The fam'd Ulysses was not fair nor young,
But eloquent and charming with his tongue :
And yet for him contending beauties strove,
And every sea nymph sought the hero's love,
Calypso mourn'd when he forsook her shores,
And with fond waves detain'd his hasty oars.
Oft she inquir'd of ruin'd Ilium's fate,
Making him oft the wondrous tale relate; [frame,
Which with such grace his florid tongue could
The story still was new, though still the same.
Now standing on the shores, "again declare,"
Calypso cry'd, "your fam'd exploits in war."
He with a wand, a slender wand he bore,
Delineates every action on the shore.
[sand: "Here's Troy," says he, then draws the walls in "There Simois flows, here my battalions stand. A field there was, (and then describes the field) Where Dolon, with rewards deceiv'd, we kill'd. Just thus intrench'd imagine Rhesus lies,
And here we make his warlike steeds our prize."
Much he describ'd, when a destructive wave
Wash'd off the slender Troy, and, rolling, gave
To Rhesus and his tents one common grave.
Long with delight his charming tongue she heard,
The well-rais'd passion in her looks appear'd :
The goddess weeps to view his spreading sails,
So much a soldier with the sex prevails.
Distrust thy form, fond youth, and learn to know,
There's more requir'd in love than empty show.
With just disdain she treats the haughty mind,
Tis complaisance that makes a beauty kind.
The hawk we hate that always lives in arms,
The raging wolf that every flock alarms :
But the mild swallow none with toils infests,
And none the soft Chaonian bird molests.
Debates avoid, and rude contention shun;
A woman's with submissive language won.
Let the wife rail, and injur'd husband swear,
Such freedoms are allow'd the marry'd pair :
Discord and strife to nuptial beds belong,
The portion justifies a clamorous tongue.
With tender vows the yielding maid endear,
And let her only sighs and wishes hear.
Contrive with words and actions to delight,
Still charm her ear, and still oblige her sight.
I no instructions to the rich impart,
He needs not, that presents, my useless art:
The giving lover 's handsome, valiant, wise,
His happy fortune is above advice.
I to the needy sing; though poor, I love,
And wanting wealth, with melting language move.
His honour storms a stubborn damsel's door;
I'm cautious to affront, because I'm poor.
With pleasing arts I court, with arts possess ;
Or if I'm bounteous, 'tis in promises.
Enrag'd, I ruffled once Corinna's hair,
Long was I banish'd by the injur'd fair;
Long mournful nights for this consun'd alone,
Nor could my tears the furious maid atone.
Weeping, she vow'd, a suit of point I tore ;
Falsely, she vow'd, but I must purchase more.
Make not your guilty master's crime your own,
But by my punishment my errour shun;
Indecent fury from her sight remove,
No passion let your mistress know, but love.
Yet if the haughty nymph 's unkind and coy, Or shuns your sight; have patience, and enjoy. By slow degrees we bend the stubborn bow; What force resists, with art will pliant grow.
In vain we stem a torrent's rapid force,
But swim with ease, complying with its course.
By gentler arts we savage beasts reclaim,
And lions, bulls, and furious tigers tame.
Fiercely Atlanta o'er the forest rov'd,
Cruel and wild, and yet at last she lov'd.
Melanion long deplor'd his hopeless flame,
And weeping in the woods pursued the scornful
On his submissive neck her toils he wore, [dame :
And with his mistress chas'd the dreadful boar.
Arm'd to the woods I bid you not repair,
Nor follow over hills the savage fair :
My soft injunctions less severe you'll find,
Easy to learn, and fram'd to every mind.
Her wishes never, nor her will withstand:
Submit, you conquer; serve, and you'll command.
Her words approve, deny what she denies ; [spise :
Like, where she likes; and where she scorns, de-
Laugh when she smiles: when sad, dissolve in tears;
Let every gesture sympathize with hers.
If she delights, as women will, in play,
Her stakes return, your ready losings pay.
When she 's at cards, or rattling dice she throws,
Connive at cheats, and generously lose.
A smiling winner let the nymph remain,
Let your pleas'd mistress every conquest gain.
In heat, with an umbrella ready stand;
When walking, offer your officious hand.
Her trembling hands, though you sustain the cold,
Cherish, and to your warmer bosom hold.
