thrive For golden Verse is all I have to give The cheating Trades-Man's senseless Son swells great With Titles puff't supported with Estate Whilst his guilt Charriot thunders thro' his Gate Of his new Pageantry new Honours proud The lolling Brute ore-looks the nobler Crowd Rais'd on strong Brass slighting the Pow'rs above Salmoneus like he fancies he 's some Iove But more far more he claims a right to Love Long powder'd Wiggs show Swarthy S l Fair Dress shall adorn the Aukward Rustick Heir He who has Gold each Charmer's heart commands Tho' dull as Hinds who plow his Father's Lands Whilst at each word he offers shining Oare I must confess my boasted Art but poor He in that Word more charming Force displays Than I in all my Numbers all my Lays The flippant Lawyer canting gains Supplies Gets Gold by noisy bawling lives by Lyes If at the thund'ring Bar he knows to plead His Suit goes still successful with the Maid The struting H s of his Feathers proud Is without fighting constant pay allow'd For wearing gawdy Cloaths and swearing loud But Poets with the love of Courts are Curst Which leaves them Poets as it found them first Thought wholly for the smallest Trust unfit And reckon'd useless for their very Wit By some strange whirl of Fate confus'dly hurl'd At once above and yet beneath the World Like the doom'd Wretch whom in the Floods they Paint Exalted o're those Blessings which they want Perseverance ADdress the Maid your Resolution hold You yet shall Conquer tho' you have not Gold Tho' She would fly perswade her yet to stay And scatter blushing Roses in her way With gentle Force let her a while be held By gentle Force maids love to be compell'd Desist not Youth till thou hast gain'd the Field For you must Conquer or She cannot yield Pray'rs on repeated Pray'rs be still renew'd Maids ever fly in hopes to be pursu'd Still tho' She frowns give not your Courtship o're Still tho' She frowns press harder than before Entreat a thousand times ten thousand more Think not I here impose too hard a Task The grant Charms most yet much it Charms to ask After denyals on denyals past What long She Vows She won't She will at last Ten thousand thousand times has She reply'd Oft as you ask'd has She as oft deny'd Yet at the last shall you your Suit obtain When She believes you will not ask again Tho' She protests do not her Vows believe The fair Deceiver shall her self deceive Her Actions and her Words shall ne'er agree Her Words are Air like that to which they flee Her Vows dissolv'd shall in the Air be free If now inrag'd She weares a clowdy Brow She 's only fearful least She kind should grow Quit her howe'er be my late Truths forgot And knowing well yet seem to know them not Sigh sadly now and pressing loose her Hand Then bow She flyes you still dejected stand Quit not the Place till out of sight She flies And as She fleets pursue her with your Eyes Observe my Rules drawn from experienc'd skill For if She flies so shall you Conquer still Write now again feign Sickness and Despair And let some Friend the dismal Tydings bear If thus some Friend be trusted to attend Be well assur'd he be indeed your Friend Friendship like Coin a Royal Image bears Like Coin made currant by the Stamp it bears With both Men Traffick as their Int'rest move And Gold and Friendship are exchang'd for Love As fainter Fires before the stronger Dye Friendship expires when Beauty's Flames blaze high He whom you venter in this dang'rous Post Should be himself bound for some other Coast Else both your Mistress and your Friend are lost About her House in silent Moon-light wait Pass like some Ghost by her obdurate Gate Thus Ghosts glide on thus the fond Phantom flies And haunts that Place where the dear Treasure lies Rise Porter haste be the hard doors unbarr'd O Porter Harder than the Posts you guard The wishing Youth beneath her Window stands The wishing Youth waits for the blest Commands And curses oft the rugged Porters Hands Ill cruel Fair is such Attendance paid Too cold you treat the Lover cruel Maid Why thus severe ingrateful feigning Fair Why to thy Lover and thy self severe Admit admit the Youth Admit him to thy Breast already there In pinching Cold by starry glim'ring Light Oft have I wander'd the whole Winter Night Guiltless of Thought my self my Feet would stray My conscious Feet found of themselves the way At lov'd Amasia's Doors as in some Trance Oft have I lay'n like Neroes in Romance Like Iphis oft on the hard Pavement lay'd I seem'd the Guardian of the sleeping Maid The Mastives conscious that the Gates are barr'd Bark not but fawning meet their fellow Guard Of all the Stars my gazing Eyes cou'd see I mark'd not one whose Influence smil'd on me Sighted like me yet must you patient wake Tho' Night reign now the Day at length will break Now with soft Musick Serenade the Maid And let the gentlest sweetest Tunes be plaid Some Maid some wakeful Servant may behold Then be assur'd your Services are told Feasts IF to some Feast the Virgin shall repair Do thou contrive to be invited there Courteous to all complyant Words let fall But whom She favours favour most of all Treat all her Friends without the least constraint Her wrinkled Guardian or her aged Aunt Smile on the Maid that whispers in her Ear You must treat well your very Rival here Above the rest to him commend the Wine Drink to him ofr discourse him as you Dine Place if you can your Rival near the Maid Let no Addresses but soft Looks be paid Fronting the Fair let some loose glances fly But gaze not on her with your constant Eye Drink to those Beauties which the Maid surround But let no Goblet with Her Health be Crown'd Soon as her Hands the sparkling Glass restore Call you and drink just where She drank before Eat very sparingly and seem to prove Your best lov'd Food your Norishment is Love Affect no Fast yet so contrive to Eat As if you relish'd not but fore'd the Meat Some smiling Fair perhaps with laughing Eyes Shall ask the Cause and make her own Replies Love Love she Vows she reads it in your Face And now plays on you with Satyrick grace Pretends the sad Distemper she can see And crys Sir are you not in love with me Perhaps the Fair lov'd Charmer's self is mov'd The Charmer's self seems conscious that She 's lov'd Offers you Meat with careless loose reserve Accept the offer when the Maid shall Carve Tho' at her Chair the ready Servant stands T is offer'd you by her own charming Hands Meet on the suddain her extended Arm Starting surpriz'd as Soldiers in Allarm By seign'd confusion thus o're-reach the Plate And sliding touch her Hands as your's Retreat Gaze on her Eyes with Eyes confessing Flames And glance new Rays fast on
Amandi is not only loose but lew'd Some Precepts there are Modest in 't 't is true for what Man can at all times play the Libertine Where they are so I have sometimes imitated him and as far as Modesty allows I may say with Modesty my Poem is Ovidian 'T will not be kind in me to Attribute the Misfortune of his Banishment to the looseness of his Writings tho' in one of the Elegies of his De Tristibus inscrib'd to Caesar he seems to imagine That the Cause I say imagine for to me he seems not to have been fully satisfy'd in the Cause of it himself Nor would it look friendly in me to recite some of the loosest of his Lines I shall content my self at present since 't is my business to prove him immodest in his Poem of Amandi only with a Verse or two where he speaks of his own Work Before he enters on his Precepts he says Este procul vittae tenues insigne pudoris Quaeque tegis medios instita longa pedes herein he plainly says that Modesty has nothing to do in his Art and that those who are Chast must shun it by this Advice and the Confession in the following Line Nos venerem tutam concessaque Furta canemus he seems to own himself a Criminal but when he Writes de Remedio Amoris he does not only confess but he seems to boast his Crime Thais in arte mea est Lascivia libera nostra est Nil mihi cam vitta est Thais in arte mea est all I have said amounts to only this if any modest Man attempts to translate Ovid de arte Amandi he must both alter and omit if he would still be thought a modest Man and when he has done so the Poem will be his not Ovid's if literally he translates him and makes him Chast let his next Vndertaking be to wash an Aethiopian This Poem I have ventur'd to call The Art of Love if it Succeeds 't will be necessary the Remedy should follow Achilles Lance can Cure as well as Wound THE ART OF LOVE LET Lovers now bless their perplexing Chains And smile serenely amidst all their Pains No weight hence forth their am'rous Bands shall bear And they shall choose what Fetters They will wear I by my Art shall set their Passions free The God of Love shall have his Eyes from me All shall Success from these my Precepts find Nor Love nor Lovers shall continue blind Whilst like the Sun in my high Sphere I move And Lighten all the World with Rays of Love Ovid for Aid did to bright Venus run For Rome was her's since founded by her Son The Queen of Love that Artful Swain did choose Well do his Writings prove his charming Muse So I for Succour to Amasia fly My Venus She and Love's new Ovid I. Typhis for Steering Ships vast Honours claim'd For Chariots swift Automedon was fam'd Whilst I with skill guide Cupid I shall prove The Typhis the Automedon of Love Dear purchas'd Knowledge I shall here impart And what I know by Nature teach by Art I on my self have practis'd and can tell By my own ills how to make others well Let all observe my Precepts and Commands I 'll bind the little God in his own am'rous Bands The Poet's Ambition WELL may great Dryden lasting Fame receive 'T is all the dull ingrateful World can give His high rais'd Works shall thro' all Ages stand The noblest Fabrick in the Muses Land Beauty and Strength at once his Buildings show Above