THE FIRST AND SEcond part of The Remedy of love.  
Written by Sir THOMAS OVERBVRY Knight.  
LONDON, Printed by Nicholas oaks, and are to be sold by John Wels at his shop in Fetter-lane and in the Temple. 1620.   

TO THE WORTHY GENTLEMAN, AND HIS much honoured friend, Master John only.  
SIr, in this my love is shown to you, since I give you the Remedy of love, a Receipt never before ministered by any but ovid, one well skilled in the cause, therefore should better guess at the Remedy: Many others, perhaps, in this world, with yourself, which cry with our Poet, 
— Oh nature too unkind,  
That made no medcine for a Loue-sick mind.   
Here may haue remedy:( it is an infection reigns) but if yourself or any other find remedy in this my remedy I( not physician like) look but for thankes, and I appeal to all louers for the Patronizing of this little Pamphlet: This wishing you in all your desires remedy, I rest  
Yours I. W.   

The Remedy of love.  


WHen love did read the Title of my book,  
He feared least some had arms against him took;  
Suspect me not for such a wicked thought,  
under thy colours which so oft haue fought.  
Some youths are oft in love, but I am ever;  
And now to do the same I do persever.  
I mean not to blot out what I haue taught,  
Nor to vnwinde the web that I haue wrought.  
If any love, and is with love repaide,  
blessed be his state! he needeth not my aid:  
But if he reap scorn where he love hath sown,  
Of such it is that I take charge alone.  
Why should love any unto hanging force?  
When as even hate can drive them to no worse?  
Why by their own hands should it cause men perish,  
When it is peace alone that love doth cherish?  
I'll ease you now which taught to love before,  
The same hand which did wound shall heal the sore.  
The same earth, poisoned flowers, and healthsome breeds,  
The Rose is often neighbour unto weeds.  
To men and women both, I physic give,  
Else I but half the sick world should relieve.  
If any for that sex unfitting are,  
Yet they by mens example may beware:  
Had wicked Seylla this my counsel red,  
The golden hair had sluck to Nisus head.  
Take heed, when thou dost first to like begin,  
Thrust not love out, but let him not come in.  
By running far, brooks run with greater force,  
'tis easier to hold in, then stop thy horse.  
Delay, adds strength and faster hold imparts:  
Delay, the blades of corn, to ears converts.  
The three which now is father to a shade,  
And often head against the wind hath made,  
I could at first haue plucked up with my hand,  
Though the suins prospect now it dares withstand,  
Then passions, ere they fortify remove,  
" In short time, liking, groweth to be love:  
Be provident, and so prevent thy sorrow,  
Who will not do't to day, cannot to morrow.  
The river which now multiplied doth swell,  
Is in his cradle but a little Well.  
Oft, that which when 'tis done is but a skarte,  
Becomes a wound while we the cure defer.  
But in thy heart if love be firmly seated,  
And hath such roote as cannot be defeated:  
Although in had at first I did not take you,  
At point of death'twere cruel to forsake you.  
That fire which water never can assuage,  
For want of stuff at length must end his rage.  
Whiles love is in his furious heat give place,  
Delay, what counsel cannot, brings to pass,  
At first his mind impatient and sore,  
Doth physic, more then the disease abhor.  
Who but a fool, a mother will forbid,  
Her son new dead, some briny drops to  shed:  
When she a while hath spoken her grief in tears,  
With patience then, of patience she hears.  
Out of due season who so physic gi's,  
Though it cause health, yet hath he done amiss.  
And friendly counsel urged out of date,  
Doth fret the sore, and cause the hearers hate.  
But when loues anger seemeth to appease.  
By all means labour to shun idleness:  
This brings him first, this stays him and no other,  
This is to Cupid both his nurse and mother.  
bar idleness, loues arrows blunt will turn,  
And the vnflaming fire want power to burn,  
" love ne're doth better entertainment find,  
" Then in a desolate and empty mind.  
Sloth is loues bawd, if thou wilt leave wooing,  
Let still thy body, or thy mind be doing.  
Full happiness nere stopped with rub of chance,  
Ease vncontroul'd, Long sleeps and dalliance,  
Do wound the mind, though never pierce the skin,  
And through that wound love slily creepeth in.  
Then either unto books go make thy mone,  
So shalt thou haue most company alone.  
Or else unto the doubtful warres go range,  
Ready, thy self, for honour to exchange.  
The Parthian, that valiant Run-away,  
To yield new cause of triumph doth assay.  
Aegystus was a letcher, and why so?  
The cause was he had nothing else to do.  
When all the youths of Greece for Troy were bound,  
And with a wall of men enclosed it round,  
Aegystus would not from his home remove,  
Where he did nothing, but that nothing love.  
If these fail, to the Country then repair,  
For any care extinguisheth this care:  
There mayst thou see the ox, the yoke obey,  
And though the earth, ploughs eating through their way:  
To whom thou mayst set corn to use, and see  
For every corn, spring up a little three.  
The sun being Midwife, thou shalt oft find there,  
Trees bearing far more fruit then they can bear.  
And how the silver brooks are riding post,  
