And grafps the diftaff with obedient hands;
In all commands the haughty dame obeys;
And who difdains to act like Hercules?
If the's at law, be fure commend the laws,
Solicit with the judge, or plead her cause.
195 With patience at the affignation wait,

Early appear, attend her coming late.
Whene'er fhe wants a messenger, away,
And her commands with flying feet obey.
When late from fupper the's returning home,
And calls her fervant, as a fervant come.
She for the country air retires from town,
You want a coach, or horfe, why foot it down?
Let not the fultry feason of the year,
The falling fnows, or conftant rain deter.
205 Love is a warfare; an ignoble Both

Fame fays that Phoebus kept Admetus' herd;
And coarfely in an humble cottage far'd;
No fervile offices the god deny'd;

Learn this, ye lovers, and renounce your pride.

When all accefs is to your mistress hard, When every door fecur'd, and window barr'd; The roof untile, fome defperate paffage find: You cannot be too bold to make her kind:

With prudence place each compliment aright,

Though clad in crape, let homely crape delight.
In forted colours, praise a vary'd drefs;

280 In night-cloaths, or commode, let either please.
Or when the combs, or when the curls her hair, 345
Commend her curious art and gallant air.
Singing, her voice, dancing, her step admire,
Applaud when she defifts, and ftill defire:
Let all her words and actions wonder raife,
View her with raptures, and with raptures praife. 350
Fierce as Medufa though your mistress prove,
Thefe arts will teach the ftubborn beauty love.

Oh, how the 'll clafp you when the danger's o'er, 285
And value your deferving paffion more!
Thus through the boisterous feas Leander mov'd,
Not to poffefs, but show how much he lov'd.

Nor blushing think how low you condefcend

295

To court her maids, and make each flave your friend:
Each by their names familiarly falute,
And beg them to promote your amorous fuit.
Perhaps a bribe 's requir'd; your bounty fhow,
And from your flender fortune part bestow.
A double bribe the chamber-maid fecures;
And when the favorite 's gain'd, the fair is yours.
She'll add, to every thing you do, a grace,
And watch the wanton hours, and time her praife.
When fervants merry make, and feaft and play,
Then give her fomething to keep holiday.
Retain them every one, the porter most,

300

355

360

365

Be cautious left you over-act your part,
And temper your hypocrify with art:
Let no falfe action give your words the lie,
For, undeceiv'd the 's ever after shy.
In Autumn oft, when the luxurious year
Purples the grape, and fhows the vintage near;
When fultry heats, when colder blafts arife,
And bodies languish with inconstant skies :
If vitious heaven infects her tender veins,
And in her tainted blood fome fever reigns;
Then your kind vows, your pious care beftow,
The bleffings you expect to reap, then sow:
Think nothing naufeous in her loath'd disease,
But with your ready hand contrive to please:
Weep in her fight, then fonder kiffes give,
And let her burning lips your tears receive.
Much for her fafety vow, but louder speak,
Let the nymph hear the lavish vows you make.
As health returns, fo let your joys appear,
Oft fmile with hope, and oft confefs your fear.
This in her breast remains, these pleasing charms
Secure a paffage to her grateful arms.
Reach nothing naufeous to her taste or fight,
Officious only when you moft delight:
Nor bitter draughts, nor hated medicines give:
Let her from rivals what the loaths receive.
Thofe profperous winds that launch'd our bark from
315 When out at fea aflift its course no more:

And her who nightly guards the happy coast.

I no profufe nor costly gifts commend,

But choose and time it well, whate'er you fend.
Provide the product of the early year,
And let your boy the rural prefent bear;

305

310

Tell her 'twas fresh, and from your manor brought,
Though ftale, and in the fuburb market bought,
The firft ripe clufter let your mistress eat,
With chefnuts, melons, and fair peaches treat,
Some larger fish, or choicer fowl prefent:
They recommend your paffion, where they're fent.
'Tis with thefe arts the childless mifer's caught,
Thus future legacies are bafely bought :
But may his name with infamy be curst,
That practis'd them on love, and woman first!

In tender fonnets moft your flame rehearse,
But who, alas! of late are mov'd by verfe?
Women a wealthy-treating fool admire,
Applaud your wit, but coftly gifts require.
This is the golden age, all worship gold,
Honors are purchas'd, Love and Beauty fold.
Should Homer come with his harmonious train,
And not prefent, Homer 's turn'd out again.