delightful and secure below The high rais'd Congreve with successful Pow'rs On strong Foundations builds Immortal Towr's Long as his mighty Monarch may he fly And spread as wide for he has Soar'd as high Let Sacred Dryden's Laurels Crown his Head But let me sit beneath and see them spread The Lover only seeks the peaceful Shade Nor Wit nor Pow'r nor Fame to me are Charms I scorn all Wreaths but my Amasia's Arms. Me my Ambition does not vainly move I covet Praise but 't is to purchase Love Not that my Name may deathless Honours find Forget forget me all make but my Mistress kind Me shall the Swains young Cupid's Master see If the Boy 's blind he shall be led by me And whilst I teach the World experienc'd Things The Flames of Love shall be my Muse's Wings Elective Love FIRST You fond Youth who Beauty's Charms adore Choose one alone to Love and wish no more That am'rous Swain can feel no real Fires Who at first sight each Face he sees admires You may perhaps my skilful Rules abuse And think I err because I bid you choose 'T is our Free-Will does our desires Improve And raises liking to the height of Love An Infant Passion by one glance may rise But if not nourisht by Consent it dyes You must some time to find a Mistress rove She won't Descend from the bright Skies above And like a gaudy Metor Court thy Love If when you meet her she be truly fair She will reward your utmost Pains and Care Blest were that Youth who with my Eyes could see Whose Mistress might like my Amasia be But kinder far than her all Charms as she Well 't is enough if she be fair believ'd Tho' you your self are by your self deceiv'd Sweet is the cheat and thence true Joys may flow For he that thinks he 's blest is surely so London abounds with Virgins brightly Fair Such Crouds of Beauty in its Streets appear As if the Charms of the whole World were there Plays FRequent the Theatre you there may find Some beauteous Charmer to allure your Mind While on the Stage the feigning Lover dyes You may feel real Wounds from bright victorious Eyes Romulus first Invented Plays at Rome With those allur'd the Sabine Virgins come For some short time pleas'd with the Show they smile But loose those Pleasures in a little while Seiz'd by the Roman Youth they rashly tear Their beauteous Faces rend their lovely Hair And on themselves Revenge the wrongs they bear With fruitless Shrieks the Neighb'ring Air they wound From Groves and pitying Rocks their Cries rebound The rougher Men unmov'd resist the sound E're since that time all Theatres remain Renown'd for killing Eyes and Lovers slain Place your self there close nigh the charming Maid To her let all your Services be paid With transient Words you may begin Discourse Obliging always offer nought by force If the Dust chance to fall upon her Gown Be sure be ready still to shake it down Neglect not this this may be worth your while Perhaps she thanks you and returns a smile Such little Offices must needs be done Pretend Dust fall'n tho' well you know there 's none Or if her Train fall loosely to the floor Do thou the Train to her fair Hands restore Be careful to and your best Service lend Least ruder Knecs her tender Sides offend Such little Things as these make way for Love And Courtly done can never fail
to move The Fair soft Sex will such attendance cost Not Words but Actions wooe the Virgin most Observe my Rules drawn from experienc'd Skill And go on Conquering and to Conquer still Rally the Masks who nigh the Charmer sit And so divert her with Satyrick Wit Be cautious here for Theatres are full Of empty Fops Conceited Loud and Dull If with quick Wit you can't the Hours beguile At least show humour and when silent smile With a mild Air an awful Homage shew Look fondly at her and then smile anew Submit to her still in Submission brave Maids hate the low obsequious cringing Slave Women are gain'd by little taking Wiles Play with her Fan and ask her why she Smiles Soon may that Toy thus us'd inflame her more Than e'er it cold her with its blasts before Feasts AT publick Feasts ost charming Beauties shine There may the Youth be warm'd with more than Wine Wine heightens Courage Wine inflames desire Joyn Wine and Love and you add Fire to Fire Gardens FRequent fair Gardens and delightful Groves To wanton there the sportive Cupid Loves There all the flow'rs in lovely bloom appear Fond growing Love shall spring and flourish there Here Nature do's her sweetest sweets impart Here Nature flourishes here flourish art Here every fragrant blossom feels the bloom Here Beauty's self fresh beauties shall assume Cupid the Wanderer Cvpid once wandring thro' fair Gardens found A Hive of Bees and hurl'd it to the ground Whilst the wax'd walls he hastens to destroy The wing'd assailants buzz about the Boy As now to spoyl their City he prepares He claps his own glad Wings and minds not theirs Drawing his shafts he dips them in and tasts And to the golden plunder ravish't hasts Claps now o're joy'd his little silver Wings Down by the hive his darts his quiver flings Disarm'd himself of his own peircing stings Now with his little hands he 's busy'd more To plunder thence the sweet the luscious store Than even the Bees when hoarding it before Now more and more by his success grown bold He breaks their forts and ravishes their Gold But as he thus their Citadel confounds The raging foes buzz with redoubled sounds And warring at the Boy strike and fix deep their wounds Now feircely bold with pointed Stings they fly And will reyenge tho' so revenging dye Raging aloud aloud proclaim their wrong With vexing murmurs as themselves were stung Their noisy wings their furious wars declare Their wings both whet and urge the spears they bear Incens'd they view the ruins of their Town And like brave Citizens when desp'rate grown Charge him with shafts unerring as his own The wounded Boy swift as his Arrows flys With blubber'd cheeks to his fair Mother crys For Love himself has ever weeping eyes Before her stands with hony dropping wings His little hands in sad complaints he wrings And sobbing shews her here and there his stings No balmy tears will the fair Queen allow Asks what feirce foes had wounded him and how Then crys inform'd just such a wasp art thou Hence Cupid feircest is in Gardens found And to revenge his wounds seeks there to wound From blooming Maids he gathers am'rous pow'rs As Bees draw Honey from the blooming flowers Seeking sweet Love we like the Boy grow blind And feel the sting as we the Honey find Tho' dipt in Honey Maids his Arrows meet Sweet as they are yet they are sharp as sweet Sadly may Sylvius of his Arrows sing Deep in my Breast rages their tort'ring sting The Vision YOung Infant Love is in fair Gardens nurst Amasia charm'd me in fair Gardens first Roving thro' flowry Gardens fragrant Bow'rs I first beheld her on a Bed of Flow'rs All ore surpris'd all ravisht with the view Soft Infant sighs with painful risings flew My Blood thrill'd quick and light'nings peirc'd me thro' My panting Heart did with short tremblings move In all the longing Agonies of Love Her blooming Beauties did my wonder raise The more I gaz'd the more I wish'd to gaze I gaz'd and sigh'd then sighing gaz'd again And was at once all extasie and pain Methinks I see her as she then was lay'd With careless Charms on the fair painted Bed Her fragrant breath perfum'd the Neighb'ring air And all the Flow'rs spread more than usual fair With her loose Robes did wanton Zephirs play And flew in whistlings as if pleas'd away One Snowy Hand did in her Bosom lye The other thrown as if neglected by On that she lean'd her Head in soft repose While her dear Breasts with swelling motions rose At awful distance did I wondring stand E're I approach'd to kiss her Beauteous Hand Softly I mov'd to the Celestial Maid As if not she but I the Theif had play'd Gently I kneel'd afraid to wake the fair And view'd the wond'rous charm of Beauty there My courage quite forsook my sickly Soul And hopes and fears did in my fancy rowl Thro' tedious strugglings of my thoughts I broke And kiss'd her Hand before she yet awoke Thus with short tremblings still I fondly prest And kiss't and sigh'd and then again I kiss't Assaults too feirce at last my flames did make Too much I Lov'd her now too soon awake In hast the frighted Virgin trembling rose Nor look'd behind fled me and fled repose Silent I stood and saw her hast away No power was left me but the power to stay And fall all ravisht where the charmer lay Baths and Wells TO the fam'd Baths or Tunbridge Wells retreat Where Beauty fires more than the scorching heat Beauty's bright beams ore all their waters play Radiant as those which light the glowing day Venus at first rose from the Oceans tides From floods she rose and still ore floods presides The Sea 't is said produc'd one beauteous Queen But at these Springs there are a thousand seen He who Diana naked had descry'd He who beheld that Goddess bathing dy'd Here less severe bright Deities appear You gaze secure from sprinkled surges here Safe from Actaeon's fate you may retire From fatal waters safe expos'd to fire Whilst in the Youth his growing passion reigns Falsly those Baths he charges with his pains The Swain no cause of his distemper knows Thinks not that Love along those Fountains flows The racking pangs fond wishing Souls endure Those Medicinal Waters cannot cure There Beauty gathers from those Springs new Rays Like Sol made brighter rising from the Seas Strange that feirce Fires proceed from Chilling Streams And Waters kindle which should quench our Flames In vain from Conquering killing Charms we turn Where are we safe if Springs have power to burn There are a thousand places where to meet The Park the Mall or in the open Street None lives Recluse who are but fancy'd fair Beauty 's a Goddess that reigns every where So vast her train which all retirements flee That if you would not Love you must not see Beauty IN British Maids all sparkling glories smile Beauty the plenteous product
