The wary angler, in the winding brock, Knows what the fish, and where to bait his hook. The fowler and the huntsman know by name The certain haunts and harbour of their game. So muft the lover beat the likelieft grounds; Th' affembly where his quarry most abounds. Nor fhall my novice wander far astray; Thefe rules fhall put him in the ready way. Thou shalt not fail around the continent, As far as Perfeus or as Paris went : For Rome alone affords thee fuch a store, As all the world can hardly fhew thee more. The face of heaven with fewer ftars is crown'd, Than beauties in the Roman sphere are found. Whether thy love is bent on blooming youth, On dawning fweetnefs in unartful truth; Or courts the juicy joys of riper grow:h; Here mayft thou find thy full defires in both. Or if autumnal beautics pleafe thy fight (An age that knows to give, and take delight); Millions of matrons of the graver fort, In com ron prudence, will not balk the fport. In fummer heats thou need'ft but only go To Pompey's cool and fhady portico; Or Concord's fane; or that proud edifice, Whole turrets near the baudy fuburb rife: Or to that other portico, where stands The cruel father urging his commands, And fifty daughters wait the time of reft, [breaft: To plunge their poniards in the bridegrooms Or Venus' temple; where, on annual nights, They mourn Adonis with Affyrian rites. Nor fhun the Jewish walk, where the foul drove, On fabbaths, reft from every thing but love: Nor Iis' temple; for that facred whore Makes others, what to Jove fhe was before. And if the hall itfell be not bely'd, Ev'n there the caufe of love is often try'd; Near it at leaft, or in the palace-yard, From whence the noify combatants are heard. The crafty counsellors, in formal gown, There gain another's caufe, but sofe their own. There cloquence is nonpluft in the fuit; And lawyers, who had words at will, are mute. Venus, from her adjoining temple, fmiles, To fee them caught in their litigious wiles. Grave fenators lead home the youthful dame, Returning clients, when they patrons came. But, above all, the play-houfe is the place; There's choice of quarry in that narrow chace. 'There take thy ftand, and fharply looking out, Soon may't thou find a miftrefs in the rout, For length of time, or for a fingle bout. The theatres are berrics for the fair: Like ants on mole-hills thither they repair; like bees to hives, so numerously they throng; It may be faid, they to that place belong. Thither they fwarm, who have the public voice: There choofe, if plenty not diftracts thy choice: To fee, and to be feen, in heaps they run; Some to undo, and fome to be undone.

From Romulus the rife of plays began, To his new fubjects a commodious man; Who, his unmarried foldiers to fupply, Took care the commonwealth fhould multiply:

Providing Sabine women for his braves,
Like a true king, to get a race of flaves.
His play-houfe not of Parian marble made,
Nor was it fpread with purple fails for shade.
The stage with rufhes or with leaves they strew'd:
No fcenes in profpect, no machining God.
On rows of homely turf they fat to sec,
Crown'd with the wreaths of every common tree.
There, while they fat in ruftic majesty,
Each lover had his miftrefs in his eye;
And whom he faw moft fuiting to his mind,
For joys of matrimonial rape defign'd.
Scarce could they wait the plaudit in their hale;
But, e'er the dances and the fong were past,
The monarch gave the fignal from his throne;
And, rifing, bade his merry men fall on.
The martial crew, like foldiers ready preft,
Juft at the word (the word too was, The Beft)
With joyful cries each other animate;
Some choose, and fome at hazard feize their mate.
As doves from eagles, or from wolves the lambs,
S from their lawless lovers fly the dames.
Their fear was one, but not one face of fear;
Some rend the lovely treffes of their hair;
Some fhriek, and fome are ftruck with dumb

defpair.

