In the first century BCE, Ovid wrote his remarkable verses, “Ars Amatoria.” In his three books of “The Art of Love,” Ovid presented a captivating portrayal of the decadent and stylish life of aristocracy in Roman society. He guided men and women from the upper class of ancient Roman culture in their love affairs. In his verses, he gives advice on how to find, seduce, and keep a lover.
His insightful advice on love has become a classic in the art of love. His love poetry was transmitted across centuries, cultures, and generations.
The 1885 publication of the English translation of Ovid’s works by Henry Riley included a literal prose translation rather than the original poetry (Riley, 1885/2014)(Finck, 1887/2019).
In 2001, the most recent translation and publication of Ovid’s Ars Amatoria by Kline made their poetic translation available (Kline, 2001).
The books may be challenging to read without an understanding of Roman culture at the time because men and women today live in a different time than the Romans did
Still, it is important and helpful to learn about the art of love from the old ways of thinking. A lot of what Ovid said about love a long time ago is still true today. So, I still think these books are fascinating and fun to read even now. That’s why I included some sage advice from Anthony Kline’s wonderful translations of Ovid’s books in the posts you’ll find here on this love blog.
Men can learn a lot from the delightful verses of Book 1 that teach them “How to Find Her” (Part 2), “How to Win Her” (Part 9), “How to Make Promises of Love to Her” (Part 12), “How to Entice and Seduce a Woman” (Parts 13 and 14), “How to Make Promises and Deceive” (Part 16), “How Tears and Kisses Help in Love Affairs” (Part 17), “Psychology Love Tricks in the Art of Love” (Parts 18-19), and others.
The poetry of Book II presents other pieces of love guidance to men. Parts V, VI, and VII explain how important it is in love (a) not to be faint-hearted, (b) win over the servants, and (c) give her little tasteful gifts. In Book II, Ovid also explains how to Be Gentle and Good-Tempered in Love Relations (Part III), Let Her Miss You, but Not For Long (Part X), how to Stir Her Jealousy in Their Art of Love (Part XIII), Be Wise and Ready to Suffer in Love (Part XIV).
Here is Part XV of Ovid’s Book II, advising men how important it is to respect her freedom in the art of love.
Respect Her Freedom, Part XV of Book II:
“Why waste time on trifles? Greater themes arise:
I sing great things: pay attention, people.
We labour hard, but virtue’s nothing if not hard:
hard labour’s what my art demands.
Be patient with your rival, victory rests with you:
you’ll be victor on Great Jupiter’s hill.
Believe me, it’s no man says this, but Chaonia’s sacred oaks:
my art contains nothing more profound than this.
If she flirts, endure it: if she writes, don’t touch the wax:
let her come from where she wishes: and go where she pleases, too.
This husbands allow their lawfully married wives,
when you come, gentle sleep, to play your part, as well.
I’m not perfect in this art, I confess:
What can I do? I’m less than my own instructions.
What, shall I let some man signal openly to my girl,
and bear it, and not show anger if I wish?
I remember her husband kissed her: I grieved
at the kiss he gave: my love’s full of barbarities.
Not a few times this fault has hurt me: he’s wiser
who’s reconciled to other mens’ coming.
But it was better to know nothing: let intrigues
be hidden, lest her shameless mouth revealed untruths.
How much better, O young men, to avoid surprising them:
let girls sin, and think, while sinning, that they’ve fooled you.
Love grows with being caught: who are twinned by fortune
persist to the end in the cause that ruined them.
The story’s well known through all the heavens,
of Mars and Venus caught by Vulcan’s craft.
Mars stirred by mad desire for Venus
was turned from grim warrior to lover.
And Venus was not coy or resistant to Mar’s pleas
(for there’s no more loving goddess than her).
Ah how often the wanton laughed at her husband’s limp,
they say, or his hands hardened by his fiery art.
She’d openly imitate Vulcan then, to Mars: it became her:
great beauty was mingled there with charm.
But they used to hide their adultery at first.
It was a sin, filled with the blush of shame.
The Sun’s tale (who can evade the Sun?)
made known to Vulcan what his spouse had done.
What a poor example, Sun, you set! Seek a gift from her,
and you, if you’re quiet, can have what she can give.
Vulcan set a hidden net, over and round the bed:
it’s a piece of work that deceives the eye.
Pretends he’s off to Lemnos: the lovers come
to their assignation: and both lie naked in the net.
He calls the gods: the captives are displayed:
Venus they think can scarcely restrain her tears.
They can’t hide their faces, are even unable
to cover their sexes with their hands.
Then someone laughed and said: ‘Let me have the chains,
Mars, if they’re an embarrassment to you!’
Their captive bodies are, with difficulty, freed, at your plea,
Neptune: Venus runs to Paphos: Mars heads for Thrace.
This you achieved, Vulcan: what they hid before,
now all shame is gone, they indulge in freely:
Now maddened you often confess the thing was foolish,
and suffer regret for your cunning.
It’s forbidden you: Venus once tricked forbids
traps to be set, like the one that she endured.
Lay out no snares for rivals: don’t intercept
those secret hand-written messages.
Let husbands trap them, if they think they indeed need trapping,
husbands to whom the ceremony of fire and water gives the right.
Look, I swear again: there’s nothing here except what’s played within the law: no virtuous woman’s caught up in my jests.”
Kline, A. S. (2001). Translation of Ovid’s Ars Amatoria: The Art of Love.