Women imperions, void of fhame,
And carelefs of their lover's fame,
Who of tyrannic follies boaft,
Tormenting him that loves them most.
When Hercules, by labours done,
Had prov'd himself to be Jove's fon,
By peace which he to earth had given,
Deferv'd to have his reft in heaven,
Envy, that strives to be unjust,
Refolv'd to mortify him first;
And, that he should enamour'd be
Of a proud jilt call'd Omphale,
Who fhould his herofhip expose
By fpinning hemp in women's clothes.
Her mind the did vouchfate one day
Thus to her lover to display:

"Come quickly, Sir, off with this skin: "Think you I'll let a tanner in ? "If you of lions talk, or boars, "You certainly turn out of doors. "Your club's abundantly too thick "For one fhall move a fiddle-stick. "What should you do with all thofe arrows? "I will have nothing kill'd but sparrows. "Heccy, this day you may remember; "For you fhall fee a lady's chamber. "Let me be rightly understood: "What I intend is for your good. "In boddice I defign to lace ye,

"And so among my maids I'll place ye.

When you're genteeler grown, and thinner, "May be I'll call you up to dinner. "With arms fo brawny, fifts fo red,

You'll fcrub the roonis, or make the bed. You can't stick pins, or frieze my hair. "Blefs me you've nothing of an air. "You'll ne'er come up to working point : "Your fingers all feem out of joint. "Then, befides, Heccy, I must tell ye, "An idle hand has empty belly: "Therefore this morning I'll begin, "Try how your clumfinefs will spin. "You are my fhadow, do you see :

"Your hope, your thought, your wish, all be "Invented and controll'd by me.

"Look up whene'er I laugh; look down

"With trembling horror, if I frown.

"Say as I fay: fervants can't lie.

"Your truth is my propriety.

"Nay, you should be to torture brought, Were I but jealous you tranfgreft in thought; "Or if from Jove your fingle with fhould crave "The fate of not continuing fill my flave. "There is no lover that is wife "Pretends to win at cards or dice. "'Tis for his mistress all is thrown : "Th' ill fortune his, the good her own. "Melanion, whilom lovely youth, "Fam'd for his valour and his truth, "Whom every beauty did adorn "Fresh as Aurora's blufhing morn, "Into the horrid woods is run, "Where he ne'er fees the ray of fun, "Nor to his palace dares return, "Where he for Pfyche's love did burn,

"And found correction at her hands "For difobeying just commands; "But muft his filent penance do "For once not buckling of her fhoe: "A good example, child, for you. "Which fhews you, when we have our fool, "We've policy enough to rule.

"I might have made you fuch a fellow, "As fhould have carried my umbrella, "Or bore a flambeau by my chair, "And bade the mob not come too near; "Or lay the cloth, or wait at table; "Nay, been a helper in the ftable,

"To my commands obedience pay "At dead of night, or break of day.

Speed is your province; if 'tis 1 "That bid you run, you ought to fly. "He that love's nimble paflion feels "Will foon outftrip my chariot wheels.

Through dog-ftar's heat he'll tripping ge, "Nor leaves he print upon the fnow. "The wind itself to him is flow. "He that in Cupid's wars would fight, "Grief, winter, dirty roads, and night, "A bed of earth midft fhowers of rain, "After no fupper, are his gain.

Bright Phœbus took Adnictus' pay, "And in a little cottage lay: "All this he did for fear of Jove; "And who would not do more for love? "If entrance is by locks denied, "Then through the roof or window flide. "Leander each night swam the feas, "That he might thereby Hero please. "Perhaps I may be pleas'd to fee "Your life in danger, when for me. "You'll find my fervants in a row; "Remember then you make your bow; "For they are your fuperiors now. "No matter if you do engage

66

fail:

