Love's School.  
PUBLII OVIDII NASONIS DE ARTE AMANDI. Or The Art of Love..  
Gedruckt tot Amsterdam by Nicolas jansz. Visscher.    

PUBLII OVIDII NASONIS DE ARTE AMANDI: OR, The Art of Love.. The Proheme or Introduction.  

IF there be any in this multitude,  
That in the art of Love is dull and rude,  
Me let him read, and these my lines rehearse,  
He shall be made a Doctor by my verse.  
By art of sails and oars Seas are divided,  
By art the Chariot runs, by art love's guided:  
By art are bridles reined in, or let slip:  
Typhis by art did guide the Hemonian ship.  
And me hath Venus her Arts master made,  
To ●each her Science, and set up her trade:  
And time succeeding shall call me alone,  
love's expert Tiphis and Antomedon.  
Love in himself is apish and untoward,  
Yet being a child, I'll whip him when he's froward:  
Achilles in his youth was taught to run  
On the stringd Lute a sweet division.  
Art on his rude and 〈…〉  
Instructing him in old 〈…〉  
He that so oft his friends, 〈…〉  
Made quake and tremble when 〈…〉 disclose.  
His furious rage was known to be a Suitor,  
And with submission kneel unto his Tutor:  
Aeneides by Chiron was instructed,  
And by my art is Love himself conducted,  
Both god's sons, Venus and Thetis joys,  
Both shrewd, both waggish, and unhappy boys:  
Yet the stiff Bull's neck by the yoke is worn,  
The proud Steed chewes the bit which he doth scorn  
And though loves darts my own heart cleaves asunder,  
Yet by my art the wag shall be kept under,  
And the more deep my flaming heart is found,  
The more I will revenge me of my wound:  
Sacred Apollo witness of my flame,  
Behold, thy arts I do not falsely claim,  
Of Clios' sisters, lo I take no keep,  
That in the vale of Ascafeede their sheep.  
Proud sky I teach of what I have been taster,  
Love bids me speak, I'll be your skilful master:  
And what I speak is true, thus I begin,  
Be present at my labours loves fair Queen.   

Keep hence you modest maids & come not near,  
That use to blush and shamefast garments wear,  
That have scant ruffs & keep your hair unseen,  
Whose feet with your white aprons covered been,  
For Vertas virgins here no place is left,  
My muse sings Venus' spoils and loves sweet theft,  
What kind affections lover's thoughts do pierce,  
And there shall be no fault in this my verse.   
FINIS.   

THE FIRST BOOK.  
FIrst thou that art a Freshman and art bend,  
To bear Love's arms and follow Cupid's tent,  
Find whom to love, the next thing thou must do,  
Learn how to speak her fair, to plead and woe:  
Last having won thy Mistress to thy lure,  
●e teach thee how to make that love endure,  
This is my aim, I'll keep within this space,  
And in this road my Chariot wheel shall trace.  
Whilst thou livest free and art a Bachelor,  
The love of one above the rest prefer:  
To whom thy soul says, you alone content me,  
But such a one shall not from heaven be sent thee.  
Such are not dropped down from the azure skies,  
But thou must seek her out with busy eyes:  
Well knows the Huntsman where his toil to set,  
And in what done the Boar his teeth doth whet:  
Well knows the Fowler where to lay his gin,  
The Fisher knows what pool most fish are in,  
And thou that studiest to become a lover,  
Learn in what place most Virgins to discover.  
I do not bid thee sail the Seas to seek,  
Or travel far to find one thou dost like,  
Like Perseus that among the Negroes sought,  
And fair Andromade from Ind brought:  
Or Paris who to steal that dainty piece,  
Travelled as far as betwixt Troy and Greece,  
Behold the populous City in her pride,  
Yields thee more choice than all the world beside.  
More ears of ripe corn grows not in the fields,  
Nor half so many boughs the Forest yields:  
So many green leaves grows not in the woods,  
Nor swim so many fish in the salt floods.  
So many Stars in heaven you cannot see,  
As here be pretty wenches, Rome, in thee.  
Fair Venus in the City of her son,  
Is honoured with Aeneas first begun.  
If in young Lasses thou delight, behold,  
More Virgins thou mayst see then can be told:  
If women of indifferent age will ease thee,  
Amongst a thousand thou mayst choose to please the●  
If ancient women, in the City be  
Matrons admired for their gravity:  
To find a Matron Widow or young Maid,  
Walk but at such time under Pompey's shade,  
When as the Sun mounts on the Lion's back,  
And store of all degrees thou shalt not lack:  
Or to that marble walk which was begun,  
And ended by a Mother and her Son.  
Abroad, at noon, betimes, or evening late,  
That day which we to Luna consecreate,  
Or to the fifty sisters Belus daughters,  
That all save one made of their husband's slaughtery  
Or that same holiday we yearly keep,  
In which fair Venus doth for Adonis weep,  
Or in the Seventh day sacred more than all,  
Which the jews nation do their Sabbath call:  
Or to the Miemphian Church where many a ●ow,  
Is made to the Egyptian Isis and her cow:  
Or to the market place which way is short,  
Women of all estates do there resort,  
Repair else to the pulpits, even the same  
In which our learned Orators declaim,  
Here often is the pleader's tongue struck dumb  
By those attractive eyes that thither come.  
There he to whom another's cause is known,  
Speaking of that, wants words to plead his own,  
Venus rejoicing smiles to see from far,  
The Lawyer made a Client at the bar:  
But most of all I would have thee stir,  
At the play time unto the Theatre,  
Where thou shalt find them thick in full great number,  
The matted seats and the degrees to cumber,  
Amongst that goodly crew thou mayst behold,  
Whom thou both lov'st, suest to, & fain would hold,  
●ooke as the laden Ants march to and fro,  
●nd with their heavy burdens trooping go:  
●r as the Bee from flower to flower doth fly,  
●earing each one her honey in her thigh:  
●nd round about the spacious fields do stray,  
●o do the fairest women to a play:  
●hat I have wondered how it could include,  
●f beauties such a gallant multitude.  
●here many a Captive look hath conquered bene▪  
●hither sole armed to see and to be seen.  
●reat Romulus thou first these plays contrives,  
●o get thy widowed soldiers Sabines wives,  
〈◊〉 those days from the marble house did wave,  
●o sail, no silken flag, no ensign brave:  
●●e tragic stage in that age was not red,  
●here were no mixed colours tempered:  
Then did the Scene want Art, the unready stage,  
Was made of grass and earth in that rude age.  
Round about which the boughs were thickly placed  
The people did not think themselves disgraced:  
Of tough and heathy Sods to have their seats,  
Made in degree of sods and massy peats.  
Thus placed in order, every Roman pride,  
Into his Virgin's eyes, and by her side  
Sat him down close, and severally did move,  
The innocent Sabine women to their love.  
And whilst the Piper Theuscus rudely played,  
And by their stamping with his foot had made,  
A sign unto the rest, there was a shout,  
Whose shrill report pierced all the air about.  
Now with a sign of rape given from the king,  
Round through the house the lusty Romans fling:  
Leaving no corner of the same unsought,  
Till every one a frighted Virgin caught.  
Look as the trembling Dove the Eagle flies,  
Or a young Lamb when he a Wolf espies:  
So run these poor girls, filling the air with shriek  
Emptying of all the colour in their pale cheeks.  
One fear possessed them all, but not one look,  
This tears her hair, she hath her wits forsook.  
Some sadly sit, some on their mothers call,  
Some chafe, some fly, some stage, but frighted all.  
Thus were the ravished Sabines blushing led,  
Becoming shame unto each Romans bed:  
If any strived against it, straight her man,  
Would take her on his knee, whom fear made wan.  
And say, why weepest thou, sweet, what ailst my dea●  
Dry up those drops, these clouds of sorrow clear.  
I'll be to thee, if thou thy grief wilt smother,  
Such as thy father was unto thy mother.  
Full well would Romulus his soldiers please,  
To give them such fair Mistresses as these.  
If such rich wages thou wilt give to me,  
Great Romulus thy soldier I will be.  
From that first age the Theatre hath been,  
Even like a trap to take fair wenches in:  
Frequent the Tiltyard, for there ofttimes are,  
Clusters of people thronging at the bar.  
Thou shalt not need, there with thy fingers because,  
Of winking signs, or close nods do not reckon:  
But where thy Mistress sits, do thou abide,  
Who shall forbid thee to attain her side.  
As near as the place suffers, see thou get,  
That none betwixt thee and herself be set.  
If thou be'st mute and bashful I will teach,  
How to begin, and break the ice of speech:  
Ask whose that horse was, what he was did guide him,  
Whence came he, if he well or ill did ride him.  
Which in the course or barriers best did do,  
And whom she likes, him do thou favour to.  
When thou espiest where Rome's best gallants sit,  
Applaud fair Venus, with thy Mistress hand it:  
If dust by chance upon her garments fall,  
Look with thy ready hand thou brush it all.  
And though none fall, yet look that without scoff  
Thou with thy duteous hand beat that none off.  
And let the least occasion show thy duty,  
None can be too servile unto beauty.  
●f her loose garments hang down that the skirt,  
Lick up the dust, or fall into the dirt:  
Officious be, to lift it up again,  
And from the sluttish earth do bear her train.  
Haply thy duteous guardian such may be,  
That thou her foot or well shaped legmaist see.  
Beware that none behind her rudely crush her,  
Or with his hard knees or his elbows brush her:  
Small favours women's light thoughts captivate,  
And many in their loves make fortunate,  
Beating the dust or fanning the fiesh air,  
Or to her weary soot but add a stair.  
Such diligence and duty often proves,  
Great furtherance to many in their loves.  
Within these lists hath Cupid battle sounded:  
And he that makes men wounds, himself been wounded▪  
As careless of himself he pries about,  
To know which conquerors of the Champions stout,  
He feels himself pierced with a flying dart,  
And wounded sore, complains him of his heart.  
Oh what assembly did there come to see,  
Great Caesar stand in all his royalty:  
Praising his prizes in their shouts and skips,  
took in the Persian and Athenian ships,  
From both sides of the Seas young Gallants came,  
And Virgins of all sorts to see the same:  
Then was the City thronged, who could not find  
In that fair crew a Saint to please his mind.  
Oh gods! how many did kind fancy drive,  
Strangers to us, us unto them to wive:  
Behold Great Caesar through the whole world famed  
Will add unto the nations he hath tamed.  
The Eastern kingdoms here to overpast,  
And they of all his Conquests shall be last.  
See where a stout revenger comes in arms,  
Whose haughty breast the flower of honour warme●  
That being but a child leads war in chains,  
But more than children can, by war constrains.  
Thy birthday shall by general accord,  
With all the newest virtues be adored,  
Thy wisdom which might well become the aged,  
Shall in the self same rank be equipaged:  
That all the world may wonder one so young,  
Hath such a ripe wit, and so quaint a tongue.  
Thy gifts outstrip thy age, whose slow pace lingers.  
Such was his instant strength, who 'twixt his fingers  
Crushed two envenomed Snakes being in the cradle,  
What would he do being mounted in the saddle,  
As great as Bacchus when his years yet green,  
Was in his power amongst the Indies seen:  
Is Caesar Heir unto his father's spirit,  
That his forefathers veitues do inherit.  
With their auspicious fortunes proudly dight,  
Wars, and shall vanquish still where he doth fight:  
Such be the fates, decree must be his fame  
That shall wage battle under Caesar's name,  
Live still thou, Youth, of whom thou now art king,  
With milk white heads and beards thy praises sing,  
Revenge thy wronged brothers, thy dead father,  
And to the wars millions of people gather.  
Thy father, and thy Country's father too,  
Case thee in arms 'gainst thy insulting foe.  
Thou'bear'st religious arms; so doth not he,  
Wrong leads him forth, but justice fights for thee:  
Behold the Parthians are already slain,  
The East yields homage to the Latin train.  
Caesar and Mars, both gods, his fathers both  
Be powerful in his journey now he goeth.  
I Prophesy his conquest and his praise,  
In a rich style unto the heavens I'll raise:  
With my field words he shall his army cheer,  
Which with their sweet sound shall inchant each ●are.  
Whilst I the Parthians flight describe at large,  
Who backward shoot, as flying, their foes charge.  
And of the Romans resolution write,  
In vain poor Parthian soldiers thou dost fight.  
Mars the great god of arms, forsake thy droome,  
In vain thou hop'●t by flight to overcome:  
In what day shalt thou, fairest of all things,  
Bedecked with gold, attended on by Kings.  
And drawn along by four white snowy steeds,  
To royalize thy acts and famous deeds.  
The whilst thy troops of soldiers round environs,  
The Captain of the enemy bound with irons:  
Giving their legs to keep them from the flight,  
Which they before did practise in their fight.  
The joyful young men mingled with sweet lasses,  
Will crowd and press to see him as he passes.  
And now being met, no sweet occasion balk,  
Make speech of any thing to enter talk:  
Though ignorant in all things, all things know,  
And take upon thee to explain each show.  
As thus she Euphrates that first proceeds,  
Having her head bound with a reath of reeds:  
Call the next Tigris with her hair all blue,  
Maids may be slattered, to think feigned things true  
Say this presents Armenia, Denae she,  
In the next place let Achemonia be.  
That man's a conqueror, captives they that tremble,  
Speak truly, if thou canst, if not dissemble.  
Thence if you go to banquet and sit down,  
To taste sweet Viands or to drink around,  
There may thy thoughts unto my art incline,  
Observing love, more than the crimson wine.  
Cupid himself always enured to rapes,  
Hath with his own white hand pressed Bacchus grapes.  
Until his wings with sprinkled wine made wet,  
He heavy sits and sleeps where he is set▪  
The dew from off his feathers soon he shakes,  
Which from his drowned wings the dry air takes.  
But from his breast so soon he cannot drive,  
Love sprinkled there, though ne'er so much he strive.  
Wine doth prepare the spirits, heats the brain hot,  
Expels deep cares, makes sorrows quite forgot:  
Moves mirth, breeds laughter, makes the poor man proud,  
And not remembering need to laugh aloud:  
Sets open the thoughts, doth rudeness banish,  
Refineth arts, and at wine sight woes vanish.  
In wine hath many a young man's heart been took,  
And borne away in a fair wenches look.  
In wine is lust and rankness of desire,  
join wine and love, and you add fire to fire:  
Choose not a face by torchlight, but by day,  
Only gross faults such splendours can bewray.  
Tiust no made lights, they will deceive thine eye,  
Thou canst not judge by torchlight, or in twie,  
At the broad noontide, when the Sun shined rarest,  
Did Paris say to Helen thou art fairest.  
The night hides faults, the midnight hour is blind,  
And no misshaped deformity can find.  
Stones and died Scarlet by the day we choose,  
The broad day and bright sun in beauty use:  
Sometimes unto those places task thy feet,  
Where the fair forest hantresses do meet.  
In number more than sea sands, else prepare,  
To the warm baths, where many a female are:  
There some or other hurt by Cupid's stroke,  
Where troubled waters with warm brimstone smoke  
Mistakes the wounds, cause and exclaiming raves,  
Not blaming Love, but those unwholesome waves.  
See where Dian●es grovie Temple stands,  
Where kingdoms have been won by slaughtering hands  
Because ●he Cupid loathes, and lives chaste still.  
Much people he hath slain, and much shall kill:  
Thus far my Muse hath sung in diverse strains,  
Where thou mayst find fit place to set thy trains,  
My next endeavour is to lay the ground,  
To achieve and win the Mistress thou hast found.  
Be prompt and apt, you that shall read my lines,  
And use attention to their disciplines,  
The first strict precept I enjoin your sense,  
Needful to be observed is conscience:  
Be confident, thy suit being once begun,  
And build on this, they all are to be won.  
First shall the birds that welcome in the spring,  
All mute and dumb for ever cease to ●ing:  
The summer Ants leave their industrious pains,  
And from their full mouths cast their loaded gains.  
The swift Menation hounds that chase are  
Shall frighted run back from the trembling hare,  
Before a wanton wench, once tempted by thee  
Poor fool, shall have the hard heart to deny thee,  
Stolen pleasure which to men is never hateful,  
To women, is now and at all times ever grateful:  
The difference is, a Maid her love will cover,  
Men are more impudent and public lovers:  
'tis meet we men should ask the question still,  
Should women do it, it would become them ill.  
The Heifers strength being once ripe and mellow,  
After the Bull she through the fields will bellow.  
The Mare neighs after the courageous Steed,  
But humane lust doth not so much exceed.  
Our flame hath lawful bonds, keep time & season,  
Not bestial made like theirs, but mixed with reason.  
