival raise.

43. 1.739.843

    'Tis true, Patroclus, by no lust misled,

44. 1.739.844

    Sought not to stain his dear companion's bed.

45. 1.739.845

    Nor Pylades Hermione embrac'd;

46. 1.739.846

    Ev'n Phaedra to Pirithous still was chaste.

47. 1.739.847

    But hope not thou, in this vile age to find

48. 1.739.848

    Those rare examples of a faithful mind.

49. 1.739.849

    The sea shall sooner with sweet honey flow;

50. 1.739.850

    Or from the furze pears and apples grow.

51. 1.739.851

    We sin with gust, we love by fraud to gain,

52. 1.739.852

    And find a pleasure in our fellow's pain.

53. 1.739.853

    From rival foes you may the fair defend;

54. 1.739.854

    But would you ward the blow, beware your friend.

55. 1.739.855

    Beware your brother, and your next of kin;

56. 1.739.856

    But from your bosom friend your care begin.

57. 1.739.857

    Here had I ended, but experience finds,

58. 1.739.858

    That sundry women are of sundry minds;

59. 1.739.859

    With various crotchets fill'd, and hard to please,

60. 1.739.860

    They therefore must be caught by various ways.

61. 1.739.861

    All things are not produced in any soil;

62. 1.739.862

    This ground for wine is proper, that for oil.

63. 1.739.863

    So 'tis in men, but more in woman-kind;

64. 1.739.864

    Diff'rent in face, in manners, and in mind.

65. 1.739.865

    But wise men shift their sails with ev'ry wind;

66. 1.739.866

    As changeful Proteus varied oft his shape,

67. 1.739.867

    And did in sundry forms and figures 'scape.

68. 1.739.868

    A running stream, a standing tree became,

69. 1.739.869

    A roaring lion, or a bleating lamb.

70. 1.739.870

    Some fish with harpoons, some with darts, are struck,

71. 1.739.871

    Some drawn with nets, some hang upon the hook;

72. 1.739.872

    So turn thyself; and imitating them,

73. 1.739.873

    Try several tricks, and change thy stratagem.

74. 1.739.874

    One rule will not for diff'rent ages hold;

75. 1.739.875

    The jades grow cunning, as they grow more old.

76. 1.739.876

    Then talk not bawdy to the bashful maid;

77. 1.739.877

    Broad words will make her innocence afraid.

78. 1.739.878

    Nor to an ign'rant girl of learning speak;

79. 1.739.879

    She thinks you conjure when you talk in Greek.

80. 1.739.880

    And hence 'tis often seen, the simple shun

81. 1.739.881

    The learn'd, and into vile embraces run.

82. 1.739.882

    Part of my task is done, and part to do:

83. 1.739.883

    But here 'tis time to rest myself and you.

84. 2.1.1

    Now Io Paean sing! now wreaths prepare!

85. 2.1.2

    And with repeated Ios fill the air:

86. 2.1.3

    The prey is fall'n in my successful toils,

87. 2.1.4

    My artful nets inclose the lovely spoils.

88. 2.1.5

    My numbers now, ye smiling lovers, crown,

89. 2.1.6

    And make your poet deathless in renown:

90. 2.1.7

    With lasting fame my verse shall be enroll'd,

91. 2.1.8

    And I preferr'd to all the bards of old.

92. 2.1.9

    Thus Paris from the warlike Spartans bore

93. 2.1.10

    Their ravish'd bride to Ida's distant shore.

94. 2.1.11

    Victorious Pelops thus in triumph drove

95. 2.1.12

    The vanquish'd maid, and thus enjoy'd his love.

96. 2.1.13

    Stay, eager youth! your bark's but under sail;

97. 2.1.14

    The distant port requires a prosp'rous gale.

98. 2.1.15

    'Tis not enough the yielding beauty's found,

99. 2.1.16

    And with my aid your artful passion crown'd;

100. 2.1.17

     The conquests our successful conduct gain'd,

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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.