My porter, woman, favourite page, My dog, my parrot, monkey, black, "Or any thing that does partake "Of that admittance which you lack. "But after all you mayn't prevail, "And your most glittering hopes may "For Ceres does not always yield "The crop intrusted to the field. "Fair gales may bring you to a coaft "Where you'll by hidden rocks be loft. "Love is tenacious of its joys, "Gives fmall reward for great employs; "But has as many griefs in ftore "As fhells by Neptune caft on fhore, "As Athos hares, as Hybla bees, "Olives on the Palladian trees; "And, when his angry arrows fall,

They're not found ting'd with commer gall "You're told I'm not at home, 'tis true: "I may be there, but not for you; "And I may let you fee it too. "Perhaps I bid you come at night: "If the door's fhut, ftay till 'tis light. "Perhaps my maid fhall hid you go: A thing fhe knows you dare not de.

"Your rival fhall admiffion gain,
"And laugh to fee his foe in pain.
"All this and more you must endure,
"If you from me expect a cure.

Tis fitting I fhould fearch the wound,
"Left all your danger be not found.”
When cafy fondness meets with woman's pride,
Nothing which that can ask must be denied.
He that enjoy'd the names of great and brave
Is pleas'd to feem a female and a flave:
'The hero, number'd with the gods before,
Is fo debas'd as to be man no more.

PART IX.

Nor by the fail with which you put to fea,
Can you where Thetis fwells conducted be;
To the fame port you'll different paffage find,
And fill your sheets ev'n with contrarious wind.
You nurs'd the fawn, now grown ftag wondrous
big,

And fleep beneath the fhade you knew a twig.
The bubbling fpring, increas'd by floods and rain,
Rolls with impetuous ftream, and foams the main:
So Love augments in juft degrees; at length
By nutrimental fires it gains its strength.
Daily till midnight let kind looks or fong,
Or tales of love, the pleafing hours prolong.
No weariness upon their blifs attends,
Whom marriage vows have render'd more than
So Philomels, of equal mates possest,
With a congenial heat, and downy reft,
And care inceffant, hover o'er their neft:
Hence from their eggs (fmall worlds whence all
things spring)

[friends.

Produce a race by nature taught to fing;
Who ne'er to this harmonious air had come,
Had their parental love ftray'd far from home.
By a fhort abfence mutual joys increafe :
'Tis from the toils of war we value peace.
When Jove a while the fruitful shower restrains,
The field on his return a brighter verdure gains.
So let not grief too much disturb those hearts,
Which for a while the war or business parts.
'Twas hard to let Protefilaus go,
Who did his death by oracles foreknow.
Ulyffes made indeed a tedious stay,
His twenty winters' abfence was delay;
But happiness revives with his return,

And Hymen's altars with fresh incenfe burn:
Tales of his fhip, her web, they both recount,
Pleas'd that their wedlock faith all dangers could
furmount.

In hands of a young fpark, call'd Paris;
And how the beauteous truft mifcarries.
With kindness he receives the youth,
Whofe modest looks might promise truth:
Then gives him opportunity

To throw the fpecious vizard by.
The man had things to be adjusted,
With which the wife fhould not be trusted;
And, whilft he gave himself the loose,
Left her at home to keep the house.

When Helen faw his back was turn'd,

The devil a bit the gipfy mourn'd.
Says he, "'Tis his fault to be gone;
"It fha'n't be mine to lie alone.
"A vacant pillow's fuch a jeft,
"That with it I could never reft.
"He ne'er confider'd his own danger,

To leave me with a handsome stranger. "Wolves would give good account of sheep, "Left to their vigilance to keep.

"Pray who, except 'twere geefe or wid geons,

"Would hire a hawk to guard their pigeons?

Suppofing then it might be faid

"That Menelaus now were dead:
"A pretty figure I fhould make
"To go in mourning for his fake.

She that in widow's garb appears, "Efpecially when at my years,

May feem to be at her last prayers. "But I'll still have my heart divided

'Twixt one to lofe, and one provided. "He that is gone, is gone: lefs fear "Of wanting him that I have here."