Her abfent mother one invokes in vain ;
One ftands amaz'd, not daring to complain;
The nimbler trust their feet, the flow remain,
But nought availing, all are captives led,
Trembling and blushing, to the genial bed.
She who too long refifted, or deny'd.
The lufty lover made by force a bride; [his fide.
And with fuperior ftrength, compell'd her to
Then footh'd her thus-My foul's far better part,
Ceafe weeping, nor afflict thy tender heart;
For what thy father to thy mother was,
That faith to thec, that folemn vow I pass.

Thus Romulus became fo popular ;
This was the way to thrive in peace and war;
To pay his army, and fresh whores to bring:
Who would not fight for fuch a gracious king?

Thus love in theatres did first improve; And theatres are ftill the fcer es of love: Nor fhun the chariot's and the courfer's race; The Circus is no inconvenient place. No need is there of talking on the hand; Nor nods, nor figns, which lovers understand. But boldly next the fair your feat provide; Clofe as you can to hers, and fide by fide. Pleas'd or unpleas'd, no matter; crouding fit: For fo the laws of public fhows permit. Then find occafion to begin difcourfe; Enquire, whole chariot this, and whofe that horfe? To whatfoever fide the is inclin'd, Suit all your inclinations to her mind; Like what the likes; from thence your court And whom the favours, with that he may win. But when the ftatutes of the Deities, In chariots roll'd, appear before the prize; When Venus comes, with deep devotion rife. If duft be on her lap, or graits of fand, Brush both away with your officicus hand. If none be there, yet brush that nothing thence; And fill to touch her lap make fonie pretence,

4

[begin;

}

Touch any thing of her's; and if her train
Sweep on the ground, let it not fweep in vain;
But gently take it up, and wipe it clean;
And while you wipe it, with obferving eyes,
Who knows but you may fee her naked thighs!
Obferve, who fits behind her, and beware,
Left his incroaching knee fhould prefs the fair.
Light fervice takes light minds; for fome can tell
Of favours won, by laying cushions well :
By fanning faces fome their fortune meet;
And fome by laying footstools for their feet.
Thefe overtures of love the Circus gives;
Nor at the fword-play less the lover thrives;
For there the fon of Venus fights his prize;
An deepest wounds are oft receiv'd from eyes.
One, while the crowd their acclamations make,
Or while he bets, and puts his ring to stake,
Is ftruck from far, and feels the flying dart;
And of the spectacle is made a part.

}

Cæfar would reprefent a naval fight, For his own honour, and for Rome's delight. From either fea the youths and maiden's come; And all the world was then coutain'd in Rome. In this vaft concourfe, in this choice of game, What Roman hear, but felt a foreign flame? Once more our prince prepares to make us glad; And the remaining eat to Rome will add. Rejoice, ye Roman foldiers, in your urn; Your et.figns from the Parthians fhall return; And the flain Craffi fhall no longer mourn. A youth is fent thofe trophies to demand; And bears his father's thunder in his hand : Doubt not th' imperial boy in wars unfeen; In childhood all of Cæfar's race are men. Celeftial feeds fhoot out before their day, Prevent their years, and brook no dull delay. Thus infant Hercules the fnakes did prefs, And in his cradle did his fire confefs. Bacchus. a boy, yet like a hero fought, And early fpoils from conquer'd India brought. Thus you your father's troops fhall lead to fight, And tbus fhall vanquish in your father's right. Thefe rudiments to you your lineage owe; Born to increase your titles, as you grow, Brethren you had, revenge your brethren slain; You have a father, and his rights maintain. Arm'd by your country's parent and your own, Redeem your country, and restore his throne. Your enemies affert an impious cause; You fight both for divine and human laws. Already in their caufe they are o'ercome : Subject them too, by force of arms, to Rome. Great father Mars with greater Cæfar join, To give a profperous omen to your line: One of you is, and one fhall be divine. I prophefy you fhall, you fhail o'ercome : My verfe fhail bring you back in triumph home. Speak in my verfe, exhort to loud alarms : O were my numbers equal to your armis ! Then would fing the Parthians overthrow; Their fhot averfe fent from a flying bow: The Parthians, who already flying fight, Already give an omen of their flight.

