Stay, eager youth! your bark's but under sail;
The diftant port requires a profperous gale.
'Tis not enough the yielding beauty 's found,
And with my aid your artful paffion crown'd;
The conquefts our fuccéfsful conduct gain'd,
With art must be fecur'd, by arts maintain'd.
The glory's more to guard, than win the prize;
There all the toils and threatening danger lies.
If ever, Cupid, now indulgent prove,
O Venus! aid; thou charming Queen of Love!
Kind Erato, let thy aufpicious name
Infpire the work, and raife my generous flame.
The labour's great! a method I defign
For Love; and will the fetter'd god confine :
The god that roves the fpacious world around,
In every clime, and diftant region found;
Active and light, his wings elude our guard,
And to confine a deity is hard :

20

80

A medium keep, the winds obferve aright:
The winds will aid your advantageous fight.
He caution'd thus, and thus inform'd him long,
As careful birds inftruct their tender young:
The fpreading wings then to his fhoulders bound,
His body pois'd, and rais'd him from the ground. 85
Prepar'd for flight, his aged arms embrace

The tender youth, whilft tears o'erflow his face.
A hill there was, from whence the anxious pair
Effay'd their wings, and forth they launch'd in air:
Now his expanded plumes the artift pliés,
Regards his fon, and leads along the skies;
25 Pleas'd with the novelty of flight, the boy

Bounds in the air, and upwards fprings with joy.
The angler views them from the distant strand,
And quits the labours of his trembling hand.
Samos they pafs, and Naxos in their flight,
30 And Delos, with Apollo's prefence bright.
Now on their right Lebinthos' fhores they found,
For fruitful lakes and shady groves renown'd.
When the afpiring boy forgot his fears,
Rafh with hot youth and unexperienc'd years:
35 Upwards he foar'd, maintain'd a lofty ftroke,
And his directing father's way forfook.
The wax, of heat impatient, melted run,
Nor could his wings fuftain that blaze of fun.
From heaven he views the fatal depths below,
40 Whilft killing fears prevent the diftant blow.
His ftruggling arms now no affiftance find,
Nor poife the body, nor receive the wind.
Falling, his father he implores in vain,
To aid his flight, and finking limbs fuftain;
His name invokes, till the expiring found
Far in the floods with Icarus was drown'd.
The parent mourns, a parent now no more,
And feeks the absent youth on every shore;
Where's my lov'd fon, my learus! he cries';
Say in whar diftant region of the fkies,

His gueft from flight Minos inclos'd around,
Yet he with wings a daring paffage found.
Thus Dædalus her offspring first confin'd:
Who with a bull in lewd embraces join'd:
Her teeming womb the horrid crime confefs'd;
Big with a human bull, half man, half beaft.
Said he, juft Minos, beft of human-kind,
Thy mercy ler a proftrate exile find.
By fates compell'd my native fhores to fly,
Permit me, where I durft not live, to die.
Enlarge my fon, if you neglect my tears,
And how compaffion to his blooming years:
Let not the youth a long confinement mourn,
Oh free the fon, or let his fire return!
Thus he implor'd, but still implor'd in vain,
Nor could the freedom that he fought obtain.
Convinc'd at length: Now, Dædalus, he cry'd,
Here's fubject for thy art that's yet untry'd,
Minos the earth commands, and guards the fea,
No pass the land affords, the deep no way;
Heaven's only free, we'll heaven's aufpicious height
Attempt to pafs, where kinder fates invite!
Favour, ye powers above, my daring flight ;
Misfortunes oft prove to invention kind,
Inftruct our wit, and aid the labouring mind: *
For who can credit men, in wild defpair,
Should force a paffage through the yielding air!
Feathers for wings defign'd the artist chofe,
And bound with thread his forming pinions clofe:
With temper'd wax the pointed ends he wrought, 60
And to perfection his new labours brought.
The finish'd wings his fmiling offspring views,
Admires the work, not confcious of their ufe:
To whom the father faid, Obferve aright,
Obferve, my fon, thefe inftruments of flight.
In vain the tyrant our escape retards,

