Art of Love
- 1.263.301
Now let me sing, how she who wounds your mind,
- 1.263.302
With art, may be to cure your wounds inclined.
- 1.263.303
Young nobles, to my laws attention lend,
- 1.263.304
And all you vulgar of my school attend.
- 1.263.305
First then believe, all women may be won;
- 1.263.306
Attempt with confidence, the work is done.
- 1.263.307
The grasshopper shall first forbear to sing
- 1.263.308
In summer season, or the birds in spring;
- 1.263.309
Than women can resist your flatt'ring skill;
- 1.263.310
E'en she will yield who swears she never will.
- 1.263.311
To secret pleasures both the sexes move;
- 1.263.312
But women most, who most dissemble, love;
- 1.263.313
'Twere best for us, if they would first declare;
- 1.263.314
Avow their passion, and submit to prayer.
- 1.263.315
The cow by looing tells the bull her flame;
- 1.263.316
The neighing mare invites her stallion to the game.
- 1.263.317
Man is more temp'rate in his lust than they;
- 1.263.318
And more than woman can his passion sway.
- 1.263.319
Biblis, we know, did first her love declare,
- 1.263.320
And had recourse to death in her despair.
- 1.263.321
Her brother she, her father Myrrha sought;
- 1.263.322
And lov'd; but lov'd not as a daughter ought.
- 1.263.323
Now from a tree she stills her od'rous tears;
- 1.263.324
Which yet the name of her who shed 'em bear.
- 1.263.325
In Ida's shady vale a bull appeared,
- 1.263.326
White as the snow, the fairest of the herd;
- 1.263.327
A beauty spot of black there only rose,
- 1.263.328
Betwixt his equal horns and ample brows;
- 1.263.329
The love and wish of all the Cretan cows.
- 1.263.330
The queen beheld him as his head he rear'd;
- 1.263.331
And envied ev'ry leap he gave the herd.
- 1.263.332
A secret fire she nourished in her breast;
- 1.263.333
And hated ev'ry heifer he caress'd.
- 1.263.334
A story known, and known for true, I tell;
- 1.263.335
Nor Crete, though lying, can the truth conceal.
- 1.263.336
She cut him grass (so much can love command)
- 1.263.337
She strok'd, she fed him with her royal hand;
- 1.263.338
Was pleas'd in pastures with the herd to roam,
- 1.263.339
And Minos by the bull was overcome.
- 1.263.340
Cease, Queen, with gems t'adorn thy beauteous brows,
- 1.263.341
The monarch of thy heart no jewel knows.
- 1.263.342
Nor in thy glass compose thy looks and eyes;
- 1.263.343
Secure from all thy charms thy lover lies:
- 1.263.344
Yet trust thy mirror, when it tells thee true,
- 1.263.345
Thou art no heifer to allure his view.
- 1.263.346
Soon wouldst thou quit thy royal diadem
- 1.263.347
To thy fair rivals; to be horned like them.
- 1.263.348
If Minos please, no lover seek to find;
- 1.263.349
If not, at least seek one of human kind.
- 1.263.350
The wretched queen the Cretan court forsakes;
- 1.263.351
In woods and wilds her habitation makes;
- 1.263.352
She curses ev'ry beauteous cow she sees;
- 1.263.353
"Ah, why dost thou my lord and master please!
- 1.263.354
And think'st, ungrateful creature as thou art,
- 1.263.355
With frisking awkardly to gain his heart."
- 1.263.356
She said; and straight commands with frowning look,
- 1.263.357
To put her, undeserving, to the yoke.
- 1.263.358
Or feigns some holy rites of sacrifice,
- 1.263.359
And sees her rival's death with joyful eyes;
- 1.263.360
Then when the bloody priest has done his part,
- 1.263.361
Pleas'd, in her hand she holds the beating heart;
- 1.263.362
Nor from a scornful taunt can scarce refrain,
- 1.263.363
Go, fool, and strive to please my love again"
- 1.263.364
Now she would be Europa.—Io now;
- 1.263.365
(One bare a bull. and one was made a cow.)
- 1.263.366
Yet she at last her brutal bliss obtain'd,
- 1.263.367
And in a wooden cow the bull sustained;
- 1.263.368
Fill'd with his seed, accomplish'd her desire,
- 1.263.369
Till, by his form, the son betray'd the sire.
- 1.327.370
If Atreus' wife to incest had not run,
- 1.327.371
(But ah, how hard it is to love but one!)
- 1.327.372
His coursers Phoebus had not driv'n away,
- 1.327.373
To shun that sight, and interrupt the day.
- 1.327.374
Thy daughter, Nissus, pull'd thy purple hair;
- 1.327.375
And barking sea-dogs yet her bowels tear.
- 1.327.376
At sea and land Atrides sav'd his life;
- 1.327.377
Yet fell a prey to his adult'rous wife.
- 1.327.378
Who knows not what revenge Medea sought,
- 1.327.379
When the slain offspring bore the father's fault!
- 1.327.380
Thus Phoenix did a woman's love bewail;
- 1.327.381
And thus Hippolytus by Phaedra fell.
- 1.327.382
These crimes revengeful matrons did commit!
- 1.327.383
Hotter their lust, and sharper is their wit.
- 1.327.384
Doubt not from them an easy victory;
- 1.327.385
Scarce of a thousand dames will one deny.
- 1.327.386
All women are content that men should woo;
- 1.327.387
She who complains, and she who will not do.
- 1.327.388
Rest then secure, whate'er thy luck may prove,
- 1.327.389
Not to be hated for declaring love:
- 1.327.390
And yet how canst thou miss, since womankind
- 1.327.391
Is frail and vain; and still to change inclin'd?
- 1.327.392
Old husbands, and stale gallants, they despise;
- 1.327.393
And more another's than their own they prize.
- 1.327.394
A larger crop adorns our neighbour's field,
- 1.327.395
More milk his kine from swelling udders yield.
- 1.365.396
First gain the maid; by her thou shalt be sure
- 1.365.397
A free access, and easy to procure;
- 1.365.398
Who knows what to her office does belong,
- 1.365.399
Is in the secret, and can hold her tongue,
- 1.365.400
Bribe her with gifts, with promises, and pray'rs;
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