O when will come the day, by heaven defign'd, When thou, the best and fairest of mankind,

Drawn by white horfes fhalt in triumph ride,
With conquer'd flaves attending on thy fide;
Slaves, that no longer can be fafe in flight;
O glorious object, O surprising fight,

O day of public joy, too good to end in night!
On fuch a day, if thou, and, next to thee,
Some beauty fits, the fpectacle to fee:
If the inquire the names of conquer'd kings,
Of mountains, rivers, and their hidden fprings,
Answer to all thou know'ft; and if need be,
Of things unknown feem to speak knowingly :
This is Euphrates, crown'd with reeds; and there
Flows the fwift Tigris, with his fea-green hair.
Invent new names of things unknown before;
Call this Armenia, that the Cafpian fhore;
Call this a Mede, and that a Parthian youth;
Talk probably: no matter for the truth.

In feafts, as at our shows, new means abound;
More pleasure there, than that of wine, is found.
The Paphian Goddess there her ambush lays;
And love betwixt the horns of Bacchus plays;
Defires increase at every fwelling draught;
Brisk vapours add new vigour to the thought.
There Cupid's purple wings no flight afford;
But, wet with wine, he flutters on the board.
He fhakes his pinions, but he cannot move;
Fix'd he remains, and turns a maudlin Love.
Wine warms the blood, and makes the spirits
flow;

Care flies, and wrinkles from the forehead go :-
Exalts the poor, invigorates the weak;
Gives mirth and laughter, and a rofy cheek.
Bold truths it speaks; and spoken, dares maintain;
And brings our old fimplicity again.

Love fparkles in the cup, and fills it higher :
Wine feeds the flames, and fuel adds to fire.
But choose no miftrefs in thy drunken fit;
Wine gilds too much their beauties and their wit.
Nor trust thy judgment when the tapers dance;
But fober, and by day, thy fuit advance,
By day-light Paris judg'd the beauteous three;
And for the faireft did the prize decree.
Night is a cheat, and all deformities
Are hid or leffen'd in her dark difguife.
The fun's fair light each error will confefs,
In face, in fhape, in jewels, and in drefs.

Why name I every place where youths abound? 'Tis lofs of time, and a too fruitful ground. The Baian baths, where fhips at anchor ride, And wholefome ftreams from fulphur fountains glide;

Where wounded youths are by experience taught,
The waters are lefs healthful than they thought.
Or Dian's fane, which near the fuburb lics,
Where pricfts, for their promotion, fight a prize.
That maiden Goddefs is Love's mortal foe,
And much from her his fubjects undergo.

Thus far the fportful Mufe with myrtle bound,
Has fung where lovely laffes may be found.
Now let me fing, how the who wounds your mind,
With art, may be to cure your wounds inclis'd.
Young nobles, to my laws attention lend:
And all you vulgar of my fchool attend.

Fift then believe, all women may be won; Attempt with confidence, the work is done,

The grafshopper shall first forbear to fing
In fummer feafon, or the birds in fpring;
Than women can refift your flattering fkill:
Ev'n fhe will yield, who fwears fhe never will.
To fecret pleature both the fexes mave;
But women moft, who moft diffemble love.
'Twere beft for us, if they would first declare,
Avow their paffion, and fubmit to prayer.
The cow, by lowing, tells the hull her flame:
The neighing mare invites her ftallion to the game.
Man is more temperate in his luft than they,
And, more than women, can his paffion fway.
Biblis, we know, did firft her love declare,
And had recourse to death in her defpair.
Her brother fhe, her father Myrrha fought,
And lov'd, but lov'd not as a daughter ought.
Now from a tree fhe ftills her oderous tears,
Which yet the name of her who fhed them bears.
In Ida's fhady vale a bull appear'd,
White as the fnow, the fairest of the herd;
A beauty-fpot of black there only rofe,
Betwixt his equal horns and ample brows:
The love and wifh of all the Cretan cows.
The queen beheld him as his head he rear'd;
And envy'd every leap he gave the herd.
A fecret fire fhe nourish'd in her breast,
And hated every heifer he carefs'd.