The heavens he cannot, all but heaven he guards;
Though earth and feas elude thy father's care,
Thefe wings fhall waft us through the spacious air.
Nor fhall my fon celeftial figns furvey,
Far from the radiant Virgin take your way:
Or where Bootes the chill'd north commands,
And with his faulchion dread Crion ftands?
I'll go before, me still retain in fight,
Where-e'er I lead, fecurely make your flight.
For fhould we upward foar too near the fun,
Diffolv'd with heat, the liquid wax will run :
Or near the feas an humbler flight maintain,
Our plumes will fuffer by the fteaming main.
VOL. V.

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115

50

Or faithlefs clime, the youthful wanderer flies!
Then view'd his pinions fcatter'd o'er the ftream,
The shore his bones receiv'd, the waves his name. 120
Minos with walls attempted to detain

55 His flying guefts, but did attempt in vain:
Yet the wing'd god fhall to our rules fubmit,
And Cupid yield to more prevailing wit.

65

Theffalian arts in vain rafh lovers ufe,
In vain with drugs the fcornful maid abuse:
The skilful'ft potions ineffectual prove,
Ufelefs are magic remedies in love:

125

Could charms prevail, Circe had prov'd her art,
And fond Medea fix'd her Jafon's heart.
Nor tempt with philters the difdainful dame;
They rage infpire, create a frantic flame:
Abftain from guilt, all vicious arts remove,
And make your paffior worthy of her love.
Diftruft your empty form and boafted face;
The nymph engage a thousand nobler ways:
To fix her vanquish'd heart intirely thine,
Accomplish'd graces to your native join.
Beauty's but frail, a charm that foon decays,
Its luftre fades as rolling years increase,
75 And age fill triumphs o'er the ruin'd face.
This truth the fair but fhort-liv'd lily fhows,
And prickles that furvive the faded rofe.
Learn, lovely boy, be with inftruction wife!
Beauty and youth mif-fpent are paft advice.
L

130

135

145

Then

185 No action, that a mistress gains, is base.
The hero that eluded Juno's fpite,
And every monster overcame in fight;
That paft fo many bloody labours o'er,

190 Amidft Ionian damfels carding stands,

And grafps the diftaff with obedient hands;
In all commands the haughty dame obeys;
And who difdains to act like Hercules ?
If the 's at law, be fure commend the laws,
Solicit with the judge, or plead her caufe.
195 With patience at the affignation wait,

Oh, how the 'll clafp you when the danger's o'er, 285
And value your deferving paffion more!
Thus through the boisterous feas Leander mov'd,
Not to poffefs, but show how much he lov'd.

295

Nor blushing think how low you condescend
To court her maids, and make each flave your friend:
Each by their names familiarly falute,
And beg them to promote your amorous fuit.
Ferhaps a bribe's requir'd; your bounty fhow,
And from your flender fortune part bestow.
A double bribe the chamber-maid fecures ;
And when the favorite 's gain'd, the fair is yours.
She'll add, to every thing you do, a grace,
And watch the wanton hours, and time her praise.
When fervants merry make, and feaft and play,
Then give her fomething to keep holiday.
Retain them every one, the porter most,
And her whe nightly guards the happy coast.

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305

View her with raptures, and with raptures praise. 350
Fierce as Medusa though your mistress prove,
These arts will teach the ftubborn beauty love.

