THE

ART OF LOVE:

IN IMITATION OF

OVID DE ARTE AMANDI.

BY W. KIN G, LL. D.

The virtuous disposition of our Author is no where more remarkably distinguished than in this piece; wherein both the fubject and the example fo naturally lead into fome lefs chafte images, fome loofer love which stands in need of a remedy. BIOG, BRIT.

Eldeft Son of his Excellency the Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery; Baron Herbert of Caerdiff, Rofs of Kendal, Parr, Fitzhugh Marmion, St. Quintin, and Herbert of Shutland; Knight of the Garter, &c. &c.

MY LORD,

TH
Tthe folowers and temper your for, as

HE following lines are written on a fubject that will naturally be protected by the goodness and temper of your Lordship: for, as the advantages of your mind and perfon mult kindle the flames of Love in the coldeft breaft; fo you are of an age moft fufceptible of them in your own. You have acquired all thofe accomplishments at home, which others are forced to feek abroad; and have given the world affurance, by fuch beginnings, that you will foon be qualified to fill the highest Offices of the Crown with the fame univerfal applaufe that has conftantly attended your illuftrious Father in the discharge of them. For the good of your Pofterity, may you ever be happy in the choice of what you love! And though thefe rules will be of fmall ufe to you that can frame much better; yet let me beg leave that, by dedicating them to your fervice, I may have the honour of telling the world, that I am obliged to your Lordship; and that I am most entirely

Your Lordship's

Moft faithful humble fervant,

WILLIAM KING.

Henry Lord Herbert fucceeded to his father's titles in 1732, and died in 1749. N.

IT

PREFACE.

T is endeavoured, in the following Poems, to give the Readers of both sexes soms ideas of the Art of Love; fuch a Love as is innocent and virtuous, and whose defires terminate in prefent happinefs and that of poilerity. It would be in vain to think of doing it without help from the Ancients, amongst whom none has touched that paffion more tenderly and juftly than Ovid. He knew that he bore the mastership in that Art; and therefore, in the Fourth Book De Triftibus, when he would give fome account of himself to future ages, he calls himself "Tenerorum Lufor Amorum," as if he gloried principally in the defcriptions he had made of that paffion.

The prefent imitation of him is at least such a one as Mr. Dryden mentions, "to be "an endeavour of a later Poet to write like one who has written before him on the "fame fubject; that is, not to tranflate his words, or be confined to his fense, but only "to fet him as a pattern, and to write as he fuppofes that Author would have done, "had he lived in our age and in our country. But he dares not say that Sir John Den"ham*, or Mr. Cowley,, have carried this Libertine way, as the latter calls it, fo far 66 as this definition reaches." But, alas! the prefent Imitator has come up to it, if not perhaps exceeded it. Sir John Denham had Virgil, and Mr. Cowley had Pindar, to deal with, who both wrote upon lafting foundations: but the prefent fubject being Love, it would be unreasonable to think of too great a confinement to be laid on it. And though the paffion and grounds of it will continue the fame through all ages; yet there will be many little modes, fashions, and graces, ways of complaifance and addrefs, entertainments and diverfions, which time will vary. Since the world will expect new things, and perfons will write, and the Ancients have fo great a fund of Learning; whom can the Moderns take better to copy than fuch originals? It is mot likely they may not come up to them; but it is a thousand to one but their imitation is better than any clumfy invention of their own. Whoever undertakes this way of writing, has as much reafon to understand the true scope, genius, and force of the expreffions of his Author, as a literal Translator: and, after all, he lies under this misfortune, that the faults are all his own; and, if there is any thing that may seem pardonable, the Latin † at the bottom fhews to whom he is engaged for it. An Imitator and his Author ftand much upon the fame terms as Ben does with his Father in the Comedy ‡ :

"What thof he be my Father, I an't bound Prentice to 'en." There were many reafons why the Imitator tranfpofed several Verfes of Ovid, and has divided the whole into Fourteen Parts, rather than keep it in Three Books. Theit may be too tedious to be recited; but, among the reft, fome were, that matters of the fame fubject might lie more compact; that too large a heap of precepts together might appear too burthenfome; and therefore (if fmall matters may allude to greater; a Virgil in his " Georgicks," fo here most of the parts end with fome remarkable Fabk, which carries with it fome Moral: yet, if any perfons please to take the Six firft Par! as the First Book, and divide the Eight laft, they may make Three Books of them again. There have by chance fome twenty lines crept into the Poem out of the "Remedy of "Love," which (as inanimate things are generally the moft wayward and provoking) fince they would flay, have been fuffered to ftand there. But as for the Love here mentioned, it being all prudent, honourable, and virtuous, there is no need of any remedy to be preferibed for it, but the fpcedy obtaining of what it defires. Should the Imitator's flyle feem not to be fufficiently refrained, thould he not have afforded pains for review or correction, let it be confidered, that perhaps even in that he defired to imitate his Author, and would not perufe them; lett, as fome of Ovid's Works were, fo these might be committed to the flames. But he leaves that for the Reader to do, if he pleafes, when he has bought them.