320

370

375

[fhore,

Time will your knowledge in our art improve,
Give ftrength and vigour to your forming love.
The dreadful bull was but a calf when young;
The lofty oak but from an acorn fprung:
From narrow fprings the nobleft currents flow,
But fwell their floods, and fpread them as they go.
Be converfant with love, no toils refufe,
And conquer all fatigues with frequent use.

Some of the fex have fenfe, their number's fmall; 325 Then paufe a while; by fallow fields we gain;

385

Still let her hear your fighs, your paffion view,
And night and day the flying maid purfue.

390

A thirty foil receives the welcome rain.
Phyllis was calm while with Demophoon blefs'd,
His abfence wounded most her raging breaft:
Thus his chafte confort for Ulyffes burn'd,
And Laodamia thus her abfent husband mourn'd:
With speed return, you 're ruin'd by delays,
Some happy youth may foon fupply your place.
When Sparta's prince was from his Helen gone,
Could Helen be content to lie alone?
She in his bed receiv'd her amorous guest,
And nightly clafp'd him to her panting breast.
Unthinking cuckold, to a proverb blind!
What, truft a beau and a fair wife behind!
Let furious hawks thy trembling turtles keep,
340 And to the mountain wolves commit thy sheep:

395

405

Helen

But not the foaming boar whom spears furround,
Revenging on the dogs his mortal wound,
Nor lioness, whofe young receive the breast,
Nor viper by unwary footsteps preft;
Nor drunkard by th' Aonian god poffeft,
Tranfcend the woman's rage, by fury led,
To find a rival in her injur'd bed.

Prefcribe no more, my Mufe, nor medicines give:
Beauty and youth need no provocative.

480

You that conceal'd your fecret crimes before, 475
Proclaim them now, now publish each amour.
Nor tax me with inconftancy; we find
The driving bark requires a veering wind;
Now northern blasts we court, now fouthern gales,
And every point befriends our shifted fails.
Thus chariot-drivers with a flowing rein
Direct their steeds, then curb them in again.
Indulgence oft corrupts the faithless dame,
Secure from rivals the neglects your flame:
The mind without variety is cloy'd,

485

420 And naufeates pleasures it has long enjoy'd.
But as a fire, whose wafted strength declines,
Converts to ashes, and but faintly shines ;
When fulphur's brought, the fpreading flames return,
And glowing embers with fresh fury burn;

425 A rival thus th' ungrateful maid reclaims,
Revives defire, and feeds her dying flames:
Oft make her jealous, give your fondness o'er,
And teaze her often with fome new amour.
Happy, thrice happy youth, with pleasures bleft,
430 Too great, too exquifite to be expreft,

435

With fire and fword the flies, the frantic dame
Difdains the thoughts of tenderness or shame.
Her offspring's blood enrag'd Medea spilt,
A cruel mother, for the father's guilt.
And Progne's unrelenting fury proves,
That dire revenge purfues neglected loves.
Where facred ties of honor are destroy'd,
Such errors cautious lovers must avoid.
Think not my precepts conftancy enjoin,
Venus avert! far nobler's my design.
At large enjoy, conceal your paffion well,
Nor ufe the modish vanity to tell:
Avoid prefenting of fufpected toys,
Nor to an hour confine your varied joys:
Defert the fhades you did frequent before,
Nor make them confcious to a new amour.
The nymph, when she betrays, difdains your guilt,
And, by fuch falfehood taught, fhe learns to jilt.
While with a wife Atrides liv'd content,
Their loves were mutual, and the innocent:
But when inflam'd with every charming face,
Her lewdness ftill maintain'd an equal pace.
Chryfes, as fame had told her, pray'd in vain,
Nor could by gifts his captive girl obtain;
Mournful Brifeïs, thy complaints fhe heard,
And how his luft the tedious war deferr'd.
This tamely heard, but with refentment view'd
The victor by his beauteous slave subdued;
With rage the faw her own neglected charms,
And took Ægifthus to her injur'd arms.
To luft and fhame by his example led,
Who durft fo openly profane her bed.