best may be deceiv'd In Infant times the Sex was once betray'd By subtle wiles and close devices lay'd The Cunning Serpent had deceiv'd the Maid Now every Fair has his deceits discern'd His Artful turns and all his windings learn'd Secret from them he has reserv'd no wile Woman could now the Serpent's self beguile Now with joyn'd Pow'rs she can the World deceive At once the Serpent and at once the Eve Believe them not trust not the Gawdy Snare For every Maid is false as she is fair The more deceit the inward Woman bears The more the Varnish in her Face appears False as they are seem not at all to doubt Dissembling Ignorance you trace them out Could they be true yet false believe them still Where ill may come stand guarded from the ill Let your Addresses still these colours bear Excessive Love faint hopes and doubting fear And let her sometimes think you quite despair Interpret all in the severest Sense But choose your self the softest meaning thence Of her unkindness to the Nymph complain Whatever sound bears a more pleasing strain Seem not to hear and beg that breath again Hence mighty Pleasures flow hence Joys improve And hence arises sweet endearing Love Charge her Remember what she kindly said And seem all Ravish't with the Charming Maid Now is the time to press her Hands and Vow Now is the time urge fast your Conquests now Sigh sadly oft with gentle strugglings start As if she seiz'd against your Will your Heart Oft tho' you sigh your breath must smother'd rise Believe me Youth there is an Art in sighs Doubt not thus smother'd they will reach her Ear She hears them all but will not seem to hear Let your heav'd Breast raise but imperfect sounds Thence she infers how inwardly she Wounds Love is a Passion and where words may fail The inward workings of the Soul prevail The Soul's Emotion best her truth assures From that she thinks you her's and thence grows yours Maids like young Conjurers that Charm have rais'd That spright fond Love by which themselves are seiz'd He who to Maids dissembles must excel You cheat your self if you perform not well 'T is not enough you can two Faces shew Both wear the Mask and seem to want it too Let all be plausible whate're you tell T is no deceit if you deceive her well When at a loss sometimes for Am'rous lies The naked truth may be the best disguise So by the Nymph who had but now comply'd And spoke kind words those words are now deny'd As in this Breath she utter'd truth the next With double Errours has that truth perplext As you would have her mean interpret so Unwary truth will in soft Passion Flow. Regard not Youth what she shall now deny But cut that Gordian Knot you can't untie Perhaps thro' modest bashful Virgin fears She crys that Speech a double meaning bears Or at the most if you believe it kind It slipt unlicens'd from her tender Mind So soft she Breaths kind Accents to your Ear As if the Bashful Creature could not bear That she her self shou'd her own fondness hear Tho' with design some moving Accent breaks Yet she appears unknowing what she speaks Here smiles the shining Season of your Reign But for a while let us remove the Scene View Clowdy Skies Proud Frowns and Cold Disdain Observe my Rules drawn from Experienc'd skill And tho' she Thunders you shall Conquer still Constancy PErhaps the Haughty Nymph thy Presence shun's And Daphne like from the pursuer runs Bold like the Youthful Phaebus follow you Swift tho' she flys do thou as swift pursue Intreat like him like him maintain thy way Stay Phaebus cry'd my Charming Daphne stay The Winds bore her and his lost Pray'rs away Yet as he follow'd fast the Flying Maid The more he saw her Fleet the more he Pray'd A long long Course the Virgin had maintain'd But what he follow'd long at last he gain'd He gain'd that Fair who did his Passion flee Not now a Virgin yet he claspt her Tree Let not her change in thee suspicion raise There are no Daphne's in these kinder Days All that she could she did her Lawrel bow'd At his each gentle Breath to thank the God The Muse. HEnce am I mov'd to warn thee of the fate Which do's on most Poetick Lovers wait Enervate here the Poet owns his Charm Numbers which once could Fire now hardly warm Verse slighted Verse will but with few prevail How shall we hope if Phaebus self could fail If thou thy racking sufferings would'st rehearse In Numbers sweet and softly sliding Verse All thou wilt gain the Maid shall be admir'd Ador'd by all who has thy Songs inspir'd Thou the Nymphs Fame shall 't by thy Numbers raise Loose Daphne certain for uncertain Bays Thy hard ill-fated Errour shall 't thou see And Sing at last a hopeless Swain like me Amasia first made me in Numbers write Love gave me Verse and Verse gave Love delight From all my Songs this only could I find They sooth'd my Passion and bewitch'd my Mind Verse fann'd my Love made my own wishes blaze But no sost kindlings in her Breast could raise Love taught me Notions for soft Numbers fit If I had never Lov'd I ne're had Writ As Passion first did Artless Songs improve More Artful now my Songs shall teach to Love The Charming Sex my moving Songs shall Read The Swains shall Weep the Ravish't Virgins Bleed If Verse has Charms my flowing lines shall move And every Sighing Maid confess I Love Amasia's self when all my Passion 's known Spight of her Pride that fatal truth shall own Despis'd my self let no sad Swain despair All Virgins are not like Amasia fair Nor feels an other Youth those pangs I bear I Love too feircly Love to such excess I can't even wish my raging Passion less So feirce those Fires which ravage all my Breast I should run mad should I at last be blest So lose Amasia most when most possest If happier you wou'd more successful be Love not no never fondly doat like me Like friendly Sea-marks warning from the Coast I stand to shew you where my self was lost Observe my precepts fill you bosom'd Sayls And Steer a happy course with prosp'rous gales In Ovid's Days soft Numbers were admir'd Poetick lays the Ravish't Virgins Fir'd The wishing Maids by tuneful measures mov'd The Song was valu'd and the Poet Lov'd Now Sacred Verse no more it's Charms can hold But Beauty Mercenary grown is sold And every Danae may be brib'd with Gold Iove deckt in all the Ensigns of his Pow'r In the full Pride of God-head Storms the Tow'r But enters only in his Golden Show'r Yet some there are sure yet some Maids remain Some gen'rous Maids who scorn such fordid gain If then these Noble Gen'rous Nymphs you find Write in soft Verse in Verse reveal your Mind Still with an Air of Love your lines must rowl That in your Numbers she may read your
her glancing Beams E're from the room the hast'ning Fair be past Fast tho' She moves move you unmark't as fast Or if She stays attend her to the last If with her Maids She passes in the throng Brush gently by her as you sail along In some close entrance if She crowded stands Approach her nigh and press by stealth her hands Now as you move into the spatious Hall Let your Addresses at some distance fall Whilst the Fair mingles in the shining Ball. Praise LEt her each step your Admiration move And as She Dances in your Eyes dance Love Let her each Motion ravish'd wonder raise And Praise her now for now She Courts your Praise The stronger Gale of Praises you bestow More beauteous Charms shall her each Movement show Thus flies the Vessel with auspicious Gales And as the Winds encrease more swift She Sails Thus Iuno's Bird spreads wide his starry Train But hides unprais'd his gawdy Wealth again The Poet thus in Praises feels delight And paid with Fame alone grows fond to Write Fear not to Praise whatever Form they bear There lives not one but fancies that She 's Fair. High in Conceit Women like Authors sit These proud of fancy'd Beauty those of Wit Tho' some pretend their want of Charms to know ' Whilst from themselves their real failings flow If you but softly Vow they are deceiv'd How sure how soon is the Deceit believ'd Thus every Maid to her own wants grows kind And Woman's Pride like Woman's Love is blind Whilst now you see the glowing virgin move At every aiery step She measures Love The Ball broke up before her bowing stand And offer humbly your conducting Hand If coy She turns with slights your service paid Lead off before her Eyes some other Maid Observe my Rules drawn from experienc'd Skill Engaging there here shall you Conquer still Theatre IF in the Theatre the Maid be found Thence may your Passion with success be Crown'd Whilst now She Mourns the fancy'd Hero's Fate Whilst in her Eyes her ready Sorrows wait Attend their fall claim all her Tears your due The fancy'd Lover never lov'd like you Claim not her Tears alone But claim the charming Eyes which shed them too Strange Contradiction reigns in Woman's mind Only to shew and false appearance kind Mind not the Action nor the Authors strain Slight gawdy Shows and make her Face thy Scene Raise no ill-natur'd Hiss to Damn the Play But Criticize on what dull Criticks say Let those who bite the Poet so be bit Thus whilst you show good Nature show your Wit Alike with you the Author's Sense they bear Alike with you who did not see nor hear The modest Fop daubs his nice Nose with Snuff Damn me then crys 't is wretched wretched stuff Glance on such Fops with a disdainful Eye And let a sleering Smile give such proud Fools the Lye The Curtain fall'n press to the Charmer's side And claim her Hand nor be at last deny'd Entreat her oft nor give entreaties o're And Vow you will conduct her to her Door Force is but weak Intreaty has the Odds Tho' we can't force we may intreat the Gods Thro' tedious importunity She moves She can't deny the pressing Youth She loves Enter her House your fond Address renew And Vow