Though not to nymphs of Caucafus I fing,
Nor fuch who tafte remote the Myfian spring;
Yet, let me warn you, that, through no neglect,
You let your teeth difclofe the leaft defect.
You know the use of white to make you fair,
And how, with red, loft colour to repair;
Imperfect eye-brows you by art can mend,
And skin, when wanting, o'er a scar extend.
Nor need the fair-one be afham'd, who tries,
By art, to add new luftre to her eyes.
A little book I've made, but with great care,
How to preferve the face, and how repair.
In that, the nymphs, by time or chance annoy'd,
May fee, what pains to please them I 've employ'd.
But, ftill beware, that from your lover's eye
You keep conceal'd the medicines you apply :
Though art aflifts, yet muft that art be hid,
Left, whom it would invite, it should forbid.
Who would not take offence, to fee a face
All daub'd, and dripping with the melted grease?
And though your unguents bear th' Athenian name,
The wool's unfavoury fcent is ftill the fame.
Marrow of ftags, nor your pomatums try,
Nor clean your furry teeth, when men are by ;
For many things, when done, afford delight,
Which yet, while doing, may offend the fight.
Ev'n Myro's statues, which for art surpass
All others, once were but a fhapeless mafs;
Rude was that gold which now in rings is worn,
As once the robe you wear was wool unthorn.
Think, how that ftone rough in the quarry grew,
Which, now, a perfect Venus fhews to view.
While we fuppofe you fleep, repair your face,
Lock'd from obfervers, in fome fecret place.
Add the laft hand, before yourselves you show;
Your need of art, why fhould your lovers know?
For many things, when moft conceal'd, are beft;
And few, of ftrict enquiry, bear the teft.
Thofe figures which in theatres are feen,
Gilded without, are common wood within.
But no fpectators are allow'd to pry,
Till all is finifh'd, which allures the eye.
Yet, I must own, it oft affords delight,
To have the fair-one comb her hair in fight;
To view the flowing honours of her head
Fall on her neck, and o'er her fhoulder fpread.
But let her look, that fhe with care avoid
All fretful humours, while the 's fo employ'd;
Let her not ftill undo, with peevish hafte,
All that her woman does; who does her best.
I hate a vixen, that her maid affails,
And fcratches with her bodkin, or her nails;
While the poor girl in blood and tears must mourn,
And her heart curfes, what her hands adorn.
Let her who has no hair, or has but fome,
Plant centinels before her dreifing-room :
Or in the fane of the good goddeis drefs,
Where all the male-kind are debarr'd accefs.
'Tis faid, that I (but 'tis a tale devis'd)·
A lady at her toilet once furpriz'd;
Who ftarting, fnatch'd in hafte the tower fhe wore,
And, in a hurry, plac'd the hinder part before.
But on our foes fall every
fuch difgrace,
Or barbarous beauties of the Parthian race.
Ungraceful 'tis to fee without a horn
The lofty hart, whom branches best adorn
A leaflefs tafte, or an unverdant mead;
And as ungraceful is a hairlefs head.
But think not, thefe inftructions are defign'd
For first-rate beauties of the finish'd kind:
Not to a Semele, or Leda bright,
Nor an Europa, these my rules I write ;
Nor the fair Helen do I teach, whofe charms
Stirr'd up Atrides, and all Greece, to arms:
Thee to regain, well was that war begun,
And Paris well defended what he won;
What lover, or what hufband, would not fight
In fuch a caufe, where both are in the right ?
The crowd I teach, fome homely, and fome fair,
But of the former fort, the larger fhare.
The handfome, leaft require the help of art,
Rich in themselves, and pleas'd with Nature's part.
When calm the fea, at eafe the pilot lies,
But all his fkill exerts when storms arife.
Faults in your perfon, or your face, correct:
And few are seen that have not fome defect.
The nymph too short, her feat should seldom quit,
Left, when she ftands, fhe may be thought to fit;
And when extended on her couch the lies,
Let length of petticoats conceal her fize.
The lean, of thick-wrought ftuff her cloaths fhould chufe,
And fuller made, than what the plumper use.
If pale, let her the crimson juice apply ;
If fwarthy, to the Pharian varnish fly.
A leg too lank, tight garters ftill must wear ;
Nor should an ill-fhap'd foot be ever bare.
Round fhoulders, bolfter'd, will appear the leaft;
And lacing ftrait, confines too full a breast.
Whose fingers are too fat, and nails too coarse,
Should always fhun much gefture in difcourfe.
And you, whofe breath is touch'd, this caution take,
Nor fafting, nor too near another speak.
Let not the nymph with laughter much abound,
Whofe teeth are black, uneven, or unfound.
You hardly think how much on this depends,
And how a laugh, or spoils a face, or mends..
Gape not too wide, left you difclofe your gums,
And lofe the dimple which the cheek becomes.
Nor let your fides too ftrong concuffions fhake,
Left you the softness of the fex forfake.
In fome, distortions quite the face disguise;
Another laughs, that you would think fhe cries.
In one, too hoarfe a voice we hear betray'd,
Another's is as harsh as if the bray'd.
What cannot art attain! Many, with cafe,
Have learn'd to weep, both when and how they pleafe.
Others through affectation, lifp, and find,
In imperfection, charms to catch mankind.
Neglect no means which may promote your ends;
Now learn what way of walking recommends.
Too mafculine a motion fhocks the fight;
But female grace allures with ftrange delight.
One has an artful fwing and jut behind,
Which helps her coats to catch the fwelling wind;
Swell'd with the wanton wind, they loofely flow,
And every step and graceful motion show.
Another, like an Umbrian's sturdy spouse,
Strides all the fpace her petticoat allows.
Between extremes, in this, a mean adjuft;
Nor fhew too nice a gait, nor too robuft.
If fnowy white your neck, you ftill fhould wear
That, and the fhoulder of the left arm, bare.
Such fights ne'er fail to fire my amorous heart,
And make me pant to kifs the naked part.
Syrens, though monfters of the stormy main,
Can fhips, when under fail, with fongs, detain :
Scarce could Ulyffes by his friends be bound,
When first he liften'd to the charming found.
Singing infinuates: learn, all ye maids;
Oft, when a face forbids, a voice perfuades,
Whether on theatres loud ftrains we hear,
Or in Ruelle fome soft Egyptian air.
Well fhall the fing, of whom I make my choice,
And with her lute accompany her voice.
The rocks were stirr'd, the beasts to listen stay'd,
When on his lyre melodious Orpheus play'd;
Ev'n Cerberus and Hell that found obey'd.
And ftones officious were, thy walls to raise,
O Thebes, attracted by Amphion's lays.
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