What you conceal, her more observing eye
Perhaps betrays: with oaths the fact deny;
And boldly give her jealousy the lie;
Not too fubmiffive feem, nor over-kind;
These are the fymtoms of a guilty mind:
But no careffes, no endearments fpare,
Enjoyment pacifies the angry fair.

There are, that strong provoking potions praise,
And nature with pernicious medicines raife;
Nor drugs, nor herbs, will what you fancy prove,
And I pronounce them poifons all in love.
Some pepper bruis'd with feeds of nettles join,
And clary fteep in bowls of mellow wine;
Venus is most averse to forc'd delights,
Extorted flames pollute her genial rites ;
With fishes fpawn thy feeble nerves recruit,
And with eringo's hot falacious root:
The goddess worshipp'd by th' Erycian fwains
Megara's white fhallot, fo faint, difdains.
New eggs they take, and honey's liquid juice,
And leaves and apples of the pine infufe.

490

}

That view'ft the anguish of her jealous breast!
Whene'er thy guilt the flighted beauty knows,
She fwoons; her voice, and then her colour goes.
Oft would my furious nymph, in burning rage, 500
Affault my locks, and with her nails engage;
Then how the 'd weep, what piercing glances caft!
And vow to hate the perjur'd wretch at last.
Let not your mistress long your falsehood mourn:
Neglected fondness will to fury turn.

440 But kindly clafp her in your arms again,

445

505

And on your breaft her drooping head fuftain:
Whilft weeping kifs, amidft her tears enjoy,
And with excess of blifs her rage destroy.
Let her awhile lament, awhile complain,
Then die with pleasure, as the dy'd with pain.
Enjoyment cures her with its powerful charms,
She 'll fign a pardon in your active arms.

510

First nature lay an undigested mass,

Heaven, earth, and ocean, wore one common face: 515
450 Then vaulted heaven was fram'd, waves earth inclos'd;
And Chaos was in beauteous form difpos'd;
The beafts inhabit woods, the birds the air,
And to the floods the fcaly fry repair.
Mankind alone enjoy'd no certain place,

520

460

455 On rapine liv'd, a rude unpolish'd race:
Caves were their houses, herbs their food and bed,
Whilft each a favage from the other fled.
Love firft difarm'd the fierceness of their mind,
And in one bed the men and women join'd.
The youth was eager, but unskill'd in joy,
Nor was the unexperienc'd virgin coy!
They knew no courtship, no instructor found,
Yet they enjoy'd, and blefs'd the pleasing wound.
The birds with conforts propagate their kind,

525

530

465 And sporting fish their finny beauties find:
In amorous folds the wanton ferpents twine,
And dogs with their falacious females join.
The lufty bull delights his frifking dames,
And more lafcivious goat her male inflames.
470 Mares furious grow with love, their boundaries force,
Plunging through waves to meet the neighing horse.

535

Go

540

Go on, brave youth, thy generous vigor try,
To the relenting maid this charm apply;
Love's foftening pleasures every grief remove,
There's nothing that can make your peace like love.
From drugs and philtres no redress you'll find,
But nature with your mistress will be kind.
The love that 's unconstrain'd will long endure,
Machaon's art was falfe, but mine is fure.

Whilft thus I fung, inflam'd with nobler fire,
I heard the great Apollo's tuneful lyre;
His hand a branch of spreading laurel bore,
And on his head a laurel wreath he wore;
Around he caft diffufive rays of light,
Confeffing all the god to human fight,
Thou mafter of lafcivious arts, he faid,
To my frequented fane thy pupils lead:
And there infcrib'd in characters of gold,
This celebrated fentence you 'll behold.
Firft know yourself; who to himself is known,
Shall love with conduct, and his wishes crown.
Where Nature has a handfome face beftow'd,
Or graceful shape, let both be often show'd:
Let men of wit and humour filence shun,
The artift fing, and foldier blufter on;
Of long harangues, ye eloquent take heed,
Nor thy damn'd works, thou teazing poet, read.
Thus Phebus fpake: A juft obedience give,
And these injunctions from a god receive.
I myfteries unfold; to my advice
Attend, ye vulgar lovers, and grow wife.
The thriving grain in harveft often fails:
Oft profp'rous winds turn adverse to our fails:
Few are the pleasures, though the toils are great:
With patience muft fubmiffive lovers wait.
What hares on Athos, bees on Hybla feed,
Or berries on the circling ivy breed;

545

Expofe not, though you find her guilty flame, 610
Left the abandon modefty and shame;
Conceal her faults, no fecret crimes upbraid;
Nothing's fo fond as a suspected maid,
Discover'd love increases with defpair,
When both alike the guilt and scandal share:
550 All fenfe of modefty they lofe in time,
Whilft each encourages the other's crime.

