Remedia amoris
Choose a text
id="mobileReaderAuthor" class="mobile-reader-author" href="/authors/ovid" aria-label="More works by Ovid">
—
⋯
Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
609.664
But while society I do prescribe,
609.665
I mean not those of your own sighing tribe:
609.666
For nothing sure can so injurious be
609.667
To one in love, as lovers company.There is a sort of dangerous infection in it; and, indeed, nothing is more certain, than that which is bad is more communicated to another than that which is good; which the poet justifies by similes, as he is wont to do. Juvenal speakes of this infection in the same sense that Ovid does.
609.668
A patient, who my orders did obey,
609.669
And to his cure was in a hopeful way,
609.670
By keeping lovers' company one night,
609.671
Relaps'd beyond my skill to set him right.
609.672
Such dang'rous neighbourhood you must avoid:
609.673
A flock's by one contagious sheep destroy'd.
609.674
If health you'd keep shun those who are unsound;
609.675
By looking on sore eyes, our own we wound;
609.676
Dry lands are oft by neighb'ring rivers drown'd.
609.677
Love's pest allows no safety but in flight;
609.678
And the infected, to infect delight.
609.679
Another, who quite through his course had gone,
609.680
By living near his mistress was undone.
609.681
Rashly his strength, ere well confirm'd, he tries,
609.682
Too weak to stand th' encounter of her eyes.
609.683
She meets, and conquers with one single view,
609.684
And all his fresh-skin'd wounds gush forth anew.
609.685
To save your house from neighb'ring fire is hard,
609.686
Distance from danger is the surest guard.
609.687
Avoid your mistress' walks, and e'en forbear
609.688
The civil offices you paid to her.
609.689
Change all your measures, new affairs pursue;
609.690
Find out, if possible, a world that's new.
609.691
A table spread in view gives appetite;
609.692
To see a gushing rill does thirst excite.
609.693
To leap their females in a neighb'ring plain,
609.694
Your bull will break his fence, your steed his rein.
609.695
Nor is't enough to quit the nymph, but you
609.696
Must to her friends and kindred bid adieu;Must renounce all sort ot commerce with every thing that belongs to her; which is one of the best remedies against so contagious a distemper, but hard to be put in practice.
609.697
Nor to your sight admit the page or maid,
609.698
By whom the tender billet doux's convey'd.
609.699
And, though impatient, stifle your desire;
609.700
Nor of her health, nor what she does enquire.
609.701
E'en you who powerful reasons can assign,
609.702
That 'twas ill-treatment made your love decline,
609.703
Forbear complaints, and no invectives make;
609.704
By scornful silence, best revenge you'll take.
609.705
Bury your passion in a speechless grave,
609.706
Desist from love, but do not say you have.
609.707
If over much you boast, the symptom's ill;
609.708
Who always cries, "I've done with love," loves still.
609.709
To make sure work, quench leisurely the fire;
609.710
He's safe, who can by just degrees retire.
609.711
A torrent's swift, a stream does gently glide,
609.712
But that's a short, and this a lasting tide;
609.713
That love must irrecoverably decay,
609.714
Which does by atoms waste itself away.