Ovid on Love

“Otia si tollas, periere cupidinis arcus. If you give up your quiet life, the bow of Cupid will lose its power.”

“Non bene conveniunt nec in una sede morantur maiestas et amor. Ah, majesty and love go ill together, Nor long share one abode!”

“Non bene conveniunt, nec in una sede morantur, Majestas et amor. Majesty and love do not well agree, nor do they live together.”

“Qui finem quaeris amoris/Cedit amor rebus; res age, tutus eris. Love yields to business. If you seek a way out of love, be busy; you'll be safe then.”

“Qui finem quaeris amoris, Cedit amor rebus; res age, tutus eris. Love yields to business. If you seek a way out of love, be busy; you'll be safe then.”

“Sic ego nec sine te nec tecum vivere possum Et videor voti nescius esse mei. Thus I am not able to exist either with you or without you; and I seem not to know my own wishes.”

“Qui finem quæris amoris, (Cedit amor rebus) res age; tutus eris. If thou wishest to put an end to love, attend to business (love yields to employment); then thou wilt be safe.”

“Quicquid Amor jussit non est contemnere tutum. Regnat, et in dominos jus habet ille deos. It is not safe to despise what Love commands. He reigns supreme, and rules the mighty gods.”

“Let him who loves, where love success may find, Spread all his sails before the prosp'rous wind; But let poor youths who female scorn endure, And hopeless burn, repair to me for cure.”

“Ei mihi, quod nullis amor est sanabilis herbis nec prosunt domino, quae prosunt omnibus, artes! Alas for me, love is incurable With any herb; the arts which cure the others Do me, their lord, no good!”

“Dum novus errat amor, vires sibi colligat usu: Si bene nutrieris, tempore firmus erit. Quem taurum metuis, vitulum mulcere solebas: Sub qua nunc recubas arbore, virga fuit: Nascitur exiguus, sed opes adquirit eundo, Quaque venit, multas accipit amnis aquas. Young love is errant, but it needs to get around; The time and practice make it strong and sound. That bull you fear, you petted when it wasn't big; What now you sleep beneath was once a twig. That little stream, in gaining waters as it goes, Grows stronger, till at last a river flows.”