555

615

620

In heaven this story's fram'd above the reft,
Amongst th' immortal drolls a standing jeft:
How Vulcan two tranfgreffing lovers caught,
And every god a pleas'd spectator brought.
Great Mars for Venus felt a guilty flame,
Neglected war, and own'd a lover's name;
To his defires the Queen of Love inclin'd;
No nymph in heaven's fo willing, none fo kind. 625
560 Oft the lafcivious fair, with fcornful pride,
Would Vulcan's foot and footy hands deride,
Yet both with decency their paffion bore,
And modefty conceal'd the close amour.
But by the fun betray'd in their embrace,
(For what efcapes the fun's obferving rays?)
He told th' affronted god of his difgrace.
Ah foolish fun! and much unskill'd in love
Thou haft an ill example fet above!
Never a fair offending nymph betray,
570 She'll gratefully oblige you every way;
The crafty fpoufe around his bed prepares
Nets that deceive the eye, and fecret fnares:
A journey feigns, th' impatient lovers met,
And naked were expos'd in Vulcan's net.
The gods deride the criminals in chains,

635

640

575

She wants that cover for another place.

And scarce from tears the Queen of Love refrains:
Nor could her hands conceal her guilty face,

645

580

As fhells on fandy fhores, as ftars above,

So numerous are the fure fatigues of love.

The lady's gone abroad, you're told; though feen,

Diftruft your eyes, believe her not within.

}

Receive thefe grand myfterious truths in love.
Look down when the the ogling fpark invites,
Nor touch the confcious tablets when the writes.
Appear not jealous, though the 's much from home,
Let her at pleafure go, unqueftion'd come.
This crafty hufbands to their wives permit,
And learn, when the 's engag'd, to wink at it.
I my own frailties modeftly confefs;

And, blushing, give thofe precepts I tranfgrefs;
Sha!! I, with patience, the known fignal hear,
Retire, and leave a happy rival there!

To furly Mars a gay spectator faid,
Why fo uneafy in that envy'd bed?

On me transfer your chains; I'll freely come
For your release, and suffer in your room.
At length, kind Neptune, freed by thy defires,
Mars goes for Crete, to Paphos fhe retires,
Their loves augmented with revengeful fires:
Now converfant with infamy and fhame,
They fet no bounds to their licentious flame.
But, honeft Vulcan, what was thy pretence,
To act fo much unlike a god of fenfe?
They fin in public, you the fhame repent,
Convinc'd that loves increase with punishment.
Though in your power, a rival ne'er expose,
Never his intercepted joys disclose;

With folded arms the happy pair poffefs,
Nor fhould the fond betraying tongue confefs
Thofe raptures, which no language can exprefs.
When naked Venus caft her robes afide,
The parts obfcene her hands extended hide;
No girl on propagating beats will gaze,
But hangs her head, and turns away her face.
We darken'd beds and doors for love provide;
What nature cannot, decent habits hide.
Love darkness courts, at most a glimmering light,
To raise our joys, and just oblige the fight.
Ere happy men beneath a roof were laid,
When oaks provided them with food and shade;
Some gloomy cave receiv'd the wanton pair;
For light too modeft, and unfhaded air!
From public view they decently retir'd,
And fecretly perform'd what love inspir'd.
Now fcarce a modifh fop about the town,

740

If fading youth checkers her hair with white, 735
Experience makes her perfect in delight;
In her embrace fublimer joys are found,
A fruitful foil, and cultivated ground!
The hours enjoy while youth and pleasures last,
675 Age hurries on, and Death pursues too fast.
Or plough the feas, or cultivate the land,
Or wield the fword in thy adventurous hand;
Or much in love thy nervous ftrength employ,
Embrace the fair, the grateful maid enjoy;
Pleasure and wealth reward thy pleafing pains,
The labour's great, but greater far the gains.
And their experience in affairs of love,
For years and practice do alike improve;
Their arts repair the injuries of time,