A story known, and known for true, I tell ;
Nor Crete, though lying, can the truth conceal.
She cut him grafs (fo much can love command);
She ftrok'd, fhe fed him with her royal hand :
Was pleas'd in paftures with the herd to roam :
And Minos by the bull was overcome.

Ceafe, Queen, with gems t' adorn thy beau-
teous brows;

The monarch of thy heart no jewel knows.
Nor in thy glafs compofe thy looks and eyes:
Secure from all thy charms thy lover lies:
Yet truft thy mirror, when it tells thee true;
Thou art vo heifer to allure his view.
Soon wouldst thou quit thy royal diadem
To thy fair rivals, to be horned like them.
If Minos pleafe, no lover feck to find:
If not, at leaft feek one of human kind.

The wretched queen the Cretan court forfakes ;
In woods and wilds her habitation makes:
She curfes every beauteous cow fhe fees;
Ah, why doft thou my lord and mafter please!
And think'ft, ungrateful creature as thou art,
With frifking aukwardly, to gain his heart!
She faid, and ftraight commands, with frown-
ing look,

To put her, undeferving, to the yoke;
Or feigns fome holy rites of facrifice,
And fees her rival's death with joyful eyes:
Then, when the bloody prieft has done his part,
Pleas'd in her hand fhe holds the beating heart;
Nor from a fcornful taunt can fcarce refrain;
Go, fool, and try to please my love again.
Now she would be Europa, Io now
(One bore a bull, and one was made a cow).
Yet fhe at last her brutal blifs obtain'd,
And in a wooden cow the bull sustain'd;
Fill'd with his feed, accomplish'd her defire;
Till by his form the fon betray'd the fire.

If Atreus' wife to inceft had not rum,
(But, ah! how hard it is to love but one!)
His courfers Phoebus had not driven away,
To fhun that fight, and interrupt the day.
Thy daughter, Nifus, pull'd thy purple hair.
And barking fea-dogs yet her bowels tear.
At fea and land Atrides fav'd his life,
Yet fell a prey to his adulterous wife.
Who knows not what revenge Medea fought,
When the flain offspring bore the father's fault?
Thus Phoenix did a woman's leve bewail;
And thus Hippolytus by Phædra fell.

Thefe crimes revengeful matrons did commit:
Hotter their luft, and fharper is their wit.
Doubt not from them an eafy victory:
Scarce of a thousand dames will one deny.
All women are content that men fhould woo:
She who complains, and she who will not do.
Reft then fecure, whate'er thy luck may prove,
Not to be hated for declaring love.

And yet how canft thou mifs, fince womankind
Is frail and vain, and ftill to change inclin'd?
Old husbands and ftale gallants they defpife;
And more another's, than their own, they prize.
A larger crop adorns our neighbour's field;
More milk his kind from fwelling udders yield.
Firft gain the maid: by her thou shalt be fure
A free accefs and easy to procure :
Who knows what to her office does belong,
Is in the fecret, and can hold her tongue.
Bribe her with gifts, with promifes, and prayers:
For her good word goes far in love affairs.
The time and fit occafion leave to her,
When the most aptly can thy fuit prefer.
The time for maid's to fire their lady's blood,
Is, when they find her in a merry mood:
When all things at her wifh can pleasure move:
Her heart is open then, and free to love.
Then mirth and wantonnefs to luft betray,
And finooth the paffage to the lover's way.
Troy ftood the fiege, when fill'd with anxious

care:

One merry fit concluded all the war.

