Ovid's Art of love; in three books: : together with his Remedy of love: / translated into English verse, by several eminent hands: ; to which are added, The court of love, The history of love, and Armstrong's Oeconomy of love.

OVID's ART OF LOVE.

BOOK II.

NOW Io Paean sing! new wreaths prepare! And with repeated Ios fill the air: The prey is fall'n in my successful toils, My artful nets inclose the lovely spoils. My numbers now, ye smiling lovers, crown, And make your poet deathless in renown. With lasting same my verse shall be inroll'd. And I preferr'd to all the bards of old. Thus Paris from the warlike Spartans bore Their ravish'd bride, to Ida's distant shore. Victorious Pelops thus in triumph drove The vanquish'd maid, and thus enjoy'd his love.

Stay, eager youth! your bark's but under sail; The distant port requires a prosp'rous gale. 'Tis not enough the yielding beauty's found, And with my aid your artful passion crown'd. The conquests, our successful conduct gain'd, With art must be secur'd, with art maintain'd. The glory's more to guard than win the prize; There all the ••oil and threat'ning danger lies. If ever, Cupid, now indulgent prove; O Venus! aid; thou charming queen of love!

Kind Erato, let thy auspicious name Inspire the work, and raise my gen'rous flame. The labour's great; a method I design For love; and will the fetter'd god confine: The god that roves the spacious world around, In ev'ry clime, and distant region found; Active and light, his wings elude our guard, And to confine a deity is hard. His guest from flight Minos inclos'd around, Yet he with wings a daring passage found. Thus Daedalus her offspring first confin'd, Who, with a bull, in lewd embraces join'd: Her teeming womb the horrid crime confess'd; Big with a human bull, half man half beast. Said he, just Minos, best of human kind, The mercy let a prostrate exile find. By fates compell'd my native shores to fly, Permit me, where I durst not live, to die. Enlarge my son, if you neglect my tears. And shew compassion to his blooming years: Let not the youth a long confinement mourn, O free the son, or let his sire return! Thus he implor'd, but still implor'd in vain, Nor could the freedom that he sought obtain. Convinc'd at length; now Daedalus, he cry'd, Here's subject for thy art that's yet untry'd▪ Minos the earth commands, and guards the sea, No pass the land affords, the deep no way; Heav'n's only free, we'll heav'n's inspicious height Attempt to pass, where kinder fates invite: Favour, ye pow'rs above, my daring flight▪ Misfortunes oft prove to invention kind, Instruct our wit, and aid the lab'ring mind. For who can credit men in wild despair. Should force a passage thro' the yielding air? Feathers for wings design'd the artist those, And bound with thread his forming pinions close:

With temper'd wax the pointed ends he wrought, And to perfection his new labours brought. The finish'd wings his smiling off-spring views, Admires the work not conscious of their use: To whom the father said, observe aright, Observe, my son, these instruments of slight. In vain the tyrant our escape retards, The heav'ns he cannot, all but heav'n he guards: Tho' earth and seas elude thy father's care, These wings shall waft us thro' the spacious air. Nor shall my son celestial signs survey, Far from the radiant virgin take your way; Or where 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the chilled north commands, And with his falchion dread Orion stands: I'll go before, me still retain in sight. Where'er I lead, securely make your flight. For should we upward soar too near the sun, Dissolv'd with heat, the liquid wax will run: O•• near the seas an humbler flight maintain, Or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 will suffer by the streaming main. A medium keep, the winds observe aright; The winds will aid your advantageous flight. He caution'd thus, and thus inform'd him long, As careful ••••••ds instruct their tender young: The spreading wings then to his shoulder bound, His body pois'd and rais'd him from the ground. Prepar'd for slight, his aged arms embrace The tender youth, whilst tears o'erflow his face A hill there was, from whence the anxious pair Essay'd their wings, and forth they launch'd in air. Now his expanded plumes the artist plies, Regards 〈◊〉〈◊〉 son, and leads along the skies: Pleas'd with the novelty of slight, the boy Bounds in the air, and upward springs with joy The angler views them from the distant strand, And quits ••he labours of his trembling hand. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they past, and Na••••s in their slight, And Delos, with Apollo's presence bright.