you was and ever will be true The Charmer now at distant coldness stands And you must quit her from your clasping Hands The kinder warmth your Courtship shall impart She seems more Cold more Frozen in her Heart Feign all the Lover all the Hero feign And in your Looks transported Passion reign In different Strains Both with dissembling move She feigning Anger and you feigning Love With your drawn Sword rush with a hasty Vow And now just striking She prevents you now Fast to your Arms the frighted Maid shall flee And cry so striking you had wounded me Now to the unmost pitch your Flames must rise Now She 's your own clasp fast the lovely prize Great is your fondness nor shall her's be less She gives you Kiss for Kiss and Press for Press Whilst mutual Love flows strong with mutual Pow'rs Her Hand her Heart her Life her Soul are yours Observe my Rules drawn from experienc'd skill Still tho' you Conquer Conquer yielding still Go on triumphant so and Triumph at your Will Crown me each Love-sick Youth each Love-sick Maid Your mutual Flame as my Reward be paid Whisper each other in your Bridals blest Thus far Art taught Let Nature teach the rest FINIS THE ART OF LOVE The Second Book Written to the LADIES A NEW POEM Hoc mihi si quando puer et Cytharea favete Nunc Erato nam tu Nomen amoris habes LONDON Printed for Ioseph 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 TO THE AUTHOR ON HIS ART of LOVE IF Numbers can immortalize a Name And to descending Times transmit the Poet's Fame Then happy Youth Thy sweet harmonieus Lays Fix the Foundations of a lasting Praise Thou Loves Physician Thou can'st best impart The Sovraign Balm to Cure the bleeding Heart Of Love's Maeanders with such skill you Write Sure Cupid's wings sustain'd your Muse's Flight If Transmigration more than fancy be The Soul of Ovid is transfus'd in thee Love was a Labrynth like the Cretan Maze Its Paths untrod a Wilderness its Ways Till Araidne's kind conducting Clue Your Muse disclos'd it Love's best Thescus You What Gallus nor Propertius could express What greater Ovid touch'd with ill Success With lustre sparkles in an English Dress No Thought unchast thy melting Muse affords But charming Sense drest in as charming Words The British Maids shall read thy Verse and smile Imploring Venus to reward the toyl Of thee the lost Columbus of her Isle Whilst Cytharea on Love's Throne shall sit Whilst Phaebus Reigns the Lawrell'd God of Wit Envy nor Time shall blast what you have writ Let Dryden Prince of all in Satyr Reign Let Congreve Charm with his rich Comick Vein Love be thy Charge do thou Love's Cause maintain A. S. To the Author on his Art of Love 'T IS Art all Art yet 't is all Nature too What wonders cannot Love and Fancy do Thy Muse ha's made each slighted Youth amends And shews that Wit and Chastity are Friends Venus as Gay as when by Paris seen She Paint's She Paint's her Love's and Beautie 's Queen Yet with a modest Air and with a Virgin Mein She Paint's her like Diana in the Chase With Chastity triumphant seated in her Face With Charms like those Amasia ha's put on Only She Paint's her that She may be Won Who reads your Verse must wonder and approve Your Lines are modest yet your Subject Love With Charms so Chast your Numbers are endu'd For you teach others as your self has Woo'd 'T is pity any Poet shou'd be Lewd Such charming Laws on Love-sick Youths you lay That all who wou'd be
Happy must Obey Soft as Amasia's Bosom is thy Song And in its flowing Tides it bears our Souls along With Wings untir'd thy soaring Cupid flies With ease he mount's and does with Pleasure rise May conquer'd Beauty be the Poets Spoil And Woman glorious Woman Crown thy Toyl P. M. To the Ingenious AUTHOR of the Art of Love NAture has often Play'd the Artist's Part But ne're was Nature so display'd by Art Never before was Woman naked shown Yet modest still as when with Garments on Such Pleasure we in your soft Rules discern Instruction Charms 't is ravishment to learn 'T is such Delight to read your Numbers o're We think the Practice scarce can give us more By thee the bleeding Love-sick Youth is shown To make the scornful haughty Fair his own The tender Maid taught by thy charming Pen May scape the Wiles of false Designing Men. The Virgin 's taught to Love the Youth to Wooe At once you Ravish and Instruct us too Each Sex must own to make a just return Thou charming Youth wer 't Britain 's Ovid born C. L. THE ART of LOVE THE SECOND BOOK ARm'd at all Points Men to the Feild are gone Now Venus fight the Battle of thy Son Assist me Beauty for thy Fame I Write Art shall teach Charming Nature to delight And thou shalt gain the Trophies of the Fight To you the secrets of that Art I 'll show Nor leave you Naked to so fierce a Foe I 'll teach you all you shall know all my skill And Men shall Love while you shall smile and kill The Arms. YE Female Warriours hast to Arms to Arms Put on your Smiles your Glances and your Charms Paint Patches Pins and all the little rest Which must be done e'er Beauty can be drest Flames in your Eyes and Coldness in your Breast Put on a modest mildness with your dress Put on those somethings which I can't express Let all with Artful negligence be done Yet put each Charm put the whole Woman on Then softly sweet let Cupid's Trumpet sound Let Flags of streaming Ribbonds wave around And with a Heart be every standard Crown'd Each bearded Arrow bears a Bleeding Heart For Cupid's Standard is a Golden Dart. Let a soft Blush the Ensign be display'd The Charming Ensign of the Charming Maid Thus Arm'd ye Amazons insult the Field Sighs be your Swords and silence be your shield Trust to my skill in spite of Precepts past And you shall Conquer tho' to yield at last Believe me Maids who never yet deceiv'd Thro' me none e'er repented she believ'd Int'rest in Love draws on a Cloud of Woes For Love and Int'rest are eternal Foes No fatal Rules my Numbers shall unfold For those mean things who sell themselves for Gold In Spheres more bright my richer Precepts move My Song 's compos'd of Beauty and of Love Woman the Dissemblers SHall Waves be bid to Roll when Tempests roar Shall Calms succeed when the loud Storm Blow ore Shall Poets live Dejected Proud and Poor Shall Ice be Cold Shall Fire be bid to Burn Shall Darkness vanish at the Sun's return Shall Silvius Love and shall Amasia Scorn Shall I teach Misers to embrace their store Shall they teach me bright Beauty to adore Shall I bid Gods who are Immortal Live Shall I bid Women all deceit deceive Women and Kings alike their sway maintain And by dissembling what the feel they Reign Blameless your Sex does in this art excel 'T is no deceit if you deceive us well Dissemble on Shoot your devices far Be every Charm yet be but what you are Be all that Man unsinning would adore Be Woman Woman can a Name be more You are of those whom all the World admire The Hearts of Mortals and of Gods you Fire Men to be Blest retires to Shades with you And when you please we grow Immortal too In Beauteous Spheres more bright than ours you move You give us Paradise you give us Love For you bright Maids I draw my conqu'ring Pen To fix your Empire ore presuming Men. The Prostrate LOe there before your Feet the Victim lyes Whilst Vict'ry laughs within your smiling Eyes See how the Prostrate Captive Sighs and Dies Believe him not he 's Man and will deceive What have I said Ye Maids believe believe All are not false tho' the sincere be few At least Amasia knows her Silvius true But my Amasia has my suit deny'd And none can e'er deceive who is not try'd But Oh! that Charmer does such Charms improve That 't is impossible I should not Love Could I but show you how Amasia Charms There were no need of Amor'us Arts and Arms. She 's all ore Charm all Ravishing in Youth She 's Love it self She 's Beauty and She 's Truth But Oh! She must not all your Actions guide She 's all o're Woman too all over Pride I teach you how to make the Lover Burn I teach you Love but Nature teaches Scorn Trust to my skill in spite of precepts past I 'll teach you conquest so you yield at last Turn there the Swain do's on his Knees implore He only beggs permission to adore Begs you would but believe and hopes no more O treach'rous Man Who can so falsly press He hope no more O no he doubts no less Believe him not command him to forbear He must not speak protest you will not hear Check each attempt he makes to prove his Flame Yet still new hints for new addresses frame Seem all suprize all Coyness all a Frown Then let your Eyes shed soft compassion down He hopes and fears he Freezes and he Burns And still protests when e're the Fit returns Let him not Kneel but as his Fires rage on Say he must Rise or you must else be gone Divert the talk forbid him to adore But so forbid as to engage him more Farewell at length the parting Lover cryes Bid him farewell but with relenting Eyes He goes but to return why let him go He 's yours or if you please he may be so Attire COnsult your Glass what Garments to put on The Man 's retir'd but not the Lover gone Take counsel what attire becomes you best And with a Charming negligence be drest If negligence becomes not your Attire Then in the Pride of Pompous Garments Fire Shew your fair Neck your tempting Bosom bare And let Gemms deck your Ornamental Hair Retir'd unseen the lovely Warriours Arm When drest at once with new surprize you Charm As Light'ning Flashing fast from Pole to Pole Strikes quick the Eye so Beauty strikes the Soul With glancing Light the subtil Flashes fly Yet are they temper'd in the gloomy Sky We know not whence they Issue but we know We must admire whatever strikes us so You may in splendid Theaters behold The guilded Columns show like massy Gold The Men who act for Bread talk loud grow vain And three big Hours of empty greatness reign Yet till this Pomp of folly be prepar'd The longing Guests are of