If fome fair rival vex her jealous mind, Offer thy fervice to revenge in kind. Inftruct the damfel while fhe combs her hair, To raife the choler of that injur'd fair; And, fighing, make her mistress understand, She has the means of vengeance in her hand : Than, naming thee, thy humble fuit prefer; And swear thou languishest and dy'st for her. Then let her lofe no time, but push at all: For women foon are rais'd, and foon they fall. Give their first fury leifure to relent, They melt like ice, and fuddenly repent.

T' enjoy the maid, will that thy fuit advance! 'Tis a hard question, and a doubtful chance. One maid, corrupted, bauds the better for 't; Another for herself would keep the sport. Thy business may be further'd or delay'd: But by my counfel, let alone the maid: Ev'n though fhe fhould confent to do the feat; The profit's little, and the danger great. I will not lead thee through a rugged road; But where the way lies open, fafe, and broad,

Yet, if thou find'ft her very much thy friend,
And her good face her diligence commend :
Let the fair mistress have thy first embrace,
And let the maid come after in her place.

But this I will advife, and mark my words; For 'tis the best advice my fkill affords : li needs thou with the damfel wilt begin, Before th' attempt is made, make sure to win; For then the fecret better will be kept; And he can tell no tales when once she's dipt. 'Tis for the fowler's intereft to beware,

The bird entangled should not 'scape the snare.
The fish, once prick'd, avoids the bearded hook,
And spoils the sport of all the neighhouring
brook.

But, if the wench be thine, fhe makes thy way,
And, for thy fake, her mistress will betray;
Tell all the nows, and all the hears her fay.
Keep well the counfel of thy faithful spy :
So fhalt thou learn whene'er the treads awry.

All things the ftations of their seasons keep;
And certain times there are to fow and reap.
Ploughmen and failors for the feafon stay,
One to plough land, and one to plough the sea :
5 fhould the lover wait the lucky day.
Then ftop thy fuit, it hurts not thy defign:
But think, another hour the may be thine.
And when the celebrates her birth at home,
Or when the views the public fhows of Rome,
Know, all thy vifits then are troublesome.
Defer thy work, and put not then to fea,
For that's a boding and a stormy day.

Efe take thy time, and, when thou canft, begin:
To break a Jewish fabbath, think no fin:
Nr ev'n fuperftitious days abstain;

Not when the Romans were at Allia flain.
Ill mens in her frowns are understood;
When she's in humour, every day is good.
But than her birth-day feldom comes a worse ;
When bribes and prefents must be fent of
courfe;

And that's a bloody day, that costs thy purse.
Be ftanch; yet parfimony will be vain:
The craving fex will ftill the lover drain.
No fkill can fhift them off, nor art remove;
They will be begging, when they know we love.
The merchant comes upon th' appointed day,
Who fhall before thy face his wares difplay.
To choose for her the craves thy kind advice;
Then begs again, to bargain for the price :
But when the has her purchase in her eye,
She hugs thee clofe, and kiffes thee to buy.
'fis what I want, and 'tis a pen'worth too;

TE

many years I will not trouble you.

you complain you have no ready coin; No matter, 'tis but writing of a line,

A little bill, not to be paid at fight;

Now curfe the time when thou wert taught to write.

She keeps her birth-day; you must send the cheer;
And he'll be born a hundred times a year.
With daily lies fhe dribs the into coft;
That ear-ring dropt a ftone, that ring is loft.
They often borrow what they never pay;
Whate'er you lend her, think it thrown away.

Had I ten mouths and tongues to tell each art, All would be wearied e'er I told a part.

By letters, not by words, they love begin;
And ford the dangerous paffage with thy pen.
If to her heart thou aim'ft to find the way,
Extremely flatter, and extremely pray.
Priam by prayers did Hector's body gain;
Nor is an angry God invok'd in vain.
With promis'd gifts her easy mind bewitch;
For ev'n the poor in promise may be rich.
Vain hopes awhile her appetite will stay;
'Tis a deceitful, but commodious way.
Who gives is mad; but make her still believe
'Twill come, and that 's the cheapest way to
give.