Now on their right L••bynthos shores they found, For fruitful lakes and shady groves renown'd. When the aspiring boy forgot his fears, Rash with hot youth and unexperienc'd years: Upwards he soar'd, maintain'd a lusty stroke, And his directing father's way forsook. The wax, of heat impatient, melted run, Nor could his wings sustain that blaze of sun. From heav'n he views the fatal depths below, Whilst killing fears prevent the distant blow. His struggling arms now no assistance find, Nor poize the body, nor receive the wind. Falling, his father he implores in vain, To aid his flight, and sinking limbs sustain; His name invokes, till the expiring sound Far in the floods with Icarus was drown'd. The parent mourns, a parent now no more, And seeks the absent youth on ev'ry shore: Where's my lov'd son, my Icarus! he cries; Say in what distant region of the skies, Or faithless clime the youthful wand'rer flies! Then view'd his pinions scatter'd o'er the stream, The shore his bones receiv'd, the waves his name. Minos with walls attempted to detain His flying guests, but did attempt in vain: Yet the wing'd god shall to our rules submit, And Cupid yield to more prevailing wit.

Thessalian arts in vain rash lovers use, In vain with drugs the scornful maid abuse: The skilfull'st potions ineffectual prove, Useless are magic remedies in love: Could charms prevail, Circe had prov'd her art, And fond Medea fix'd her Jason's heart. Nor tempt with philters the disdainful dame; They rage inspire, create a frantic flame: Abstain from guilt, all vicious arts remove, And make your passion worthy of her love.

Distrust your empty form and boasted face, The nymph engage a thousand nobler ways. To fix her vanquish'd heart entirely thine, Accomplish'd graces to your nature join. Beauty's but frail, a charm that soon decays, Its lustre fades as rolling years increase, And age still triumphs o'er the ruin'd face. This truth the fair, but short-liv'd lily shews, And prickles that survive the faded ••o••e. Learn, lovely boy, be with instruction wise! Beauty and youth mis-spent are past advice. Then cultivate thy mind with wit and same, Those lasting charms survive the fun'ral flame.

With arts and sciences your breast improve, Of high import are languages in love: The fam'd Uylsses was not fair nor young, But eloquent and charming with his tongue: And yet for him contending beauties strove, And ev'ry 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 o•• r••••••'d Illum's fate, Making him oft the wond'rous ••ale relate; Which with such grace his florid tongue could frame, The story still 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, tho' still the ••ame. Now standing on the shore; again declare, Calypso cry'd, your 〈◊〉〈◊〉 exploits in war. He with a wand, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 under wand be bore, Delineates ev'ry 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on the shore. Here's 〈◊〉〈◊〉, says he, then draws the wall•• in sand, There 〈…〉〈…〉, my battalions stand. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 there was, (and then describes the field) Where 〈◊〉〈◊〉, with reward, deceiv'd, was 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 th•••• intrench'd imagine R••••sus lies, And here 〈◊〉〈◊〉 make his 〈…〉〈…〉 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 ev'ry flock alarms: But the mild swallow none with toils infests▪ And none the soft Cha••nian bird molests. a Debate avoid, and rude contention shun; A woman's with submissive language won. Let the wi••e rail, and injur'd husband swear, Such freedoms are allow'd the marry'd pair: Discord and strise to nuptial beds belong, The portion justifies a clam'rous tongue. With ••••nder 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: b The giving lover's handsome, valiant, wi••e, His happy fortune is above advice▪ I to the needy sing; tho' poor, I love, And, wanting wealth, with melting language move, His honour storms a stubborn dumsel's door; I'm 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to affront, because I'm poor: With 〈◊〉〈◊〉 art I court, with art possess; Or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I'm 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 'tis in promises. 〈…〉〈…〉 hair, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was I banish'd by the injur'd ••air;