all view debarr'd Love's Warfare NOw ye are Arm'd ye Charming Maids repair To Beauty's Camps and Fight and Conquer there In martial Fields the bold successful prove You must seem tim'rous if you gain in Love Beauty as cowardize sometimes prevails False flights oft conquer when true courage fails Let Looks and Smiles in subtil ambush ly Seem always Flying yet scarce ever Fly Sing Dance be Airey put on all your Aires Your easy Mirth shall cause the Lovers cares Thus shall you give those Wounds your Eyes ne're meant The Bow of Cupid never stands unbent The random Arrow strikes with more surprize More force when Wing'd with negligence it flyes When on the Rock Andromeda was bound She waited Death yet there her Lover found Wounding him first who did the Monster wound Modest Pride SEem Proud yet humble too let never Pride Shown in the silent Face the softness hide To Minds too haughty Love has seldom bow'd Be near at distance modestly be Proud Trust to my skill in spite of precepts past And you shall conquer tho' to yield at last Sometimes soft things in Tragedies rehearse And make the Poet happy in his Verse Smiling sometimes in whispering accents bear Some Trifling saying to some Neighb'ring fair The Lover then unknowing what you said Smiles too and fancies some fine Jest was made You from your own impertinences know He makes the Jest when e're he fancies so Read Poetry the mighty Dryden Read Let Congreve next and Wicherly succeed Read Cowley Living still Read Otway Lee Read Elder Hopkins with those lofty three And if you please at leisure Hours Read me The Muses works may shorten tedious Days And when the Evening calls repair to Plays Retir'd at home be oft and oft deny'd And let indiff'rence act the part of Pride The easy grant the price of bliss destroys Man ever least esteems what he enjoys Repulse sometimes makes Love more fierce rebound As Balls rise highest struck on Stony Ground Let the fond Lover curse the cruel Door Do humbly much but in his threats much more The taste of bitter things can Sweets renew Winds sink that Ship sometimes by which it flew The Visit. REceive the Visit which the Youth shall make Be seen as if by chance or by mistake Play with your Fan call for your Coach your Chair Be just a going out to take the Air. Pretend some Visits which must needs be made And his you can't receive till those be paid Business pretend or Sickness seem in hast Have many things to do some Minutes past 'T is late you know you may do none at last You think the Weather dull 't is Cold if not But you would change it spite of Heaven 't is hot Say any thing impertinence can move Enquire the news he answers you 't is Love Hear all he says sit in some distant place While his Eyes fasten on your Charming Face Silence ALtho' you hear seem not at all to heed So while you wound him he shall inward Bleed Thus while you muse the Youth shall softly press Nearer and nearer to a close address Whilst in your Thoughts you seem your self to lose You find your Lover there who tells his News On weightier things your solid Mind was bent You hear'd not what he said you know not what he meant Let him talk on and ask and answer too He need not hope to have a word from you Yet you may smile when next you hear him speak And let some tune in thoughtless accents break Now you may Sigh as he approaches near Now shall he press now shall you cry forbear You Frown he Loves you Laugh and he shall Swear O Love O Folly O dissembling Maid O Man whose Strength by Weakness is betray'd Caught in those Nets for subtil Women laid Trust to my skill in spite of precepts past And you shall Conquer but to yield at last He asks you now what 't is employs your thought And wonders what has such deep silence wrought Inward he struggles not resolv'd by you Longing to know yet he grows silent too With Burning Pains now makes his Passion known Rack'd with your silence long and with his own He Loves he Loves again again he cryes Consults you oft but you make no replies The Answer WHen grown by long long repetition dull Thus at the last you answer him in full What is this strange request which you have made What is it Sir I know not what you said O Blest dissimulation of the Sex Who can Mankind by carelessness perplex O Glorious Sense of Ignorance in shew Which makes us Fools while you act Folly so O happy Art of Nature Which can wind And turn ten Thousand ways the changing Mind Your folly thus Man's Wisdom can confound And cast his baffled Eyes and Senses on the Ground Happy that Wit which is in silence shown More than in all the works of Poets known Amasia thus receiv'd her Lover's suit Thus did her silence my weak words confute And when she spoke all Sense but Love was mute Even Love it self by silence was exprest I only Vow'd I Lov'd and look'd the rest Against himself his Foes the Poet Arms Like Beauty seen silence in Beauty Charms Beauty 's describ'd only by being seen And silence speaks lodg'd in the Beauteous Mien When importunity at last prevails The charming turn of answers never fails When forc'd to answer thousand Queries past You can rely with questions at the last The Penalty WEll 't is suppos'd you have confest you hear'd Let now the Lover be of speech debarr'd Lock up his Lips lock up thy injur'd Ear He has said things a Virgin should not hear He must be silent you must else remove For he grew Impudent and talk'd of Love The Youth stands Speechless nor dares think of Bliss His Lips are Seal'd but Seal'd without a Kiss Trust to my skill in spite of Precepts past And you shall Conquer so to yield at last The Lover now believes his Passion curst And he will speak for he has felt the worst His fears now urge him most when most they awe As Cowards from despair can Courage draw Use him like Cowards all his rage controul And wound him wound the Rebel to the Soul Tell him himself alone he must deceive For 't is impossible you should believe 'T is time to Visit now you must not stay Send him once more with kinder looks away He goes but to return why let him go He 's yours or if you please he may be so Deportment THe Day grows fair your Coach or 〈◊〉 may wait And you may walk if graceful in your Gate See how R h displays her stately Mind How in the Pride of Steps the haughty Wind Swells her loose Robes before her and behind I n there trips nimbly ore the Park As if she fear'd to dissappoint some spark C l demurely on the Ground does look As if she measur'd every Step she took That hasty H there Walks as if she ran
And whisks her Eyes and brandishes her Fan. The Tall Walk slowly others Walk apace Each movement every gesture has its grace Men are not always Charm'd with but a Face Consult that Gate which suits your Stature best Walk 〈◊〉 to please your self nor doubt the rest Humour YOu who have change of Garments changes wear And Daily deck in various forms your Hair Change too your Humours as your Dress you change The Lyon always does not furious Range Let your mild Air sometimes compassion move Sometimes disdain yet ever mingling Love Now Pleas'd now Vex'd now Aiery and then Sad Now very thoughtful and now very Mad. A thousand Humours move a thousand ways For most of all Variety must please The Charmer AMasia thus could every Passion wear She wore all Charms in her expressive Air But Love fond Love alas was never there Her every Passion did my sense controul But Love alone possest her Lover's Soul Love and Dispair in me one Passion grew I ne're knew Love but when Despair I knew She Smil'd yet while that Sunshine was display'd Despairing Love gloom'd in a thicker Shade She Smil'd and strait my hopes like Phantoms flee For Oh! she never never Smil'd on me Smiles SMile Charming Beauty change from Smiles to Smiles A thousand Glories Gild the tempting Wiles Smile on Aerial Beauties we shall Trace While Paradise sits Blooming in your Face Whilst Charms thus Lovely all your Features Crown Thus whilst you Smile Ah! Who can bid you Frown Frowns THe Sun 's o're cast the sullen gloom's display'd Awfull she Frowns behold the Frowning Maid Iove dwells not ever in the Skies serene But Storms sometimes in a Tempestuous scene The Light'nings first Flash from the shining Cloud But as the Light'nings fly Heaven Thunders loud Tempests at Sea serve to endear the Shore If Gods ne'er Thunder'd Men would scarce adore But now 't is time your fury were appeas'd The Youth shall offer incense You be pleas'd In Tears he comes to pacify your Rage And falling Show'rs ev'n Thunder can asswage Belief SEe how he Weeps I know the Youth sincere He Loves he Vows and offers up his Prayer He 's True believe him True as you are Fair. He begs you would his Racking Pains relieve Believe how can it hurt you to believe 'T is no uncommon no new Suit he moves He only begs you would believe he Loves Grant the request he does so oft implore But let hin know he must expect no more Inwards he 's Ravish'd that you think him true The Coast of Love he does more swift pursue For still one Grant prepares the way for New Now fresh desires spread full his Passion 's Sails He Sighs and Steers his Passage thro' the Gales Trust to my skill in spite of Precepts past And you shall Conquer tho' to yield at last If you are full convinc'd he does not feign If the Youth Loves he should be Lov'd again A thousand thousand ways there are to try One word implies them all Deny Deny Grant or Deniall in succession Burns Like the twin Stars that mount the Skies by turns Grants and Denialls the amour improve Whatever Star shall Shine the Youth shall Love Tho' your last Breath own'd you believ'd his Vow Yet now he Vows again deny it now Till he such protestations shall renew The Youth must Damn himself twho is not true Favours PErmit him now sometimes your Hands to press And Sigh but seldom and in warm address Yet while his presses rise too fierce too fast Withdraw your Hands those favours