Art of Love

To find a rival in her injur'd bed.

With fire and sword she flies; the frantic dame

Disdains the thought of tenderness or shame.

Her offspring's blood enrag'd Medea spilt;

A cruel mother, for the father's guilt:

And Progne's unrelenting fury proves

That dire revenge pursues neglected loves.

Where sacred ties of honour are destroy'd,

Such 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 varied joys;

Desert the shades you did frequent before,

Nor make them conscious to a new amour

The nymph, when she betrays, disdains your guilt,

And by such falsehood taught, she learns to jilt.

While with a wife Atrides liv'd content,

Their loves were mutual, and she innocent;

But when inflam'd with every charming face,

Her lewdness still maintain'd an equal pace.

Chryses, as fame had told her, pray'd in vain,

Nor could by gifts his captive girl obtain;

Mournful Briseis, thy complaints she heard,

And how his lust the tedious war deferr'd.

This tamely heard, but with resentment view'd

The victor by his beauteous slave subdu'd;

With rage she saw her own neglected charms,

And took Aegisthus to her injur'd arms.

To lust and shame by his example led,

Who durst so openly profane her bed.

What you conceal, her more observing eye

Perhaps betrays: with oaths the fact deny,

And boldly give her jealousy the lie.

Not too submissive seem, nor over kind;

These are the symptoms of a guilty mind:

But no caresses, no endearments spare;

Enjoyment pacifies the angry fair.

There are, that strong provoking potions praise,

And nature with pernicious med'cines raise;

Nor drugs, nor herbs, will what you fancy prove,

And I pronounce 'em pois'nous all in love.

Some pepper bruis'd with seeds of nettle join,

And clary steep in bowls of mellow wine:

Venus is most averse to forced delights,

Extorted flames pollute her genial rites.

With fishes' spawn thy feeble nerves recruit,

And with eringo's hot salacious root;

The goddess worshipp'd by th' Erycian swains,

Megara's white shallot, so faint, disdains.

New eggs they take, and honey's liquid juice,

And leaves and apples of the pine infuse.

Prescribe no more, my muse, nor med'cine 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 flowing rein

Direct their steeds, then curb them in again.

Indulgence oft corrupts the faithless dame,

Secure from rivals she neglects your flame;

The mind without variety is cloy'd,

And nauseates pleasures it has long enjoy'd.

But as a fire whose wasted strength declines,

Converts to ashes and but faintly shines,

When sulphur's brought the spreading flames return,

And glowing embers with fresh fury burn:

A rival thus th' ungrateful maid reclaims,

Revives desire, and feeds her dying flames.

Oft make her jealous, give your fondness o'er,

And teaze her often with some new amour.

Happy, thrice happy youth, with pleasure bless'd,

Too great, too exquisite to be express'd,

That view'st the anguish of her jealous breast

Whene'er thy guilt the slighted beauty knows,

She swoons; her voice, and then her colour goes.

Oft would my furious nymph, in burning rage,

Assault my locks, and with her nails engage;

Then now she'd weep, what piercing glances east,

And vow to hate the perjur'd wretch at last.

Let not your mistress long your falsehood mourn;

Neglected fondness sill 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 died with pain.

Enjoyment cures her with its powerful charms,

She'll sign a pardon in your active arms.

First nature lay an undigested mass,

Heaven, earth, and ocean, wore one common face;

Then vaulted heav'n was fram'd, waves, earth, inclos'd;

And chaos was in beauteous forms dispos'd;

The beasts inhabit woods, the birds the air,