Long mournful nights for this consum'd alone, Nor could my tears the furious maid atone. Weeping, she vow'd a suit of point I tore; Falsly she vow'd, but I must purchase more. Make not your guilty master's crime your own, But by my punishment my error 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 bough; What force resists, with art will pliant grow. In vain we stem a torrent's rapid force, But swim with ease, compaying with its course. By gentler arts we savage beasts reclaim, And lions, bulls, and furious tygers tame. Fiercely Atlanta o'er the forest rov'd, c Cruel and wild, and yet at last she lov'd. Melanion long deplor'd his hopeless flame, And weeping, in the woods pursu'd the scornful dame. On his submissive neck her toils he wore, And with his mistress chac'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 ev'ry mind. Her wishes never, nor her will withstand; Submit, you conquer; serve, and you'll command. Her words approve, deny what she denies, Like what she likes, and when she scorns, despise. Laugh when she smiles; when sad, dissolve in tears; Let ev'ry 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, d Connive at cheats, and generously lose. A smiling winner let the nymph remain, Let your pleas'd mistress every conquerst gain.

In heat, with an umbrella ready stand; e When walking offer your officious hand: Her trembling hands, tho' 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 spight, And ev'ry monster overcame in sight; That past so many bloody labours o'er, And well deserv'd that heav'n whose weight be bore; f Amidst Ionian damsels carding stands, And grasps the distaff with obedient hands; g In all commands the haughty dame obeys: And who disdains to act like Hercules? If she's at law, be sure commend the laws, Solicit with the judge, or plead the 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 rains deter. Love is a warfare, and ignoble sloth Seem•• equally contemptible in both; 〈…〉〈…〉 are watchings, duels, anxious cares, The soldier thus, and thus the lover fares; With rain he's drench'd with piercing tempest shakes, And on the cooler earth his lodging takes. Fame says that Phoebus kept Admetus's herd; h And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in an humble cottage far'd: Nor servi••e offices the god deny'd; Learn this y•• lovers, and renounce your pride.

When all access is to your mistress hard, When ev'ry door's secur'd, and window bar'd; The roof untile, some des••••rate passage End: 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 thro' the boist'rous seas Leander mov'd, Not to possess, but shew 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 am'rous suit. Perhap's 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 favourite's gain'd the fair is yours. She'd 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, i Then give her something to keep holiday. Retain 'em ev'ry on•••• the po••ter most, And her who nightly guards the happy ••oast

I no profuse nor costly gifts commend, But chuse and time it well, whate'er you send. Provide the product of the early year, And let your boy the rural present bear: Till her 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, and from your manor brought, Tho' 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and in the suburb market bought. The first ripe cluster let your mistress 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ With 〈◊〉〈◊〉, melons, and fair 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉: Some 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, or choicer fowl 〈◊〉〈◊〉. k They 〈◊〉〈◊〉 your passion, where they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 'Tis with these 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the childless 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 〈…〉〈…〉 bought: But 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his name wi••h 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 be 〈◊〉〈◊〉, That 〈…〉〈…〉 love, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 l.

In tender sonnets most your flame rehearse, And who, alas! of late are mov'd by verse▪ m 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 gain. Some of the sex have sense, their number's small, Most ignorant, yet vain pretenders all: Flatter alike, smooth empty stanzas send, They seldom sense, but ••ound and rhyme commend. Shou'd 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 th' immortal poets 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 her praise. Purple commend, when she's in purple drest; In scarlet, sworn 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, Tho' clad in crape, let homely crape delight. In sorted colours, praise a vary'd dress; In night-clothes, or commode, let either please. Or when she combs, or when she curls her hair, n Commend her curious art and gallant air. Singing, her ••oice, dancing, her step admire, Applaud when she desists, and still desire. Let all her words and actions wonder 〈◊〉〈◊〉, View her wi••h ••••ptures, and with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 praise. Fierce as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tho' 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 once deceiv'd she's ever after shy. In Autumn oft, when the luxurious year Purples the grape and shews the vintage near; When sultry heats, when colder blasts arise, And bodies languish with inconstant skies: If vicious heav'n 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 charms Secure a passage to her grateful arms. Reach nothing nauseous to her taste or sight, Officious only when you most delight: Nor bitter draughts, not hated med'cines give: Let her from rivals what she loaths receive.