Should I of Biblis speak, whose hot desi●e  
Doth to the brother's lawless bed aspire:  
And when the incestuous deed she well suspende●●,  
With resolution her sweet life she endeth:  
Myrrha the love of her own father sought,  
Affecting him, but not as daughters ought:  
Her body in a tree rough rind appears,  
And with her sweet and odorifrous tears,  
Our bodies we perfume, these are the same,  
Myrrh of their mistress Myrrha that bears the name  
In Ida of tall tree and Cedars full,  
There fed the glory of the heard, a Bull:  
Snow white, save 'twixt his horns one spot ther● grew,  
Save that one stain he was of milky hue,  
This Bullock did the Heifers of the groves,  
Desire to bear as Prince of all their droves,  
But most Pasiphae with adulterous breath,  
Envies the lovely Heifers to the death:  
I speak known truth, this cannot Crect deny,  
With all her hundred Cities built on high.  
'tis said that for this Bull the doting Lass,  
Did use to top fresh boughs and mow young grass,  
Nor was the amorous Cretan Queen afeard,  
To grow a kind Companion to the heard:  
Thus through the Campaigne she is madly borne,  
And a wild Bull to Minos gives the horn.  
'tis not for bravery he doth love or loathe thee,  
Then why, Pasiphae, dost thou so richly clothe thee▪  
Why dost thou thus thy face and looks prepare,  
What mak'st thou with thy glass ordering thy hair,  
Unless thy glass could make thee seem a Cow,  
And how can horns grow on that tender brow?  
If Minos please thee, no adulterer seek thee,  
Or if thy husband Minos do not like thee:  
But thy lascivious thoughts are still increased,  
Deceive him with a man, not with a beast.  
Thus by the Queen the wild woods are frequented,  
And leaving the King's bed she is contented:  
To use the groves borne by the rage of mind,  
Even as a ship with a full Eastern wound.  
How often hath she with an envious eye,  
Looked on the Cow that by her Bull did lie:  
Saying, oh wherefore did this Heifer move,  
My hearts chief Lord, and urge him to her love.  
Behold, how she before him joyful skips,  
And proudly jetting on the green grass lips:  
To please his amorous eye, than charged the Queen  
See in these fields that cow no more be seen.  
No sooner to her servants had she spoke,  
But the poor beast was straight put to the yoke.  
Some of these strumpet Heifers the Queen slew,  
And their warm blood the altars did imbrue.  
Whilst by the sacrificing Priest she stands,  
And gripes their trembling entrailes in her hands.  
Oft prayed she to the gods, but all in vain,  
To appease their deities with blood of beasts thus Slain,  
And to their bowels spoke, go, go, be gone,  
To please him whom I fond dote upon.  
Now doth she wish herself Europ● then,  
To be fair, so pasturing in the fen,  
〈◊〉 a beast in shape, hide, hoof, and horn,  
Only Europa on a beast was borne.  
At length the Captain of the Herd beguiled,  
With a Cow's skin with curious art compiled.  
The longing Queen obtained her full desire,  
And in the child's birth did bewray the sire:  
Had Cressa kept her from Thie●tes bed,  
She had not with her child been banished.  
Nor Phoebus stopped his Carr that so bright burned,  
And his Steeds back unto the morning turned.  
King Misus daughter that was held so fair,  
Stole from her father's head the purple hair:  
And hanging at the ship was in her fall,  
Changed to a bird in voice, in shape and all.  
Another Silla was by Circe's spells,  
Made a Sea monster, and in the ocean dwells:  
Beneath whose navel barketh many a hound,  
Whose ravenous gulf like throats ship, and men drowned.  
The wisest of great Alcides that by land,  
Fled the great god of war and did withstand:  
Neptune by Sea, behold alas she dies,  
A woeful and lamented sacrifice:  
Whose sorrows only not bright Crusaes' flame,  
Wishing their salt tears might have quenched the same.  
Who could but weep to see young children slain,  
Whilst their warm bloods their mother's garments stain,  
Phanux Annutors daughters she laments,  
The swift pact hurrying chariot tears and rents.  
Chief mischiefs all by women's lusts engender,  
Some of their hearts be tough, though most be tender.  
women's desires are burning, some contagious,  
men's are more temperate, far & less outrageous:  
Then in my art proceed nor doubt to enjoy,  
And win all women be they ne'er so coy.  
Use them by my directions, being learned by thee,  
Not one amongst a thousand will deny thee:  
Yet love they to be urged by some constraint,  
As well in things which they deny as grant:  
But take thou no repulse, ist not a treasure,  
To enjoy new delights and taste fresh pleasure.  
Variety of sweets are welcome still,  
And acceptablest to a woman's will:  
They think that corn best in another's field,  
Their neighbour's goat the sweetest milk doth yield.  
But first ere siege be to thy Mistress laid,  
Practise to come acquainted with her maid:  
She can prepare the way, seek thy redress,  
And by her means thou mayst have sweet access.  
To her familiar ear● your counsels show,  
And all your private pleasures let her know:  
Bribe her with gifts, corrupt her with reward,  
With her that's easy which to thee seems hard,  
She can choose times, so times Physicians keep,  
When in thy Mistress arms thou safe mayst sleep,  
And that must be when she is apt to yield,  
What time the ripe corn swells within the field,  
When banished sorrows, from her heart remove  
And gives mirth place, she lies broad wake to love.  
Whilst Troy was pensive, 'twas well fenced and kept,  
But then betrayed when they securely slept:  
Yet sometimes prove her, when thou findest her sad,  
Mourning her own wrong with some usage bad.  
Follow that humour with thy fluent tongue,  
she'll grace thee to revenge her former wrong:  
Her may the industrious maid betimes prepare,  
And softly whisper, yet that she may hear,  
Such wrongs no woman that hath spirit can bear:  
So she proceeds to thee, lifts thy praiseshie,  
Swear for her chaste love thou art bend to dye,  
And there step in, and doubt not to prevail,  
Yet ere her furious anger hath struck sail●  
Rage in that Sea: delay consumes and dies,  
Like ice against the Sun; no grace despise  
That from the handmaid comes; with all thy powe●  
Seek by convenient means her to deflower.  
She is industrious and made apt for sport,  
And by her office limits your resort,  
●he, if her own counsel may be closely kept,  
●er Ladies due would gladly intercept.  
●ll is hap hazard, though it be with pain,  
●y counsel is from these things to abstain●.  
●will not headlong over mountains tread,  
●or following me shall any be misled:  
●ut of the maid by whom thou send'st thy letter,  
●ith her care please thee well, with her face better  
begin not therefore with the Maid to toy,  
●hy Mistress love and favour first enjoy.  
●ne thing beware, if thou wilt credit Art,  
●or let my words amongst the winds depart:  
〈◊〉 thou hast moved her once, take no denial,  
●esolue to act, or never to make trial.  
from fear and blame thou art secure and free,  
●s soon as she partakes the crime with thee.  
●ou see the bird that to the morning sings,  
cannot soar high, when she hath limned her wings:  
●or can the savage Boar with bristled back,  
wreak through those toils which he before made slack.  
●he fish that glides along the silver brook,  
〈◊〉 quickly drawn, being wounded with the hook.  
●o having once but tried her, make her yield,  
●nd never part, but conquer from the field:  
●he fault being mutual, knowing how she fell,  
●he bashful girl will be ashamed to tell.  
●ut she can show thee in familiar phrase,  
●oth what thy virtuous Mistress doth and says.  
always be secret, if your guilt appear,  
●will in thy Lady breed perpetual fear.  
●e is deceived, that thinks all times avail,  
●or Swains to turn the earth, Seamen to sail:  
●ll seasons are not kind when men should sow,  
●imes must be picked, to have your grain well gro●.  
Nor always is the surging ocean fit,  
That the well fraughted ship may sail in it:  
Nor is it always time fair girls to woe,  
Sometimes abstain, so doth thy Master do.  
Omit her birthday, and those Calends miss,  
When Mars and Venus both abstain to kiss:  
At some forbidden seasons being decked,  
With princely tire, use her with great respect:  
In the breame winter when that Phades rain,  
From the sweet work of Venus most abstain.  
Forbear the like resort amongst thy wenches,  
When that the tender kidd the ocean drenches:  
Thou shalt begin even in that very day,  
When woeful and lamenting Allia,  
Looks on the tragic earth, made crimson red,  
With the wild Romans wounds, which that day ble●  
Or in the seaventh feast which is held divine,  
And honoured by the men of Palestine.  
Thy Lady's birthday Ceremonies make,  
And superstitiously all works forsake:  
Above all days let that a black day be,  
When thou givest aught, or she doth beg of thee.  
You shall have some into your bosoms creep,  
Who jestingly will snatch things they will keep.  
And by some slight or pretty wanton suit,  
To enrich themselves will leave thee destitute:  
First shall the Linnendraper bring his wares,  
And lay his pack wide open, as at Fairs.  
She will peruse them as thou stand'st her nigh,  
The whilst the Draper asks what will you buy?  
Straight will she crave thy judgement in the Lawn●  
Thou by degrees to show thy skill art drawn:  
Then will she kiss thee, pray thee she may try it,  
Thus by her flattery thou art won to buy it.  
Canst thou deny the wanton she will swear,  
This gift shall serve her use for many a year:  
It is now cheap, she hath great need of this,  
And every word she mingles with a kiss.  
Hast thou no coin about thee, thou shalt send,  
To entreat it by a letter from thy friend:  
What? must I needs present her with this casket,  
Because that on her birthday she doth ask it?  
Then every day she wants she will be sworn,  
That as that very day she's bred and borne.  
Or when I see her, how she sadly weeps,  
And feigning some false loss much seeking keep●s:  
As if she had let fall some precious thing,  
A jewel from her ear, her hand a ring.  
What's that to me, or if I hear her pray,  
To borrow this or that until some day:  
What's lent is lost, and to be found no more,  
womans things borrowed never will restore.  
Ten tongues, as many mouths cannot impart,  
Half the sleights used in the strumpet's art.  
Make love with letters, and thy money save, 
Dato do●● sicut dat mella genista.   
And let them wax, and ink, and paper have.  
Keep what thou hast, for words good words surrender,  
For flattery, like falsehood ever tender:  
Fair words are cheap, what more thou giv'st is lost,  
Flatter, speak fair, 'tis done with little cost.  
Old Priam by entreaty Hector won,  
Which bribed Achilles never would have done:  
Force is but weak, entreaty hath her odds,  
So we entreat, but not enforce the gods:  
A promise is a charm to make fools fat,  
Be full of them, promise no matter what:  
A promise is a mere enchanting witch,  
By promises 'tis an easy matter to be rich.  
The hope of gain will keep thy credit free,  
Hope is a goddess false, yet true to thee.  
Give her and say, you part on some disdain,  
Thou by her looseth, she by thee shall gain:  
Be always giving, but your gift still keep,  
And thy delays in words well harmed steep.  
So hath the barren field deceived the swain,  
So doth the Gamester lose in hope to gain:  
Love that on even hands grows is most pure,  
That which comes gratis longest doth endure.  
Write first, and let thy pleasant lines salute her,  
A letter breaks the ice of any suitor:  
A letter in an apple writ and sent,  
Won fair Cidippe to her lover's bent.  
You Roman Youths all other toys resign,  
Leave the seven liberal Arts and Muses nine:  
As when you hear an Orator declaim,  
The people judge, and Senate grace the same.  
So when the fair maids thou shalt come among▪  
Speak well, and they will all applaud thy tongue.  
But speak not by the book, it breeds offence,  
To Court in strange and ●ustian eloquence:  
None but a gull such bastard words will praise,  
Or in his speech use an enforced phrase.  
Who but a mad man else with Orations,  
Plead to his Love, and woe in declamations:  
Use a smooth language and accustomed speech,  
And with no straining discourse love beseech:  
As if thou cam'st to speak a studied part,  
But as immediately sent from the heart.  
If she receive thy lines, and scorns to read them,  
But casting them away, on the ground tread them:  
Despair not though, but that she may in time,  
And will with judging eyes peruse thy ●ime.  
In time the stubborn Heifers draw the wain,  
In time the wildest steeds do brook the rain:  
Time frets hard iron, in time the plough shares worn  
Yet the ground soft by which the steel is torn.  
What's harder than a stone, or what more soft  
Than water is, and yet by dropping oft  
The gentle rain will eat into the flints,  
And in thtir hard sides leaves impressive dints.  
Do but persist the suit thou hast begun,  
In time will chaste Penelope be won:  
Long was it ere the City Troy was ta'en,  
Yet was it burnt at length and Priam slain.  
Hath she perused the scroll thou didst indite,  
And will she not as yet an answer write:  
Enforce her not, it is enough to thee,  
That she hath read it, and thy love doth see.  
Fear not, if once she read what thou hast writ,  
She will vouchsafe in time to answer it.  
At first perhaps her letter will be sour,  
And on thy hopes her paper seem to lowr:  
In which she will conjure thee to be mute,  
●nd charge thee to forbear thy hated suit.  
Tush, what she most forwarnes she most desires,  
●n frosty woods are hid the hottest fires.  
Only pursue to reap what thou hast sown,  
A million to a mite she is thy own.  
●f thou by chance hast found her in some place,  
●owne on her back and upwards with her face.  
Occasion smiles upon thee, thank thy fate,  
●●eale to her beside with a thievish gate:  
●nd having won, unto her wisely bear thee,  
●ith watchful care that no Eavesdropper hear● thee.  
●r if she walk abroad without delay, 
W●●n th●● meetest 〈◊〉 abroad.   
●e thou a quick spy to observe her way.  
Keep in her eye, and cross her in the street,  
Here overtake her, at that corner meet:  
Then come behind her, then outstrip her pace,  
And now before her, and now after trace.  
Now fast, now slow, and ever move some stay,  
That she may find thee still first in her way,  
Nor be afraid if thou occasion spy,  
To jog her elbow as thou passest by.  
Or if thou happenest to behold from faree,  
Thy Mistress crossing to the Theatre: 
When thou findest her in the Theatre.   
Hie to the place, being there look round about thee  
And in no seat let her be found without thee.  
No matter though the play thou do not mind,  
Thou sights enough within her face shalt find:  
There stand at gaze, there wonder, ●here admire,  
There speaking looks may whisper thy desire.  
Applaud him whom she likes, if thou discover,  
In any strain a true well acted lover.  
Make him thy instance, court her by all skill,  
If she rise, rise, if she sit, sit thee still:  
Laugh thou but when she smiles, die when she lours  
And in her looks and gestures lose thy hours.  
Thy legs with eating pumice do not wear,  
Use no hot irons to crisp and curl thy hair:  
No spruce starch fashions should on lover's wait,  
Men best become a mere neglected gate.  
Blunt Theseus came with no perfumes to Crete,  
And yet great Minos' daughter thought him sweet.  
Phoedra did love Hippolytus, yet he,  
Had on his back no Courtly bravery.  
Adonis like a woodman still was clad,  
Yet Venus doted on the lovely lad:  
Go neat and handsome, comeliness best pleases,  
And the desire of women soon ceases.  
Use a meet● gate, thy garments without stain,  
Keep not thy face from weather nor from rain:  
Thy tongue have without roughness, thy teeth clear  
And white, and let no rust inhabit there.  
Wear thy shoes close and fit, and not to wide,  
Cut thy hair compass, even on either side:  
Let no disordered hairs here and there stand,  
But have thy beard trimmed with a skilful hand.  
Make blunt thy nails, pair them & keep them low  
Let no stiff hairs within thy nostrils grow:  
Keep thy breath sweet and fresh, lest rank it smell,  
Such is the air where bearded goats do dwell.  
All other loose tricks and effeminate toys,  
Leave thou to wanton girls and juggling boys:  
Behold young Bacchus me his Poet names,  
He favours lovers, and those amorous flames,  
In which he hath been scorched; it so fell out,  
Mad Ariadne strayed the I'll about: 
The tale of Theseus and Ariadne.   
Being left alone within that Desert plain,  
Where the brook Dia pores into the main.  
Who making from her rest, her veil vnbound,  
Her bare foot treading on the tender ground:  
Her golden hair dissolved, aloud she raves,  
Calling on Theseus to the defuged waves.  
On Theseus, cruel Theseus, whom she seeks,  
Whilst showers of tears makes furrows in her cheeks  
She calls and weeps, and weeps & calls at once,  
Which might to r●th move the senseless stones.  
Yet both alike became her, they all graced her,  
The whilst she strives to call him, or cry faster:  
Then beats she her soft breast, and makes it groan:  
And then she cries, what is false Theseus gone?  
What shall I do? she cries, what shall I do?  
And with that note she runs the Forest through.  
When suddenly her ears might understand,  
cimbals and Timbrels touched with a loud hand:  
To which the forest woods and caves resound,  
And now amazed she senseless falls to ground.  
Behold the Nymphs come with their scattered hair●  
Falling behind, which they like garments wear.  
And the light Satyrs, an untoward crew,  
Nearer and nearer to the Virgin drew.  