355

360

365

370

Be cautious left you over-act your part,
Let no falfe action give your words the lie,
And temper your hypocrify with art:
For, undeceiv'd the 's ever after shy.
In Autumn oft, when the luxurious year
Purples the grape, and fhows the vintage near;
When fultry heats, when colder blasts arise,
And bodies languish with inconftant skies:
If vitious heaven infects her tender veins,
And in her tainted blood fome fever reigns;
Then your kind vows, your pious care bestow,
The bleffings you expect to reap, then fow:
Think nothing naufeous in her loath'd difeafe,
But with your ready hand contrive to please:
Weep in her fight, then fonder kiffes give,
And let her burning lips your tears receive.
Much for her fafety vow, but louder speak,
Let the nymph hear the lavish vows you make.
As health returns, fo let your joys appear,
Oft fmile with hope, and oft confefs your fear.
This in her breaft remains, these pleasing charms
Secure a paffage to her grateful arms.
Reach nothing naufeous to her tafte or fight,
Officious only when you most delight:
Nor bitter draughts, nor hated medicines give:
Let her from rivals what the loaths receive.
Thofe profperous winds that launch'd our bark from
When out at fea aflift its courfe no more:
Time will your knowledge in our art improve,
Give ftrength and vigour to your forming love.
The dreadful bull was but a calf when young;
The lofty oak but from an acorn fprung:
From narrow fprings the nobleft currents Aow,
320 But fwell their floods, and fpread them as they go.
Be converfant with love, no toils refufe,
And conquer all fatigues with frequent ufe.
Still let her hear your fighs, your paffion view,
And night and day the flying maid pursue.

I no profufe nor costly gifts commend,
But choose and time it well, whate'er you fend.
Provide the product of the early year,
And let your boy the rural prefent bear;
Tell her 'twas fresh, and from your manor brought,
Though ftale, and in the fuburb market bought,
The first ripe cluster let your mistress eat,
With chefnuts, melons, and fair peaches treat,
Some larger fish, or choicer fowl prefent:
They recommend your paffion, where they're fent.
'Tis with thefe arts the childless mifer's caught,
Thus future legacies are bafely bought :
But may his name with infamy be curft,
That practis'd them on love, and woman first!

In tender fonnets moft your flame rehearse,
But who, alas of late are mov'd by verfe?
Women a wealthy-treating fool admire,
Applaud your wit, but coftly gifts require.
This is the golden age, all worship gold,
Honors are purchas'd, Love and Beauty fold.
Should Homer come with his harmonious train,
And not prefent, Homer 's turn'd out again.

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Some of the sex have sense, their number's fmall; 325 Then paufe a while; by fallow fields we gain;
Moft ignorant, yet vain pretenders all:
Flatter aright, fmooth empty ftanzas fend;

They feldom fenfe, but found and rhyme commend.
Should you with art compofe each polish'd line,
And make her, like your numbers, all divine:

Yet the 'll a treat, or worthlefs toy prefer

To all th' immortal poet's boafted care.

375

[fhore,

385

399

330

335

A thirty foil receives the welcome rain.
Phyllis was calm while with Demophoon blefs'd,
His abfence wounded most her raging breaft:
Thus his chafte confort for Ulyffes burn'd,
And Laodamia thus her abfent husband mourn'd:
With speed return, you're ruin'd by delays,
Some happy youth may foon fupply your place.
When Sparta's prince was from his Helen gone,
Could Helen be content to lie alone?
She in his bed receiv'd her amorous guest,
And nightly clafp'd him to her panting breaft.
Unthinking cuckold, to a proverb blind!
What, trust a beau and a fair wife behind!
Let furious hawks thy trembling turtles keep,
340 And to the mountain wolves commit thy sheep:

395

405

Helen

But not the foaming boar whom spears furround,
Revenging on the dogs his mortal wound,
Nor lionefs, whofe young receive the breaft,
Nor viper by unwary footsteps preft;
Nor drunkard by th' Aonian god poffeft,
Tranfcend the woman's rage, by fury led,
To find a rival in her injur'd bed.

485.