Those prosp'rous winds that launch'd our bark from shore, When out at sea, assists 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; o The lofty oak but from an acorn sprung: From narrow springs the noblest currents flow, But swell their ••lood▪ 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, p Could Helen be content to he alone? She in his bed receiv'd her am'rous 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 ev'ry woman make the case her own: Who cou'd a prince, by Venus sent, refuse? The cuckold's negligence is her excuse.

But not the foaming boar whom spears surround, Revenging on the do•••• his mortal wound. Nor lioness, whose young receives the breast. Nor viper by unwary footsteps pr••st; Nor drunkard by th' Aonian god possest, q Transcend the woman's rage, by fury led, To find a rival in her injur'd bed. With ••••re and sword she flies, the frantic dame Disdains the thought of tenderness or shame. Her offspring's blood enrag'd 〈◊〉〈◊〉 spilt.r A cruel mother, for the father's guilt. And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 unrelenting fury proves.s That 〈◊〉〈◊〉 revenge pursues neglected 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

Where sacred ties of honour are destroy'd, Such errors 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 vary'd joys: Desert the shades you did frequent before, Nor make them conscious of a new amour. The nymph, when she betrays, disdains your guilt, And by such fal••hood taught, she learns to jilt. While with a wife Artid••s liv'd content, t Their loves were mutual, and she innocent: But when enflam'd with ev'ry charming face, Her lewdness still maintain'd an equal pace. Chryses, as same 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 beauteous slave subdu'd: With rage she saw her own neglected charms, And took AEgisthus to her injur'd arms. u 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: But no caresses, no endearments spare, Enjoyment pacifies the angry fair.

There are, that strong provoking potions praise, And nature with ••••••••tions med'cine raise.

Nor drugs, nor herbs will what you fancy prove, And I pronounce them pois'nous all in love. Some pepper bruis'd, with seeds of nettles join, And clary steep in bowls of mellow wine: x 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 worship'd by th' Erycian swains, Megara's white shallot, so faint, disdains. y New eggs they take, and honey's liquid juice, z 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 ev'ry point befriends our shifted sails. Thus chariot-drivers, with a slowing 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 sire, whose wasted strength declines, Converts to ashes, and but faintly shines; When sulphur's brought, the spreading flames return, And growing embers with fresh fury burn: A rival thus th' ungrateful maid reclaims, Revive desire, and feeds her dying flames. Oft make her jealous, give your fondness o'er, And ••eaze her often with some new amour. Happy, thrice happy youth, with pleasures blest. Too great, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 to be exprest That view 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••he 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, a••d 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 falshood 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 a while lament, a while complain, Then die with pleasure as she dy'd with pain. Enjoyment cures her with its powerful charms, She'll sigh a pardon in your active arms.

First nature lay an undigested mass, Heav'n, earth and ocean wore one common 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Then vaulted heav'n was fram'd, waves 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 And Chaos wa•• in beauteous forms dispos'd; The beasts inhabit woods, the birds the air, And to their floods the scaly fry repair. Mankind alone enjoy'd no certain place, On rapin liv'd, a rude unpolish'd race: Caves were their houses, herbs their food and bed, Whilst each a savage from the other sled. Love first disarm'd the fierceness of their mind, And in one bed the men and woman 〈◊〉〈◊〉 The youth was eager but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in joy, Nor was the unexperienc'd 〈◊〉〈◊〉: They knew no courtship, no instructor 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Yet they enjoy'd and blest the pleasing wound. The birds with consorts propagate their kind, And sporting fish their finny beauties find; In am'rous ••olds the wanton 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 And dogs with their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 female▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉

The lusty bull delights his frisking dames, And more lascivious goat her male inflames. Mares furious grow with love, their bound'ries force, Plunging thro' waves to meet the neighing horse. Go on, brave youth, thy gen'rous vigour try, To the resenting maid this charm apply: Loves soft'ning pleasures ev'ry grief remove, There's nothing that can make your peace like love. From drugs and philters 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. aa