Then old Silenus on his lazy Ass,  
Nods with his drunken pate about to pass.  
Where the poor Lady, all in tears lies drowned  
Scarce sits the drunkard, but he falls to ground▪  
Scarce holds the bridle fast, but staggering stoops▪  
Following those giddy Bacchanalian troops.  
Who dance the wild Lavalto on the grass,  
Whilst with a staff he lays upon his Ass.  
At length when the young Satyrs lest suspect,  
He tumbling falls quite from his Ass' neck:  
But up they heave him, whilst each Satire cries,  
Ri●e good old father good old father rise.  
Now comes the god himself, next after him,  
His vine like Chariot driven with Tigers grim:  
Colour and voice, and Theseus she doth lack,  
There would she fly, and there fear pulled her back.  
She trembles like a stalk the wound doth shake,  
Or a weak reed that grows beside the lake.  
To whom the god spoke, Lady take good cheer,  
See one more faithful than false Theseus here.  
Thou shalt be wife to Bacchus for a gift,  
Receive high heavens, and to the spheres be lift.  
Where thou shalt shine a star to guide by night,  
The wand'ring seaman in his course aright:  
This said, lest that his Tigers should a●●ray,  
The trembling maid, the god his coach doth stay.  
And leaping from his Chariot with his heels,  
He prints the sand, with that the Nymph he feels:  
And hugging her, in vain she doth resist,  
He bears her thence, gods can do what they li●●.  
Some Hymen sing, and Io cry,  
So Bacchus with the maid that night doth lie:  
Therefore when wine in plenteous cups do flow,  
And thou that night unto thy love doth owe:  
Pray to the god of grapes that in thy bed,  
The quaffing healths do not offend thy head.  
In wine much hidden talk thou mayst invent, 
Love's tricks used in ●●ting and drinking.   
To give thy Lady note of thy intent:  
To tell her thou art hers and she is thine,  
Thus even at board make love tricks in the wine.  
Nay, I can teach thee though thy tongue be mute,  
How with thy speaking eye to move thy suit:  
Good language may be made in looks and winks▪  
Be first that takes the cup wherein she drinks.  
And note the very place her lip did touch,  
Drink just at that, let thy regard be such.  
Or when she carves, what part of all the meat▪  
She with her finger touch, that cut and eat:  
Or if thou carve to her, or she to thee,  
Her hand in taking it touch cunningly.  
Be with her friend familiar, and be sure,  
It much avails to make thy love endure:  
When thou drinkest, drink to him above the 〈◊〉,  
Grace him, and make thyself a thankful gu●●●.  
In every thing prefer him to his face,  
Though in his function he be ne'er so base:  
The course is safe, and doth secureness lend,  
For who suspectless may not greet his friend.  
Yet though the path thou treadest seem straight and plain,  
In some things it is full of ●ubs against.  
Drink sparingly, for my impose is such,  
And in your singling him take not to much:  
Carouse not but with soft and moderate sup●, 
Carouse 〈◊〉 to much   
Have a regard and measure in your cups.  
Let both thy feet and thoughts their office know,  
Chiefly beware of brawling, which may grow  
By too much wine, from fight most abstain,  
In such a quarrel was Eurition slain:  
Where swaggering leads the way mischief comes after,  
junkets and wine were made for mirth & laughter,  
Sing, 
Sing.  if thy voice be delicate and sweet,  
If thou canst dance 
Dance.  then nimbly shake thy feet.  
If thou hast in thee aught that's more than common,  
Show it; such gifts as these most please a woman.  
Though to be drunk indeed may hurt the brain,  
Yet now and then I hold it good to feign.  
Instruct thy lisping tongue sometimes to trip,  
That if a word misplaced do pass thy lip:  
At which the carping presence find some clause,  
It may be judged that quaffing was the cause.  
Then boldly say, how happy were that man,  
That could enfold thee in his arms, and then  
Wish to embrace her in her sweet hearts steed,  
Whom in her ear thou ravest to see dead.  
But when the table's drawn and she among,  
The full crew rising thrust into the throng:  
And touch her softly as she forth doth go,  
And with thy foot tread gently on her toe.  
Now is the time to speak, be not afraid,  
Him that is bold both love and fortune aid.  
Doubt not thy want of Rhetoric true love show,  
Good words unwares upon thy tongue will flow:  
Make as thy tongue could wound thy soul with grief  
And use what Art thou canst to win relief.  
All women of themselves selfe-loved are,  
The foulest in their own conceits are fair:  
Praise them, they will believe thee I have known,  
A mere dissembler a true lover grown.  
Proving in earnest what he feigned in sport,  
Then, oh you Maids, use men in gentle sort:  
Be affable, and kind, and scorn eschew,  
Love forged at first may at the last prove true.  
Let fair words work into their hearts as brooks,  
Into a hollow bank that overlooks:  
The margin of the water praise her cheek,  
The colour of her hair commend and like.  
Her slender finger and her pretty foot,  
Her body and each part that longs unto't▪  
And women as you hope my style shall raise you,  
I charge you to believe men when they praise you.  
For praises please the chastest maids delight,  
To hear their Lovers in their praise to write.  
juno and Pallas hate the Phrygian soil,  
Where Paris to their beauties gave the foil.  
Even yet they envy Venus and still dare her,  
To come to a new judgement which is fairer.  
The Peacock being praised spreads his train,  
Be silent and he hides his wealth again:  
Horses trapped richly praise them in their race,  
They will curvet and proudly mend their pace.  
Large promises in love I much allow,  
Nay call the gods as witness to thy vow:  
For jove himself sits in the azure skies,  
And laughs below at lover's perjuries.  
Commanding Aeolus to disperse them quite,  
Even jove himself hath falsely sworn some write:  
By Styx to juno, and since then doth show,  
Favours to us that falsely swear below.  
Gods surely be gods, we must think they are,  
To them burn incense, and due rights prepare:  
Nor do they sleep as m●ny think they do,  
Led harmless lives, pay debts and forfeits to.  
Keep covenant with thy friend and banish fraud,  
Kill not, and such a man the gods applaud.  
Say women none deceive, the gods have spoken,  
There is no pain imposed on faith so broken.  
Deceive the sly deceiver they find snares, 
Fallere fallentem non ●st fraus.   
To catch poor harmless lovers unawares.  
Lay the like trains for them; nine years some fain  
In Egypt there did fall no drop of rain.  
When Thratius to the grim Busiris goes, 
busiriss killed Thratius because he was a stranger.   
And from the Oracle this answer shows:  
That jove must be appeased with stranger's blood▪  
They said Busiris killed him where he stood:  
And said with all, thou stranger first art slain,  
To appease the gods and bring great Egypt rain.  
Phallaris bull, King Phallaris first said,  
With the worke-master that the Engine made:  
Both Kings were just, death deaths inventors try,  
And justly in their own inventions dye.  
So should false oaths, by right false oaths beguile  
And a deceitful girl be caught by wile:  
Then teach thy eyes to weep, 
Weep to ●er.  tears persuade truth  
And moves obdurate Adamant to ruth.  
At such especial times that passing by,  
She may perceive a tear stand in thy eye.  
Or if tears fail, as still thou canst not get them,  
With thy moist fingers rub thy eyes and wet them.  
Who but a fool that cannot judge of blisses, 
Kiss her.   
But when he speaks will with his words mix kisse●.  
Say she be coy, and will give none at all,  
Take them ungiven, perhaps at first she'll brawl.  
●triu● and resist her all the ways she ●an,  
And say withal away you naughty man.  
Yet will she fight like one would lose the field,  
●nd striving gladly be constrained to yield:  
●e not so boisterous, do not speak to high,  
●est by rude hurting of her lips she cry.  
He that gets kisses with his pleading tongue,  
And gets not all things that to love belong:  
● count him for a Meacock and a sot,  
Worthy to lose the kisses that he got.  
What more than kissing wanted of the game,  
Was thy mere dastardy, not bashful shame:  
They term it force, such force comes welcome still,  
What pleaseth them, they grant against their will.  
Phoebe the fair was forced, so was her sister,  
Yet Phoebe in her heart thanked him that kissed her:  
There is a tale well known how Hecubs son,  
To steal fair Helen through the stream did run.  
Venus who by his censure won in Ide,  
Gave to him in requital this fair bride:  
Now for another world doth sail with joy,  
A welcome daughter to the King of Troy.  
The whilst the Grecians are already come,  
Moved with this public wrong against Ilium:  
Achilles in a smoke his Sex doth smother,  
And lays the blame upon his careful mother.  
What makes thou great Achilles tozing wool,  
When Pallas in a cask should hide thy skull?  
What doth that palm with webs and thirds of gold▪  
Which are more fit a warlike shield to hold?  
Why should that right hand rock and twig contai●●  
By which the Trojan Hector must be slain.  
Cast off these loose veils and thy armour take,  
And in thy hand the spear of Pelias shake.  
Thus Ladylike he with a Lady lay,  
Till what he was her belly did bewray:  
Yet was she forced: so ought we to believe,  
Not to be so enforced how would she grieve.  
When he should rise from her still would she cry,  
For he had armed him and his Rock laid by,  
And with a soft voice spoke Achille stay,  
It is to soon to rise, lie down I pray:  
And then the man that forced her she would kiss,  
What force Deidemeia call you this.  
There is a kind of fear in the first proffer,  
But having once begun she takes the offer:  
Trust not to much young man to thy fair face,  
Nor look a woman should entreat thy grac●.  
First let a man with sweet words smooth his way,  
Be forward in her ear to sue and pray:  
If thou wilt reap fruits of thy Love's effects,  
Only begin 'tis all that she expects.  
So in the ancient times Olympian jove,  
Made to Hero's suit and won their love:  
But if thy words breed scorn, a while forbear,  
For many what most flies them hold most dear:  
And what they may have proffered fly and shun, 
●e secret in l●ue.   
By soft retreat great vantage may be won.  
In person of a wooer come not still,  
But sometimes as a friend in mere good will:  
Thou cam'st her friend, but shalt return her Love,  
A white soft hue my judgement doth disprove.  
Give me a face whose colour knows no Art,  
Which the green sea hath tanned the Sun made swart:  
Beauty is mere uncomely in a Clown, 
Beauty not approved in ● man.   
That under the hot Planets plough the ground.  
And thou that Pallas garland wouldst redeem,  
To have a white face it would ill be seen.  
Let him that loves look pale, for I protest, 
Look pale.   
That colour in a Lover still shows best:  
Orion wand'ring in the woods looked sickly,  
Daphne being once in love lost colour quickly.  
Thy leanness argues love, seem sparely fed, 
Lean.   
And sometimes wear a nightcap on thy head:  
For griefs and cares that in afflictions show, 
Sickly.   
Weaken a Lover's spirits and bring him low.  
Look miserably poor, it much behoves,  
That all that see you, may say, yond man loves:  
Shall I proceed or stay, move or dissuade?  
Friendship and faith of no account are made.  
Love mingles right with wrong, friendship despises,  
And the world faith holds vain, & slightly prizes.  
Thy Lady's beauty do not thou commend, 
Suspect thy friend in ●●ue.   
To thy companion or thy trusty friend:  
Lest of thy praise enamoured it may breed,  
Like love in them with passions that exceed.  
Yet was the nuptial bed of great Achilles,  
Unstained by his dear friend Actorides:  
The wife of Theseus though she went astray,  
Was chaste as much as in Pirithous jay.  
Phoebus and Pallas, Hermoins, Phillades,  
And the two twins we call Tindarides:  
Tend to the like, but he that in these days,  
For the like trust acquires the self same praise.  
He may as well from weeds seek sweet rose buds,  
Apples of thornetrees, honey from the floods.  
Nothing is practised now but what is ill,  
Pleasure is each man's God, faith they excel:  
And that stolen pleasure 〈◊〉 respected chief,  
Which falls to one man by another's grief:  
O mischief you young lovers, fear not those,  
That are your open and professed foes.  
Suspect thy friend, though else in all things just,  
Yet in thy Love he will deceive thy trust.  
Friends breed true fears, in love the presence hare,  
Of thy near kinsman, brother and sworn mate:  
I was about to end, but lo I see,  
How many humorous thoughts in women be. 
Qu●t capi●a tot sensus   
But thou that in my Art thy name wilt raise,  
A thousand humours woe a thousand ways:  
One plot of ground all simples cannot bring,  
This is for vines, here corn, there olives spring.  
More than be several shapes beneath the skies,  
Have women's gestures, thoughts, and fantasies?  
He that is apt will in himself devose,  
Innumerable shapes of fit disguise.  
To shift and change like Proteus whom we see,  
A Lion first, a boar, and then a tree.  
Some fishes strangely by a dart are taken,  
These by a net, and others by a hook:  
All ages not alike entrapped are,  
The crooked old wife sees the train from far.  
Appear not learned unto one that's rude,  
Nor lose to one with chastity endued:  
Should you so do, alas the pretty elves,  
Would in the want of Art distrust themselves.  
Hence comes it, their best fortunes some refuse,  
And the base bed of an inferior choose:  
Part of my toils remains, and part is past,  
Here doth my shaken ship her anchor cast.  
FINIS.   

THE SECOND BOOK.  
SIng Io P●●an, twice twice Io say,  
My toils 〈◊〉 pitchy, & I have caught my prey▪  
Let th● glad Lover crown my head with b●yes  
And before old blind Hom●r O●id praise. 
Paris. P●lops.   
So did King 〈◊〉 son exulting skip,  
With the fair ravished Helen in his ship▪  
So did he sing, th●● in his Chariot run▪  
And Vict●● li●● th● bright Allanta 〈◊〉.  
〈…〉  
Yet in the mid-sea far from any coa●●▪  
'Tis not enough to 〈◊〉 by my new Ar●,  
To find a Lady that commands thy 〈◊〉.  
The reach of my 〈◊〉 is much deeper,  
By Art thou her shalt win, by Art sh●l● keep 〈◊〉  
As difficult it is by Art to blind her▪  
To 〈◊〉 de●●res, as a● th● fir●● to find her▪  
In this consists th● 〈◊〉 of m● skill▪  
Cupid and Venus both assist me still.  
And gracious E●ato my style prepare,  
T●o● art the muse 〈◊〉 haste of Lover's care.  
I promise wondrous things, I will explain,  
How ●ickle thoughts in lo●e may firm r●m●ine.  
And how the Wag in fetters may be hurled,  
〈…〉 ●anders round ●bout the world▪  
Ye● is Lo●e light, and hath two wings to fly,  
〈◊〉 hard to outstrip him mounting the sky. 
The tale of Dedalus & ●is son Icarus.   
What M●●os to his guest always denied,  
〈…〉  
〈…〉  
In which to 〈◊〉 ●he Queen Pasiph●es guilt.  
Kneeling he say●●▪ just Minos end my moans,  
And let my 〈◊〉 country sh●o●d my bones.  
Grant me great King, what yet the ●ates deny,  
And where I have not lived, o let me die:  
Or if dread Sovereign, I deserve no grace,  
Look with a piteous eye on my child's face.  
And grant him lea●e, from whence we are exiled,  
Or pity me, if you deny my child▪  
This and much more he says▪ bu● all in vain,  
Both son and ●i●e still doth th● King detain.  
Which he 〈◊〉, said, now now 'tis fit,  
To give the world cause to admire thy wit▪  
The La●● an● S●a ●re watched by day and night,  
Nor Land no● S●a lies open to our ●●ight.  
Only the air 〈…〉 try,  
To cut a 〈◊〉 through the 〈…〉 fly:  
jove be auspitio●●●o my 〈◊〉,  
〈…〉  
But make this refuge since I can prepare,  
No means to 〈…〉 Lor●, but 〈◊〉 the ay●●▪  
Make me 〈◊〉, bring me to the brim,  
Of the black Stygi●● wa●●rs, 〈…〉  
Oh humane wit, thou canst invent much ill,  
Thou searchest strange a●●s, who would think by skill  
A heavy man like a light bird should stray,  
And through the empty heavens find a fi● way.  
He placeth in just order all his quills,  
Whose bottoms with resolved wa●e he fills:  
Then binds them with a line, and being f●st tide,  
He placeth them like oars on either side.  
The little Lad the downy feathers blue,  
And what his father wrought he nothing knew:  
The wax he softened, with the strings he played,  
Not thinking for his shoulders they were made:  
To whom his father spoke, and then looked pale,  
With these swift ships we to our land must sail.  
All passage now doth cruel Minos stop,  
Only the empty air he still leaves open:  
That way must we, the land and the rough deep,  
Doth Minos bar the air, he cannot keep.  
But in the way beware thou set no eye,  
On the sign Virgo nor Bootes high:  
Look not the black Orion in the face,  
That bears a sword, but just with me keep place.  
Thy wings are now in fastening, follow me,  
I will before thee fly, as thou shalt see.  
