Oh, could you once arrive but to the pow'r
As unconcern'd, to pass your mistress' door!
Strongly resolve, though ne'er so loath to stir,
For now's the time to stretch with whip and spur.
Think there's the Syren's den, the deadly bay,182
Make all the sail you can and scud away.
Your fond resentment quit, and condescend
To take your very rival for your friend.
Salute him kindly, though with deep regret;
Embrace him, I'll pronounce your cure complete.
Now to perform a true physician's part,
And show I'm perfect master of my art;
I will prescribe what diet you should use,
What food you ought to take, and what refuse.
Mushrooms of ev'ry sort provoke desire,
Salacious rockets set your veins on fire;
The plant I recommend is wholesome rue,
It clears the sight and does the blood subdue:
But, in a word, of all the herbs that grow,
Take only such as keep the body low.
If my opinion you would have of wine,
It quenches love, and does to love incline.
A little breath of wind but fans the fire,
Whose flame will in a greater blast expire.
In wine you must no moderation keep;
You must not drink at all; or drink so deep,
So large a dose, as puts your cares to sleep.
Now to our port we are arriv'd; bring down
The jolly wreath, our weary barque to crown.183
Your grief redrest, and now a happy throng,
Ye nymphs and youths applaud my healing song.
Ovid's Art of Beauty.
Poem Med.
Once more, ye fair, attend your master's song,
And learn what method will your charms prolong;
What happy heart best recommends a face;
What heightens beauty; what preserves a grace.
Art improves nature; 'twas by art we found
The vast advantages of furrow'd ground:
The soil manur'd, a fruitful harvest bore,
Where thorns and hungry brambles grew before.
By art the gard'ner grafts his trees, to bear
A kinder fruit, and recompense his care.
A gilded roof delights our captive eyes,
And stately monuments the sight surprise,
Tho' sordid earth beneath the polish'd marble lies.
The fleece may be with royal purple died,
And India precious ivory provide,
To please your fancies and supply your pride.
When Tatius rul'd the ancient Sabine race,
Then, rough and careless of a handsome face,
The women took more pains to earn their bread
At plough and cart, than how to dress the head;
All day their task the busy matrons plied,
Or spinning sat, as to their distaffs tied.
The mother then at night would fold the sheep
Her little daughter us'd by day to keep;
And when at home, would cleave out logs of wood,
Or kindle up a fire to boil their food.
But you, by nature form'd in finer moulds,
Must wrap your tender limbs in silken folds;
Wear lawns and tissue, sleep in damask beds,
And with gay knots and wires adorn your heads:
Your ears with pendants, lockets on your arms,
Besides a thousand other nameless charms.
Nor needs this care to please a blush create;
The men themselves have learned to dress of late.
You are not now particular in clothes,
The husband and the bridegroom both are beaux;
Dress then, and 'tis no sin to dress with art,
For that's the way to wound the lover's heart.
E'en those that live remote in country towns,
Will dress their hair with flowers and daisy crowns,
And deck and prank themselves, to please the clowns.
Besides, all women take a secret pride
In being fine, or else they are belied;
For when the conscious maid her glass explores,
And finds she's handsome, she herself adores.
Thus Juno's bird with silent pride will raise
And spread his starry plumes, whene'er he meets with praise.
This method will oblige our sex to love,
And more than magic herbs their passions move.
Trust not to philtres; all such stuff forbear;
Nor try the venom of the lustful mare.
'Tis all a jest; no snakes by such a force
Enchanted burst, no rivers change their course;
Nor can they make the moon from heaven descent
Whate'er some superstitious fools pretend.
First learn good breeding; that I first advise;
Good carriage oft the other wants supplies.
For when ill-natur'd age shall rudely plough
Injurious furrows on your wrinkled brow,
You then perhaps may chide the tell-tale glass,
That shews the frightful ruins of your face;
But if good humour to the last remain,
E'en age may please, and love his force retain.
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