Ovid's Erotic Poems. Ovid
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I.5
One summer afternoon, the sultry day half gone, | |
I sought my bed to spread my limbs upon, | |
With half my window opened wide and half shut tight, | |
Admitting just the softest woodland light— | |
The faintest gloaming as lord Phoebus starts to go, | 5 |
Or night gives way before the dawn’s faint glow. | |
(They were the rays in which shy virgins try to hide, | |
In hopes timidity won’t yield to pride.) | |
Then came Corinna in her tunic cinched and sheer; | |
Her fair neck felt her parted hair fall clear. | 10 |
They say Semiramis went to her bed like this, | |
And Lais, who for countless men meant bliss. | |
I snatched that tunic from her, and it caused no harm, | |
But still she fought me for it in alarm. | |
She fought like one who fought a battle not to win, | 15 |
But struggled weakly, only to give in. | |
And as she stood, a sweet disorder in her dress, | |
Her body showed no fault; my eyes said yes. | |
Such arms I saw and touched—soft, lean and strong, yet fine! | |
Her round breasts fit two hands—and they were mine! | 20 |
How smooth the rest of her, her legs so soft and lean, | |
Her waist and thigh as fair as I have seen. | |
But why describe each charm when every charm I saw | |
Was lovely, nude? We hugged; I filled with awe. | |
Who doesn’t know what’s next? Fatigued, we stopped to rest | 25 |
So I might pray, “Make all mid-days so blessed” |
I.6
You there! Yes, you—my darling’s doorman-porter-Janus: | |
Swing back those hinges crying out “Unchain us!” | |
I don’t ask much—just leave the door ajar a crack | |
So I can slip in sideways—and get back. | |
There’s been so much hard love of late that now, I’m thin | 5 |
Enough and light enough to wriggle in. | |
And that’s what’s taught me how to tip-toe past the guard: | |
Love’s suffering. Love makes footsteps soft, not hard. | |
There was a time when every phantom caused me fright; | |
I was amazed that men went out at night. | 10 |
Then Cupid, with his tender mother, laughed at me. | |
He whispered, “You’ll get brave; just wait and see.” | |
And presto! Love walked in. Now, flighty nighttime spirit, | |
Or knife that threatens doom, I just don’t fear it. | |
Instead, it’s you I fear, and you’re the one I flatter, | 15 |
Who threatens thunderous ruin and can batter | |
My heart. Throw back the bolt so you can see me better. | |
My tears have
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