Thy father mount or stoop, so I arreed thee,  
Take me thy guide, and safely I will lead thee.  
If we should soar too near great Phoebus' seat,  
The melting wax will not endure the heat:  
Or if we fly too near the humid Seas,  
Our moistened wings we shall not shake with ease.  
Fly between both, and with the gusts that rise,  
〈◊〉 thy light body sail amidst the skies:  
And ever as his little son he charms,  
He fits the feathers to his tender arms.  
And shows him how to move his body light,  
As birds do teach their little young ones flight:  
By this he calls a counsel of his wits,  
And his own wings unto his shoulders ●its.  
Being about to rise he fearful quakes,  
And in his new way his ●aint body shakes:  
Bu● ere he ●ooke his flight he kissed his son,  
Whilst floods of tears down by his cheeks did run.  
There was a hillock not so high and ●all,  
As lo●tie mountains be, nor yet so small:  
To be with valleys even, and yet a hill,  
From this they both attempt their uncouth skill:  
The father moves his wings and with respect,  
His eyes upon his wand'ring son reflect.  
They bear a spacious course, and the apt boy,  
Fearless of harms in his new tract doth joy:  
And flies more boldly, now upon them looks,  
The fisher men that angle in the brooks.  
And with their eyes cast upward frighted stand,  
By this is Samos Isle on their left hand:  
With Maxos, Paros, Delphos, and the rest,  
F●●●elesse they take the course that likes them best.  
Upon the right hand 〈◊〉 they forsake,  
Now Astpelea with the fishie lake:  
Shady Pac●inne full of woods and groves,  
When the rash boy to bold in venturing roves:  
Loses his guide, and takes his ●●igh● so high,  
That the soft wax against the Sun doth fry.  
And the cords slip that made the feathers fast,  
So that his arms have power upon no bl●st:  
He fearfully from the high clouds looks down,  
Upon the lower heavens whose curled waves ●rowne.  
At his ambitious height, and from the skies,  
He sees black night and death before his eyes:  
Now mel●s the w●●e, his naked arms he shakes,  
And seeking to catch hold, no hold he takes.  
But now the naked Lad down headlong falls,  
And by the way he father, father calls:  
Help father, help he cries, and as he speaks,  
A violent wave his course of language breaks.  
The unhappy father, but no father now,  
Cries out aloud, son Icarus where art thou:  
Where art thou Icarus? where dost thou fly?  
Icarus where are? when straight he doth espy, 
Use i● charms.   
The feathers swim, thus loud he doth exclaim▪  
The earth his bones, the Sea still keeps his name.  
Minos could not restrain a man from flight,  
But wing●● Cupid be he ne'er so light:  
He gulls himself that seeks to witch's craft, 
No Magic potions.   
Or with a young colts forehead make a draft.  
No power in wise Medeus potions dwells,  
Nor drowned poisons mixed with magic spells:  
The power of Love is not enforced by these,  
For were it so, then had Aersonides,  
Bene stayed by Phasius, and Vlisse kept,  
Who stole from Circe while the enchantress slept.  
These charmed drugs moves madness, hurts the brain  
To gain pure love, pure love return again  
Mischievous thoughts eschew to purchase grace,  
Manners prevails more than a beauteous face.  
And yet the Nymphs the love of Nilus seek, 
Use manners.   
And Homer dotes on Nieureus the fai●e Greek.  
But trust not thou thy beauty to keep kind,  
Thy Mistress seeks the beauty of the mind:  
All outward beauty fades as years' increase,  
Even so it wears away and waxeth less.  
Beauty in her own course is overtaken,  
The Violet now fresh is, straight forsaken.  
Nor always do the Lilies of the field,  
The glorious beauties of their object yield:  
The fragrant rose once plucked the briery thorn,  
Shows rough & naked, on which the rose was born▪  
Oh thou most fair, white hairs come on apace,  
And wrinkled furrows which will plough thy face:  
Instruct thy soul, thy thoughts have perfect made,  
These beauties last till death, all others fade.  
To liberal Arts thy careful hours apply,  
Learn many tongues with their true Euphony:  
Ulysses was not fair but eloquent,  
Yet to his Love the Sea Nymphs did consent.  
How often did the Witch his stay implore,  
Making the Seas unfit for sail or oar:  
She prayed him oft, because he spoke so well,  
Over and over Troy's sad fate to tell.  
Whilst he with pithy words and fluent phrase,  
Recites the self same story diverse ways:  
Calypso as they on the Seabanke stood,  
Casting their eyes upon the neighbouring flood;  
Desires the fall and bloody acts to hear,  
Wrought by the Ordrision Captain's sword & spear  
Then holding 'twixt his fingers a white wand,  
Wha● she requests he draws upon the sand.  
Here's Troy quoth he, and then the walls he paints,  
Think Simois this, imagine these my tents:  
There was a place in which Dolon was slain,  
About the vigil watch, when with the rain,  
The Hemonian horses play, and as he speaks,  
To counterfeit that place the sand he breaks.  
Here Scythian R●esus tents are pitched on high,  
This way his horsemen slain, returned I.  
More did he draw, when on the sudden low,  
A climbing wave the shore doth overflow.  
And as her drops amidst his works doth fall,  
It washed away his tents, his Troy and all:  
To which the Goddess, dares Ulysses try,  
These senseless violent waves that climb so high.  
And wilt thou with these waters be annoyed,  
By which so great names are so soon destroyed.  
Then trust no idle shape, it will decay,  
Seek inward beauty, such as lasts for aye:  
Sweet affability 
Be affable.  will enter far  
Into a woman's breast, when scorn breeds war.  
We hate the hawk and loathe her flesh to eat,  
Because by rapine she doth get her meat.  
The Wolf we hunt, and envy all her stock,  
Because the Lamb● she kills, and spoils the flock:  
But none the gentle Swallow lays to catch,  
The loving stocks within our turret's hatch.  
Away with quarrels, 
eat strife.  bitter words, rough deeds,  
Love with kind language and fair speeches speeds.  
Strife makes the married couple often jar,  
The man with wife, the wife with man to war:  
Leave brawls to wives, they are their marriage dower,  
And with kind words salute thy Paramour.  
When by appointment you shall meet in bed,  
By the laws done, you are not thither led:  
Strict statutes from such actions still withdraw,  
Yet your abounding love supply the Law.  
Bring loving 
Be loving.  spe●ches to inchant the ear,  
And moving words, such as she joys to hear:  
I am not Tutor unto him that's rich,  
My precepts so are not to so high a pitch.  
The Lover that's endowed with gold or ●ee,  
And comes with gifts, he hath no need of me.  
He that at every word can take supply,  
Hath in that every word more wit than I:  
We yield to him he that their laps can fill,  
Teacheth an Art that goes beyond my skill.  
My Muse instructs poor Lovers wanting pelf,  
For when I loved I was but poor myself.  
Still as my purse no store of crowns affords,  
I in the stead of rich gifts give fair words:  
Be fearful you poor Lovers to displease,  
Be patient to endure, 
B● patient.  things against your ●ase.  
Things that the rich would scorn, it was my hap,  
Once as my head lay in my Mistress lap:  
To grow enraged, when straight I fell to beat her,  
To touse her ordered locks and ill entreat her.  
But what ensued o God, much grief it cost me,  
Many sweet days, many sweet nights it lost me.  
Whether I touched her clothes I might deny,  
She says I tore them, I some new must buy:  
You Scholars by your Master's harms beware,  
These ills by him already proved are.  
Make against the Parthians war, but to thy Love  
Being concord peace, and all things that can move:  
Though at the first you find him but untoward,  
Bear it, and she in time will prove less froward.  
The crooked arm that from the tree is cut,  
By gentle usage is made straight, but put:  
Such violence is it as thy strength delivers,  
And thou wilt break the short wood into shivers.  
By industry thou mayst oreswimme a flood,  
Whose raging currant else is scarce withstood:  
By industry the Tigers gently grow,  
And the wild Lions may be tamed so.  
The savage Bull whose fierce ire doth provoke,  
By industry is brought unto the yoke:  
Arcadian Atalanta was most cruel,  
At length came one whom she esteemed her jewel.  
Oft wept Hippomanes at his mishap,  
And her severity who sought to entrap  
Her harmless Lovers, oft at her fierce beck,  
He laid betwixt his shoulders and her neck.  
The joyless for savage beasts, and with his spear,  
He pierced such untamed cattle as came near:  
To such hard tasks I do not thee compel,  
To arm thy body against Monsters fell.  
In the wild wilderness to seek out broils,  
Nor on thy neck to bear the guileful toils.  
My imposition is not so severe,  
No such adventures are enjoined here.  
This only means all dangers will disperse, 
Humour her.   
Yield her her humour when she grows perverse:  
What she in conference argues, argue thou,  
What she approves, in self same words allow.  
Say what the says, deny what she denies,  
If she laugh, laugh, if she weep wet thine eyes.  
And let thy countenance be to thine a law,  
To keep thy actions and thy looks in awe:  
Or if thou hand to hand shalt play at dice, 
Lose to her at game.   
At tables or at chests by some device,  
Let her depart the Conqueror else 'twere sin,  
What gladly thou wouldst lose, that let her win.  
Let thy officious hand then bear her fan, 
Bear her fan.   
When thou shalt chance her through the streets to man:  
Make thy supporting arm to hers a stay,  
Through throngs and presses usher her the way:  
As she ascends her bed set her a stair,  
By which to climb and every thing prepare:  
That she may see them done without offence,  
Reach thou her pantafles or take them thence.  
And standing by to watch her while she rests,  
Warm thy cold hands betwixt her panting breasts:  
Nor think it base, ' 'twill please though it be base,  
To hold the glas●e unto thy Mistress face.  
He that deserved within those heavens to tarry, 
Hercules.   
Which he before upon his back did carry.  
Performing more than juno could command him,  
So strong, that no fierce monster could withstand hi●  
Even he Alcides joles' grace to win,  
Shaped like a woman did both card and spin.  
Go thou, and in his servile place proceed,  
And gain as fair a Mistress for thy meed:  
Art thou enjoined at such an hour to be,  
In the great Forum where she wai●es for thee.  
Hasten thy weary steps and thank thy fate,  
Come there betimes, depart not thence till late:  
Bids she thee go, all business lay apart,  
Run, till with extreme heat thou melt thy heart.  
Sups she abroad, and wants she one to attend her,  
Back to her lodging, it will not offend her:  
To wait her at the same place in the porch,  
And light her home directly with a torch:  
Is she in the Country, and commands thee come,  
Hast thou no coach, upon thy ten toes run.  
Let neither winter blasts nor storms of hail,  
Nor the hot thirsty dogstarre let thee-faile:  
eat neither heat nor cold, but see thou go,  
Though every step, thou treadest knee deep in snow  
Love is a kind of war, all such depart,  
As bear a timorous or a slothful heart.  
Nights, winters, long ways, watching grief in millions,  
Torments Love's soldiers in their soft pavilions:  
On ●old ground thou must lie, bear many a shower,  
When the heaven's open, and the floudgates power.  
So Phoebus when Admetus sheep he kept,  
In a thatched Cotrage on the cold flower slept.  
What Phoebus did, who may it not beseem,  
Better than Phoebus of himself esteem:  
What mortal lover dare, than sloth despise,  
You that confirmed and lasting love devose.  
●f at the outward gate a watch stand centy, 
Hazard for her.   
Or say the bolts or locks deny thee entry:  
Search some strange passage, through a casement crawl,  
Or by a cord down from the chimney fall.  
Thee in her loving arms she straight will take,  
Rejoicing thou wouldst hazard for her sake:  
Every vain fear and danger thou dost prove,  
Is a sure pledge and token of thy love:  
Oft had L●ander without Hero slept,  
To find his Love into the Sea he leapt.  
Think it no shame the favour to deserve:  
Of every Maid, that doth thy Mistress serve: 
To use her Maids.   
Salute them by their names in courteous sort,  
For these are they that can prefer thy sport.  
And more and more into their grace to grow,  
Some trifling gifts on each of them bestow:  
Especially regard her smiles or frowns,  
Whose office is to brush her Mistress gowns.  
To her make means, for she is groom porter,  
Both to her bed, and such as do resort her:  
Great and rich gifts I do not bid thee send her, 
What gifts to send her.   
I mean thy Love, but knacks of value slender:  
As when the orchard boughs are claged with fruit,  
In some choice dish from thence commend thy suit.  
And let the little Page that bears them say,  
Though thou perhaps hast bought them by the way:  
These pares, or plums, or grapes which I present you  
As his fi●st fruits were by my Mistress sent you.  
Or be they hazel nuts, or chestnuts great,  
Even such as Amarillis loved to eat.  
Or a young Turkey, these will show thy hart,  
These gifts send freely, lay thy gold apart:  
Such presents never bring men to despair,  
To untimely age, or to tormenting care.  
O let them amongst others rot and perish,  
That hate men's persons, and their presence cheri●  
What shall I bid thee send her, 
Send her verses.  meetred ●imes,  
Alas, they find small honour in these times.  
Verses they praise, but gold they most require,  
If rich, though barbarous, he commands desire:  
This is the golden age, not that of old,  
Both life and honour are now bought with gold,  
Though Homer bring the Muses in the train,  
Yet without gold he may retire again:  
Some girls there be, but they be passing few,  
Worthy to rank amongst the learned crew.  
Others unlearned there are, yet would be held,  
As if in skill and judgement they excelled:  
Both let thy verses praise, and in a style,  
Of sweetest posy their worths compile.  
Perhaps thy laboured lines they may esteem,  
And like a slight gift thy sweet verses seem:  
What thou intend'st to do by some fine feat, 
Note.   
'Cause of thy Lady may of thee entreat.  
Art thou by covenant tide, and must it be,  
That thou of force must set thy servant free:  
Contrive it so, that it she dare protest,  
Thou hadst not freed him but at her request.  
Art thou for any rash offence assuaged,  
So make thy peace, that she may be engaged:  
Do as thy profit leads thee, and yet so,  
That she for every thing thou dost may owe.  
And thou that hast attained by passions deep,  
Thy Lady's grace, 
Praise her ●t●ire.  and wouldst her favour keep:  
Make her believe still when thou viewst her feature  
Through all the world she is the fairest creature.  
If cloth of Tire she wear, that habit laud,  
Her Tirrian vesture with thy tongue applaud.  
●●ilke which we from rich Arabi● traffic,  
●●eare such attire cannot be ●ound through 
Africa.   
●cloth of gold she wear, tush gold is base,  
●ou compare her habit to her face:  
●n the cold she but a freeze gown wear,  
●en her perfection makes that garment dear.  
●he completely dressed, as rapt with joy?  
●ry out aloud, my heart burns bright as Troy.  
●oth she above her forehead part her hair?  
●hat lovely seen doth make her twice as fair:  
〈◊〉 her curled locks in careless tresses dangled?  
〈◊〉 these crisp knors thy heart must be entangled.  
〈◊〉 she doth dance, 
Her danting.  admire her active feet,  
〈◊〉 sing, then wonder at her voice so sweet.  
●ut when she ceaseth, 
Her voice.  either than complain,  
●treating her to try her skill again.  
●o this, and were her heart as hard as brass,  
●r more obdurate than Medus●es was.  
●et she in time shall be compelled to yield,  
●nd thou depart a Conqueror from the field:  
only beware o● too apparent flattery,  
〈◊〉 will destroy the siege and tedious battery.  
dissembling with Art, tempered much imports,  
●lse from all ●ature credit it dehorts:  
〈◊〉 Autumn when the year is in his pride,  
●nd the grape full with wine, red's on the side,  
●hen the clear air keeps a divided sear,  
affording sometimes cold, and sometimes heat.  
●omen are prone to love healthful and quick,  
●ut if by chance thy Lady be falne●●icke,  
●ake both thy love, zeal, faith, & all things cheap,  
●hen sow what with full sickle thou mayst reap.  
●ast all about her longing thoughts to please,  
●eeme not as if thou loathest her disease:  
Employ thy hand in each thing done to her,  
These offices even of themselves will woe her:  
Let her behold thee weep as thou stand'st by,  
That she may drink each tear falls from thy eye▪  
Vow many things, but all in public style,  
Tell her thy pleasing dreams, so make her smile.  
And let the trembling Nurse, thought fit to watch,  
Bring in her shaking hand a kindled match▪  
Let her peruse the bed and make it soft,  
Whilst with thy hand thou turnst & rearst her oft.  
These are the easy footsteps thou mayst ●read,  
Which have made way to many a wanton bed:  
No such fair office can with hate be stained,  
Rather by these affection is soon gained.  
But minister no drugs of bitter juice,  
Such let the rival temper to his use.  
Now greater gusts must to my Bark give motion,  
Being from the shore launched forth into th' ocean.  
Young love at first is weak, and craves forbearing▪  
But in continuance gathers strength by wearing:  
Yo● moody Bull of whom thou art afraid,  
Being but a Cal●e thou with his horns hast played.  
