Art of Love
- 1.615.701
Both maids and matrons hold their beauty dear.
- 1.615.702
Once naked Pallas with Jove's queen appear'd,
- 1.615.703
And still they grieve that Venus was preferr'd.
- 1.615.704
Praise the proud peacock, and lie spreads his train:
- 1.615.705
Be silent, and lie pulls it in again.
- 1.615.706
Pleas'd is the courser in his rapid race;
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Applaud his running, and he mends his pace.
- 1.615.708
But largely promise and devoutly swear,
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And, if need be, call ev'ry god to hear.
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Jove sits above, forgiving with a smile
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The perjuries that easy maids beguile.
- 1.615.712
He swore to Juno by the Stygian lake;
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Forsworn, lie dares not an example make,
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Or punish falsehood, for his own dear sake.
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'Tis for our interest the gods should be;
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Let us believe them; I believe they see,
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And both reward and punish equally.
- 1.615.718
Not that they live above like lazy drones,
- 1.615.719
Or kings below, supine upon their thrones;
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Lead then your lives as present in their sight;
- 1.615.721
Be just in dealings, and defend the right;
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By fraud betray not, nor oppress by might.
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But 'tis a venial sin to cheat the fair;
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All men have liberty of conscience there.
- 1.615.725
On cheating nymphs a cheat is well design'd,
- 1.615.726
'Tis a profane and a deceitful kind.
- 1.615.727
'Tis said that Egypt for nine years was dry,
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Nor Nile did floods, nor heav'n did rain supply.
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That slaughter'd guests would kindly moisture bring.
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The king replied, "On thee the lot shall fall;
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Be thou, my guest, the sacrifice for all."
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Thus Phalaris Perillus taught to low,
- 1.615.733
And made him season first the brazen cow.
- 1.615.734
A rightful doom, the laws of nature cry,
- 1.615.735
'Tis, the artificers of death should die.
- 1.615.736
Thus justly women suffer by deceit,
- 1.615.737
Their practice authorises us to cheat.
- 1.615.738
Beg her, with tears, thy warm desires to grant;
- 1.615.739
For tears will pierce a heart of adamant.
- 1.615.740
If tears will not be squeezed, then rub your eye,
- 1.615.741
Or 'noint the lids, and seem at least to cry.
- 1.615.742
Kiss, if you can; resistance if she make,
- 1.615.743
And will not give you kisses, let her take.
- 1.615.744
" Fy, fy, you naughty man," are words of course;
- 1.615.745
She struggles but to be subdu'd by force.
- 1.615.746
Kiss only soft, I charge you, and beware
- 1.615.747
With your hard bristles not to brush the fair.
- 1.615.748
He who has gain'd a kiss, and gains no more,
- 1.615.749
Deserves to lose the bliss he got before.
- 1.615.750
If once she kiss, her meaning is exprest;
- 1.615.751
There wants but little pushing for the rest;
- 1.615.752
Which if thou dost not gain, by strength or art,
- 1.615.753
The name of clown then suits with thy desert;
- 1.615.754
'Tis downright dulness, and a shameful part.
- 1.615.755
Perhaps she calls it force, but if she 'scape,
- 1.615.756
She will not thank you for th' omitted rape.
- 1.615.757
The sex is cunning to conceal their fires;
- 1.615.758
They would be forc'd e'en to their own desires.
- 1.615.759
They seem t' accuse you with a down-cast sight,
- 1.615.760
But in their souls confess you did them right.
- 1.615.761
Who might be forc'd, and yet untouch'd depart,
- 1.615.762
Thank with their tongues, but curse you with their heart.
- 1.615.763
Fair Phoebe and her sister did prefer,
- 1.615.764
To their dull mates, the noble ravisher.
- 1.681.765
What Deidamia did in days of yore,
- 1.681.766
The tale is old but worth the telling o'er.
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When Venus had the golden apple gain'd,
- 1.681.768
And the just judge fair Helen had obtained;
- 1.681.769
When she with triumph was at Troy receiv'd,
- 1.681.770
The Trojans joyful, while the Grecians griev'd:
- 1.681.771
They vow'd revenge of violated laws,
- 1.681.772
And Greece was arming in the cuckold's cause;
- 1.681.773
Achilles, by his mother warn'd from war,
- 1.681.774
Disguis'd his sex, and lurk'd among the fair.
- 1.681.775
What means Aeacides to spin and sew ?
- 1.681.776
With spear and sword in field thy valour show!
- 1.681.777
And leaving this, the noble Pallas know.
- 1.681.778
Why dost thou in that hand the distaff wield,
- 1.681.779
Which is more worthy to sustain the shield?
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Or with that other draw the woolly twine,
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The same the fates for lector's thread assign?
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Banish thy falchion in thy powerful hand,
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Which can alone the pond'rous lance command.
- 1.681.784
In the same room by chance the royal maid
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Was lodg'd, and, by his seeming sex, betrayed,
- 1.681.786
Close to her side the youthful hero laid.
- 1.681.787
I know not how his courtship he began;
- 1.681.788
But, to her cost, she found it was a man.
- 1.681.789
'Tis thought she struggled, but withal 'tis thought
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Her wish was to be conquer'd, when she fought.
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For when disclos'd, and hast'ning to the field,
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He laid his distaff down and took the shield,
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With tears her humble suit she did prefer,
- 1.681.794
And thought to stay the grateful ravisher.
- 1.681.795
She sighs, she sobs, she begs him not to part;
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And now 'tis nature what before was art.
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She strives by force her lover to detain,
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And wishes to be ravish'd once again.
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This is the sex; they will not first begin,
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But when compelled, are pleas'd to suffer sin.
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