The fequel was the fire of Troy Brought to deftruction by this boy.

They tell us, how a wife provok'd,
And to a brutish husband yok'd,
Who, by diftracting paffion led,
Scorns all her charms, and flies her bed,
When on her rival she has feiz'd,
Seems with a fecret horror pleas'd.
They then defcribe her like fome boar
Plunging his tufk in maftiff's gore;
Or lionefs, whose ravish'd whelp
Roars for his mother's furious help;
Or bafilifk when rous'd, whose breath,
Teeth, fting, and eye-balls, all are death;
Like frantics ftruck by magic rod
Of fome defpis'd avenging god :

Make her through blood for vengeance run,
Like Progne facrifice her fon,
And like Medea dart those fires
By which Creûfa's ghost expires.
Then let her with exalted rage

Her grief with the fame crimes affuage.
To heighten and improve the curse,
Because he's bad, they make her worse.
So Tyndaris diffolves in tears,
When first fhe of Chryfeïs hears;
But, when Lyraeffis captive's led,
And ravish'd to defile her bed,
Her patience leffens by degrees;
But, when at laft fhe Priameïs fees,
Revenge does to Ægyftus fly for eafe,

In his adulterous arms does plots difclose,
Which fill Mycene with ftupendous woes,
And parricide and hell around her throws.
Ye heavenly Powers! the female truth pre-
ferve,

And let it not from native goodness fwerve,
And let no wanton toys become the caufe
Why men fhould break Hymen's eternal laws;
But let fuch fables and fuch crimes remain
Only as fictions of the poet's brain;

Yet marks fet up to fhun thofe dangerous fhelves On which deprav'd mankind might wreck themfelves!

PART X.

Ar first, the ftars, the air, the earth, and deep,
Lay all confus'd in one unorder'd heap;
'Till Love Eternal did each being ftrike
With voice divine, to march, and feek its like.
'Then feeds of heavens, then air of vaporous found,
Then fertile carth circled with waters round,
On which the bird, the beast, the fish, might move
All center'd in that Univerfal Love.
Then man was fram'd with foul of godlike ray,
And had a nobler share of love than they :
To him was woman, crown'd with virtue, given,
The most immediate work and care of Heaven.

Whilft thus my darling thoughts in raptures Apollo to my fight in vifion fprung. [fung, His lyre with golden ftrings his touch commands, And wreaths of laurel flourish in his hands. Says he, “You hard that of love's precepts treat, "Your art at Delphi you will best complete. "There's a fhort maxim, prais'd when understood, "Ufeful in practice, and divinely good, "Let each man know himself: strive to excel: "The pleature of the bleft is doing well.

"'Tis wildom to difplay the ruling grace. "Some men are happy in a charming face: "Know it, but be not vain. Some manly fhew "By the exploded gun and nervous bow. "There let them prove their fkill; perhaps fome

"heart

"May find that every fhot is Cupid's dart.
"The prudent lover, if his talent lies
"In eloquence, e'nt talkative, but wife,
"So mixes words delicious to the ear,
"That all must be perfuaded who can hear.
"He that can fing, let him with pleasing found,
Though 'tis an air that is not mortal, wound.
"Let not a poet my own art refufe:
"I'll come, and bring affiftance to his mufe."
But never by ill means your fortune push,
Nor raise your credit by another's blush.
The fecret rites of Ceres none profane,
Nor tell what gods in Samothracia reign.
'Tis virtue by grave filence to conceal
What talk without difcretion would reveal.
For fault like this now Tantalus does lie

In midst of fruits and water, ftarv'd and dry.
But Cytherea's mode fly requires

Moft care to cover all her labent fires.

Love has a pleafing turn, makes that feem bei Of which our lawful wifhes are poffeft. Andromeda, of Lybic hue and blood, Was chain'd a prey to monsters of the flood: Wing'd Perfius faw her beauty through

cloud.