must not last seem serious now while now you hear him Court That he may know you make not Love your Sport Attend and Answer every thing he says Such soft attention must the Lover please Whilst now more fierce more Passionate he Wooes He Love's Believe seem Sorry that he does Seem much concern'd to see the Lover Burn Seem much concern'd you can't his Love Return Let your Eyes kindly with compassion move Yet say you hate the Sex and cannot Love 'T is your aversion Monst'rous Love a Man Say vow you cannot when you know you can He leaves you now half desp'rate as before Bids you farewell but Vows he must adore He goes but to return why let him go He 's yours Or if you please he may be so Letters HE Writes perhaps peruse what he has Writ And if the bearer waits extoll his Wit Say 't is above your reach and you implore That he would Write you know not what no more Give your cold Service and the Note return Or if some Fire be near the Letter Burn. Say it requires no Answer so remove For Maids should never Answer Notes of Love Trust me 't is dang'rous for if Virgins Write They lose the noblest Trophies of the Fight Some Men boast Favours which they never knew Yet some are secret still tho' very few For Men feel vanity as much as you Those maids whose Sparks their Loving Notes expose The ills they find in Writing can disclose Write not tho' most in Letters you excell Write not to show your Lover you Write well No be not tempted tho' you know to Spell Write not no never never Write to Men We cannot take denyals from your Pen 'T is ours to Write and Write and Write again Silence in you shall all our thoughts deceive You make reply sufficient to receive Distance THe Youth returns your Silence makes him come From your dear Lips he must receive his doom Receive him coyly ask him what he meant By the unwelcome compliment he sent Seem more and more reserv'd and for a while Till he protests and vows you must not Smile Keep him at distance while he talks of Love Nor let his Hands around your Bosom Rove Thus shall you raise more Passion in his Mind As Flames rage highest when a while confin'd He calls you cruel most unhumane now Who will no favours for such Love allow Kindness WHen to the last excess of Fondness grown He longs for all will you afford him none Yes grant a little now a little more And yet a little greater than before Heaven must be giving still if Men adore Life of Love YEt here be cautious favour not too fast Give not too much yet give your self at last Love should have mod'rate fuel 't is like Fires Which too much damps yet slighted it expires All have not Souls deserving Virgin Flame Some vainly think all Women are the same Keep still your favours now let none be lost And give so little that no Youth may boast Men are but Men Maids are but mortal too Give and Refuse thus you grow ever new Else will the Youth continu'd fondness flee For every Lover does not Love like me What Flames had I for my Amasia Born Had she been kind when I so Lov'd her Scorn Beauty like her's whole Ages might deny When Men persue like me Maids ever fly But Oh! no Man like Sylvius can adore No Woman like Amasia Charm No Woman
of our Ifle Not her own Paphos could Love's Queen detain In Britain now do's Cytharea Reign Like Albion's Cliffs fair are her Daughters born Num'rous as Waves by which those Cliffs are torn Albion her self whom all her floods obey Appear the Rising Venus of the Sea Such Charms this Isle do's to her race dispence That half the World may be supply'd from hence Thrice happy Albion in thy Off-spring blest Fairest of all the Universe Confest The Universe thy Conquering Charms approve Thy Men for Valour and thy Maids for Love Venus in Albion claims a right to dwell Albion in Arms do's the whole World excell Drawn by her Swans along her Thames she glides Where should she dwell but where her Mars resides The British Venus BOld bravely feirce glows each great Hero's Breast But Nassaw's Soul surpasses all the rest Thus every Radiant British Beauty warms Yet still beyond the rest bright Grafton Charms She strikes all Eyes all Senses she allarms Every bright Goddess do's Immortal shine Some less some more yet are they all Divine Iuno and Pallas have Illustrious Eyes Yet there 's a Venus still Transcendent Venus must receive the prize The prize above let Cytharea bear Here Grafton claims the Cytharea here Albion's fair Daughters are the Warriour's prize Bright as the Hero's Swords the Virgin 's Eyes Those Conquering Cheifs who triumph'd in the Field To these far more Victorious Beauties yeild Dangers and Death in dusty Plains are found But Love Wounds deeper with a surer Wound Who can resist when British Nymphs engage Love always Conquers when his Wars they wage Let Neighb'ring Nations dread our Isle's allarms All must surrender when soft Beauty Charms Beauty shall Edge our Swords and Point our Arms Beauty which every Noble Act inspires Beauty which Poets and their Heroes fires Beauty which stirs the Martial Soul to Fight Beauty which moves the Artless Swain to write To those I Sing those who have born the Sheild Those who have fought and vanquish'd in the Field Those would I teach how to make Beauty yeild Love is a kind of Warfare and a Maid Like a Wall'd Town you must by Art Invade Pitch then Let me your Gen'ral be Obey'd Pitch here your Tents as I direct begin Lay but close Seige and be assur'd you win Already told where the bright Nymphs repair Inform'd already where to find the fair Let me advise with awful Homage bow And you who us'd to Storm Surrender now Methinks I hear the blustring Souldier Swear I now may seize her shall I now forbear If Maids like Towns beseig'd are to be won What hinders Now I 'll spoyl and sack the Town Must I Surrender Captive to my Foe Are these your precepts shall I Conquer so If Maids by force alone were to be gain'd Experienc'd Warriours need not now be train'd The Shafts of Love fly not like those of War Soft are the Plumes which bear his Arrows far Women like Troy resist the Warlike Field But Troy it self must to devices yeild Thus whilst in show no Hostile Arms you bear Thus as the Greeks did Troy o'recome the fair This one Important Resolution hold Be bold but yet be very humbly bold Had I been bold I had successful prov'd But ah too true too tenderly I Lov'd Where Strength alone or where soft Pray'rs may fail Together joyn'd they must they will prevail Entreat admission but the Guards supprest Disdain and Pride Guards to the Female Breast Conquer by force by force maintain the rest Force Grateful force the Charming Sex beguiles By wiles deceiving those who practice wiles Thus Beauty Wounds the most when most it Smiles Mistake not Hero here the Poet's aim My aiery Songs fann but a Lambent Flame Chast is my Art nourishing Virgin Fires Chast like Amasia who my Song inspires Verse Sacred Verse like Phaebus beamy Rays May kindle Vestals to a Lambent blaze I teach Beseigers Beauteous Towns to win But not to Plunder when they enter in Warriours who spoyl those Cities they obtain May quickly loose what by long Seige they gain Towns which on terms Surrender to your Pow'r Still in their own maintain the strongest Tow'r Insulted Forts their Forces will exert And Maids entreated ill preserve their Heart Observe my Rules drawn from experienc'd skill And Conquering gently you shall Conquer still Small trivial favours are like Out-works won You must by gentle usage gain the Town Remember Cupid Flyes with Wings of Down Force I prescribe but such as suits the fair Feathers require not Storms they rise with Air. Sighs like a gentle breeze fan Am'rous Fires But with rude blasts Love's kindled Torch expires That force prescrib'd which in my Laws you find Is not the force of Arms but force of Mind My Muse delights to glide in purest Streams Those Swans which draw my Venus Wing'd with Flames Move their soft course like those on Silver Thames Like Wanton Ovid I forbear to Rove I Sing of Virgins and of Virgin Love His Muse like Icarus unbounded Flyes And with Wax'd Plumes Soars and Insults the Skies Wantons like him with pure Celestial Air Attempting Flights which she wants Wings to bear No Swain so sweet of Love's soft Passion Sings But here on purpose has he Wax'd his Wings Tow'ring too high soon as he strikes the Clowds Wildly he falls Drown'd in the rowling Floods With Chaster purpose are my numbers lay'd Charm he the Roman I the British Maid Resolution AGain be bold I urge this precept still For without confidence you dash my skill Be but assur'd that you shall gain you will Let then your soft Addresses be begun And Build on this all Women may be won The Coyest Nymph she who disdains the most When once she knows how dear her Scorn has cost Pitys the Youth by her ill usage lost By secret shists his Visits would restore And now would grant would he but now Adore Maids will deny who more than Men desire Affecting Coldness most when most on Fire Here must I now unpractiz'd precepts teach Prescribe you Flights my self could never reach Dissimulation LIke them dissemble while you feircest burn Fond of their Love yet seem to slight their Scorn Could I have put a loose indiff'rence on Amasia's Self I might at last have won But she too deep had fixt my Ravisht Heart My Love was Nature but let yours be Art Where Ten Years Seige and force continu'd fail'd A seeming Flight a feign'd Despair prevail'd The subtle Sex seems ty'd to such restrint That each Denyal is in part a Grant To understand some things by Woman said Her Words like Hebrew must be backwards read Sometimes like Heathen Oracles of Old In odd Ambiguous terms their Minds are told So that those truths they seem to have reveal'd By such relation are the more conceal'd In secret intricacies all perplext With doubtful thoughts and various notions vext You think all true this moment false the next Remember this and be this truth believ'd He who knows Woman