Think no inferior office a disgrace;
No action, that a mistress gains, is base.
The hero, that eluded Juno's spite,
And every monster overcame in fight;
That past so many bloody labours o'er,
And well deserv'd that Heav'n whose weight he bore,
Amidst Ionian damsels carding stands,
And grasps the distaff with obedient hands;
In all commands the haughty dame obeys;
And who disdains to act like Hercules?
If she 's at law, be sure cominend the laws,
Solicit with the judge, or plead her cause.
With patience at the assignation wait
Early appear, attend her coming late.
Whene'er she wants a messenger, away,
And her commands with flying feet obey.
When late from supper she 's returning home,
And calls her servant, as a servant come.
She for the country air retires from town,
You want a coach, or horse, why foot it down?
Let not the sultry season of the year,
The falling snows, or constant rain deter.
Love is a warfare; an ignoble sloth
Seems equally contemptible in both :
In both are watchings, duels, anxious cares,
The soldier thus, and thus the lover fares ;
With rain he's drench'd, with piercing tempests
shakes,
And on the colder earth his lodging takes.
Fame says, that Phœbus kept Admetus' herd,
And coarsely in an humble cottage far'd;
No servile offices the god deny'd;
Learn this ye lovers, and renounce your pride.
When all excess is to your mistress hard,
When every door secur'd, and window barr'd;
The roof untile, some desperate passage find;
You cannot be too bold to make her kind:
Oh, how she'll clasp you when the danger's o'er,
And value your deserving passion more!
Thus through the boisterous seas Leander mov'd,
Not to possess, but show how much he lov'd.
Nor blushing think how low you condescend
To court her maids, and make each slave your
friend :
Each by their names familiarly salute,
And beg them to promote your amorous suit.
Perhaps a bribe 's requir'd; your bounty show,
And from your slender fortune part bestow.
A double bribe the chamber-maid secures ;
And when the favorite 's gain'd, the fair is your's:
She 'll add to every thing you do, a grace,
And watch the wanton hours, and time her praise.
When servants merry make, and feast and play,
Then give her something to keep holiday.
Retain them every one, the porter most,
And her who nightly guards the happy coast.
I no profuse nor costly gifts commend,
But choose and time it well, whate'er you send.
Provide the product of the early year,
And let your boy the rural present bear;
Tell her 'twas fresh, and from your manor brought,
Though stale, and in the suburb market bought:
The first ripe cluster let your mistress eat,
With chesnuts, melons, and fair peaches treat;
Some larger fish, or choicer fowl present,
They recommend your passion, where they 're sent.
'Tis with these arts the childless miser's caught,
Thus future legacies are basely bought :
But may his name with infamy be curst,
That practis'd them on love, and woman first!
In tender sonnets most your flame rehearse,
But who, alas! of late are mov'd by verse?
Women a wealthy-treating fool admire,
Applaud your wit, but costly gifts require.
This is the golden age, all worship gold,
Honours are purchas'd, Love and Beauty sold:
Should Homer come with his harmonious train,
And not present, Homer's turn'd out again.
Some of the sex have sense, their number 's small;
Most ignorant, yet vain pretenders all:
Flatter aright, smooth empty stanzas send;
They seldom sense, but sound and rhyme commend.
Should you with art compose each polish'd line,
And make her, like your numbers, all divine:
Yet she 'll a treat, or worthless toy prefer
To all the immortal poet's boasted care.
But he that covets to retain her heart,
Let him apply his flattery with art:
With lasting raptures on her beauty gaze,
And make her form the subject of his praise.
Purple commend, when she's in purple dress'd;
In scarlet, swear she looks in scarlet best:
Array'd in gold, her graceful mien adore,
Vowing those eyes transcend the sparkling ore.
With prudence place each compliment aright,
Though clad in crape, let homely crape delight.
In sorted colours, praise a vary'd dress;
In night-cloaths, or commode, let either please.
Or when she combs, or when she curls her hair,
Commend her curious art and gallant air.
Singing, her voice, dancing, her step admire:
Applaud when she desists, and still desire:
Let all her words and actions wonder raise,
View her with raptures, and with raptures praise.
Fierce as Medusa though your mistress prove,
These arts will teach the stubborn beauty love.
