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 feveral verfes of Ovid, and has divided the whole into fourteen Parts rather than keep it in three books. These may be too tedious to be recited; but, among the rest, some were, that matters of the same subject 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) as Virgil in his Georgicks, fo here most of the parts end with fome remarkable fable, which carries with it fome moral: yet if any perfons please to take the fix first parts 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 most wayward and provoking) fince they would stay have been suffered 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 prescribed for it but the speedy obtaining of what it defires. Should the imitator's Ryle feem not to be sufficiently restrained, should he * Congreve's Love for Love.

not have afforded pains for review or correction, let ît be confidered that perhaps even in that he defired to imitate his author, and would not peruse them, left as fome of Ovid's works were, fo thefe might be committed to the flames: but he leaves that for the reader to do, if he pleafes, when he has bought them.

PART I

WHOEVER knows not what it is to love,

Let him but read these verses and improve.
Swift fhips are rul'd by art, and oars, and fails;
Skill guides our chariots; wit o'er love prevails.
Automedon with reins let loose could fly;
Tiphys with Argo's fhip cut waves and sky.
In Loveaffairs 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.

5

ΙΟ

Chiron with pleasing harp Achilles tam'd,

And his rough manners with foft mufick fram'd: 'Tho' he'd in council ftorm, in battle rage,

He bore a fecret reverence for age.

Chiron's command with flrict obedience ties I'S
The finewy arm by which brave Hector dies.
That was his task, but fiercer Love is mine:
They both are boys, and sprung from race divine.
The ftiffneck'd bull does to the yoke submit,
And the most fiery courfer champs the bit :
So Love fhall yield. I own I've been his slave,
But conquer'd where my enemy was brave;
And now he darts his flames without a wound,
And all his whiflling arrows die in found,

20

Nor will I raise my fame by hidden art;

In what I teach found reason fhall have part:
For Nature's paffion cannot be destroy'd,

But moves in virtue's path when well employ'd.
Yet ftill it will be convenient to remove

The tyranny and plagues of vulgar love.

25

39

May infant Chastity, grave matrons' pride,
A parent's wifh, and blushes of a bride,

Protect this Work! fo guard it, that no rhyme
In fyllable or thought may vent a crime!
The foldier that Love's armour would defy
Will find his greatest courage is to fly.
When Beauty's am'rous glances parley beat
The only conqueft then is to retreat;
But if the treach'rous 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 skies are never caught:

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40

No happiness is found but what is fought.
The huntsman learns where does trip o'er the lawn,
And where the foaming boar fecures his brawn: 46
The fowler's lowbell robs the lark of fleep;

And they who hope for fish must search the deep:
And he that fuel feeks for chafte defire

Must search where virtue may that flame infpire. 50
To foreign parts there is no need to roam;
The bleffing may be met with nearer home.

55

From India fome, others from neighb'ring France,
Bring tawny skins and puppets that can dance.
The feat of British empire does contain
Beauties that o'er the conquer'd globe will reign.
As fruitful fields with plenty blefs the fight,
And as the Milky Way adorns the night,
So that does with those graceful nymphs abound,
Whose dovelike foftness is with roses crown'd.
There tend'reft blooms inviting softness spread,
Whilst by their smallest twine the captive 's led;
There youth advanc'd in majesty does fhine,
Fit to be a mother to a race divine.
No age in matrons, no decay, appears ;

By prudence only there you guefs at years.

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65

Sometimes you 'll fee these beauties feck the fhade

By lofty trees in royal gardens made;

Or at St. James's, where a noble care
Makes all things pleafing like himself

appear;

Or Kensington, fweet air and bleft retreat
Of him that owns a fov'reign, tho' most great *!
Sometimes in wilder groves, by chariots drawn,
They view the noble stag and tripping fawn.

༡༠

* George Prince of Denmark, confort to the Queen, greatly admired thefe fine gardens.-They were purchased by Kirg William from Lord Chancellor Finch, were enlarged by Queen Mary, and improved by Queen Anne, who was fo pleased with the place that the frequently fupped during the fummer in the Greenhouse. Queen Caroline extended the gardens to their prefent fize, three miles and a half in compass.