Andromache had large majestic charms; [arms
Therefore was fittest grace to godlike Heder's
Beauties in fmaller airs bear like commands,
And wondrous magic acts by flendereft wands.
Like Cybele fome bear a mother's sway,
Whilft infant gods and heroines obey.
Some rule like ftars by guidance of their eyes,
And others please when like Minerva wife.
Love will from heaven, art, nature, fancy, raile
Something that may exalt its confort's praife.

There will be little jealoufies,

By which Love's art its subjects tries.
They think it languishes with reft,
But rifes, like the palm, opprest.
And as too much profperity
Often makes way for luxury,
Till we, by turn of fortune taught,
Have wisdom by experience bought:
So, when the hoary ashes grow
Around love's coals, 'tis time to blow:
And then its craftiness is fhewn,
To raife your cares, to hide its own;
And have you by a rival croft,
Only in hopes you mayn't be loft.
Sometimes they say that you are faulty,
And that they know where you were naughty;
And then perhaps your eyes they'd tear,
Or elfe dilacerate your hair,
Not fo much for revenge as fear.
But the perhaps too far may run,
And do what he would have you fhun,
Of which there's a poetic ftory,
That, if you please, I'll lay before you.

Old Juno made her Jove comply
For fear, not afking when or why,
Unto a certain fort of matter,
Marrying her fon unto his daughter:
And to to bed the couple went,
Not with their own, but friend's confent.
This Vulcan was a fmith, they tell us,
That first invented tongs and bellows;
For breath and fingers did their works
(We'd fingers long before we'd forks);
Which made his hands both hard and brawny,
When wash'd, of colour orange-tawny.
His whole complexion was a fallow,
Where black had not destroy'd the yellow.
One foot was clump'd, which was the ftronger
T'other fpiny, though much longer;
So both to the proportion come
Of the fore-finger and the thumb.
In short, the whole of him was nafty,
Ill-natur'd, vain, imperious, hally:
Deformity alike took place

Both in his manners and his face.
Venus had perfe&t shape and fize;.
But then he was not over wife:
For fometimes fhe her knee is crimping,
To imitate th' old man in limping.

1

Sometimes his dirty paws fhe fcorns,
Whilft her fair fingers fhew his horns.
But Mars, the bully of the place, is
The chiefeft fpark in her good graces.
At first they're fhy, at last grow bolder,
And conjugal affection colder.
They car'd not what was faid or done,
Till impudence defy'd the Sun.

Vulcan was told of this: quoth he,
"Is there fuch roguery? I'll fee!"
He then an iron net prepar'd,
Which he to the bed's tefter rear'd;
Which, when a pully gave a fnap,
Wou.d fall, and make a cuckold's trap.
All thofe he plac'd in the best room,
Then feign'd that he must go from home;
For he at Lemnos forges had,
And none but he to mind the trade.

Love was too eager to beware

Of failing into any fnare.

They went to bed, and fo were caught;
And then they of repentance thought.
The fhew being ready to begin,
Vulcan would call his neighbours in.
Jove (hould be there, that does make bold
With Juno, that notorious fcold;
Neptune, firft bargeman on the water;
Thetis, the oyster-woman's daughter;
Plato, that chimney-fweeping floven;
With Proferpine hot from her oven:
And Mercury, that's fharp and cunning
In ftealing customs and in running;
And Dy the midwife, though a virgin;
And Æfculapius, the furgeon;
Apollo, who might be physician,
Or ferve them elfe for a musician;
The piper Pan, to play her up;
And Bacchus, with his chirping cup;
And Hercules fhould bring his club in,
To give the rogue a lufty drubbing;
And all the Cupids fhould be by,
To fee their mother's infamy.

