Page 169 - Western Civilization A Brief History, Volume I To 1715 9th - Jackson J. Spielvogel

Ovid and the Art of Love
Ovid has been called the last great poet of the Augustan golden age of literature. One of his most famous works was The Art of Love, a guidebook for the seduction of women. Unfortunately for Ovid, the work appeared at a time when Augustus was eager to improve the morals of the Roman upper class. Augustus considered the work offensive, and Ovid soon found himself in exile.
Ovid, The Art of Love
Now I’ll teach you how to captivate and hold the woman of your choice. This is the most important part of all my lessons. . . .
First of all, be quite sure that there isn’t a woman who cannot be won, and make up your mind that you will win her. Only you must prepare the ground. Sooner would the birds cease their song in the springtime, or the grasshopper be silent in the summer, . . . than a woman resist the tender wooing of a youthful lover. . . .
Now the first thing you have to do is to get on good terms with the fair one’s maid. She can make things easy for you. Find out whether she is fully in her mistress’s confidence, and if she knows all about her secret dissipations. Leave no stone unturned to win her over. Once you have her on your side, the rest is easy....
In the first place, it’s best to send her a letter, just to pave the way. In it you should tell her how you dote on her; pay her beauty compliments and say all the nice things lovers always say. . . . And promise, promise,
Source: From The Love Books of Ovid, translated by J. Lewis May. Published 1930 by Rarity Press.
promise. Promises will cost you nothing. Everyone’s a millionaire where promises are concerned. . . .
If she refuses your letter and sends it back unread, don’t give up; hope for the best and try again. . . .
Don’t let your hair stick up in tufts on your head; see that your hair and your beard are decently trimmed. See also that your nails are clean and nicely filed; don’t have any hair growing out of your nostrils; take care that your breath is sweet, and don’t go about reeking like a billy-goat. All other toilet refinements leave to the women or to perverts. . . .
When you find yourself at a feast where the wine is flowing freely, and where a woman shares the same couch with you, pray to that god whose mysteries are celebrated during the night, that the wine may not overcloud your brain. ‘Tis then you may easily hold converse with your mistress in hidden words whereof she will easily divine the meaning. . . .
By subtle flatteries you may be able to steal into her heart. . . . Never cease to sing the praises of her face, her hair, her taper fingers and her dainty foot. . . .
Tears, too, are a mighty useful resource in the matter of love. They would melt a diamond. Make a point, therefore, of letting your mistress see your face all wet with tears.
Howbeit, if you can’t manage to squeeze out any tears—and they won’t always flow just when you want them to—put your finger in your eyes.
Q What were Ovid’s principles of love? Why do you think Augustus found The Art of Love so offensive?
The Art of Love, which was essentially a takeoff on didactic poems. Whereas authors of earlier didactic poems had written guides to farming, hunting, or some such subject, Ovid’s work was a handbook on the seduction of women (see the box above).
The most famous Latin prose work of the golden age was written by the historian Livy (LIV-ee) (59 B.C.E.–17 C.E.). Livy’s masterpiece was his History of Rome, covering the years from the foundation of the city (in the seventh century B.C.E.) to 9 B.C.E. Only 35 of
the original 142 books have survived, although we do possess brief summaries of the whole work from other authors. Livy perceived history in terms of moral les- sons. As he stated in the preface:
The study of history is the best medicine for a sick mind; for in history you have a record of the infinite variety of human experience plainly set out for all to see; and in that record you can find for yourself and your country both examples and warnings: fine things to take as models, base things, rotten through and through, to avoid.8
Roman Culture and Society in the Early Empire 131
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