Be cautious lest you over-act your part,
And temper your hypocrisy with art.
Let no false action give your words the lie,
For, undeceiv'd, she 's ever after shy.
In Autumn oft, when the luxurious year
Purples the grape, and shows the vintage near;
When sultry heats, when colder blasts arise,
And bodies languish with inconstant skies:
If vitious heaven infects her tender veins,
And in her tainted blood some fever reigns;
Then your kind vows, your pious care bestow,
The blessings you expect to reap, then sow :
Think nothing nauseous in her loath'd disease,
But with your ready hand contrive to please:
Weep in her sight, then fonder kisses give,
And let her burning lips your tears receive.
Much for her safety vow, but louder speak,
Let the nymph hear the lavish vows you make.
As health returns, so let your joys appear,
Oft smile with hope, and oft confess your fear.
This in her breast remains, these pleasing charm
Secure a passage to her grateful arms.
Reach nothing nauseous to her taste or sight,
Officious only when you most delight:
Nor bitter draughts, nor hated medicines give :
Let her from rivals what she loaths receive. [shore,
Those prosperous winds that launch'd our bark from
When out at sea assist its course no more:
Time will your knowledge in our art improve,
Give strength and vigour to your forming love.
The dreadful bull was but a calf when young;
The lofty oak but from an acorn sprung:
From narrow springs the noblest currents flow,
But swell their floods, and spread them as they go.
Be conversant with love, no toils refuse,
And conquer all fatigues with frequent use.
Still let her hear your sighs, your passion view,
And night and day the flying maid pursue.
Then pause awhile; by fallow fields we gain;
A thirsty soil receives the welcome rain.
Phyllis was calm while with Demophoon bless'd,
His absence wounded most her raging breast:
Thus his chaste consort for Ulysses burn'd,
And Laodamia thus her absent husband mourn'd:
With speed return, you 're ruin'd by delays,
Some happy youth may soon supply 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 clasp'd him to her panting breast.
Unthinking cuckold, to a proverb blind!
What trust a beau and a fair wife behind!
Let furious hawks thy trembling turtles keep,
And to the mountain wolves commit thy sheep:
Helen is guiltless, and her lover's crime
But what yourself would act another time!
The youth was pressing, the dull husband gone,
Let every woman make the case her own:
Who could a prince, by Venus sent, refuse?
The cuckold's negligence is her excuse.
But not the foaming boar whom spears surround
Revenging on the dogs his mortal wound,
Nor lioness, whose young receive the breast,
Nor viper by unwary footsteps prest,
Nor drunkard by th' Aonian god possest,
Transcend the woman's rage, by fury led,
To find a rival in her injur'd bed.
With fire and sword she flies, the frantic dame
Disdains 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 pursues neglected loves.
Where sacred ties of honour are destroy'd,
Such errours cautious lovers must avoid.
Think not my precepts constancy enjoin,
Venus avert! far nobler 's my design.
At large enjoy, conceal your passion well,
Nor use the modish vanity to tell:
Avoid presenting of suspected toys,
Nor to an hour confine your varied joys:
Desert the shades you did frequent before,
Nor make them conscious to a new amour.
The nymph, when she betrays, disdains your guilt,
And by such falsehood taught, she learns to jilt.
While with a wife Atrides liv'd content,
Their loves were mutual, and she innocent:
But when inflam'd with every charming face,
Her lewdness still maintain'd an equal pace.
Chryses, as Fame had told her, pray'd in vain,
Nor could by gifts his captive girl obtain;
Mournful Briseis, thy complaints she heard,
And how his lust the tedious war deferr'd.
This tamely heard, but with resentment view'd
The victor by his beautious slave subdued
With rage she saw her own neglected charms,
And took Ægisthus to her injur❜d arms.
To lust and shame by his example led,
Who durst so 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 submissive seem, nor over-kind;
These are the symptoms of a guilty mind t
But no caresses, no endearments spare,
Enjoyment pacifies the angry fair.
There are that strong provoking potions praise,
And nature with pernicious med 'cines raise:
Nor drugs, nor herbs, will what you fancy prove,
And I pronounce them poisonous all in love.
Some pepper bruis'd with seeds of nettles join,
And clary steep in bowls of mellow wine:
Venus is most averse to forc'd delights,
Extorted flames pollute her genial rites.