One Momus cried, "You're hugely pleas'd; "I hope your mind will foon be eas'd: "For, when fo publicly you find it,

People, you know, will little mind it. "They love to tell what no one knows, "And they themselves only fuppofe. "Not every hufband can afford "To be a cuckold on record; "Nor fhould he be a cuckold flyľ'd, "That once or fo has been beguil'd "Unless he makes it demonstration, "Then puts it in fome proclamation, "With general voice of all the nation." The company were come, when Vulcan hopping, And for his key in left fide pocket groping, Cries," "Tis but opening of that door, "To prove myself a cuckold, her a whore." They all defir'd his leave that they might go; They were not curious of fo vile a fhew: Perfons concern'd might one another see, And they'd believe fince witnesses were three. And they, thus prov'd to be fuch foolish elves, Might hear, try, judge, and e'en condemn themfelves.

Difcretion covers that which it would blame,
Until fome fecret blush and hidden fhame
Have cur'd the fault without the noife of fame..
The work is done, and now let Ovid have
Some gratitude attending on his grave;
Th' afpiring palm, the verdant laurel ftrow,
And fweets of myrtle wreaths around it throw.
In phyfic's art as Podalirius skill'd,
Neftor in court, Achilles in the field;
As Ajax had in fingle combat force,
And as Automedon beft rui'd the horse;
As Chalcas vers'd in prophecies from Juve,
So Ovid has the masterfhip of love.
The poet's honour will be much the lefs
Than thar which by his means you may poffefs
In choice of beauty's lafting happiness.
But, when the Amazonian quits the field,
Let this be wrote on the triumphant fhield,
That fhe, by Ovid's art, was brought to yield.
When Ovid's thoughts in British ftyle you

fee,

Which mayn't fo founding as the Roman be; Yet then admittance grant: 'tis fame to me.

PART XI.

I WHO the art of war to Danaans gave,
Will make Penthefilia's force as brave;
That both, becoming glorious to the fight,
With equal arms may hold a dubious fight.
What though 'twas Vulcan fram'd Achilles' fhield,
My Amazonian darts fhall make him yield.

A myrtle crown with victory attends
Thofe who are Cupid's and Dione's friends.
When beauty has fo many arms in store,

(Some men will fay) why fhould you give it more?
Tell me who, when Penelope appears
With conftancy maintain'd for twenty years,
Who can the fair Laodamia fee

In her lord's arms expire as well as he;
Can view Alceftis, who with joy removes
From earth, instead of him fhe fo much loves;
Can hear of bright Evadne, who, in fires
For her lov'd Capaneus prepar'd, expires;
When virtue has itself a female name,
So Truth, fo Goodnefs, Piety, and Fame,
Would headstrong fight, and would not con-
quer'd be,

Or ftoop to fo much generosity?

gth of bow, 'Tis not with fword, or fire, or ftren : That female warriors to their battle go They have no ftratagem, or fubtile wile; Their native innocence can ne'er beguile The fox's various maze, bear's cruel den They leave to fierceness and the craft of men. 'Twas Jafon that transferr'd his broken vows From kind Medea to another spouse: Thefeus left Gnoflis on the fands, to be Prey to the birds, and monsters of the fea: Deephoon, nine times recall'd, forbore Return, and let his Phyllis name the shore. Æneas wreckt, and hofpitably us'd, Fam'd for his piety, yet ftill refus'd

To ftay where lov'd, but left the dangerous fword
By which he died to whom he broke his word.
Piteous examples worthy better fate,
If my inftructions had not come too late:
For then their art and prudence had retain'd
What first victorious rays of beauty gain'd.
Whilft thus I thought, not without grief to find
Defenceless virtue meet with fate unkind,
Bright Cytherea's facred voice did reach
My tingling ears, and thus fhe bade me teach :
"What had the harmlefs maid deferv'd from
"thee?

"Thou haft given weapons to her enemy;
"Whilft in the field fhe muft defencelefs ftand,
"With want of fkill, and more unable hand.
"Stefichorus, who would no fubject find [blind:
"But harm to maids, was by the gods ftruck
"But, when his fong did with their glories rife,
"He had his own reflor'd, to praise their eyes.
"Be rui'd by me, and arms defenfive give;
"'Tis by the ladies' favourst you must live."
She then one myftic leaf with berries four
(Pluckt from her myrtle crown) bade me with
Speed devour.

