Ovid Knew All About It!

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 71, 1 November 1940, Page 7

Ovid Knew All About It!

HERE are unfortunately still many women who conduct their toilet operations in public. We’ve all suffered in silence while a friend powders her nose over the cakes in a teashop or watched the passenger in the railway carriage thoroughly combing her hair. Ovid observed the same sort of thing centuries ago. Here are his words translated from the "Art of Love": "You've learnt how rouge can play complexion’s part, And lacking blood to blush with, blush by art, By art the eyebrow’s wilted tips replace, While dainty patches hide the natural face, And shameless lids are lined with filmy ash Of saffron grown by Cydnus’ limpid plash ~ A little guide to make-up have I writ, ’ Though small in bulk, in labour infinite; There, too, may cures\for damaged looks be learned: My art’s no laggard where your need’s concerned. But let no lover find the table strown With paintpots: beauty’s aids should ne’er be shown. A face besmeared with dregs, whose drippings light On the warm bosom, is a loathsome sight. How vile, though brought from Athens, smells the grease Extracted from a sheep’s unwashen fleece!Nor using hartshorn publicly were wise, Nor cleaning teeth in public I advise. aa All- this gives beauty, but ’tis ugly viewing, Much that delights when done disgusts when doing." Those lines certainly are apt! (Miss L. Rowland, "FKashions Ancient and Modern," 4YA, October 15).