With fishes spawn thy feeble nerves recruit,
And with eringo's hot salacious root:
The goddess worshipp'd by th' Erycian swains
Megara's white shallot, so faint, disdains.-
New eggs they take, and honey's liquid juice,
And leaves and apples of the pine infuse.
Prescribe no-more, my Muse, nor med 'cines give :
Beauty and youth need no provocative.
You that conceal'd your secret crimes before
Proclaim them now, now publish each amour.
Nor tax me with inconstancy; we find
The driving bark requires a veering wind:
Now northern blasts we court, now southern gales,
And every point befriends our shifted sails.
Thus chariot-drivers with a flowing rein
Direct their steeds, then curb them in again.
Indulgence oft corrupts the faithless dame,
Secure from rivals she neglects your flame :
The mind without variety is cloy'd,
And nauseates pleasures it has long enjoy'd.
But as a fire, whose wasted strength declines,
Converts to ashes, and but faintly shines;
When sulphur's brought, the spreading flames return,
And glowing embers with fresh fury burn:
A rival thus the ungrateful maid reclaims,
Revives desire, and feeds her dying flames:
Oft make her jealous, give your fondness o'er, And teaze her often with some new amour. Happy, thrice happy youth, with pleasures blest, Too great, too exquisite to be exprest,
That view'st the anguish of her jealous breast!
Whene'er thy guilt the slighted beauty knows,
She swoons; her voice, and then her colour goes.
Oft would my furious nymph, in burning rage,
Assault my locks, and with her nails engage:
Then how she'd weep, what piercing glances cast!
And vow to hate the perjur'd wretch at last.
Let not your mistress long your falsehood mourn ;
Neglected fondness will to fury turn:
But kindly clasp her in your arms again,
And on your breast her drooping head sustain:
Whilst weeping kiss, amidst her tears enjoy,
And with excess of bliss her rage destroy.
Let her awhile lament, awhile complain,
Then die with pleasure, as she died with pain.
Enjoyment cures her with its powerful charms,
She'll sign a pardon in your active arms.
First nature lay an undigested mass,
Heaven, earth, and ocean, wore one common face :
Then vaulted heaven was fram'd, waves earth enclos'da
And Chaos was in beauteous form dispos'd;
The beasts inhabit woods, the birds the air,
And to the floods the scaly fry repair.
Mankind alone enjoy'd no certain place,
On rapine liv'd a rude unpolish'd race:
Caves were their houses, herbs their food and bea
Whilst each a savage from the other fled.
Love first disarm'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 bless'd the pleasing wound.
The birds with consorts propagate their kind,
And sporting fish their finny beauties find:
In amorous folds the wanton serpents twine,
And dogs with their salacious females join.
The lusty bull delights his frisking dames,
And more lascivious goat her male inflames.
Mares furious grow with love, their boundaries force,
Plunging through waves to meet the neighing horse.
Go on brave youth, thy generous vigour try,
To the resenting maid this charm apply:
Love's softening 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 false, but mine is sure.
Whilst thus I sung, 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 cast diffusive rays of light,
Confessing all the god to human sight.
"Thou master of lascivious arts," he said,
"To my frequented fane thy pupils lead:
And there, inscrib'd in characters of gold,
This celebrated sentence you 'll behold.
'First know yourself;' who to himself is known,
Shall love with conduct, and his wishes crown.
Where Nature has a handsome face bestow'd,
Or graceful shape, let both be often show'd.
Let men of wit and humour silence shun
The artist sing, and soldier bluster on :
Of long harangues, ye eloquent, take heed,
Nor thy damn'd works, thou teazing poet, read."
Thus Phoebus spake: a just obedience give,
And these injunctions from a god receive.
I mysteries unfold; to my advice
Attend, ye vulgar lovers, and grow wise.
The thriving grain in harvest often fails :
Oft prosperous winds turn adverse to our sails:
Few are the pleasures, though the toils are great:
With patience must submissive lovers wait.
What hares on Athos, bees on Hybla feed,
Or berries on the circling ivy breed;
As shells on sandy shores, as stars above,
So numerous are the sure fatigues of love.
The lady's gone abroad, you 're told; though seen,
Distrust your eyes, believe her not within.
