The “Ars Amatoria” teach men how psychology love tricks can aid in relationship affairs with women. Surprisingly, being pale, flexible, and wary of friends increases the likelihood of success in a relationship with a woman. 

The Roman poet Ovid of the second century AD wrote “Ars Amatoria” in three volumes of poems. His works depict the upper classes’ luxurious, elegant, and hedonistic lifestyles. Affluent ancient Romans enjoyed sensual, adventurous love. They enjoyed sexual and love affairs to pass the time. The ancient Roman culture revered the art of making love. Ovid’s books give wise advice and suggest love tricks on how to succeed in getting and maintaining love affairs.

“Ars Amatoria”, originally written in Latin, has been translated into other languages over the centuries. The English translation was titled “The Art of Love.” Ovid’s books have become the classic reading for love scholars and other people interested in the art of love.

At least, two versions of the texts of “The Art of Love” have been translated from Latin into English and published in the last two centuries. The first version of Ovid’s love poems was translated into literal English prose by Henry Riley (1816–1878), an English antiquarian and renowned interpreter of ancient literature of the 19th century. The books’ text was first published in 1885 and reprinted in 2014.

Another version of Ovid’s text was translated into English verses by Anthony Kline, a modern poet and translator of classical Roman poetry into English. He wrote the poetic forms of Ovid’s “Ars Amatoria” at the end of the 20th century. The texts were published online in 2001.

Both versions of the English text—literal translation by Henry Riley and poetic translation by Anthony Kline—are currently available online.

Modern men and women can still enjoy these books despite living in different eras, societies, and cultures than the ancient Romans. For those interested in cross-cultural love wisdom, I’ve posted excerpts from these books on this website.

Ovid’s first two books of poems describe how to find, captivate, and have love affairs with a woman. Ovid’s love advice and psychology love tricks are still relevant nowadays. Clever Ovid’s advice can help modern men and women in their love affairs. The texts of “Ars Amatoria” are considered the classics for love scholars. In the articles on this website, I’ve shared some of Anthony Kline’s translations of Ovid’s beautiful verses. What they talk about are “What Is His Task” (Part 1), “How to Find Her” (Part 2), “Search for Love While Walking” (Part 3), “Search for Love while at the Theatre” (Part 4), “Search for Love at the Races or Circus” (Part 5), “Triumphs that Are Good to Attract a Woman” (Part 6), “Search for Love around the Dinner-Table and on the Beach” (Parts 7 and 8), “How to Win Her” (Part 9), “How to Know the Maid” (Part 10), “How to Be Attentive to Her” (Part 11), “How to Make Promises of Love to Her” (Part 12), “How to Woo and Seduce a Woman” (Parts 13 and 14), “How to Captivate a Woman at Dinner” (Part 15), “How to Make Promises and Deceive” (Part 16), and “How Tears, Kisses, Taking the Lead Can Help in Love Affairs” (Part 17).

Here is Part 18, Teaching Men How Being Pale and Being Wary of Friends Can Be Used in Love Affairs

Let us read Ovid’s lessons on how these psychology love tricks work:

“A pale colour would shame a sailor on the ocean wave,

who’s blackened by the rays of the sun:

and shame the farmer who turns the soil with curved plough

and heavy harrow, underneath the heavens.

And you who seek the athlete’s crown, you too

would be ashamed if all your body was white.

Let all lovers be pale: it’s the colour fitting for love:

it suits, though fools have thought it of no value.

Orion wandered pale, for Side, in the woods,

Daphnis was pale for his reluctant Naiad.

Let your leanness show your heart: don’t think it a shame

to slip a cape over your shining hair:

Let youthful limbs be worn away by sleepless nights

and care, and the grief of a great love.

To gain your desire, be miserable,

and those who see you can say ‘You’re in love.’

Should I lament, warn you perhaps that right and wrong

are confused by all? Friendship and loyalty empty words.

Ah me, it’s not safe to praise your love to a friend:

if he believes your praise, he’ll steal her himself.

But Patroclus never disgraced Achilles’s bed:

and how modest Phaedra was with Pirithous.

Pylades loved Hermione, just as Phoebus Pallas,

or as Castor was twin to you Pollux.

Who hopes for that, hopes for apple-bearing tamarisks,

and looks for honey in the middle of the stream.

All delight in what’s shameful: care only for their pleasures,

and are pleased too when trouble comes to others.

Ah it’s a crime! It’s not their rivals that lovers fear:

flee those you think are friends, and you’ll be safe.

Beware of brothers, relatives, and dear friends: that crowd offers you true cause for fear.”

Kline, A. S. (2001). Translation of Ovid’s Ars Amatoria: The Art of Love.

Here is Part 19, Teaching Men How Being Flexible Can Be Helpful in Love Affairs

Let us read Ovid’s teachings on how these psychology love tricks are supposed to work, shall we?

“I’ve done, but there’s diversity in women’s

hearts: a thousand minds require a thousand methods.

One soil doesn’t bear all crops: vines here

are good, olives there: this teems with healthy wheat.

There are as many manners of heart as kinds of face:

a wise man will adapt to many forms,

and like Proteus now, melt into the smooth waters,

now be a tree, now a lion, now a bristling boar.

These fish are speared, those caught on a hook:

others trawled in billowing nets with straining ropes.

One mode won’t suit you for every age-group:

the older hinds spot a trap from further off.

If the simple find you cunning, and the modest crude,

the poor things will straightaway mistrust themselves.

So it happens that she who fears to trust an honest man,

falls to the embrace of some low rascal.

Part of my task is left: part of the labour’s done.

Moor my boat here to the anchor-chains.”

Kline, A. S. (2001). Translation of Ovid’s Ars Amatoria: The Art of Love.

Ovid’s first two books of poems describe how to find, captivate, and have love affairs with a woman. Ovid’s love advice and psychology love tricks are still relevant nowadays. Clever Ovid’s advice can help modern men and women in their love affairs. The texts of “Ars Amatoria” are considered the classics for love scholars. In the articles on this website, I’ve shared some of Anthony Kline’s translations of Ovid’s beautiful verses. What they talk about are “What Is His Task” (Part 1), “How to Find Her” (Part 2), “Search for Love While Walking” (Part 3), “Search for Love while at the Theatre” (Part 4), “Search for Love at the Races or Circus” (Part 5), “Triumphs that Are Good to Attract a Woman” (Part 6), “Search for Love around the Dinner-Table and on the Beach” (Parts 7 and 8), “How to Win Her” (Part 9), “How to Know the Maid” (Part 10), “How to Be Attentive to Her” (Part 11), “How to Make Promises of Love to Her” (Part 12), “How to Woo and Seduce a Woman” (Parts 13 and 14), “How to Captivate a Woman at Dinner” (Part 15), “How to Make Promises and Deceive” (Part 16), and “How Tears, Kisses, Taking the Lead Can Help in Love Affairs” (Part 17).