Ev'n barren lands fair promises afford;
But the lean harvest cheats the starving lord.
Buy not thy firft enjoyment, left it prove
Of bad example to thy future love:
But get it gratis; and fhe'll give thee more,
For fear of lofing what the gave before.
The lofing gamefter fhakes the box in vain,
And bleeds, and lofes on, in hopes to gain.

Write then, and in thy letter, as I said,
Let her with mighty promises be fed.
Cydippe by a letter was betray'd,
Writ on an apple to th' unwary maid.
She read herself into a marriage-vow
(And every cheat in love the Gods allow).
Learn eloquence, ye noble youth of Rome;
It will not only at the bar o'ercome :
Sweet words the people and the senate move;
But the chief end of eloquence is love.
But in thy letter hide thy moving arts;
Affect not to be thought a man of parts.
None but vain fools to fimple women preach :
A learned letter oft has made a breach.
In a familiar ftyle your thoughts convey,
And write fuch things as prefent you would fay;
Such words as from the heart may feem to move:
'Tis wit enough, to make her think you love.
If feal'd the fends it back, and will not read,
Yet hope, in time, the business may fucceed.
In time the steer will to the yoke fubmit;
In time the reftiff horse will bear the bit.
Ev'n the hard plough-fhare ufe will wear away;
And ftubborn steel in length of time decay.
Water is foft, and marble hard; and yet
We see soft water through hard marble eat.
Though late, yet Troy at length in flames expir'd;
And ten years more Penelope had tir'd.
Perhaps thy lines unanfwer'd fhe retain'd;
No matter; there's a point already gain'd:
For fhe, who reads, in time will answer too;
Things must be left by just degrees to grow.
Perhaps fhe writes, but anfwers with disdain,
And sharply bids you not to write again :
What the requires, the fears you should accord;
The jilt would not be taken at her word.

Meantime, if the be carried in her chair, Approach, but do not seem to know fhe's there, Speak foftly to delude the ftanders-by; Or, if aloud, then speak ambiguously. If fauntering in the portico the walk, Move flowly too; for that's a time for talk

And fometimes fellow, fometimes be her guide:
But, when the crowd permits, go fide by fide.
Nor in the play-houfe let her fit alone:
For fhe's the play-houfe and the play in one.
'There thou niay'ft ogle, or by figns advance
Thy fuit, and feem to touch her hand by chance.
Admire the dancer who her liking gains,
And pity in the play the lover's pains;
For her fweet fake the lofs of time defpife;
Sit while fhe fits, ard when the rifes rife.
But drefs not like a fop, nor curl your hair,
Nor with a pumice make your body bare.
Leave thofe effeminate and ufclefs toys
To eunuchs, who can give no felid joys.
Neglect becomes a man: this Thefeus found:
Uncurl'd,uncomb'd, the nymph his wishes crown'd.
The rough Hippolytus was Phædra's care:
And Venus thought the rude Adonis fair.
Be not too finical; but yet be clean:

And wear well-fafhion'd clothes, like other men.
Let not your teeth be yellow, or be foul;
Nor in wide fhoes your feet too loosely roll.
Of a black muzzle, and long beard, beware;
And let a fkilful barber cut your hair.

Your nails be pick'd from filth, and even par'd;
Nor let your nafly noftrils bud with beard.
Cure your unfavory breath, gargle your throat;
And free your armpits from the ram and goat.
Drefs not, in fhort, too little or too much;
And be not wholly French, not wholly Dutch.
Now Bacchus calls me to his jolly rites.
Who would not follow, when a God invites ?
He helps the poet, and his pen infpires,
Kind and indulgent to his former fires.