That tree beneath whose branches thou dost stand,  
To shield thee from a storm was once a wand:  
A River at the first not once a stride,  
Increaseth as he runs his waters wide.  
Receiving in fresh brooks in diverse ranks,  
Till he in pride have over flown his banks:  
Use to converse with her, the speeder knows,  
What strength from outcome & acquaintance grows  
Frequent her often, 
Frequent her.  be from her seld away.  
Keep in her ear and eye both night and day:  
And yet sometimes from these thou mayst desist,  
'Tis good one should be asked for being mist.  
〈◊〉 absent from her some convenlent season, 
Be absent from her.   
●nd let her rest a while it is but reason.  
●he field being spanned returns us treble gain,  
●frer great drought the earth carrouses rain:  
●illis did love Demophoon, but not dote,  
●ntill she saw his flying ship a float.  
penelope her absent Lord did mourn, 
Vlisset●●   
〈◊〉 Laodemeia did till the return,  
●f her dear spouse, but be not long away.  
●ares perish, new love enters by delay.  
●hen Menelaus from his house is gone,  
●oore Helen is afraid to lie alone:  
●nd to allay these fears lodged in her breast,  
〈◊〉 her warm bosom she receives her guest.  
●hat madness was it, Menelaus' say,  
●hou art abroad whilst in thy house doth stay,  
●nder the selfsame roof thy guest and Love,  
●adman unto the Hawk to turn the Dove.  
●nd who but su●h a Gull would give to keep,  
●●to the mountain wolf full folds of sheep,  
●ellen is blameless, so is Paris too,  
●nd did what● thou or I myself would do.  
●he fault is ●hine, I tell thee to thy face,  
●y limiting these Lover's time and place:  
●rom thee the ●eed of all thy wrongs are grown,  
●hose counsel hath, she followed but thy own.  
●las, what should she do, abroad thou art,  
●t home thou leau●st thy guest to play thy part:  
〈◊〉 lie alone the poor Wench is afraid,  
〈◊〉 the next room an amorous stranger laid,  
●er arms are open to embrace him, he falls in,  
●nd Paris I acquit thee of thy fin:  
●either the bristled Boar in his fierce wrath, 
Woman● rage.   
●orne by the ravenous dogs more anger hath:  
Nor the she Lion hid within some ache,  
Seeking her lost whelps, hid within some ba●ke;  
Nor the short Viper doth more anger threaten,  
Whom some unwary 〈◊〉 hath crushed and beaten.  
Then a fierce woman shows her celse in mind,  
Her dearest in adult erous arms to find.  
Oh than she 〈…〉 eye burns apace,  
And you may see her thoughts 〈…〉 face.  
Through swords, through flames she rushes, there's no ill,  
So grievous, but she acts it with her will:  
This breaks all 〈◊〉 love, though well compounded,  
This destroys all, though ne'er so firmly grounded.  
Medea did her husband's guilt repair,  
And with her bloody hand Absiretis slay.  
Yo● Swallow which thou ●eest was such another,  
Before her transformation a fierce m other:  
And that her deeds may yet be understood,  
The feathers of her breast were 〈…〉 blood.  
But for all this I task not thy affection,  
Of one, and her alone to make election▪  
You Gods defend the 〈◊〉 should prove so deep,  
These married men 〈…〉.  
Play you the wantoness, but being done 〈◊〉 it,  
〈…〉  
〈…〉  
〈…〉  
〈…〉,  
〈…〉.  
〈…〉  
〈…〉.  
〈…〉  
〈…〉.  
whilst 〈◊〉 lived with one contented,  
●is Wife was chaste and never it repented:  
●is secret blows her heart did so provoke,  
●anting a sword she with the scabbard stroke.  
●he hears of Chirses and the many iares,  
●bout Liruesis to increase the wars:  
●nd therefore mere revenge the Lady charms,  
〈◊〉 take Thie●tes in her amorous arms.  
●when thou hast gone on thy nightly arrant,  
●he act by circumstance pears too apparent:  
●eny it steadfastly, what ere they know,  
●nd boldly face them that it was not so.  
〈◊〉 not so sad or of too mirthful cheer,  
●est in thy countenance thy deeds appear:  
〈◊〉 thy close meetings use thy nimble knee,  
〈◊〉 may perhaps a bold intruder be.  
●nd after so repulsed scale the fort,  
●●t venture not too rashly on thy sport:  
〈◊〉 any there be by whose unkilfull motions,  
●●u are prescribed strange drugs and diverse potions.  
〈◊〉 make you lusty they are poisons all,  
〈◊〉 infect the body and inflame the gall.  
●pper with biting nettleseed they mix,  
●f bastard pellitory some few sticks:  
●hich beaten, and in old wine drenke up clear,  
●akes spiteful men aloft their standards bear.  
●he Goddess that beneath high Eripe reigns, 
Venus.   
●nto her pleasure no such blood constrains:  
●hite skallions brought you from Megaera eat,  
●ith garden sage make salads to thy meat.  
●●ke new laid eggs, fresh honey from the Bees,  
●ne apple nuts full ripe, eat such as these:  
●his wholesome fare breeds nought, corrupt or tragic,  
●hat hath my Art to do with hellish Magic.  
Thou that but now wast bid thy guilt to hide,  
Turns from that course, boast and in it take prid●  
Nor blame the lightness of thy Tutor's mind,  
You see we do not sail still with one wind.  
Sometimes the East, and when his fury fails,  
West North and South by turn doth fill our sail●  
The Chariot driver sometimes slakes his reins,  
Sometimes again his horses he restrains.  
Many there be whom calms much doth blind,  
And if they find a rival grow unkind:  
Prosperity makes humane minds grow rank,  
Themselves to know, or their great God to thanks  
Nor is it held an easy task to find,  
Men that all fortunes bear with equal mind.  
As fire, his strength being wasted hides his head,  
In the white ashes sleeping though not dead.  
And when a sudden blast doth come by chance,  
Spark fire and light all wake as from a trance:  
So when with sloth and rest the spirits grow blu●  
Love must be quickened even as fire is wont.  
Make her to fear, and to look pale sometime,  
By showing her some instance of thy crime:  
Which she suspected erst in some strange veins,  
Must she abide whilst she thy guilt complains.  
No sooner the report of this assails her,  
But colour, voice, and every sense straight fails her  
Then I am he whose face she madly tears,  
Whom she desires to have straight by the ears.  
〈◊〉 ate me she must, and yet good God she may not  
Without me live she will (alas) but cannot.  
Dwell not upon this passion, but at length,  
Make peace, in little time rage gathers strength:  
By this her white neck with thy arms embrace,  
Drying the tears that trickle down her face.  
〈◊〉 her yet weeping, her yet weeping show,  
〈◊〉 the proud sweets the Queen of love doth know:  
●his makes true concord in her greatest rage,  
●hese sports alone her passion can assuage.  
●eace goes unarmed and knows no warlike fashions  
●his happy peace is known amongst all Nations:  
●oues by their nombring songs show their good wills  
〈◊〉 now they fought, and now they join their bills.  
●he first confused Mass no order knew,  
●arth Sea and Heaven, had all one face, one hue:  
●rait was the heavens the earth's large covering made,  
●he shore girt in the Sea not to invade.  
●●ther in others bounds than Chars ceased,  
●●d each thing in their sever all parts in ●reast:  
●he woods receive the beasts, air the birds take,  
〈◊〉 the Sea choose, and the land forsake,  
〈◊〉 wanders in the field and knows no art,  
●eare strength his body rules, mere lust his heart,  
●roues were his Cities, shadowy bows his dwelling  
●ater his drink, all other drinks excelling.  
●●d long it was ere man the woman knew,  
●ll pleasure did their appetites pursue:  
●nd then upon these unknown sweets she ventured,  
●here many an unsacked fort was scald and entered.  
〈◊〉 they had none, no man then played the Suitor,  
〈◊〉 lay with her, they liked without a Tutor:  
●en so one bird doth with another toy,  
●●d the male fish doth with the female joy.  
●●e Hart the do doth follow, serpents to  
〈◊〉 with the serpents held their feat to do:  
●word4 hounds in their adulterate parts are fast,  
●●e joyful Ewe receives the Ram at last.  
〈◊〉 Cow with lofty bellowing meets the Bull,  
●●d the rank he Goat finds the female trull.  
The Mare to try the valiant Horse's courage,  
Swims over fords, and doth large pastures forage:  
To thy offended Love give this strong potion,  
And perfect friendship straight succeeds the motion▪  
This medicine rightly took all hate expels,  
As I was writing, lo the God of fire,  
Appears, and with his thumb he struck his lyre:  
Appears, and with his thumb he struck his lyre.  
In his right hand a branch of Laurel grew,  
A Laurel chaplet I might likewise view:  
Circled his brow, though all men do not know it,  
This shows the Sun's God Phoebus is a Poet.  
Who after moving of his head thus spoke,  
Mistress of 〈◊〉, thy amorous Scholars take,  
And lead them to my temple built on high,  
There is an old sun known in every sky.  
Which by his Charects doth plainly show,  
That every man must learn himself to know:  
Alone he wisely loves that can do so.  
He that is fair may show his amorous face,  
Whose skin is white to do his colour grace.  
Lie naked with his neck and shoulders bare,  
Let him shun silence, whose discourse is rare.  
He that sings, sing by Art, that drinks drink to,  
By Art, and without cunning nothing do.  
Let not the learned in their words declaim,  
Nor the vain Poet prate of his own fame.  
So Phoebus warns, Phoebus himself hath said it,  
And his brave words are worthy to have credit.  
To come more near the Lover that loves wisely,  
If these my precepts he observe precisely:  
Shall reach his wish, th'earth brings not still increase  
Ships when the winds keep▪ in their course do 〈◊〉  
Few be our helps, but many be our troubles,  
Small is our furtherance, which our let still doubles:  
A Lover must endure much grief beside,  
For every Hare in Aetheo that abides.  
For every berry that the Olive yields,  
For every spike of grass sprung in the fields:  
For every shell strewed on the salt sea shore,  
Love hath one grief to taste, and ten griefs more.  
Art told that she abroad, but now did wonder,  
Yet in her window seest her with her Pander.  
Blame thou thine eyes, for it shall much avail thee,  
Think not that news, but that thy eyesight fa●l'd thee:  
Locks she the door she promised to jeave open,  
O think not she deceitfully hath spoken.  
Take up thy lodging, make thy bed thy floor,  
Thy pillow the cold threshold of the door:  
Perhaps the Maid from high may cast a flout,  
And ask what's he doth keep the gates without.  
Yet both the Maid and rude posts do thou flatter,  
sprinkling the seats and portals with rose water.  
●f she call come, if bid thee go, then trudge,  
Rails she upon thee, doth she call thee drudge:  
Nay doth she knock thee, bear it, it is meet,  
Nor scorn it though she bid thee kiss her feet.  
● dwell on trifles, greater matters hear,  
●o which thou people lend a general ear:  
On stricter impositions now we enter,  
virtue is still employed, no hard adventure.  
A rival brook, do this, and by Ioues power,  
Thou art inthronged a Conqueror in his tower.  
Oh think me not a man that thus doth teach,  
●ome rough hewed oak doth this hard doctrine preach:  
This is the hardest thing I can impose thee,  
If she defy bear it, if she shows thee  
Her hand; forbear to read it every day,  
When she calls come, when she commands thee 〈◊〉  
This even the married to lead peaceful lives,  
Are o●t enforced to endure of their fair wives.  
I am not perfect I must needs confess,  
In this my Art, though I this art profess.  
What shall I then, my word I cannot keep,  
I have not power to swim a sea so deep:  
Shall any kiss my Lady I being by,  
And to his throat shall I not madly fly.  
Shall any because to her and I bear it,  
Shall any court her and I stand to hear it:  
I saw one kiss my Mistress I complained,  
And anger all my vital spirits constrained.  
My love alas with barbarism abound,  
And doth my wit and spirits whole confound:  
That Wittol is much better skilled than I,  
Who sees such fights, and patiently stands by.  
To keep the room where such things are in place,  
Despoiles the front of shamefastness and grace:  
Then oh you young men though you come to view,  
Your looks beguile you, do not thinks it true.  
Against all censures I ever hold this plea, 
Surprise her not.   
It is not good to take them Res in Re.  
Where two are taken napping both alike,  
Their mutual guilt makes them the oftener strike,  
This tale through heaven is blazed how unawares,  
Venus and Mars was taken in Vulcan's snares. 
The tale of Venus and Mars.   
The God of war doth in his brow discover,  
The perfect and true pattern of a Lover.  
Nor could the Goddess Venus be so cruel,  
To deny Mars, soft kindness is a jewel.  
●n any woman, and becomes her will,  
●n this the Queen of Love doth most excel.  
Oh God) how often have they mocked and flouted,  
The Smith's polt foot, who nothing them misdoubted:.  
Made jests by him and his begrimed trade,  
And his smudged visage black with coledust made.  
Mars tickled with loud laughter whee he saw,  
●enus like Vulcan limp, and halt, and draw,  
One foot behind another with a grace,  
To counterfeit his odd and uneven pace.  
Their meeting first they did conceal with fear,  
From every searching eye and captives ●are.  
The God of war and this lascivious Dame,  
●n public view were full of bashful shame:  
But the Sun spies how this sweet pair agree,  
Oh what bright Phoebus can be hid from thee.  
The Sun both sees and blabs the sight forthwith,  
And in all post he speeds to tell the Smith:  
Oh Sun what bad examples dost thou show,  
What thou in secret seest must all men know.  
For silence ask a bribe from her fair treasure,  
She'll grant thee that shall make thee swell with pleasure,  
The god whose face is smudgd with smoke and fire,  
Placeth about their bed a net of wire.  
So quaintly made that it deceives the eye,  
Straight as he feigns to Lemnos he must high:  
The Lovers meet where he the train hath set,  
And both lie catcht within the wiry net.  
He calls the gods, the Lover's naked sprawl,  
And cannot rise, the Queen of Love shows all.  
Mars chafes and Venus weeps, neither can flinch,  
Grappled they lie, in vain they kick and winch:  
Their legs are one within another's tied,  
Their hands so fast that they can nothing hide.  
Among these high spectators one by chance,  
That saw them naked in this pitfall dance:  
Thus to himself said, if that it tedious be,  
Good God of war bestow thy place on me.  
Scarce at thy prayers god Neptune he unbound th●●  
But would have left them as the gods there found th●  
The nets untied, Mars straight repairs to Crect,  
Venus to Paptes, after that they meet.  
What did this help thee Vulcan, shall I tell thee,  
Unto more grief and rage it will compel thee:  
The public meeting which at first shame covers,  
Is now made free, who knows not they be lovers.  
There is no hope they should be now reclaimed,  
Worse than they have been, how should they 〈◊〉 shamed  
Of thy rash deed it often doth repent thee,  
Mad art thou in thy mind, yet must content thee:  
This I forbid you, so doth Venus too,  
It harmed her, and she forwarnes it you.  
Lay for thy rival than no secret snares,  
Nor intercept his tokens unawares:  
Let these close pranks by such just men be tried,  
That are by fire and water purified.  
Behold once more I give you all to know,  
Save wanton loves my art doth nothing show:  
No governed Matron well and chastely guided,  
I here protest is in my verse de●rided.  
What profane man at Ceres' kites dare smile,  
Or blab her secrets kept in Samos Ile:  
Silence is held a virtue, silence then,  
T●ls tails and blabs, fie, Venus hates such men:  
For blabbing Tantalus is placed in hell,  
And there must ever and for ever dwell.  
Hungry, whilst ripened fruit hangs by his lip,  
Thirsty, while water by his chin doth slip:  
But Venus more desires then any other,  
Her secret mysteries and rites to smother.  
I charge you let no tell-tales hither come,  
Such amongst many there must needs be some:  
Hide her reports from every ear that lists,  
And lock her secrets up in brazen chests.  
In their new births till pleasures buried lie,  
'twixt us they grow, betwixt us let them die.  
Her naked parts, if she to any shows,  
Her readiest hand to shadow them she throws:  
The shameless beasts in common pastures stray,  
And act their generation at noonday.  
Which Maids by chance espying, cry oh spite,  
And through their fingers look to see the sight.  
But when our Lover with his mistress meets,  
Have beds & doors shut 'twixt them and the streets  
With clothes and veils their nakedness they shrowded  
Wishing the bright Sun hid behind some cloud.  
Even in those days when men on Acorns fed,  
And the green turf was made the general bed:  
When no thatched cottage or poor house was builded,  
By which from heat of cold they might be shielded.  
Into the woods and caves the people went,  
And their sweet pleasures there remotely spent.  