Soul If you attempt in Poesy write well He 's curst in Verse whose Genius can't excell Thus tho' my flames may Daphnis flames surpass Yet am not I inspir'd as Daphnis was Daphnis may Sing none can like Daphnis Sing Whilst all his Numbers from his Passion Spring His softest Muse do's in soft measures rise His Muse may Soar to his bright Delia's Eyes So Soars the Lark in airey measures born So Sings when Springing from the smiling Corn And in sweet tuneful ayres salutes the Morn Yet Daphnis self for sweetest strains renown'd Even Daphnis self was not by Delia Crown'd At first perhaps unread your Note 's return'd Your Person slighted and your Passion scorn'd Despair not yet thus nicest Maids will slight But Write again and yet again still Write Now more and more your cruel pangs display Say all the fondest wishes bid you say Tell her those Eyes should not so much dispise Such Flames as kindled at those Charming Eyes Device SEnd now unseal'd thy Letter to her hands Cupid will fly when you unloose his bands By secret slight your am'rous lines convey But let no Servant for her Answer stay She will retir'd peruse what so you send Her curiosity shall stand your friend In the same place where she was so betray'd The Paper 's thrown by the regardless Maid Unnotic'd left and as neglected lay'd This for some time practice with subtle skill What she unmarkt may read be sure she will Let a fond note thus dropt at length declare Your pangs are known to the ingrateful fair Say she has Read and you must now despair Tell her no farther shall her Slave presume He only beggs she will pronounce his doom When next she 's seen the Charmer's Eyes shall show Whether your lines have been perus'd or no. In her fair Eyes as plain her thoughts you note As she did yours when reading what you wrote Not Coyest Nymphs shall such Devices shun Acontius thus the fair Cydippe won An Apple blushing like her Cheeks he threw The Golden Vow in Golden Letters drew Then hurl'd it rolling in the Charmer's view The tempting Fruit the smiling Virgin bore Read what he Writ and in the Reading Swore Too late the am'rous subtilty descry'd She Vow'd her self the Young Acontius Bride With like success may you deceive the Fair They fly like Birds to the well painted Snare When by those Rules which I prescribe you taught You may perceive them willing to be caught Hov'ring sometime will they avoid the Gin But at the last With gentle modest fluttrings venter in The careless Fair seems as at first unmov'd Seems not to think how tenderly she 's Lov'd Or frowns perhaps exerts her cold disdain For Maids are Tyrants and when woo'd they Reign If Proud she Scorns then has she read your Flames And flys resenting to the last extreams Despair not now yet seem as you despair'd Be all your forces for the Storm prepar'd Believe me Youth the hardest may be won The Artist gain'd that Maid he fram'd of Stone What she resents so high she most desires In Frosty Woods rage ever scorching Fires Aetna whose Surface is eternal Snow Do's at the Heart with inward burnings glow Above all coldness all on Fire below The weakest Virgins still their prowess boast As tim'rous Cowards ever bluster most With a false show a while maintain the Field But when you press them hard how soon they yeild Soft are their Breasts urge your addresses oft Feell then their Souls are as their Bosoms soft Indifference SHE scorns you not perhaps but what is worse Indiff'rent seems Indiff'rence is a curse Alas her loose indiff'rence can't be born You think Indiff'rence the severest scorn She thinks so too and as she fancies so Resolves the utmost rigour she will show Maids thence pretend they can our Passions know Am I the Mater of my Art believ'd If so most certain they are far deceiv'd 'T is as their tempers in the Lovers Reign Some disdain haughty Nymphs as they disdain And tho' unforc'd would follow break their chain Such be thy humour or if that 's too much Feign it at least let her believe it such As she has seem'd regardless of your Pray'r Seem you unthoughtful of the feigning fair With your Companions as you pass along Smile be all Air tune some indiff'rent Song Thence shall she Judge your Passion now not strong If her drawn Window you by chance pass by Darting that way let her not mark your Eye If you will look cast not a side-long glance But seem to see her as if seen by chance If she perceive you looking stedfast on My Art is lost She 's lost and you undone From lasting views strait will the Maid remove Such are the practice of a mutual Love As you pass by give her a plain salute Perhaps she Sings touches perhaps her Lute Pass on regardless still and let her Sing Tho' thy Heart shake more than the trembling String Ah! be not foolishly bewitch'd as I My struggling sight would at her Window fly And I shou'd gaze tho' for that gazing dye Stop not to hear her ayres too dear 't will cost Strait would her tunes her height'ned triumphs boast To loftier strains would her soft Musick rise And while she acts the Conquests of her Eyes The Maid insults the Ravish'd Lover dyes Your Flames more force shall from such ayres assume Whilst she as Nero once plays o're her burning Rome Stand not to fight too powerful is the Foe Like Parthians fly and you may Conquer so Like Parthians fly but flying seem to slight Dart not one glance in the deluding flight Fondly you wish to know the Charmer's mind You fancy now her glances may be kind And dearly long to cast one glimpse behind Orpheus when climbing from the Stygian Coast Look'd but once back what blessings could he boast He lost Eurydice for ever lost Lost by one look so dear so lov'd a prize Lost what he valu'd far beyond his Eyes Beyond those Eyes which hated thence the light Preferring rather her Eternal Night That fatal loss he did for ever mourn And would again to Stygian shades return Could he once more receive the lovely prize He would in change part with his fatal Eyes Let Orpheus fate thy happy warning be That Love is blindest which would always see If the restraint be such you cannot brook But you will venture yet to steal a look To mark her Eyes and gather thence her flames For there I know your pointed fancy aims Your looser Glove as if unnotic'd drop Then turn in hast glance quick and take it up If now you find her from the Window gone Ten thousand anxious doubts come rolling on Hence is it best you should from looks forbear All cannot dive into the subtle fair Now Fire now Ice and now again She 's Air. In all their Breasts Agues and Fevers Reign Now fixt now fickle and then fixt again Now all o're fondness now all o're disdain Let
you would hide your sighs Now with a trembling fear her Lips approach Steal to her balmy Lips and gently touch Tho' at the first attempt your Aim you miss Yet snatch the pieces of the broken Kiss Rise by degrees till the first fears are gone And rush at last with gentle Transports on Lean on her Breasts thus on your guard beneath Catch every breath you see the Charmer breath Doubt not such fondness will the Virgin please In Ambush lye and as She Salleys seize Now in warm Raptures rush upon the Foe Rush on that fragrant Breath which Charms thee so And spread long Kisses there Long press her close and scarce at last let go Tho' thou hast snatch'd a thousand from her Store Spread still her Cheeks with roving Kisses o're And still complain desirous still of more Kiss tho' your Lips with their long kissing smart Seem thus dissatisfy'd and bless my Art Ye tender Maids How can you blame my Song I raise your Joys yet not your Honours wrong No fatal Mischief in my Art is found I hurt not much who but with Kisses wound If Youth you hear the injur'd Nymph complain Those Kisses which you robb'd restore again By me no wrong to the soft Sex is done Return an Hundred tho' you snatch'd but one If there be any Fair my Art offends My Art if known shall make her large amends Love is a Child that Love thy Poet sings Is ever born on in-offensive Wings Cupid not Venus shall my numbers raise The Infant Cupid hurts not when he plays Now happy Youth Thy Tutor's Art confess That certain Art which can thy Wishes bless Observe my Rules drawn from experienc'd Skill Charge not too far so shall you conquer still Thus far advanc'd in the endearing strain What thou may'st yet desire does yet remain As you embrace to be embrac'd again Crown me with Roses and with Myrtles Crown The Charmer's Heart her Soul shall be your own But first before to this request you move Urge the dear Fair your utmost Arts improve Till you have heard her Breath those Words I love Whilst now fond Youth As I prescribe you do You shall gain Conquests and maintain them too Yes you shall triumph and your Spoils grow new Fonder and fonder let your Suit be mov'd Convince her throughly She 's entirely lov'd Zeal A Precept yet untaught I teach you now Vow very rarely but then warmly Vow They who swear oft should not be oft believ'd For if they be the Nymph may be deceiv'd Work up your Passion to the last excess Great as it is let it appear not less Let Love on all its Wings extended fly And feel if possible when soar'd so high Feel all you Act almost run Mad and dye He who expects the Nymph should Crown his pains Should for the time feel every Thing he feigns So on the Stage the purple Emp'rour stands His fancy'd Throne propt by applauding Hands Thus rais'd imaginary Worlds he sways And thinks himself that Monarch which he Plays On him the Subject Audience fix their Eyes The very Poet Credits his own Lies And the Fair weep when with false Wounds he dyes Be bold and but believe you shall excell There 's none so dull but may dissemble well Study no Form but as D s Pray Speak with warm Zeal no matter what you say You can't Dissemble half so well as They. If you complain in a too Charming strain She may delight to hear you still complain