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 ••ane 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, bb Shall love with conduct, and his wishes crown. Where nature has a handsome face bestow'd, Or graceful shape, let both be often shew'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 spa••e: 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 sails, Oft prosp'rous 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, cc Or berries on the circling ivy breed; As shells on sandy shores, as stars above, So num'rous are the sure fatigues of love, The lady's gone abroad, you're told; tho' 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 intreat; 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, tho' she's much from home, Let her at pleasure go, unquestion'd come. This crafty husbands to their wives permit, And learn, when she's engag'd to wink at it. I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 own 〈◊〉〈◊〉 modestly confess; And 〈◊〉〈◊〉, give those precepts I transgress. Shall I, with patience the known signal hear, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and leave a happy rival there. What 〈◊〉〈◊〉 suffer the provoking wrong, 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉

I, like a fury, for my nymph engage, And like a madman, when I miss her, rage. My passion still preva••••s, convinc'd I yield: He that submits to this is better skill'd.

Expose not, tho' 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. ••hen both alike the guilt and scandal share; All sense of modesty they lose in time, While each encourages the other's crime.

In heav'n this story's fam'd above the rest, Among th' immortal drolis a standing jest: How Vulcan two transgressing lovers caught, And ev'ry 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 heav'n's so willing, none more kind. Oft the lascivious fair, with scornful pride, Would Vulcan's foot and footy hands deride: Yet both with decency their passion bore, And modesty 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 for above. Never a fair offending nymph betray▪ She'll gratefully oblige you ev'ry way: The crafty spouse around her bed prepares Nets that deceive the eye, and secret ma••••s; A 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉〈◊〉, th' impatient lovers met, dd And naked were expos'd to 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 to Crete, to Paphos she retires, ee Their love augmented by 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 public, you the shame repent, Convinc'd that loves increase with punishment. Tho' in your pow'r, a rival ne'er expose; Never his intercepted joys disclose: ff This I command, Venus commands the same, Who hates the snares she once sustain'd with shame.

What impious wretch will Ceres' rites expose? gg Or Juno's solemn mysteries disclose? His witty torments Tantalus deserves, hh That thirsts in waves, and viewing banquets starves. But Venus most in secrecy delights; Away, ye babblers, from her silent rites! No pomp her mysteries attend, no noise, No sounding brass proclaims their late•••• 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 casts her robes aside, The parts obscure 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 glimm'ring light, To raise our joys, and just oblige the sight. E'er happy men beneath the 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 often, and where 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 innocence abuse. When long repuls'd they find their courtship vain, Her character with infamy they stain: Deny'd her person, they debauch her same, And brand her innocence with public shame. Go, jealous fool, the injur'd beauty guard, Let ev'ry door be lock'd, and window barr'd! The suff'ring nymph remains expos'd to wrong. Her name's a prostitute to ev'ry 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 ev'ry breath of wind: But shooting upwards 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, ii Call it a graceful brown, and that complexion praise: 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 smooth. Ev'ry excess by soft'ning terms disguise, And in some neighb'ring 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 chequers 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 pleasure last, Age hurries on, and death pursues too fast: Or plough the seas, or cultivate the land, Or wield the sword in thy advent'rous hand; Or much in love thy nervous strength employ, Embrace the fair, the grateful maid enjoy; Pleasures and wealth reward thy pleasing pains, The labour's great, but greater far thy gains. Ad•• their experience in affairs of love, For years and practice do alike improve; Their a••ts repair the injuries of time, And still preserve them in their charming prime;

In vary'd ways they act the pleasure o'er, Not pictur'd postures can improve you more. kk They want no courtship to provoke delight, But meet your warmth with equal appetite: Give me enjoyment when the willing dame ll Glows with desires, and burns with equal flame. I love to hear the soft transporting joys, The frequent sighs, and tender murm'ring voice: To see her eyes with vary'd pleasure move, And all the nymph confess the pow'r 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. 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. mm 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 sight. When weary from the field Achilles came, Thus with delays he rais'd Brise••s' flame. Ah, could those arms, those fatal hands delight? Inspire kind thoughts, and raise the appetite? Couldst thou, fond maid, be charm'd with his embrace, Stain'd with the blood of half thy royal race?

