Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

And on the back a letter fhall defign;
Befides a note that fhall be writ in wine.
Whene'er you
think upon our laft embrace,
With your fore-finger gently touch your face.
If any word of mine offend my dear,

your

lord.

Pull, with your hand, the velvet of your ear.
If you are pleas'd with what I do or fay,
Handle your rings, or with your fingers play.
As fuppliants ufe at altars, hold the board,
Whene'er you wish the devil take
may
When he fills for you, never touch the cup,
But bid th' officious cuckold drink it up.
The waiter on thofe fervices employ:
Drink you, and I will fnatch it from the boy;
Watching the part where your fweet mouth hath been,
And thence with eager lips will fuck it in.
If he, with clownish manners, thinks it fit
To tafte, and offer you the nafty bit,
Reject his greafy kindness, and restore
Th' unfav'ry morfel he had chew'd before.
Nor let his arms embrace your neck, nor reft
Your tender cheek upon his hairy breaft.
Let not his hand within your bosom stray,
And rudely with your pretty bubbies play.
But above all, let him no kiss receive;
That's an offence I never can forgive.
Do not, O do not that fweet mouth refign,
Left I rife up in arms, and cry, 'tis mine.
I fhall thrust in betwixt, and void of fear
The manifeft adult'rer will appear,

These things are plain to fight; but more I doubt
What you conceal beneath your petticoat.
Take not his leg between your tender thighs,
Nor, with your hand, provoke my foe to rise.
How many love-inventions I deplore,
Which I myself have practis'd all before?

[blocks in formation]

How oft have I been forc'd the robe to lift
In company; to make a homely shift
For a bare bout, ill huddled o'er in hafte,
While o'er my fide the fair her mantle caft.
You to your husband shall not be so kind;
But, left you should, your mantle leave behind,
Encourage him to tope; but kifs him not,
Nor mix one drop of water in his pot.
If he be fuddled well, and fnores apace,
Then we may take advice from time and place.
When all depart, when.compliments are loud,
Be fure to mix among the thickest crowd:
There I will be, and there we cannot mifs,
Perhaps to grubble, or at least to kifs.
Alas! what length of labour I employ,
Juft to fecure a fhort and tranfient joy!

For night must part us; and when night is come,
Tuck'd underneath his arm he leads you home,
He locks you in; I follow to the door,
His fortune envy, and my own deplore.
He kiffes you, he more than kisses too;
Th' outrageous cuckold thinks it all his due.
But add not to his joy by your confent,
And let it not be given, but only lent.
Return no kiss, nor move in any fort;
Make it a dull and a malignant sport.
Had I my wifh, he fhould no pleasure take,
But flubber o'er your business for my fake.
And whate'er fortune fhall this night befal,
Coax me to-morrow, by forfwearing all,

FROM

OVID's

FROM

AMOUR S.

BOOK II. E LE G. 19.

F for thyfelf thou wilt not watch thy whore,

IF

Watch her for me, that I may love her more. What comes with ease we naufeously receive,

Who, but a fot, would fcorn to love with leave?
With hopes and fears my flames are blown up higher ?
Make me despair, and then I can defire.

Give me a jilt to teaze my jealous mind;
Deceits are virtues in the female kind.

Corinna my fantastick humour knew,

Play'd trick for trick, and kept herself still new:
She, that next night I might the fharper come,
Fell out with me, and fent me fafting home;
Or fome pretence to lie alone would take;
Whene'er the pleas'd, her head, and teeth would ake :
'Till having won me to the highest strain,

She took occafion to be sweet again.

With what a guft, ye gods, we then imbrac'd!
How ev'ry kifs was dearer than the last!
Thou whom I now adore, be edify'd,

Take care that I may often be deny'd.
Forget the promis'd hour, or feign fome fright,
Make me lie rough on bulks each other night.
These are the arts that best secure thy reign,
And this the food, that must my fires maintain.
Grofs eafy love does, like grofs diet, pall,
In fqueafy ftomachs honey turns to gall.
Had Danaë not been kept in brazen tow'rs,
Jove had not thought her worth his golden fhow'rs.

When

When Juno to a cow turn'd Io's shape,

The watchman help'd her to a second leap.
Let him who loves an easy Whetstone whore,
Pluck leaves from trees, and drink the common shore.
The jilting harlot ftrikes the fureft blow,
A truth which I by fad experience know.
The kind poor conftant creature we despise;
Man but pursues the quarry while it flies.

But thou dull husband of a wife too fair,
Stand on thy guard, and watch the precious ware:
If creaking doors, or barking dogs thou hear,
Or windows fcratch'd, fufpect a rival there.
An orange wench would tempt thy wife abroad;
Kick her, for fhe's a letter-bearing bawd;
In fhort, be jealous as the devil in hell;
And fet my
wit on work to cheat thee well.
The fneaking city-cuckold is my foe,

I fcorn to strike, but when he wards the blow.
Look to thy hits, and leave off thy conniving,
I'll be no drudge to any wittol living;

I have been patient, and forborn thee long,
In hope thou wouldst not pocket up thy wrong:
If no affront can roufe thee, understand
I'll take no more indulgence at thy hand.
What, ne'er to be forbid thy house, and wife!
Damn him who loves to lead fo ill a life.
Now I can neither figh, nor whine, nor pray,
All thofe occafions thou haft ta'en away.
Why art thou fo incorrigibly civil ?
Do fomewhat I may wish thee at the devil.
For fhame be no accomplice in my treason,
A pimping husband is too much in reason.

Once more wear horns, before I quite forfake her, In hopes whereof, I reft thy cuckold-maker.

TRANSLA

We w

TRANSLATIONS

FROM

OVID'S METAMORPHOSES.

« EdellinenJatka »