In the Sun's presence they showed nothing bare,  
The rudest and most barbarous had this care:  
As loath the day should view their public shames,  
Now to their nightly actions they give names,  
Bargains and price is made in all their doings,  
And nothing costs us dearer than our wooing.  
Let not thy talk be when thou comest in place, 
Noath.   
To say she, this, or that wench did me grace:  
Or point them with thy finger, it may fall  
Thus thou mayst lose her whom thou lovest & all:  
Others there be from street to street do wander,  
And innocent women in their shops do slander.  
Forging of them they know not many a lie,  
Which were they true they gladly would deny:  
For who command not they, their spoil is such,  
Whose breast they cannot fold their names they tuch  
Go then thou odious Pander that keeps whores,  
A thousand locks hang fast upon thy doors:  
Part of her honest canst thou keep within,  
When her whole name abroad is full of ●●nne.  
Do not their wanton wishes make them nought,  
When they desire to be as they are thought:  
Sincerest Loves we sparingly do teach,  
Yet like no public craft their names impeach. 
Necessary observations in a lo●er.   
Dissemble every fault in their complexions,  
Hit not in woman's teeth their imperfections.  
I wish you rather smother them, then blame them,  
They love if you praise them, hate if shame them:  
Andromeda was belly sides and back,  
To Perseus seen, he did not term her black.  
Andromeda she was of to huge a stature,  
One loving Hector praised her gifts of nature:  
And liked herself, faults at the first despised,  
Seem not so gross when men be well advised.  
Continuance and acquaintance wears away,  
Such spots as are apparent the first day:  
A young plant clothed in a tender rind,  
Cannot withstand the fury of the wind.  
But when his bark is grown, he scorns each blast,  
In spite of whom he grows and bears at last:  
●uery succeeding week and following day,  
Takes from acquainted looks a slain away.  
And what to day a gross blot thou wouldst guess,  
To morrow in thy eye appears much less.  
Young Heifors cannot be tickt to bear,  
The rank and lusty Bull for the first year:  
But their society acquaints the smell,  
After continuance they can brook it well.  
Then favour their disgraces and relieve them,  
Blemishes help by the good names you give the●  
To her whose skin as black as Ebon was,  
I have said ere now, O 'tis a good brown lass,  
Or if she look a squint, as I am true,  
So Venus looks, if she be black of hue.  
Pale for the world like Pallas, be she grown  
Yellow, by heaven's Minerva up and down:  
If she be tall then for her height commend her,  
She that is lean like Envy term her slender:  
She that is dwarfish name her light and quick,  
And call her well set that is grubbed thick,  
She that is puffed like Boreus in the cheek,  
Is but full fast, and Daphne she is like.  
Thus qualify their faults, not to disgrace them,  
But in a higher rank of beauty place them:  
Or happenest thou of one but dim of sight,  
Wrinkled her brow her grisled hair turned white.  
Her nose and chin half met she would take scorn,  
To tell who Council was when she was borne.  
Then if to such thy love thou wilt engage,  
Look that at no time thou dost ask her age.  
Though she wants teeth and have a flattering tongue  
Yet she takes pleasure to be counted young:  
This is the age young men that brings the gain,  
And plenteous harvest of the springtides pain.  
Employ yourselves then in your youth and strength  
Age with a soft pace steals on you at length.  
Spend thou thy youth at Sea, or till the land,  
Or take a warlike weapon in thy hand:  
Follow the wars, siege towns, or lie in trenches,  
Or if not so, then learn to love fair wenches.  
It is a warfare too, when men are trained,  
And even by this employment wealth is gained:  
Such discipline, such practice must be used  
By us, as those who hostile arms have choosed.  
Some women by their industry and pains,  
The loss of years recovers and regains:  
Times speedy course is by their art controlled,  
They can prefer themselves from seeming old.  
Their amorous pastimes and lascivious plays,  
They shape and fashion many thousand ways:  
With sundry pleasures they their trade commix,  
And every several day devose new tricks.  
They can provoke the appetite and please it,  
Conjure the spirit up and straight appease it:  
But these rich feasts of sweets which they prepare,  
Women and men should both of even hands sha●e.  
I hate the bed that yields not mutual joys,  
And that's the cause I love not juggling boys:  
I hate her denies that no spirit will use,  
Yielding no more than what she cannot choose.  
I like not pleasure though I like the beauty,  
Lasses of Love perform not but of duty:  
Duty away, I banish thee the place,  
Where mutual Lovers, mutual sweets embrace,  
Let me the music of her soft voice hear,  
Whispering her ravished pleasures in my ear.  
To bid me on, then pause, proceed, then stay,  
And tired with that, to toy some other way.  
Let me behold her ●yes turn up the whites,  
Now to be rapt, now languish in delights.  
These prodigal pleasure's nature hath not given,  
To the first age a little above seven.  
The wine that from the unripe grape is pressed,  
Is tart and sour, the mellow wine tastes best:  
The palm tree till it hath a well grown rind,  
Cannot withstand the violence of the wind.  
The mead new mown doth prick the feet that's bare,  
I grant thee young Hermione was fair:  
But to prefer the girl before the mother,  
The beauteous Helen neither one or other.  
Can so blaspheme, here's Gorge some adore her,  
But who praise her, before the Saint that bore her:  
Now I suppose ripe fruits I most approve,  
And in my thoughts I covet mellowed love.  
Yond bed new tossed, behold where it discovers,  
The curtains being drawn to wanton lovers:  
There stay my Muse, no further now proceed,  
Without thy help they both can speak and speed.  
Without thy help kind words will swiftly pass,  
Betwixt the Lover and his amorous Lass:  
Without thy help their hands will nimbly creep,  
And in each ticklish place their office keep.  
Nay every finger will itself employ,  
To add increase to thy imperfect joy:  
Handling those parts where Love his darts doth▪ hide,  
This valiant Hector with his wife hath tried.  
Andromache to this of force must yield,  
His valour was not only for the field:  
This stout Achilles of his Love desired,  
When with the slaughter of his enemies tired.  
He daught his cushes, and unarmed his head,  
To tumble with her on a soft down bed:  
Thou didst rejoice Driseis to embrace,  
His bruised corpse, and kiss his bloodstained face.  
These warlike hands that did but late imbrue,  
Themselves in blood of trojans whom they slew.  
Were now employed to tickle tuch and feel,  
And shake a lance that had no point of steel:  
Believe me, for I speak as I have tasted,  
The sports of Venus are not to be hasted.  
They should be rather by degrees prolonged,  
By too much speed much oft the sport is wronged:  
When thou by chance hast hit upon the place,  
Which being touched a girl still hides her face:  
Forbear not though she blush & spring and kick,  
And tumbling show thee many a gambale trick.  
Thou shalt behold her straight lie still amazed,  
Her eyes with a lascivious tincture glazed:  
Affording a strange kind of humid light,  
As when the Moon in water shines by night.  
Let neither amorous words cease their enchanting,  
Murmur not whispering sounds of enjoy be wanting:  
Yea there let every sweet content resort,  
Every word, deed and thought that furthers sport.  
Let not thy Mistress use too swift a sail,  
Nor let thy haste beyond her speed prevail:  
Both keep one course, your oars together strike,  
Your journeys on then, make your pace alike.  
Together strive at once win to the mark,  
You may no question grope it in the dark:  
Then is the fullness of all sweet content,  
When both at once strive, both at once are spent.  
Such course observe when as the time is free,  
And that no jealous eyes attend on thee:  
Being secure no future danger near,  
Then thou mayst boldly dally without fear.  
But if thou be'st not safe, and hast short leisure,  
Doubtful to be disturbed amidst thy pleasure.  
Make then what speed thou canst, use all thy force,  
And clap a sharp spur to a jade packhorse:  
My work is at an end the palm bring me,  
And let the Myrtle garland be my fee.  
How much renowned great Pollidorus was,  
That all the Greeks in Physic did surpass,  
As famous as great Nestor for his age,  
Or strong Achilles for his warlike rage.  
As much extolled as Calchas for his charms,  
Or Telemonius Aiax by his arms:  
As for his Chariot skill Antomedon,  
So great in Love shall I be censured on.  
Canonize me your Poet, give me praise,  
And crown my Temples with fresh wreathes of bays:  
Let this my laud in every mouth be song,  
And my fames clauger through the whole earth rung  
I give you armour, such god Vulcan framed,  
So great Achilles he his enemies tamed.  
And so do ye, but what so ere he be,  
That by my arms subdues his enemy:  
This Motto let him give, lo here's a Lass,  
By Ovid my arts Master conquered was:  
Behold young Wenches likewise crave my skill,  
They shall be next instructed by my quill.  
FINIS.   

THE THIRD BOOK.  
Armed at all points, the Greek to field is gone,  
To encounter with the naked Amazon:  
Behold like weapons in my power remain,  
For the Pe●thesilea and thy train.  
Go armed alike, fight and they overcome,  
Whom sacred Venus' favours and her son:  
It were not meet poor naked girls should stand,  
To encounter men provided hand to hand.  
To conquer at such odds 'twere shame for men,  
Oh but some say, why Ovid should they pen:  
Put poison into snakes, or give to keep,  
Unto the ravenous Wolf a ●ould of sheep.  
Oh for some few offenders do not blame,  
All of their Sex, let not a general shame:  
For some few falters their whole brood inherit,  
But every one be censured as they merit.  
Although the two Atrides had their lives,  
Endangered both by falsehood of their wives:  
Though false Eriphile her husband sold,  
To Polinyces for a chain of gold.  
Yet did the fai●e Penelope live chaste,  
While twice five years her royal Lord did waste:  
●n bloody battles and as many more,  
Wand'ring through every sea and unknown shore:  
So did the chaste Phillacides and she,  
That partner of her husband's grief to be.  
Went with him as his Page a tedious way,  
And in the travel died before her day:  
Oh happy Pheretides thy wife,  
From death redeemed thee with her own life.  
Receive me oh you flames did Iphias cry,  
And with my buried husband let me dye:  
And with that word she skips into the fire,  
All fair endowments that we can desire.  
Reign in a woman's breast no marvel then,  
They with adorned virtues please us men:  
But these chaste minds my Art enjoineth not,  
A softer sail will serve to guide my boat:  
Nothing but wanton love flows from my brains,  
How pretty wenches may escape men's trains.  
A woman neither flames nor swords will shun,  
But through them both unto her sweet heart run:  
So will not men, poor girls by them are scoffed,  
Many times men fail, maids sometimes, not oft:  
False jason left Medea and her charms,  
To clasp another Mistress in his arms.  
As much as in thy power false Theseus lay,  
So right Ariadin● was a woeful prey:  
To the Sea-fowles and Monsters left alone,  
●n a remote place, friendless and unknown▪  
Many uncertain ways hath Phillis gone,  
Being forsaken of her Demophoon.  
And though Aeneas had to surname good,  
He left his sword to let out Dido's blood:  
But what destroy you Ladies, can you tell,  
You know not how to love or fashion well.  
Your thoughts to art, Love artless stands unsure,  
Art with Love tempered is strong to endure:  
Nor should you know it now, but that the Queen  
Of sacred Love was in my vision seen:  
And straight charged me that I should impart,  
To all the Sex the secret of my art.  
For thus she spoke, how have poor maids misdone  
That against armed men must naked run.  
Two books have given men weapons in their hands,  
The whilst our fearful Sex unarmed stands:  
He that rebuked Therapnes lewd desire,  
Since song her praises to a sweeter lyre.  
Thyself examine, canst thou do them damage,  
To whom in time thou mayst perform due homage  
This having said she took from off her brow,  
A myrtle wreath, for in a myrtle bow,  
Her hair was twisted up and gave to me,  
Of leaves and seeds a little quantity.  
Straight in my brain I felt a power divine,  
Whilst in the place a purer air did shine:  
And all the cares that hung upon my heart,  
Even at that instant I might feel depart.  
My wits at ripest, are wenches come thick,  
Receive my precepts whilst my wits are quick:  
First think how old age hourly doth attend, 
Womenloose no time.   
To steal upon thee, so be sure to spend,  
No season idly, art thou young than play,  
Years like the running waters glide away.  
Thou canst not stay the floods it streams so fast,  
Nor pull the hours back when they are passed:  
Make use of time for time is swift and fleet,  
Nor can the following good be all so sweet.  
As the first pleasure was, have I not seen,  
This now a withered stalk, once fresh and green:  
From that bare throne within these many hours,  
I had a chaplet of sweet smelling flowers:  
The time shall come when thou that dost exclude,  
Such lovers from thy doors as would intrude.  
Shall on an empty pillow throw thy head,  
Stretching thy stiff limbs on a frosty bed:  
Nor in the night shalt thou be raised up late,  
By such as knock and thunder at thy gate.  
Nor in the morning when the cock hath crowed,  
Find porch and threshold with fresh roses strewed:  
Aim how soon doth the clear colour fade,  
How quickly wrinkles in thy skin are made.  
Look on thy looks and thou wilt sadly swear,  
Age hath too soon snowed on thy golden hair:  
Snakes through their age of when they change their skin,  
Hearts when they cast their heads fresh strength begin:  
And's given to them, when that in age ye grow  
Ye have no heads to cast no skins to throw.  
Your good flies helpless, therefore pluck the flower  
Which being gathered withers in an hour:  
In many childbirth age is quickly crept,  
Fields soon grow lean, that are so often reaped.  
You see Endinion by the Moon loved still,  
Not doth she blush thereat, and by thy will:  
Aurora thou wouldst ever have the name,  
Of Shafalus thy dear, nor thinkst it shame.  
And to conceal thee Adonore whose hearse,  
Venus herself hung many a tragic verse.  
Tell us by whom you Queene-borne of the sea,  
Had you Aeneas and Hermione.  
Oh mortal generation follow these,  
And practise after them being goddesses:  
Do not deny your ravishing pleasures when,  
They are besought you by desirous men.  
Tell me what lose you by it, what thou hast,  
Thou art possessed of still, and feelest no waste:  
Take thence a thousand sweets be not afraid,  
Thou keepest thy own, and nothing is decayed.  
Stones are by use made soft, iron worn to dro●●e,  
That never wears and therefore finds no loss:  
Who will deny us at a torch being light,  
To light a taper till it burn as bright.  
Or who would strive in their own power to keep,  
All the spare billows in the vasty deep:  
Yet will a woman plead her love is rare,  
And in her plenty she hath nought to spare.  
Oh tell me why so strange a doubt thou mak'st,  
Dost thou but lose the water that thou takest:  
I speak not this to prostrate every one,  
But lest you fear vain loss where loss is none.  
Now greater gusts my swelling sail must strain,  
Being from the shore new launched into the main:  
First with their neatness I begin, the vine 
Neatness required in a woman.   
Well trimmed and pruned affords us choice of wine:  
And in a field well tilled the corn grows tall,  
Shape is the gift of God, none amongst you all  
But in their shapes take pride, nay there be many  
Proud of their favour when they scarce have any.  
Proportion even the greatest number want,  
But ●ar●supplies where nature hath been scant:  
Care makes the face, the face a while neglected,  
Will grow to ruin, and be nought respected.  
The Virgins of the old time had this care,  
Their bodies and their beauties to repair:  
Else had the men of former ages spent,  
Their years without their wont ornament.  
If you behold Andr●mache go clad,  
In manly robes, no marvel, for she had  
A soldier to her husband, if you see  
The wife of Aiax jet it valiantly,  
Nor marvel, for she was his wife that bare,  
A shield of seven ox-heads thick tanned with hair.  
The world was plain, simple, and rude of old,  
But now abundant Rome doth flow with gold:  
And shines in glory with the bright reflection,  
All the world's wealth is under their subjection.  
Behold the Capital and thou wilt say,  
In these great jove hath choosed to dwell for aye:  
This gorgeous Court & Counsel house was framed  
Out of mere stubble when King Latius reigned.  
These gorgeous Palaces that against the Sun,  
Did glitter and shine when they first begun:  
A pasture for draught oxen, let them ease,  
Their thoughts with ancient times whom old times please.  
I thank the gods I in this age was borne,  
These times my humour fits, old days I scorn.  
Not because gold in the earth's veins are sought,  
Or shells, or stones, from sorraigne shores are brought:  
Not because marble from the hills is digged,  
Or voyage ships to unknown seas are rig'd,  
But because rudeness to the gates is sent,  
And this our age is full of ornament,  
Hang in your ears bright stones, but not to dear,  
Such judyes cast up and are sold you here.  
Neatness we love, your hair in order tie,  
To keep in within Law thy hands apply:  
Thy hands mishap keep still, and by her care,  
Thou mayst over seem, deformed or wondrous fair.  
Nor is there only one kind of attire,  
The fashion that becomes thee best desire.  
Prove every shape, but ere it curr●nt pass,  
See thou before take counsel from thy Lass:  
A long and lean visage best allows,  
To have the hair part just above the brows:  
So Laodem●ia surnamed the fair,  
Used when she walked abroad to truss her hair.  