680

690

745

755

685 And ftill preferve them in their charming prime; 750
In vary'd ways they act the pleasure o'er,
Not pictur'd poftures can instruct you more.
They want no courtship to provoke delight,
But meet your warmth with eager appetite;
Give me enjoyment, when the willing dame
Glows with defires, and burns with equal flame.
I love to hear the foft tranfporting joys,
The frequent fighs, the tender murmuring voice:
To fee her eyes with vary'd pleasure move,
And all the nymph confefs the power of love.
Nature's not thus indulgent to the young,
These joys alone to riper years belong:
Who youth enjoys, drinks crude unready wine,
Let age your girl and sprightly juice refine,

}

But boats with whom, how oft, and where 'twas done;
They tafte no pleasure, relish no delight,
Till they recount what pafs'd the happy night.
But men of honor always thought it base,
To proftitute each kinder nymph's embrace:
To blaft her fame, and vainly hurt his own,
And furnish fcandal for a lewd lampoon.
And here I must some guilty arts accufe,
And difingenuous fhifts that lovers ufe,
To wrong the chafte, and innocent abuse.
When long repuls'd, they find their courtship vain,
Her character with infamy they stain:
Deny'd her perfon, they debauch her fame,
And brand her innocence with public shame.
Go, jealous fool, the injur'd beauty guard,
Let every door be lock'd, and window barr'd!
The fuffering nymph remains expos'd to wrong;
Her name 's a prostitute to every tongue :
For malice will with joy the lie receive,
Report, and what it wishes true, believe.

With care conceal whate'er defects you find,
To all her faults feem like a lover blind.
Naked Andromeda when Perfeus view'd,
He saw her faults, but yet pronounc'd them good.
Andronache was tall, yet fome report

Her Hector was fo blind, he thought her fhort.
At first what's naufeous, leffens by degrees,
Young loves are nice, and difficult to please.
The infant plant, that bears a tender rind,
Reels to and fro with every breath of wind:
But fhooting upward to a tree at last,

It fms the form, and braves the ferongeft blaft.
Time will defects and blemishes endear,

If fhe is fwarthy as the negro's face,

700 Mellow their sweets, and make the taste divine, To Helen who'd Hermione prefer,

705

710

760

}

770

Or Gorgé think beyond her mother fair;
But he that covets the experienc'd dame,
Shall crown his joys, and triumph in his flame.
One conscious bed receives the happy pair:
Retire, my Mufe; the door demands thy care,
What charming words, what tender things are faid!
What language flows without thy useless aid!
There shall the roving hand employment find,
Infpire new flames, and make ev'n virgins kind. 775
Thus Hector did Andromache delight,

Hector in love victorious, as in fight.

When weary from the field Achilles came,

Thus with delays he rais'd Brifeïs' flame.

715 Ah, could thofe arms, thofe fatal hands delight, 780
Infpire kind thoughts, and raise thy appetite!
Couldst thou, fond maid, be charm'd with his embrace,
Stain'd with the blood of half thy royal race?

720

Nor yet with speed the fleeting pleafures waste,
Still moderate your love's impetuous hafte:
The bathful virgin though appearing coy,
Detains your hand, and hugs the proffer'd joy.
Then view her eyes with humid luftre bright,
Sparkling with rage, and trembling with delight:

Call it a graceful brown, and that complexion praife. Her kind complaints, her melting accents hear, 790

The ruddy lafs mutt be like Venus fair,

Or like Minerva that has yellow hair.

If pale and meagre, praife her fhape and youth,
Active when small, when grofs fhe's plump and fmooth.
Every excess by foftening terms difguife,
And in fome neighbouring virtue hide each vice.

Nor afk her age, confult no register,
Under whofe reign the 's born, or what's the year!

The eye the charms, and wounds the listening ear.
Defert not then the claíping nymph's embrace,
But with her love maintain an equal pace:
Raife to her heights the tranfports of your foul,
And fly united to the happy goal.

Obferve thefe precepts when with leisure bleft,
No threatening fears your private hours moleft;
When danger's near, your active force employ,
And urge with eager speed the hafty joy :

795

The