Her lodgings on the promis'd night are close;
Resent it not, but on the earth repose.
Her maid will cry, with an insulting tone,
"What makes you saunter here? you sot, begone."
With moving words the cruel nymph entreat,
And place your garland on the bolted gate.
Why do I light and vulgar precepts use ?
A nobler subject now inspires my Muse:
Approaching joys I sing; ye youths draw near,
Listen ye happy lovers and give ear:
The labour's great, and daring is my song.
Labours and great attempts to Love belong.
As from the sacred oracles of Jove
Receive these grand mysterious truths in love.
Look down when she the ogling spark invites,
Nor touch the conscious tablets when she writes.
Appear not jealous though she 's much from home,
Let her at pleasure go, unquestioned come.
This crafty husbands to their wives permit,
And learn when she 's engaged to wink at it.
I my own frailties modestly confess;
And, blushing, give those precepts I transgress;
Shall I, with patience the known signal hear,
Retire, and leave a happy rival there!
What! tamely suffer the provoking wrong,
And be afraid to use my hands or tongue!
Corinna's husband kiss'd her in my sight;
I beat the saucy fool, and seiz'd my right.
I like a fury for my nymph engage,
And like a mad-man, when I miss her, rage.
My passion still prevails, convinc'd I yield !
He that submits to this is better skill'd.
Expose not, though you find her guilty flame,
Lest she abandon modesty and shame :
Conceal her faults, no secret crimes upbraid;
Nothing's so fond as a suspected maid,
Discover'd love increases with despair,
When both alike the guilt and scandal share :
All sense of modesty they lose in time,
Whilst each encourages the other's crime.
In Heaven this story 's fam'd above the rest,
Amongst th' immortal drolls a standing jest:
How Vulcan two transgressing 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 desires the queen of Love inclin'd;
No nymph in Heaven 's so willing, none so kind.
Oft the lascivious fair, with scornful pride,
Would Vulcan's foot and sooty hands deride,
Yet both with decency their passion bore,
And modestly conceal'd the close amour.
But by the Sun betray'd in their embrace,
(For what escapes the Sun's observing rays?
He told th' affronted god of his disgrace.
Ah foolish Sun! and much unskill'd in love,
Thou hast an ill example set above!
Never a fair offending nymph betray,
She'll gratefully oblige you every way:
The crafty spouse around his bed prepares
Nets that deceive the eye, and secret snares:
A journey feigns, th' impatient lovers met,
And naked were expos'd in Vulcan's net.
The gods deride the criminals in chains,
And scarce from tears the queen of Love refrains
Nor could her hands conceal her guilty face,
She wants that cover for another place.
To surly Mars a gay spectator said,
Why so uneasy 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 desires,
Mars goes for Crete, to Paphos she retires,
Their loves augmented with revengeful fires:
Now conversant with infamy and shame,
They set no bounds to their licentious flame.
But, honest Vulcan, what was thy pretence,
To act so much unlike a god of sense?
They sin in publie, you the shame repent,
Convinc'd that loves increase with punishment.
Though in your power, a rival ne'er expose,
Never his intercepted joys disclose:
This I command, Venus commands the same,
Who hates the snares she once sustain'd with shame.
What impious wretch will Ceres' rites expose,
Or Juno's solemn mysteries diselose !
His witty torments Tantalus deserves,
That thirsts in waves, and viewing banquets starves,
But Venus most in secrecy delights;
Away, ye bablers, from her silent rites!
No pomp her mysteries attends, no noise!
No sounding brass proclaims the latent joys,
With folded arms the happy pair possess,
Nor should the fond betraying tongue confess
Those raptures, which no language can express,
When naked Venus cast her robes aside,
The parts obscene her hands extended hide :
No girl on propagating beasts 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 sight.
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 modest, and unshaded air!
From public view they decently retir'd,
And secretly perform'd what love inspir'd.
Now scarce a modish fop about the town,
But boasts with whom, how oft, and where 'twas done;
They taste no pleasure, relish no delight,
Till they recount what pass'd the happy night.
But men of honour always thought it base,
To prostitute each kinder nymph's embrace:
To blast her fame, and vainly hurt his own,
And furnish scandal for a lewd lampoon.