• Dryden alludes to "The Deftruction of Troy, &c." N.

In the first editions of the "Art of Cookery," and of the "Art of Love," Dr. King prince the criginal under the refpective pages of his tranflations. N.

} Congreve's Love for Love. N.

"HOEVER knows not what it is TO LOVE,
Let him but read thefe verfes, and improve.
Swift fhips are rul'd by art, and ears, and fails :
Skill guides our chariots; Wit o'er Love prevails.
Automedon with reins let loofe could fly; 5
Tiphys with Argo's fhip cut waves and sky..
In Love-affairs I'm charioteer of Truth,
And fureft pilot to incautious youth.
Love's hot, unruly, eager to enjoy ;
But then confider he is but a boy.

IO'

By lofty trees in royal gardens made;
Or at St. James's, where a noble care
Makes all things pleafing like himself appear; 70
Or Kensington, fweet air and bleft retreat

Of him, that owns a Sovereign, though most
great *.

Sometimes in wilder groves, by chariots drawn,
They view the noble flag and tripping fawn.
On Hyde Park's circles if you chance to gaze, 75
The lights revolving ftrike you with amaze.

To Bath and Tunbridge they fametimes retreat,
With waters to difpel the parching heat:
But youth with reafon there may oft' admire
That which may raife in him a nobler fire;
Till the kind Fair relieves what he endures,
zo Caus'd at that water which all others cures.

Chiron with pleafing harp Achilles tam 'd,
And his rough manners with foft mufick fram'd:
Though he 'd in council ftorm, in battle rage,
He bore a fecret reverence for age.
Chiron's command with strict obedience ties 15
The finewy arm by which brave Hector dies:
That was his task, but fiercer Love is mine:
They both are boys, and fprung from race divine.
The ftiff-neck'd bull does to the yoke fubmit,
And the most fiery courfer champs the bit.
So Love fhall yield. I own, I've been his flave;
But conquer'd where my enemy was brave :
And now he darts his fiames without a wound,
And all his whistling arrows die in found.
Nor will I raise my fame by hidden art;
In what I teach, found reafon fhall have part:
For nature's paffion cannot be destroy'd,

25

30

35

But moves in Virtue's path when well employ'd.
Yet ftill 'twill be convenient to remove
The tyranny and plagues of vulgar love.
May infant Chastity, grave matron's pride,
A parent's wish, and blushes of a bride,
Protect this Work; fo guard it, that no rhyme
In fyllable or thought may vent a crime!
The Soldier, that Love's armour would defy,
Will find his greatest courage is to fly:
When Beauty's amorous glances parley beat,
The only conqueft then is to retreat :
But, if the treacherous Fair pretend to yield,
Tis prefent death unless you quit the field.
Whilft youth and vanity would make you range,
Think on fome beauty may prevent your change:
But fuch by falling fkies are never caught;
No happiness is found but what is fought.
The huntfman learns where does trip o'er the
lawn,

40

45

80

85

Sometimes at marriage rites you may espy
Their charms protected by a mother's eye,
Where to bleft mufick they in dances move,
With innocence and grace commanding love.
But yearly when that folemn night returns,
When grateful incenfe on the altar burns,
For closing the most glorious day e'er feen,
That first gave light to happy Britain's Queen; 90
Then is the time for noble youth to try
To make his choice with a judicious eye.
Not truth of foreign realms, not fables told
Of Nymphs ador'd, and Goddeffes of old,
Equal thofe beauties who that circle frame;
A fubject fit for never-dying fame :
Whofe gold, pearl, diamonds, all around them
thrown,

Yet fill can add no luftre to their own.

95

But when their Queen does to the Senate go,
And they make up the grandeur of the show; 100
Then guard your hearts, ye makers of our laws,
For fear the judge be forc'd to plead his caufe;
Left the fubmiflive part fhould fall to you,
And they who fuppliants help be forc'd to sue.
Then may their yielding hearts compaflion take,
And grant your wifbes, for your country's fake :
Eafe to their beauties' wounds may goodness give;
And, fince you make all happy, let you live.

Sometimes thefe Beauties on Newmarket plains,
Ruling their gentle pads with filken reins,

*George Prince of Denmark, confort to the Queen, greatly admired the fe fine gardens.-They were purchafed by King Williant from Lord Chan-, cellor Finch; were enlarged by Queen Mary; and improved by Queen Anne, who was fo pleafed with the place, that the frequently fupped during the fummer in the Grecu-houie. Queen Caroline extended the garders to their p int fize, three miles and a half in comp is. N.

