The art of love in two books. Written both to men and ladies. A new poem.
About this Item
- Title
- The art of love in two books. Written both to men and ladies. A new poem.
- Author
- Hopkins, Charles, 1664?-1700?
- Publication
- London :: printed for Joseph Wild, at the Elephant at Charing-Cross,
- 1700. Where gentlemen and ladies may pick novels at 6 s. per doz. and be furnish'd with most sorts of plays.
- Rights/Permissions
-
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- Subject terms
- Love poetry -- Early works to 1800.
- Cite this Item
-
"The art of love in two books. Written both to men and ladies. A new poem." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A23605.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 15, 2024.
Pages
Page [unnumbered]
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY, To the Right Honourable EVELIN EARL OF KINGSTON.
My LORD,
THE deserving Patron reads the Dedication with a Cau∣tion, as curious, as the mo∣dest Poet feels when writing it; both equally afraid of any Thing that looks like Flatt'ry. But Your
Page [unnumbered]
Lordship may be, (at present) as easie in a Poet, as I am happy in a Patron; You are above it; and I think, I need take no great Pains to Vindicate the Assertion, since I shall make it my business in this Address to convince Your Lordship, that 'tis below ev'n me. Nor will I, with industrious Art, couch Flatt'ry under the pretence: of disavowing it. I would not apply to any Person, whom I believe not every way Noble; I am a Stranger to Your Lordship, I mean, so far a Stranger, as only to know Your Lordship by the Opinion of the World, and by the Character Mankind has given you: Why should I then run out on your Encomiums, and only Eccho to the World what I first hear'd from them? All that becomes me to say at pre∣sent, is, that I agree with the Uni∣versal Consent of either Sex, and make one to fill the Train of your Admi∣rers.
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To whom can I more fitly present the Art of Love, than to Your Lordship? You are the Lover in all the several Scenes of Life, the Courtier, the Husband, and the Widdower; you were the Lover of your Wife, you lov'd beyond the Fashion, you lov'd her tho' your Wife; you were the Lover of your Wife, and are the Lover of your Children. So fond you are of those young Pledges of your Nuptial Friend∣ship, you seem the admiring Courtier of them, you seem wedded to them, you seem the very Father of Love it self. Hence 'tis that this Book, the Child of Love, flies to Your Lord∣ship for Protection. 'Tis an Original, not Copied after Ovid; for Ovid's Book indeed cannot be properly said with modesty, to be the Art of Love. Where his Precepts are virtuous, as they fall in naturally to the purpose, I could not well avoid them; for every Man
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that Loves, runs fondly, (I may say without Thought almost,) on the same amorous Expressions. How far I have Succeeded in the Attempt, Your Lord∣ship can best Judge, who are the greatest Master in all the Noble In∣nocence of generous Gallantries; Your Approbation of it will sufficiently re∣commend it to the Fair, and Crown with Success, the Wishes of
My Lord,
Your Lordship's very Humble and Obedient Servant▪