Fair Ariadne wander'd on the fhore,
Forfaken now; and Thefeus lov'd no more:
Loofe was her gown, dishevel'd was her hair;
Her bofom naked, and her feet were bare:
Exclaiming, on the water's brink the flood;
Her briny tears augment the briny food;
She fhrick'd, and wept, and both became her face:
No posture could that heavenly form difgrace.
She beat her breaft: The traitor's gone, faid fhe;
What fhall become of poor forfaken me?
What fhall become-she had uot time for more,
The founding cymbals rattled on the fhore.
She fwoons for fear, the fails upon the ground;
No vital heat was in her body found.
The Mimallonian dames about her ftond;
And fcudding Satyrs ran before their God.
Silenus on his afs did next appear,

And held upon the mane (the God was clear);
The drunken fire puriues, the dames retire;
Sometimes the drunken dames purfue the drun-
ken fire.

At laft he topples over on the plain;
The Satyrs laugh, and bid him rife again.
And now the God of wine came driving on,
High on his chariot by fwift tigers drawn.
Her colour, voice, and fenfe, forfook the fair;
Thrice did her trembling feet for flight pre-
pare,

S

And thrice affrighted did her flight forbear.
She fhook, like leaves of corn when tempefts blow,
Or fender reeds that in the marthes grow.

To whom the God: Compofe thy fearful mind;
In me a truer hufband thou shalt find.
With heaven I will endow thee, and thy ftar
Shall with propitious light be feen afar,
And guide on feas the doubtful mariner,
He faid, and, from his charict leaping light,
Left the grim tigers fhould the nymph affright,
His brawny armis around her waift he threw
(For Gods, whate'er they will, with eafe can do):
And fwiftly bore her thence, th' attending throng
Shout at the fight, and fing the nuptial fong.
Now in full bowls her forrows fhe may fteep:
The bridegroom's liquor lays the bride afleep.

But thou, when flowing cups in triumph ride,
And the lov'd nymph is feated by thy fide;
Invoke the God, and all the mighty Powers,
That wine may not defraud thy genial hours.
Then in ambiguous words thy fuit prefer,
Which he may know were all addreft to her.
In liquid purple letters write her name,
Which the may read, and reading find the flame.
Then may your eyes confefs your mutual fires
(For eyes have tongues, and glances tell defires).
Whene'er the drinks, the first to take the cup;
And, where he laid her lips, the bleffing fup.
When he to carving does her hand advance,
Put out thy own, and touch it as by chance.
Thy fervice ev'n her husband must attend
(A hufband is a moft convenient friend).
Seat the fool cuckold in the highest place:
And with thy garland his dull temples grace.
Whether below or equal in degree,
Let him be lord of all the company,
And what he fays, be feconded by thee.
'Tis common to deceive through friendship's

name:

But, common though it be, 'tis ftill to blame:
Thus factors frequently their trust betray,
And to themselves their mafters' gains convey.
Drink to a certain pitch, and then give o'er;
Thy tongue and feet may ftumble, drinking more,
Of drunken quarrels in her fight beware;
Pot-valour only ferves to fright the fair.
Eurytion justly fell, by wine oppreft,
For his rude riot at a wedding-feaft.
Sing, if you have a voice; and thew your parts
In dancing, if indued with dancing arts.
Do any thing within your power to please;
"Nay, ev'n affect a feeining drunkennefs;
Clip every word; and if by chance you speak
Too home, or if too broad a jeft you break,
In your excufe the company will join,
And lay the fault upon the force of wine.
True drunkenness is fubject to offend;
But when 'tis feigu'd, 'tis oft a lover's friend.
Then fafely may you praife her beauteous face,
And call him happy, who is in her grace.
Her husband thinks himself the man defign'd;
But curfe the cuckold in your fecret mind.
When all are rifen, and prepare to go,
Mix with the crowd, and tread upon her toe.
This is the proper time to make thy court;
For now he's in the vein, and fit for sport.
Lay bafhfulness, that ruftic virtue, by;
To manly confidence thy thoughts apply,