Still let your Thoughts imperfect Accents break And mingle melting Kisses as you speak When e'er she sighs her rising Breasts observe Take them as yours and vow how true you serve Soon as she grants some favour you implore With Words and Kisses thank her o're and o're One favour giv'n is a new Grant for more Pursue her close and she will give so fast That she shall kindly give her self at last In your Discourse let am'rous reasonings move A real Passion shall your Thoughts improve Your Sense shall less instruct you than your Love Reason she crys no such request demands Reason avaunt urge these are Love's commands And speaking sigh and press more close her hands Then if she smiles that smile the Grant insures By all my Art if I have Art She 's yours Sorrow WEep if thou can'st or if thou can'st not feign The Sun shines warmest after Show'rs of Rain When She perceives you gaze with watry Eyes She thinks those dewy Drops from Fires arise By some feign'd Story first the Maid must know You can't believe Tears from your Eyes can flow She the remembrance in her Mind shall keep You saw your Mother dye yet could not weep Then when She sees you weeping at each Breath She thinks Love's pow'r beyond the pow'r of Death Strait the kind Nymph in your fond weakness shares For there 's a soft Infection lodg'd in Tears Thus even by Tears you shall the Virgin fire Like Oyl such Waters make Love's flames aspire Tho' you weep not for Tears uncertain rise Bending aside yet seem to wipe your Eyes Now is the time your Blessings to improve Now is the time for happy mutual Love Urge now the Fair her Passion to confess Her Eyes speak Love nor let her Tongue speak less Fond tender Words soft as her Tears shall glide Love ever flows in Sorrow's gentle Tide Pity PErhaps at first She shall kind Pity own And cry you cannot think She 's perfect Stone If once She Pities let all Fears be past For none e're pity'd but She lov'd at last Pity Love's gentle Usher smooths her way Love after Pity makes no long delay Now are all Dangers past all Storms blown ore The bounding Vessel Gains the wisht-for Shore When most you see her kindness most seem blind And call her Cruel tho' you know her kind Allmost possest seem wholly to Despair Your Visits now for some short time forbear Feigning distracted Doubts you gain the Fair. By secret Wiles seem as your Soul were mov'd By other Charms as you some other lov'd Iealousie LOve like Religion can no Rival brook By this Device She shall be fastest took She only waits that you should draw the Hook Land spar'd a while returns the vaster Gain The cleaving Earth that gapes and thirsts for Rain Drinks greedier deep when Showers fall again You may you must from Visits now desist You shall be Charm'd when charg'd from being mist. Long long Experience this great Truth assures Believing you some others She grows yours Money nor Health we value while possest But when once lost oft have sad Sighs exprest Could we again obtain how much should we be blest Thus 't is with Love the best the dearest Wealth The truest Blessing and the sweetest Health Thus whilst vain coyness in the Virgin reigns What most She values She the most disdains So will the peevish Child that Toy despise For which when once hurl'd crosly down he crys Observe my Rules drawn from experienc'd skill And go off Conquering
so to Conquer still Absence AS I must teach your Presence how to Fire Not less your absence does my Art require For some short time keep wholy from her sight Write not in hast tho' you at last may Write Now at each turn cross by her in the Street At every Corner the dear Charmer meet Before her move and now behind her stay And seem as chance not purpose led your Way Let your Eyes languish your Head droop look pale Seem sickly She may ask you what you ail You no true Cause of your feign'd Sickness tell Bow as She speaks and Answer you are Well In some sad Posture heavy Sadness show Say you are Well or hope will soon be so If She without this Notice passes by Salute her only with your glancing Eye Let no weak fondness on your Soul intrude Love 's more than civil when it thus seems rude Give not the common Complements in use Yet oft sail softly by the Charmer's House Pride AS you pass by perhaps She laughs aloud Seems of those Trophies She has lost grown proud Wave you your hand your neck be humbly bow'd False are those Triumphs Fair One Which you boast You cannot slight those Conquests you have lost As I direct salute her seeming slight Appear to thank her for her fleering Spight Amongst her Maids might the true Cause be guest What mov'd her laughter was some trifling Jest. Whilst She jocosely her feign'd Scorn shall shew Seem to conceive She made the Jest at you Half Mad walk on amend your tardy pace And as you turn some Corner turn your Face Give a short scorning glance but stand not do not gaze Now shall her laughter vex the Charmer more As She believes it anger'd you before You past from sight She and her Maids a while Again shall laugh and at that Laughter smile On let their Mirth still in new Thunders rowl Inward She 's rack'd and tortur'd to the Soul I know thy subtlest Wiles deceitful Fair Nor will be cheated with thy guilded Air. Now do'st thou Wish his Visits were renew'd And wish with Pain thou might'st again be woo'd Thus have I seen the sportive Children stand Pulling some Rope with their enervate Hand All their Collected little Strength they try And draw and strain but if you Conquer cry Let fly the end they smile and are in pain Till they have given it you to pull again Coldness NOw She walks oft abroad to take the Air. Frequents those Groves frequented by the Fair The Park the Mall where the sond Sparks repair You seen at distance known yet still She asks Crys is that he and e're She 's answer'd masks Why this Device ye subtile masking Fair Ye best dissemble with your Faces bare A double Mask is too too much to wear Why must those Clouds obscure your radiant Eyes From such Deformity can Beauty rise Why are you hid when longing to be known Dare you not Fight without your Armour on As you pass by the subtile Fair shall turn She hopes you know her noted Garments worn Seem not to know let no Salute be paid But Rally mildly sharp the masking Maid Perhaps the kind Attendant shall display Her waving Handkerchief to Court your stay If the White Flag flies waving to the Field The Warriour knows the Charming Fort will yield The Maid perchance with an alluring Grace Grants some quick Scetches of her simpring Face Whilst her spread Fan held cunningly is born That very Fan you had so lately torn Becks with her Hand and now turns short now stands Do you return her Beckons with your Hands Oft She allures you with well-shifted Scenes While you still seem unknowing what She means Beauty 's a Feast to which you should be prest Invited oft to be a wellcome Guest Who seems to shun the Blessing most is blest He who of each Advantage will take hold Fearful appears Designing but not bold Catching at all who every Scent pursues Shall follow Shadows and the Substance lose Thus by loose Play soft Squires are soon drawn in Gamesters stand ever longest out who win Observe my Rules drawn from experienc'd Skill And stand off Conquering so to Conquer still Reading perhaps in the obscurest Grove The Fair One sits some Bock that treats of Love Ev'n Sylvius Numbers may perhaps be read Tho' not my self my Verse may charm the Maid With folded Arms pass Melancholly by Now softly Murmur and now softly sigh Pass back again and yet again return And seem the loss of some dear Friend to Mourn Your languid Arms cross your sad Breast be thrown You press her Heart whilst thus you press your own Enter at last made by your Passion fleet And throw your self beneath the Charmer's Feet Your struggling Lips abortive Accents break Seem much to strive but do not do not speak As frighted out She rushes like the Wind You must expect you will a Tempest find Perhaps She leaves my slighted Book behind So high her rais'd Resentment may be born Perhaps not slighted only 't will be torn Observe my Rules drawn from experienc'd Skill Go on repulst yet so to Conquer still Lift up my Lines pursue her as She flyes Persent them humbly to her angry Eyes Let my soft Verse be to her Hands restor'd Tell her scorn'd Love inspir'd each flowing word Tell her this satal Truth None ever lov'd like Sylvius none ador'd Tell her for this I know you long to tell And I allow it Vow you love as well If to receive my Book you find her free Sigh then and speak as if you envy'd me The Reward SUccess sufficient in this Charm I boast This only gain'd my Labours are not lost Who would not Write while Love commanding stands Who would not love Held in such tender bands She clasps my living numbers in her Hands In her fair Hands my tuneful Numbers rowl And if She reads they flow into her Soul Tuneful indeed is all my Artful Song And like a silver Current glides along Whilst warbled sweetly from her fluent Tongue As my soft Verse the moving Virgin speaks Not I but She the melting Numbers makes Thus Orpheus play'd thus at his tuneful call Saw the charm'd Stones in Artful measures fall Thus play'd Amphion too Thus built his Fame building the Theban Wall Close is my Book prest by the angry Maid Nor you nor I can hope She now shall read Blest be those Hands which press my Numbers so My melting Soul does in those Numbers flow Beyond my self I find my Verses blest Their Author may not by those Hands be prest Fate of Poets MY Book fair bound perhaps the Maid receives For guilded Cover and for golden Leaves Curst be the Artist who the pains shall take No golden Present to the Fair I make I charge you cease your impious hands with-hold Against my Will must I present her Gold The Sex would Midas golden Wish restore And turn whate'er they touch to shining Oare As Midas did may such fair Misers