"What is the gold adorns this royal state? "Is it not hammer'd all from Vigo's plate? "Don't it require a moft prodigious care "To manage treafures in the height of war? "Muft he not be of calmeft truth poffeft, "Prefides o'er councils of the Royal breaft? takes" Sea-fights are furely difmal fcenes of war! "Pray, Sir, were ever you at Gibraltar? "Has not the Emperor got fome Envoy here? "Won't Danish, Swedish, Pruffian Lords ap

Therefore, if chance fhould make her faddle flide," Was it the Conqueror's business to deftroy, 185

284

And neighbouring Jades refolv'd to tarry, 225 | In gentle sounds disclose a Lover's care,
Rather than with fuch Scrubs they'd marry.
But, for to cheat them, and be wiv'd,
They knavifhly a farce contriv'd.
No gilded pillars there were seen,
Nor was the cloth they trod on green.
No Ghosts came from the cellar crying,
Nor Angels from the garret flying.

'Tis better than your fighing and despair.
Birds may abhor their groves, the flocks the plain,
The Hare grown bold may face the Dogs again,
When Beauty don't in Virtue's arms rejoice,

230 Since Harmony in Love is Nature's voice.
But harden'd Impudence fometimes will try
At things which Juftice cannot but deny.
Then, what that fays is Infolence and Pride,
Is Prudence, with firm Honour for its guide.
The Lady's counfels often are betray'd
By trufting fecrets to a fervile Maid,

The Houfe was made of flicks and bushes,
And all the Floor was ftrew'd with rushes:
The Seats were rais'd with turf and fods, 235
Whence Heroes might be view'd, and Gods.
Paris and Helen was the Play,

And how both of them ran away.

Romulus bade his varlets go

Invite the Sabines to his fhow.

Unto this Opera no rate is;

They all were free to come in gratis:
And they, as girls will feldom mifs
A merry meeting, came to this.

290

The whole intrigues of whose infidious brain 295
Are base, and only terminate in gain.
Let them take care of too diffufive mirth;

300

240 Sufpicions thence, and thence attempts, take birth.
Had Ilium been with gravity employ'd,
By Sinon's craft it had not been destroy'd.
A vulgar air, mean fongs, and free discourse,
With fly infinuations, may prove worse
To tender Females than the Trojan Horse.

246

There was much wifhing, fighing, thinking,
Not without whispering, and winking.
Their pipes had then no fhaking touch:
Their fong and dance were like the Dutch :
The whole performance was by men,
Because they had no Eunuchs then.
But, whilst the mufick briskly play'd,
Romulus at his cue difplay'd,

The fign for each man to his maid.

250

"Huzza!" they cry; then feize: fome tremble In real fact, though moft diffemble.

Some are attempting an efcape,

And others foftly cry,

255

"A rape Whilft fome bawl out, "That they had rather "Than twenty pound lose an old father." 259 Some look extremely pale, and others red, Some with they'd ne'er been born, or now were dead,

And others fairly wish themselves a-bed.

Some rant, tear, run; whilft fome fit ftill,
To fhew they 're ravish'd much against their will.
Thus Rome began; and now at last,
After fo many ages past,

Take care how you from Virtue ftray;
For Scandal follows the fame way,
And more than Truth it will devife.
Old Poets did delight in lies,
Which modern ones now call furprize.
Some fay that Myrrha lov'd her Father,
That Byblis lik'd her Brother rather.
And in fuch tales old Greece did glory:
Amongst the which, pray take this Story.

305

310

315

Crete was an Ifle, whofe fruitful nations
Swarm'd with an hundred corporations,
And there upon Mount Ida ftood
A venerable fpacious wood,
Within whofe centre was a grove
Immortalized by birth of Jove :
In vales below a Bull was fed,
Whom all the Kine obey'd as head;
Betwixt his horns a tuft of black did grow,
But all the rest of him was driven fnow.
(Our tale to truth does not confine us.)
At the fame time one Juftice Minos,
That liv'd hard-by, was married lately;
And, that his bride might fhew more ftately,
When through her pedigree he run,

320

325

265

Their rapes and lewdnefs without shame;
Their vice and villainy's the fame.

Ill be their fate who would corrupt the Stage,
And spoil the true corrector of the age!

Found fhe was daughter to the Sun.

270

That with this Bull the fain would dance ye.

She'd mow him grafs, and cut down boughs,

On which his ftatelinefs might browse.

Whilft thus the hedges breaks and climbs, 335
Sure Minos muft have happy times!
She never car'd for going fine,
She'd rather trudge among the Kine.
Then at her Toilet the would fay,
"Methinks I look bizarre to-day.
Surely my gists lies, I'm not fo fair:
"Oh, were this face o'ergrown with hair!
"I never was for top-knots born;

340

"My favourites fhould each be horn.

344

"But now I'm liker to a Sow

"Than, what I wish to be, a Cow

"What would I give that I could I❤ugh!