420 And naufeates pleasures it has long enjoy'd.
But as a fire, whofe wafted ftrength declines,
Converts to afhes, and but faintly shines;
When fulphur's brought, the spreading flames return,
And glowing embers with fresh fury burn;

425 A rival thus th' ungrateful maid reclaims,
Revives defire, and feeds her dying flames:
Oft make her jealous, give your fondness o'er,
And teaze her often with fome new amour.
Happy, thrice happy youth, with pleasures bleft,
430 Too great, too exquilite to be expreit,

435

With fire and fword fhe flies, the frantic dame
Difdains the thoughts of tenderness or shame.
Her offspring's blood enrag'd Medea fpilt,
A cruel mother, for the father's guilt.
And Progne's unrelenting fury proves,
That dire revenge purfues neglected loves.
Where facred ties of honor are destroy'd,
Such errors cautious lovers must avoid.
Think not my precepts conftancy enjoin,
Venus avert! far nobler's my design.
At large enjoy, conceal your paffion well,
Nor ufe the modifh vanity to tell:
Avoid prefenting of fufpected toys,
Nor to an hour confine your varied joys:
Defert the fhades you did frequent before,
Nor make them confcious to a new amour.
The nymph, when the betrays, difdains your guilt,
And, by fuch falfehood taught, fhe learns to jilt.
While with a wife Atrides liv'd content,
Their loves were mutual, and the innocent:
But when inflam'd with every charming face,
Her lewdnefs ftill maintain'd an equal pace.
Chryfes, as fame had told her, pray'd in vain,
Nor could by gifts his captive girl obtain ;
Mournful Brifeïs, thy complaints she heard,
And how his luft the tedious war deferr'd.
This tamely heard, but with refentment view'd
The victor by his beauteous slave subdued;
With rage the faw her own neglected charms,
And took Ægifthus to her injur'd arms.
To luft and shame by his example led,
Who durft fo openly profane her bed.

What you conceal, her more obferving eye
Perhaps betrays: with oaths the fact deny ;
And boldly give her jealousy the lie;
Not too fubmiffive feem, nor over-kind;
Thefe are the fymtoms of a guilty mind:"
But no carefes, no endearments fpare,
Enjoyment pacifies the angry fair.

There are, that strong provoking potions praise,
And nature with pernicious medicines raife;
Nor drugs, nor herbs, will what you fancy prove,
And I pronounce them poifons all in love.
Some pepper bruis'd with feeds of nertles join,
And clay steep in bowls of mellow wine;
Venus is most averfe to forc'd delights,
Extorted flames pollute her genial rites;
With fishes fpawn thy feeble nerves recruit,
And with eringo's hot falacious root:
The goddess worshipp'd by th' Erycian fwains
Megara's white fhallo, fo faint, difdains.
New eggs they ke, and honey's liquid juice,
And leaves and apples of the pine infufe.

That view'ft the anguish of her jealous breast!
Whene'er thy guilt the flighted, beauty, knows,
She fwoons ; her voice, and then her colour goes.
Oft would my furious nymph, in burning rage,
| Affault my locks, and with her nails engage ;
Then how she'd weep, what piercing glances caft!
And vow to hate the perjur'd wretch at last.
Let not your mistress long your falfehood mourn:
Neglected fondnefs will to fury turn.

440 | But kindly clafp her in your arms again,
And on your breaft her drooping head fuftain:
Whilst weeping kiss, amidst her tears enjoy,
And with excefs of blifs her rage destroy."
Let her awhile lament, awhile complain,
Then die with pleasure, as the dy'd with pain.
Enjoyment cures her with its powerful charms,'
She'll fign a pardon in your active arms.

445

First nature lay an undigested mafs,

490

}

500

505

510,

Heaven, earth, and ocean, wore one common face: 515

450 Then vaulted heaven was fram'd, waves earth inclos'd;"
And Chaos was in beauteous form difpos'd;
The beafts inhabit woods, the birds the air,
And to the floods the fcaly fry repair.
Mankind alone enjoy'd no certain place,

520

455 On rapine liv'd, a rude unpolish'd race:

460

465 And fporting fish their finny beauties find:
In amorous folds the wanton ferpents twine,
And dogs with their falacious females join.
The lufty bull delights his frifking dames,
And more lafcivious goat her male inflames.
470 Mares furious grow with love, their boundaries force
Plunging through waves to meet the neighing horfe.

535