Nor yet with speed the fleeting pleasure was••e, Still moderate your love's impetuous haste:

The bashful virgin, tho' appearing coy, Detains your hand, and hugs the proferr'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 list'ning ear. Defer not then the clasping nymph's embrace, But with her love maintain an equal pace: Raise to her heights the transports of your soul, And fly united to the happy goal, Observe these precepts when with leisure blest, No threat'ning 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 compleat, triumphant palms prepare, With flow'ry wreaths adorn thy 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 Calchas could explain the mystic bird, nn And Telamon could wield the brandish'd sword: Such to the town may ••am'd instructions prove, So much I am renown'd for arts of love. Me ev'ry 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; oo Let him that conquers, and enjoy 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.

NOTES TO BOOK II.

a Ovid makes use of the particular for the general, Chaonia is part of Epirus, so called from the fate of Chaon, a Trojan. There 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a temple of Dodonian Jupiter, where doves dispens'd the sacred oracles with human voices.

b That is, riches will do all things, and interest easi|ly gains a woman's heart, because the sex is generally covetous.

c The poet makes use of the example of Atlanta, to shew there's nothing so wild but may be made gentle.

d There is nothing more difficult, than to explain the ancient gaming, especially to make it any way agree with the modern.

e They were commonly in use at the theatres, or in walks, to keep off the heat of the sun, the rain and the wind. Sometimes they were made of feathers; for, ac|cording to most commentators, by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we must un|derstand feathers sewed or otherwise fasten'd together. Ovid advises the lover not only to hold an umbrella over his mistress, but to descend to meaner offices, to pu•••• off or put on her shoes or slippers.

f Speaking of Hercules, who having learned astrolo|gy of Atlas King of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 says, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 poets feign'd he had'd the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Atlas to ••ear up the sky.

g Speaking still of Hercules, w•••• for the love of O••••|p••ale used the dista•••• and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, according to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the lonian damsels.

h That was, after he was d••graded of his divinity for death of the Cyclops: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which he ••led to 〈◊〉〈◊〉,

and submitted to keep Admetus the king's sheep.

i This has allusion to a festival celebrated at Rome by the servants, in remembrance of a great piece of service their predecessors had done, the Romans, soon after the invasion of the Gauls; the time of celebrating it was in July.

k Ovid names the bird. The turdi were our thrushes, and Martial thought them one of the finest dishes that could come to a table.

l Alluding to such as flatter the rich, in hopes of be|ing put in their wills for good legacies.

m Indeed what Ovid complains of in his time, may with much more reason be complained against now; for the muses are not only neglected but despis'd. 'Tis too true, that learning of all sorts is not in that esteem which it was in Augustus's days; and if there are few men who write good books, there are fewer still who read them.

n They curl'd their hair with a bodkin, and some|times with a hot iron, as in our days; but they shew'd more of it, than 'tis the fashion of our modern ladies. The next care Ovid recommends to the lover, is the complaisance he is to observe towards his mistress when she is sick. Alluding to a ceremony practis'd by the Romans of purifying the bed; an office which belong|ed to the nurse. And this was done with sulphur and eggs; a sort of religious worship, when vows were made of the health and rest of the patient.

o This and the following similies are taken from coun|try affairs, which have an agreeable effect on this oc|casion, when the poet speaks of the tendency of every living thing to love.

p Meneloeus was then absent in Crete, whether he and his brother Agamemnon went to divide the estate left them by their father Arteus.

q Aonia is taken here for 〈◊〉〈◊〉, of which Thebes was the capital, where Bacchus was born; and the fu|ry

that transports people when they are drunk, is very well compar••d to that of wild beasts and vipers.

r Medea, to be revenged of Jason for his inconstan|cy, murdered her own children after they had lived to|gether ten years with Creon king of Corinth.

s Wife of Terens, king of Thrace, who killed her own daughters, and presented them to her husband, because he had ravished her sister Philomena.

t Agamemnon, son of Arteus, whose wife Ovid thinks would not have been so imprudent, if he himself had been constant, and had not ravished Briseis and Cas|sandra.