A round plump face must have her trammels tied  
In a fast knot above her front to hide:  
The wire supporting it whilst either ear,  
Bare, and in sight upon each side appear.  
Yo● Ladies locks about her shoulders fall,  
And her loose ware becomes her best of all:  
So Phoebus looked when last he touched his Lute,  
That other Lady doth her habit suit,  
With chaste Diana being tricked to go,  
To strike the savage Boar or tamelesse Roe.  
She when her hair hangs loose hath greatest pride,  
This best becomes her when her locks are tied:  
Yond when her head-tire like a tortoise shell,  
Is roost and vaulted well beseems it well:  
More leaves the Forest yields not from the trees,  
More beasts the Alps breed not, nor Hibla bees:  
Then there be fashions of attire in view,  
Every succeeding day adds something new.  
Many become their tires best when they wear,  
In stead of spruceness a neglected hair:  
And being combed but now yet thou shalt say,  
Her hair hath not been touched since yesterday.  
Art doth much change, so did Alcides see,  
Io●attired, and said this wench is for me.  
So Inossis whom the god of grapes commended,  
When by his shouting Satyrs being attended:  
He found her placed locks by the cool wind shifted,  
With scattered hair her to his coach he lifted:  
How much oh nature are we bound to thee,  
That findest for every grief a remedy.  
And as our shapes and colour suffer cross, 
To help the defects of nature.   
Yet thou hast in thee to repair that loss.  
Say that by age or some great sickness had,  
Thy head with wont hair be thinly clad:  
Falling away like corn from ripened sheaves,  
As thick as Boreas blows down Autumn leaves.  
By German yearbes thou mayst thy hair restore,  
And hide the bare scalp that was bald before,  
Women have known this art, and of their crew,  
Many false colours buy to hide the true.  
And multitudes, yea more than can be told,  
Walk in such hair as they have bought for gold:  
Hair as good Merchandise and grown a trade,  
Markets and public traffic thereof made,  
Nor do they blush to cheapen it among,  
The thickest number and the rudest throng.  
Nay even before Alcides' sacred flames,  
And in the presence of the vestal Dames:  
To leave their hair, and speak of their attire  
I do not trails or purfled guards desire.  
Nor robes of blush scarlet prized high,  
Whose wool is twice dipped in the Tyrian dye:  
Look but abroad and thou mayst in a trice,  
Find lighter colours and of far less price.  
Were it not madness thou in scorn of lack,  
Should wear at once thy whole wealth on thy back  
Behold the colour of the azure air,  
When in a cloudless day the sky is fair:  
And the South wind bring on the earth no showers,  
As once it did what time one flow devours.  
Phrixus and Hellis, such a colour choose,  
'Tis neat and cheap, but costly dies refuse:  
That pretty colour intimates the wa●es,  
And from their seagreen drops a name it craves▪  
In this the young Nymphs went apparelled most,  
This saffron imitates of no great cost.  
And yet she goes attired in saffron weeds,  
That every morning decks bright Phoebus' steeds:  
Else such a die as Paphian myrtles yield,  
Or purple Amethistos or a field:  
Where nothing save the milk white roses grow,  
Or of that hue the Thracian Cranes do show.  
Let not fair Amarilles wanting be,  
Thy ackhornes or thy blooms of Almond tree.  
All these of several colours juice be full,  
And with their several colours stain the wool:  
So many sundry flowers as the fresh spring,  
In spite of winter's horrid rage doth bring:  
To deck the earth with full so many hues,  
The thirsty earth doth drink and none refuse,  
Mongst which fair women out of your affections, 
To suit their attires to their Complexions.   
Choose them that shall become best your complexions:  
She that is brown let her attire be white,  
Briseus ware a robe of colour light.  
When she was ravished, others that are fair,  
Let their attires be black as Sables are:  
Swarthy Andromed ware a milkewhite smock,  
When she was tied half naked to the rock.  
Lest you be seen so let no rankness grow,  
Betwixt your arms and shoulders let none show:  
Of rough and ragged hairs there may appear,  
Upon your legs and thighs but not to near:  
I do not teach rude maids by Cavease bred,  
Or such as drink of Risus but in steed  
Of barbarous trulls, to you brave girls of Rome,  
Do I direct my phrase, and to your doom.  
I now instruct you then your teeth to freet, 
To keep their teeth.   
Lest in their use some furdnesse they do get:  
To wrince your mouths in water you have wit,  
To apprehend my words betimes to sit.  
And in the morning take away the slime,  
Which makes the white teeth subject to such crime:  
Let such whose bloods are black and swart, 
Cheeks.   
Whom nature reds not, make them red by art:  
Art likewise fills the wrinkles in the brows,  
A skin of died red leather art allows.  
To rub your faces with, nor hold it shame,  
To kindle in your eyes a spark of flame:  
It may be done with saffron, which like corn,  
Grows near bright Cydnas whereas thou wert borne  
I have a little book in substance small,  
And yet a work of weight writ to you all.  
The Treatise is unto your general graces,  
How you by art may best preserve your faces:  
You whose rare beauties have received a scar,  
Seek thence your helps, receipts there written are  
You may there find how to restore your bloods,  
My art was never idle to your goods.  
Beware lest that by chance your boxes lie,  
Upon the table, and your Love's pass by:  
Throw them aside, art spreads her safest net,  
When she is with most cunning counterfeit.  
Spill not thy drugs alike in every place,  
They will offend such as behold thy face,  
Corrupting the beholder with such motion,  
As should he see thy garments stand with lotion:  
How doth the greasy frank wools smell offend,  
Though we for it as far as Athens send.  
Yet is it good for use, not before men,  
Use thou Deer marrow good for medicen:  
Nor before men in presence rub thy teeth,  
They both are good, yet harsh to him that seeth.  
Many things which in doing we detest,  
Being once done, they oft times please us best:  
These stately pillars in iron carved and wrought,  
Were a confused rock, this ring now brought,  
To that good form, was once unfashioned over,  
The costly cloth thou wearest a rough sheep bore:  
The curious picter of fair Venus was,  
Before the cutting an unpolisht mass.  
Mind thou thy beauty when we think thee sleeping,  
Thy hand, thy box, thy glass their office keeping:  
Why should I know how thou art grown so fair,  
Shut fast the forge where beauties joined are.  
For many things there be men should not know,  
The greatest part of them if you should show,  
They should offend them much, spare not to shroud  
The doing, though the thing done be allowed.  
The golden ensigns yonder spreading far,  
Which wastes them to the gorgeous Theatre:  
See what thin leaves of gold foil guild the wood,  
Making the collumes seem all massy good:  
Yet are the audience of all fight debarred,  
Until the shows and sights be full prepared.  
So in thy preparation mark this note, 
Note.   
Still make thee ready in a place remote:  
Y●t sometimes if thy head be wondrous fair, 
Obse●●●t●is 〈◊〉.   
Even before men 'tis good to comb thy hair.  
The hair a beauty hath which much besots,  
Being tied and wreathed in pleats and comely knots,  
But be not tedious in thy art applying,  
Be quick both in the fasting and untying:  
Still when thou goest to dress thyself be safe,  
I hate those ●ullen pettish things that chafe  
At every idle cross, who scratch and bite,  
And with their nails and bodkins pinch and sight:  
Wounding themselves in anger, rending, tearing,  
The wires, the tires, the ruffs which they be wearing,  
She that is badly haired, let her before  
She dress herself, set watch still at the door.  
Upon the sudden 'twas my chance one day,  
To press into the place where my sweet hart lay:  
When wondering she unawares was thrust upon,  
Snatched up her hair and put the wrong side on.  
Like cause of shame let come unto my foe,  
And such disgrace unto the Parthians go:  
A sealded breast, fields that no grass will bear,  
Trees without leaves, and heads that have no hair.  
Are odious to the eye, none of you three,  
Europa, Leda, or fair Senele.  
Were subject to this want or me did need,  
The help of Physic in this point to reed:  
Nor Helen thou whom with advisement deep,  
Menelaus asks; the Trojan still doth keep.  
The wanton wenches in full troops press hither,  
Good, bad, fair, foul, of all sorts flock together:  
And come to be instructed, amongst which  
Oft times the fair be poor, the foul be rich.  
And yet the fairest have of me least need,  
Their beauty is a dower that doth exceed  
My precepts far, the sea being calm and clear,  
The secure Seaman all his sails may bear.  
But when it swells and is disturbed apart,  
The troubled Pilot must try all his art:  
Of every little mole be thou not squeamish,  
'Tis hard to find a face that hath no blemish.  
Yet shalt thou seek to hide the least disgrace,  
Either in thy proportion or thy face:  
If thou be'st short, 
A lesson for Dwarses.  thy stature hide by wir,  
Still sit, lest standing thou be'st taken to sit:  
And stretch thy legs at length out in thy bed,  
Lest that thy stature there be measured.  
Love's Dwarves, observe my words I hold it meet,  
To have some garment thrown upon thy feet:  
She that is wea●ish and no clothes can fill, 
Remedy for them that be lean.   
Her double plated gown must fit by skill.  
To make her portly whilst a robe vnbound,  
From her two shoulders falls unto the ground:  
She that is pale, with purple stain her cheeks, 
Pale.   
She that is black the fish of Pharaoh's seeks. 
Bla●ke.   
A splay misshapen foot in white shoes hide, 
Splay foot.   
And let dried legs wear a rich garter tied:  
Let such whole shoulder blades stand much in sight  
Wear boulster'd gowns to make them seem upright:  
About a faint and slender body wear, 
To slender.   
A flannel swathband or warm stomacher.  
Such whose at hands are itchy in the joint, 
Scabbed ba●ds.   
When they discourse let them not use to point.  
You that have stinking breaths must not speak fasting  
But help themselues by some good breakfast taking: 
Stinking breaths.   
Else chew a clove the strength of it to break,  
Or keep some distance of still when you speak.  
Or if thy teeth in wide uneven ranks grow, 
Badtoothed   
Or be they gauged, black, or too great in show:  
Rot, lost, or that the fashion disagreeth,  
Beware of laughing, laughing shows the teeth.  
Who would believe this, wonder yet 'tis true,  
Maids may be taught to laugh and to eschew.  
Uncomely mouths and harsh tricks of the face,  
In laughing is much uncomeliness and grace:  
Be moderate in thy flearing, there's a feat,  
To be observed, in that make not to great.  
The hallow pits mirth digs in every cheek,  
To hide thy gums let both thy red lips meet.  
Nor do thou stretch thy entrailes by constraining,  
Thyself unto loud laughter, neither feigning:  
A more familiar gesture with voice flat,  
Sound out a womaanish noise I know not what.  
Look but on them that with loud yalling force,  
Antic and perverse faces, what shewes worse:  
And there is such a coil with wry mouths kept,  
That when they laugh a man would swear they wept  
Many with untuned clamour hoarse and shrill,  
●all as the flow Ass bays out of the mill.  
What cannot art; women are taught to weep, 
How to weep.   
And in their looks a sober form to keep:  
To shape their eyes according to their passion,  
●oth at what time they please, and in what fashion.  
●s there not grace in lisping to be found, 
How to lisp.   
●o give true words a forged imperfect sound:  
●obbing the tongue his office in some part,  
●uen in depraving words is sometimes art.  
●any that by my words my meaning scan,  
●re taught to speak less perfect than they can.  
●eigh these my words according to their worth,  
●nd these being cond take other lessons forth:  
● came how with womanish pace to use your gate, 
To go.   
● every step there is a kind of state.  
●or is there aught that yet my art discovers,  
●hich with more violence draws or drives back lovers.  
〈◊〉 hold you Ladies gate the rest outstrips,  
〈◊〉 with what cunning she doth move her hips:  
●nd in the pride of steps how the cold wind,  
〈◊〉 her loose veils before her and behind.  
●his like the blushing wife of Vember pac●th,  
●er full viewed legs at every stride she graceth:  
Long measured steps do fit the state of some,  
Others a moderate pace doth best become:  
As far as where the arms and shoulders parts, 
How far to appear bare.   
Appear thou bore to wound the ambutous hearts,  
Of wanton youths, this fashion understand,  
Longs to the fair, not such whose skins be tanned.  
Such sights ere now have made me I protest,  
To kiss her neck, her shoulders and her breast.  
The Sirens are Seamonsters, 
Sing.  whose sweet notes,  
Draws to their tunes the wand'ring ships and bott●●  
And if their ears with wax they do not stop,  
They are charmed to leap from the hatches top.  
Song is a fair endowment, a sweet thing,  
A praiseful gift, than women learn to sing:  
Hard favoured girls by songs have won such graces',  
Their sweet shrill tongs have proved bands to the●● faces:  
Sometimes rehearse a speech brought from the pl●●  
Or else peruse some poem in thy way.  
Of Music I would have thee know the skill,  
With thy right hand to use a Rebecks quill.  
Or with thy left a Harp, when Orpheus played,  
The beasts, and trees, and stones to dance he mad●●  
And in his way to hell no fiend durst stir,  
Nor tartar power, nor triple headed Cur.  
Thou that so justly did thy mother punish,  
Didst by thy Music's skill the wo●ld astonish:  
In those sweet walks that were by Music reared,  
By every tuch sweet harmony is heard:  
The armed Dolphin is by nature mute,  
Yet did he lift Arion to thy Lute.  
Learn Music then and hope to play upon,  
The double handed sweet Psalterion:  
Read Pottrie, the works of Co●●s seek,  
Or great Callimacchus that writ in Greek:  
The laboured lines of Bacchus' Poet get,  
Read what lascivious Saph● else hath writ.  
For what more wanton works than Sappho lives,  
See what delight to the Proportuis gives:  
Or if thy further leisure serve thee look,  
In Gallus work, or in Tibullus book.  
Or Varro, that of Phrixus and his niece,  
The Legend writ, and of the golden fleece:  
Or read AEneas banishment from Troy,  
Th'original of Rome, Rome doth enjoy:  
No books more famous, haply to my grace,  
Some one may say thou Ovid hast a place.  
Amongst the rest thou and thy lines may sound,  
To after times, not be in seethe drowned.  
Some one may say perchance our Master read,  
The book he last drew with a double head.  
Or those three books which he Amorum calls,  
Entituling them of Love, which of them falls,  
Into thy handling first, that do thou choose,  
And lovingly my loving lines peruse.  
Or with a composed voice my Cantons sing,  
The use of these Love's mistress first did bring:  
To other yet unknown oh Phoebus grant,  
Grant this you gods whom sacred Poets haunt.  
With their oblations, grant these powers divine,  
Thou god of grapes, and you oh Muse's mine:  
Who doubts but I would have you learn to dance,  
Measure and Galliards shall your names advance:  
Command your arms and hands that they agree,  
Unto the motion of the foot and knee.  
In moving of the body hand and side,  
The comic Actor cannot take more pride.  
Nor use more art the comeliness of either,  
Concurres, and I compare them both together:  
Learn trivall sports, 
To game.  but oh your Poet shames,  
To bid you be experienced in some games.  
Yet long they to my art, the● be not nice,  
To learn to play at cockall or at dice:  
How to cast lots and chances which to gues●e,  
To play at draughts at tables or at chess.  
To use a racket and to toss a ball,  
At set game, or at that we bandy call:  
To pass the night at balliards till eleven,  
At pickapandy, cards, or odd and even.  
Play prepares love, your skill is not so needful,  
As aught to be your looks and carriage heedful:  
Your greatest cunning is with art to frame,  
The gesture and the countenance in your game:  
Game makes us earnest if we play with care,  
Then with our open thoughts our breasts lie bare.  
And straight we brawl and scold, a grievous stain,  
Oh these be monstrous faults to chide and rail,  
Or to blaspheme the gods when our lucks fail:  
To vow, to swear, with protestations deep,  
And in the heat of play to fret or weep.  
Great jove himself from you such crimes expel,  
Who covet suitors, and to please them well:  
Nature these trivall sports to woman lends,  
A freer scope of pastime she extends.  
By much unto us men, for so we may,  
Scourge tops, fling darts, and at the football play:  
Vault, ride, and teach the horse to troth the ring,  
Frequent the Fenceschoole, practise arms, leap, spring:  
Nor can you march or muster on the sea,  
Or like the Merchant venturer go to sea:  
Walk may you sometimes under Pompeus shade,  
To Phoebus' palace to the place was made:  
For novall triumph, to the Memphian fawn,  
To the goatfield where chatiots are still drawn.  
To the warm bleeding altar, some prefers,  
Before all these the thr●e brave theatres:  
Thus covet to be seen, unseen, unptoud,  
What is not viewed and known, cannot be loved,  
What profit were it to have beauteous been,  
If thy admired face were never seen:  
Say you more styled in shapes then Orpheus were,  
Or Thamiras, such if men can not hear.  