I find the power infpir'd; through purer sky My bread diffolves in verfe, to make young lo

vers die.

[cern.

Here Modesty and Innocence fhall learn
How they may truth from flattering fpeech dif
But come with speed; lofe not the flying day:
See how the crowding waves roll down away,
And neither, though at love's command, will
ftay.

Thefe waves and time we never can recal;
But, as the minutes país, muft lofe them all.
Nor like what's paft are days fucceeding good,
But fide with warmth decay'd and thicker blood.
Flora, although a goddefs, yet does fear

The change that grows with the declining year;
Whilft glistering fnakes, by cafting off their skin,
Fresh courage gain, and life renew'd begin.
The eagles cait their bills, the flag its horn;
Eut beauty to that bleffing is not born.

Thus Nature prompts its ufe to froward Love,
Grac'd by examples of the powers above.
Endymion pierc'd the chafte Diana's heart,
And cool Aurora felt love's fiery dart.

PART XII.

A PERSON of fome quality
Happen'd, they fay, in love to be
With one who held Lim by delay,
Would neither fay him No or Ay;
Nor would he have him go his way.
This lady thought it beft to fend
For fome experienc'd trufty friend,
To whom the might her mind impart,
T'unchain her own, and bind his heart;
A tire-woman by occupation,
A ufeful and a choice vocation.
She faw all, heard all, never idle;
Her fingers or her tongue would fiddle;

Diverting with a kind of wit,
Aiming at all, would fometimes hit;
Though in her fort of rambling way
She many a ferious truth would fay.
Thus in much talk among the reft
The oracle itfelf expreft:

"I've heard fome cry, Well, I profefs "There's nothing to be gain'd by drefs! "They might as well fay that a field, "Uncultivated, yet would yield "As good a crop as that which kill "With utmoft diligence should till ; "Our vintage would be very fine, "If nobody should prune their vine! "Good shape and air, it is confest, "Is given to fuch as heaven has bleft; "But all folks have not the fame graces: "There is distinction in our faces. "There was a time I'd not repine "For any thing amifs in mine,

Which, though I fay it, ftill feems fair; "Thanks to my art as well as care! "Our grandmothers, they tell us, were "Their fardingale and their bandore, "Their pinners, forehead-cloth, and ruff, "Content with their own cloth and stuf; "With hats upon their pates like hives; "Things might become fuch foldiers wires; "Thought their own faces fill would laft them "In the fame mould which Nature caft them. "Dark paper buildings then food thick;

No palaces of ftone or brick: "And then, alas! were no exchanges: "But fee how time and fashion changes! "I hate old things and age. I fee, "Thank Heaven, times good enough for me. "Your goldfmiths now are mighty neat: "I love the air of Lombard-street. "Whate'er a ship from India brings, "Pearls, diamonds, filks, are pretty things. "The cabinet, the fcreen, the fan, "Please me cxtremely, if Japan:

66

And, what affects me ftill the more, They had none of them heretofore. "When you're unmarried, never load re "With jewels; they may incommode ye "Lovers mayn't dare approach; but mufly "They'll fear when married you'll be cofly. "Fine rings and lockets beft are tried, "When given to you as a bride, "In the mean time you fhew your fenft By going fine at fmall expence. "Sometimes your hair you upwards fur!, "Sometimes lay down in favourite curl: "All muft through twenty fiddlings paf, "Which none can teach you but your glas: "Sometimes they must dishevel'd lie "On neck of polish'd ivory: "Sometimes with firings of pearl they're fa", "And the united beauty mix'd; "Or, when you won't their grace unfold, "Secure them with a bar of gold. "Humour and fashion change each day; "Not birds in forefts, flowers in May, "Would fooner number'd be than they.