u AEgisthus, the son of Thyestes and Pelopeia, his own daughter, killed his uncle Atreus, and his son Aga|memnon, whose wife Clytemnestra he had debauched, and was himself killed by her son Orestes, to revenge the death of Agamemnon, his father.

x The quality of this plant is very hot, according to the several observations of Dioscoriodes, and his com|mentator Mathiolus. As for the pepper its nature is hot and dry.

y Mount Eryx in Sicilly, was so called from Eryx, a son of Venus, who having taken a certain king called Burras to her arms, had this child by him. He built a temple here to his mother, when she arrived to man's e|state, who from thence had the name of Erycinian, or Erycian: We have made bold to use the word Erycian or Erye for the sake of the measure.

z Here Ovid certainly speaks of a bulbous plant that grew in the territory of M••gara, which was of a hot qua|lity and provocative. Also hen and partridge eggs. The kernel of the pine apple and pis••achos are mentioned by the author, as provocative, and Pliny observes, they strengthen the reins.

aa An admirable physician, of whom Homer speaks in the 2d Iliad. And Diodora writes, that Es••••mpius left two sons, who were both physicians, and as famous as himself, Machaon and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, who accompany'••

Agamemnon to the siege of Troy, and cured wounds al|most to a miracle.

bb This was a saying of Chilo the Lacedoemonian, who was one of the seven wise men of Greece. Pliny men|tions him; and this saying was so highly esteem'd that 'twas written in letters of gold in the temple at Delphos

cc Athos is a mountain in Macedonia, or Thrace, ac|cording to Stephanus, which Xerxes, as Pliny tells us, divided 1500 paces from the continent; 'tis so high, that its top is above the region of the clouds.

dd Lemnos; as the poet says, an island in the AEgean sea, over against mount Athos, according to Pliny. Phoe|stia and Myrine were two cities in it, in ancient times, whither, during the solstice, the mountain used to send its shade.

ee Paphos is a city in Cyprus, consecrated to Ve|nus.

ff He means intercepting a rival's letter, and disco|vering the contents. To intercept letters, and divulge a secret, was a crime punishable by the laws, by ba|nishment, or interdiction of fire and water, by which was understood exile.

gg This is a simile, and shews us, 'twas not lawful to reveal the mysteres of Ceres.

hh He proves by the example of Tantalus, that no man should reveal secrets. Tantalus, so Diadorus tells us, was the son of Jupiter and the nymph Plato, equally rich and renown'd. He dwelt in Paphlagonia, and was favour'd by the gods for the dignity of his birth; but having been told some of their secrets, and divulging them to mortals, he was thrown into hell for his crime, where his punishment was what Ovid tells us.

ii The Greeks called the people who lived above Ma|cedonia and Thrace, as far as Chaonia and Thesprotus to the Damb••, Illyrians, according to Appian; which name was given them from Illyrus the son of Pollyphe|men and Galatea.

kk He speaks of obscene pictures representing nudities,

and different postures. There are too many of these in|famous paintings in our own times, and 'tis pity the use of snu••t has given occasion to introduce them into com|panies▪ where such things should be held in detestation.

ll From this and the following verses we may perceive our poet abhor'd the gallantry too much practis'd among the Romans then, and Italians now, as well as in the eastern countries.

mm Ovid, who has advanced a little too far, checks his muse, and bids her give back. He tells his muse here, so every man should tell himself, even in the most excellent things; when we are arrived at a certain point, we should abstain from saying any more, we should en|joy the charms of philosophy, retir'd and by ourselves.

nn Calchos was the son of Thestor, as Homer writes in his first Iliad, famous for his skill in the art of divi|nation which he learnt of Apollo. He accompanied the Greeks to the siege of Troy, though he was himself a Trojan, if we may believe Dictys Cretensis; but says he, 'twas by Apollo's order. And Servious informs us, that finding Mopsus excelled him in his own art, he died of grief.

oo This he speaks by way of metaphor for some lady hard to be overcome.

END OF THE SECOND BOOK.