And here I must some guilty arts accuse,
And disingenuous shifts that lovers use,
To wrong the chaste, and innocent abuse
When long repuls'd they find their courtship vain,
Her character with infamy they stain:
Deny'd her person, 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 suffering 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 seem like a lover blind.
Naked Andromeda when Perseus view'd,
He saw her faults, but yet pronounc'd them good.
Andromache was tall, yet some report
Her Hector was so blind, he thought her short.
At first what's nauseous, lessens 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 shooting upward to a tree at last,
It stems the storm, and braves the strongest blast.
Time will defects and blemishes endear,
And make them lovely to your eyes appear:
Unusual scents at first may give offence;
Time reconciles them to the vanquish'd sense :
Her vices soften with some kinder phrase;
If she is swarthy as the Negro's face,
To Helen who 'd Hermione prefer,
Or Gorge 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 Muse; the door demands thy care.
What charming words, what tender things are said!
What language flows without thy useless aid!
There shall the roving hand employment find,
Inspire new flames, and make ev'n virgins kind.
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 Briseïs' flame:
Ah, could those arms, those fatal hands delight,
Inspire kind thoughts, and raise thy appetite!
Couldst thou, fond maid, be charm'd with his em-
brace,
Stain'd with the blood of half thy royal race?
Nor yet with speed the fleeting pleasures waste,
Still moderate your love's impetuous haste:
The bashful virgin, though appearing coy,
Detains your hand, and hugs the proffer'd joy.
Then view her eyes with humid lustre bright,
Sparkling with rage, and trembling with delight:
Her kind complaints, her melting accents hear,
The eye she charms, and wounds the listening ear.
Desert not then the clasping nymph's embrace,
Call it a graceful brown, and that complexion praise. But with her love maintain an equal pace:
The ruddy lass must be like Venus fair,
Or like Minerva that has yellow hair.
If pale and meagre, praise her shape and youth,
Active when small, when gross she's plump and
Every excess by softening terms disguise, [smooth.
And in some neighbouring virtue hide each vice.
Nor ask her age, consult no register,
Under whose reign she 's born, or what 's the year.
If fading youth checkers her hair with white,
Experience makes her perfect in delight;
In her embrace sublimer joys are found,
A fruitful soil, and cultivated ground!
The hours enjoy whilst youth and pleasures last,
Age hurries on, and Death pursues too fast.
Or plough the seas, or cultivate the land,
Or wield the sword in thy adventurous hand:
Or much in love thy nervous strength employ,
Embrace the fair, the grateful maid enjoy;
Pleasure and wealth reward thy pleasing pains,
The labour's great, but greater far the gains.
Add their experience in affairs of love,
For years and practice do alike improve;
Their arts repair the injuries of tine,
And still preserve them in their charming prime:
In vary'd ways they act the pleasure o'er,
Not pictur'd postures 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 desires, and burns with equal flame.
I love to hear the soft transporting joys,
The frequent sighs, the tender murmuring voice:
To see her eyes with vary'd pleasure move,
And all the nymph confess 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,
Mellow their sweets, and make the taste divine.
Raise to her heights the transports of your soul,
And fly united to the happy goal.
Observe these precepts when, with leisure blest,
No threatening fears your private hours molest;
When danger 's near, your active force employ,
And urge with eager speed the hasty joy:
Then ply your oars, then practise this advice,
And strain with whip and spur, to gain the prize,
The work's complete : triumphant palms prepare,
With flowery wreaths adorn my flowing hair.
As to the Greeks was Podalirius' art,
To heal with medicines the afflicted part:
Nestor's advice, Achilles' arms in field,
Automedon for chariot-driving skill'd;
As Chalchas could explain the mystic bird,
And Telemon could wield the brandish'd sword:
Such to the town my fam'd instructions prove,
So much am I renown'd for arts of love:
Me every youth shall praise, extol my name,
And o'er the globe diffuse my lasting fame.
I arms provide against the scornful fair;
Thus Vulcan arm'd Achilles for the war.
Whatever youth shall with my aid o'ercome,
And lead his Amazon in triumph home;
Let him that conquers, and enjoys the dame,
In gratitude for his instructed flame,
Inscribe the spoils with my auspicious name.
The tender girls my precepts next demand:
Them I commit to a more skilful hand.
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