How should your music please; 
The dignity of Poets.  Apelles painted,  
●enus in Cois, else her fame had fainted:  
●nd died in Lethe, he redeemed her name,  
●hat hunt the sacred Poets for but fame.  
only for fame their labouring spirits they spend,  
●f all the vows, fame is the scope and end.  
〈◊〉 what alteration rude times brings,  
●oets of old were the right hand of Kings:  
●arge were their gifts, supreme was them regard,  
●heir meeted fames with fear and reverence heard.  
●onour, and state, and sacred majesty,  
belonged to such as studied poetry:  
●●inus by Scipio that great man was sought,  
●nd from the mountains of Calabria brought.  
unhonoured now the Iuy garland lies,  
●he ancient worship done to Poets dies:  
●et we should strive our own fames to awake,  
●●mer a living lasting work did make:  
●s Iliads called, else who had Homer known,  
●nd Danas in her tower an old wife grown.  
●●d never unto public view resorted,  
●ow had her beauty been so far reported.  
You that applause would for your beauties win,  
Be oft abroad, and keep not too much in:  
At the full folds the she Wolves seeks her pray,  
Though amongst all she steals but one away.  
Ioues bird the Eagle when she soars most high,  
To seize one fowl doth at a Covey fly.  
Frequent you fair ones where men may you see,  
Mongst many one best part will fancy thee:  
In every place where thou shalt hap to sit,  
Lose none by frowns whom thou by smiles mayst get:  
The bow of Cupid never stands unbent,  
And oftentimes things fall by accident.  
Be thou prepared, hang always out thy hook;  
For in that stream where thou no fish wouldst look  
A fish by chance may bite, oft have I seen,  
The wand'ring hound range where no game hath been,  
And Hearts that escapes the chase when no man minds  
them,  
Fall in the toils and there the keeper finds them.  
What hope hadst thou Andromeda being bound,  
Unto a rock a lover to have found:  
Being prepared for death beset with fears,  
Blubbed thy cheeks, thy eyes quite drowned in tear▪  
At burial of one husband well I wot,  
Another husband hath been oft times got.  
Weeping for him that's lost, may hap to grace thee,  
And in the bosom of a second place thee:  
But in your choice especially beware,  
Of such effeminate men as starch their hair.  
Prank up themselves, who lisp & cannot leave it,  
Love compliment and use to smell of Ciuit:  
They have a thousand loves what they protest,  
To thee they'll do as unto all the rest.  
Vnstay'd such be, and what will women say,  
When in their thoughts men are more light the● they▪  
S●ar●e will they credit me, and yet 'tis true,  
Troy had yet stood, and Ilium been in view,  
Had every thing been swayed as Priam spoke,  
But good advice they leave, fond counsel take.  
There are who under show of love do fame, 
Lover's disloyaltie-in many.   
And by such passage seek dishonest gain:  
Let no man's hair deceive with powders sweet,  
Nor studded girls which are short and meet: 
Several passages.   
Nor their fine woman's coats, a sightly thing,  
Nor that each finger bears a golden ring.  
Perhaps who in this kind most gallant goes,  
Is a close thief, and loves nought but your clothes.  
Some Maids thus robed, so loud cry for their own  
That all the town and Country hears their moan.  
Venus whose golden shines at Apian stand,  
And Pallas laugh a good these strifes in hand:  
There are some Maids to sure but of bad fame,  
Who oft deceived are thought to use the same.  
Oh learn by others plaints to hear your own,  
Open not your ears to men whose frauds are known.  
Believe not Theseus Athens though he swear,  
The gods can hear no more than they hear.  
And thou Demophoon Theseus falsehood hair,  
Phillis deceived nonce trust by speeches fair,  
If men make promises, than Maids make you,  
If men perform, perform your vowed joys too.  
Now I'll come nearer, Muse, take faster hold,  
Nor lose thy seat the wheels though swiftly rolled:  
Men frame them, set maids vows, some else were writ  
Let some maids take their course, for it were fit:  
Look on them, read them, from the words than gather  
Whether he feigns or sues entirely rather:  
After some while write back; ever delays,  
Inflames a lover; so no tedious stays.  
Show not the pliant, to the youth denies,  
Nor yet deny him what by suit he plies:  
Let him both fear and hope by every letter,  
Be his fear less, his hope comes sure and better.  
Be your phrase pure, but common usual words,  
In speech the plainest style best grace affords:  
Full oft ambiguous words love so misplace,  
And a foul tongue hath hurt a beauteous face.  
But since although you yet not married be,  
To go beyond us men that care take ye:  
By maids or some known lad your letters send,  
And to no strange young man tokens commend.  
I have seen some maids so terrified with this,  
That ever after they were slaves I wi●●e:  
Faithless he is who keeps such tokens back,  
And burns like Aetna till he open the pack:  
Trust me, we may with fraud quite fraud again,  
From force to shield, from force the laws maintain  
One maid must use herself to many hands,  
Ill might he speed whose shifts this rule commands  
Deface the old seal when you do reply,  
And to one writing, but one hand apply.  
Subscribe your letters thus, thine in all love,  
Be his, as he was yours, this art approve:  
If from small things we may to greater go,  
And in our ship spread our full fail to show.  
It longs to beauty to have manners mild, 
Impediments to bea●tie Anger.   
Sweet pace fits women, fierce rage savage wild:  
Rage swells the face, the veins makes black with blood  
The eyes blaze ghastly like fell Gorgon's brood  
Away quoth she I prise not feature so,  
Pallas should view her face, where waters flow:  
And should you look your anger in your glass,  
You would scarce discern your visage whose it was.  
Nor do we less blame proud and lofty looks, 
Pride.   
Gentle and humble eyes are Cupid's hooks:  
We men do hate this overweening pride,  
Show in the silent face, trust him hath tried.  
View him views you, if men, than women smile,  
Signs made to you, make signs, 'twill men beguile:  
Thus while he plays before with headless dart,  
Cupid hath after wounded to the hart.  
We hate men said Aiax, Tremessa take,  
We merry Greeks blithe wenches sweet hearts make:  
Andromache Tremessa all your state,  
Could not move me to choose you for my mate.  
Take gifts of rich men who do law profess,  
Give him no fee, be his client, need the less:  
We that make verse, let us send only verse,  
Our hearts are pliant, whose love soon doth pierce:  
We spread abroad sweet beauties lasting praise,  
We Nemesis, we Cinthia's honour raise: 
Poets.   
The East and West land knew loved Licoris,  
And many ask who our Cormina is.  
Besides, we Poets from all frauds are free,  
And forward manners by our poetry:  
Nor honour us, nor love of money please,  
We slight our gains for privacy and ease.  
Soon are we caught, our loves burn fierce & bold  
And where we love we know to well to hold:  
So 'tis we soften nature by meek art,  
And as our studies, so our loves take part.  
A favour Maidens, a blessed Poets will,  
Heaven's power we have, the Muses own us still.  
A God is in us, we commerce with jove,  
The spirit in us 'bove your bright stars doth move:  
To look for money from us what a crime,  
And yet no Maids do fear it in our time.  
At first be not too eager, fain beware,  
A novice lover ●lights an open snare:  
Nor do we rule a horse new broke to back,  
With the same reins as he that's skilled to rack.  
To catch one stayed in years and a brisk swain,  
Must not one way, may not one course be ta'en:  
He's rude and in love's tents ne'er scene before,  
Who as a new pray touched thy chamber door.  
Who knows no Maid but thee, none else would know  
This corn would be high fenced that it may grow:  
If one, he is thy own no rivells' frown,  
Two things admits no mate, Love and a Crown.  
That ancient soldier's wife and softly love,  
And much that younger scorns he meekly proves:  
He'll break no posts nor burn with furious fire,  
Nor scratch his Mistress soft cheeks in his ire.  
He'll tear no clothes, his Loves nor his own,  
Nor shall his torn hair give him cause of moan:  
These things fits youths, whose love as age is hot,  
This bears harsh wounds gently as they were not:  
Old men burn softly like a torch that's dry,  
As woods from heath cut down when first they lie  
Old men's love sure, youth short, but fruitful made,  
Maids pluck those fruits betimes, betimes which fade▪  
Nay yield up all, open the gates to our foe,  
That faith from faithless treasure once may flow:  
What's easy granted, long love cannot feed,  
Denial from your sports must oft proceed:  
Let them walk at the gate, cry cruel door,  
Do humbly much, but in their threats much more▪  
We loathe these sweets, bitter love makes them new,  
That wind oft drowned the ship by which it flew:  
'Tis this makes men their wives to slight so still,  
They are ready pressed when ere their husband's will▪  
Let the Ma●de run and cry we are undone,  
And hide the sacred youth till fear be gone;  
Yet sport him midst those fears lest he misprise,  
Your night's not so much worth such fears should  
I had like to pass by what art to deceive, 
To deceive the most watchful keeper.   
Your husband and sly keeper to bereave.  
Wives fear your husbands, who must keep you in  
'Tis firm by law right modesty hath been.  
Her to be kept whom late revenge hath wrought,  
Who can endure to avoid these means be sought:  
As many keep thee as had Argoes eyes,  
If thou wilt out thou shalt defeat with lies.  
You'll say your keeper doth withstand to write,  
Take water for yourself what time you might:  
What can a keeper when the Cities fill,  
Of plays and Maids see horses run that will,  
When she will, a maid complainesher head,  
And feigning sick, hides whom she will in bed:  
When the false key tells plainly what is done,  
Aed to her chamber are more ways than one.  
Besides, a keeper may be foxed with wine,  
Pressed from the grapes of Spain and so made thine:  
And there be drugs which can cause a sound sleep,  
And shut the eyes fast drenched in Lethe deep.  
You know Maids to May quickly find some way,  
By long made sports to hold him in delay:  
But what need I for to go far about,  
When one small gift may buy the keeper out.  
Gifts trust me do appease both gods and men,  
By gifts even jove is pleased now and then:  
What do the wise since fools in gifts delight,  
Give, and the husband says naught, say he might:  
Hast bought thy keeper once he's thine for ever,  
The help he once affords he'll fail thee never.  
I blamed companions, now it comes to mind,  
The hurt by it not men alone do find:  
Believe me, other Maids thy joys may taste,  
And others with thee hunt the Hare as fast.  
The wench that sweeps the chamber makes the bed  
With sports of love hath more than once been sped:  
Let not your waiting Maids be over fair,  
Their Mistress place by them supplied are.  
Where run I Madman, naked against my foe,  
And open those ports that may me overthrow:  
The birds teach not the Fowler how to take them,  
The Hearts teach not the dogs to run & shake them.  
Look to't that need my task I'll do indeed,  
Though 'tis to lend a sword to make me bleed:  
'Tis easy to make us think we are beloved,  
Their faith which do desire is quickly moved:  
Smile lovely on a youth, sigh from your hart,  
Ask why he comes so late, a pretty art.  
Shed some few tears, fain grief for some close love,  
And tear your hair as doth your passions move:  
He is overcome straight, pity he will take,  
And say this care is only for my sake.  
If he be spruce, and look fair in a glass,  
He'll think the gods love him, let not this pass:  
Who ere thou art, be not thy worth to strong,  
Nor rage not overmuch, hath he done wrong?  
Trust not too soon what art is in this case,  
Procris may be example have you grace. 
The history of Procris.   
Near to Hymetus hill a holy well,  
And a moist ground thick graced the ancients tell:  
The wood, but underwood about this land, 
The description of Hymetus.   
The Crabtree, Rosemary, Bay, Myrtle stand.  
The thick leaved box, the Tamariske so small,  
Low stirubs, near Pines, there do these trees grow all  
The gentle West wind and the healthful air,  
Blow all those leaves & grasblades which are there:  
Cephaius loved rest, his hounds and men foregone,  
Weary in youth this ground oft sat upon.  
And thus he sings, thou which dost lay my heat,  
Age, my breast come gentle air and beat:  
One over duteous told his fearful wife,  
These words she heard, and so began the strife,  
Procris who for a strumpet took this care,  
Fell down much moved with a sudden fear.  
Look how the vine leaf which you latest gather,  
She looked so pale, or far more paler rather:  
And the ripe Quince tree which doth bend his bows  
Or dogtree fruit, which none for meat allows.  
Come to herself, her garments quite she tore,  
From of her breast, and made her breast all gore.  
And without stay in rage and hast she goes,  
Her hair about her neck like Bacchus' froes:  
Being near the place, her mate she leaves behind,  
Steals slyly to the wood, no fear in mind.  
'Tis thus thou thinkest now, who this air should be  
And her dishonest tricks thine eyes shall see:  
Her coming shames her now, she would not take her  
Yet now she's glad she's come, love doubtful makes  
The name, the place, the sign, all these agree,  
And what the mind fears, that it thinks to be.  
Seeing the grass so by some body pressed,  
Her trembling heart knocked at her tender breast:  
Now the midday had made the shadows short,  
The evening and the morn of equal port:  
Young Shafalus returns unto the wood,  
And cools his face with water as he stood.  
Procris stands close, on the grass he lays him fair,  
And cries aloud, blow West wind, come sweet air.  
So soon as she had heard the erroneous name,  
Her mind and her true colour to her came.  
She rises, with her body the leaves shake,  
In mind to Shafalus her way to take:  
He thought it some wild beast, snatched up his bow,  
His arrow in his right hand wont to show.  
What dost thou wretch, 'tis no beast, stay thy dart,  
Alas, thy arrows pierce a woman's hart:  
She cries out, thou hast struck thy loving breast,  
Upon this place thy wounds have ever rest.  
I die before my time not wronged in love,  
This earth made me suspect thee light to prove:  
Air take my breath, thee 'twas I did mistrust,  
I die, close thou my eyes, lay me in the dust.  
She ended speech and life, and falling down,  
Her husband takes her last breath from the ground.  
He bears his dying love in woeful arms,  
And wails with tears so strange & deadly harms:  
But let us back, I see I must be plain,  
At the lost haven that our ship may again.  
You look now to be brought unto a feast,  
And that we teach you here as in the rest:  
Come late, but comely brought in by night,  
Thou shalt be welcome, so delay hath might.  
Though thou be black thou shalt seem fair to all  
The night will hide thy faults both great and small  
Eat neatly with your finger's art commands, 
How maids must behave themselves at meat.   
Wipe not thy whole face with thy di●ty hands.  
Eat not to long, leave ere you would forbear,  
More than thou well canst do, this counsel hear:  
Were Helen greedy Paris would her hate,  
And say my rape is foolish out of date,  
To drink is comely, and more fit for you,  
Bacchus doth well wi●h Venus, this is true.  
Drink, but yet not more than you well can bear,  
And what is one let it not two appear:  
A shameful thing to see a woman drunk,  
Such a one is fit to be each base knave's punk.  
Nor is it safe to sleep, the tables drawn,  
Much shameful things have in your sleep been sawn  
'Tis shame to teach you more, yet Dion says,  
Shame is the chiefest subject of these lays.  
Each know yourselves as you your bodies see, 
Gestures in lying.   
So frame your lying in form that it may be.  
Whose face is beauteous, she must lie upright,  
Whose back is best, that still must be in sight:  
Atlantues thighs upon his shoulders wore,  
Menation be these best, show these the more.  
Low Maids must ride, Thebais was somewhat long,  
Near sat one Hector's horse her pride among.  
Who hath a long side, which she'd have in eye,  
Let her bend to her knees her neck awry:  
Whose hidden parts have not a fault or spot,  
Lie ●uer side long, pray forget it not.  
Nor think it a disgrace your hair to lose,  
And then thy neck cast backward still to choose.  
Thou that art ragged close and covered lie,  
And from men's sight like the swift Parthian fly:  
●oue hath a thousand ways most void of pride,  
To lie half upright on the righter side.  
Apollo's, Tripos, nor horrid Ammon say,  
Not things more true than what are in our lay:  
If there be truth in art got by long use,  
Believe and trust, you'll find it in our muse.  
Maids see you love us men, pluck from the root,  
One thing may help you and steed to boot:  
Rease not fair words, cease not close whispering sweet  
And wa●ton words must with your sports oft meet.  
And thou whom nature hath bard loves quick sense,  
Feign pleasant joys though the things be from thence:  
Unhappy Maid to whom that place is dull,  
Which with a man and woman should be full.  
Yet when you fain, beware, let none else know it,  
For fear thy gesture or thy eyes may show it:  
What helps the speech and shows the breath is ill  
That part hath secrets, shame would hide it still.  
Who seeks a man after enjoyment straight,  
Loving a gift would not her prayers had weight:  
Open not your windows wide to take in light,  
Much in your bodies rather fits the night.  
Our sport is done, 
Conclusion of the work.  'tis time the Swains depart,  
Which on their necks as yokes have drawn our art  
As Men before, say Maids when ye prevail,  
Ovid our Master was, his art our sail.  
FINIS.