Till in some river they themselves haue lost.  
There mayst thou see Goates scale the highest Hill,  
That they their bellies and their dugs may fill.  
And harmless sheep, to whom was no defence,  
By nature ever given, but innocence.  
There mayst thou learn to graffe, and then note how,  
The old three nurseth the adopted bough;  
And of his sap doth him allowance rate,  
Though his fruit from him do degenerate.  
There mayst thou see the Hare tread many a ring,  
The Hounds into a labyrinth to bring:  
until he( having long his death delaide)  
By his own steps be to the dogs bettaide,  
Of Fishing use, so thou the fish shalt see,  
punished to death for their credulity.  
Do this, that thou mayst weary be at night,  
So sleep in spite of thoughts shall close thy sight.  
Let not thy memory things past repeat,  
Tis easier oft to learn then to forget.  
Therefore keep distance, and thy love forsake,  
This to effect some journey undertake:  
I know thou wilt wish rain, and fain delay,  
And oft thy doubtful foot stand at a stay:  
But how much more it greiues thee to be gone,  
So much the more remember to go on.  
Name not the miles nor once look backward home,  
The Parthian by flight doth overcome.  
Some say my rules are hard, I do confess it,  
I needs must hurt the wound because I dress it.  
Wilt thou bide for thy bodies health vexation?  
Which strait decays without foods reparation?  
And wilt not thou do this thy mind to mend?  
Thy better half which did from heaven descend?  
For your more comfort, this one proof I say,  
" 'tis harder farte to part then stay away.  
For custom with the hardest things that are,  
Will make us in short time familiar.  
If thou be once abroad there long abide,  
Least coming home into relapse thou slide:  
Then will thine absence bring thee to worse plight,  
As fasting breeds a greater appetite.  
think not by witchcraft to fright love away,  
Pluto himself hath been in love they say.  
Circe vs'de this, the wandring Knight to stir,  
Yet many miles were twixt his love and her.  
But he that is so vexed, that would esteem,  
All pains but cheap, his freedom to redeem:  
Let him alone sum up his mistress crimes,  
think how much she hath cost thee many times:  
think how she used to swear and kindly speak,  
And( faithless) streight her word and oath to break:  
And think, the same night that she thee denies,  
That( greedy) with some servingman she lies.  
urge this, thy matter never will be spent,  
For sorrow will make any eloquent.  
I was in love myself the other day,  
And she ungrateful would not love repay.  
Then grew I the physician and the sick,  
And did myself recover by this trick.  
I said she was not faire when I did eye her,  
Yet to confess the truth I did bely her,  
I blamed her leg and foot when I stood by her,  
Yet to confess the truth I did bely her,  
Yet I at length( for many times I said it)  
'gainst my own knowledge to myself gave credite,  
Still near to virtue, vices bordering lye,  
For on both sides of her they seated be:  
Then the good parts thou in thy mistress know'st,  
To one of those two vices see thou bow'st.  
Account the fat as swollen, the brown as black,  
If she be slender, say, she flesh doth lack:  
If she be merry, swear that she is light,  
If modest, think it is for lack of wit.  
This done, thy mistress, be she not too coy,  
Wherein she hath no gift nor grace, employ:  
If she sing harsh, entreat her still to sing,  
Hath she fat fingers? then a Lute her bring:  
If she stride wide, then get her forth to walk,  
If speak she ill, then give her cause to talk.  
If she dance hobbling, let her not sit still,  
And make her laugh if that her teeth be ill;  
Sometimes into her chamber early press,  
Before at all points she herself can dress:  
That which is Venus image when 'tis done,  
Was( while 'twas making) but a rugged ston.  
With clothes and Tires our judgements bribed bee,  
And woman is least part of what we see.  
But least thou too much trust this rule, beware,  
For many( like Truth) fairest, naked are.  
Yet venture in, for there is often found,  
The stuff, whereof their painting they compound:  
And boxes, which unto their cheeks give colour,  
And water that doth wash their faces fouler.    

The second part of the Remedy Of love.  

HItherto haue I breathed, now will I bring,  
My ranging course into a shorter ring.  
When that night comes( which many nights hath lost thee,  
And much sweet bitter expectation cost thee)  
Whilst thou art heavy, and thy spirits down,  
And foolishly wise, by repentance grown:  
Then let thine eyes her body note, till they  
Do something find amiss and thereon stay.  
Some may perchance, these precepts, trifles call,  
Who is not helped by any may by all.  
For all I cannot fit instructions find,  
Because no two are like in face and mind.  
The same that one doth not mislike at all,  
A great deformity, some others call.  
As that nice youth, that did his love with-draw,  
Because his mistress he at privy saw.  
They love in jest, that so can whole become,  
When Cupid shoots at such he draws not home.  
strive thou to be in love with two together,  
So shall thy love be violent in neither:  
For when thy mind by halves doth doubtful stray,  
One love doth take the others force away.  
The selfsame strength, united is more strong,  
Then when to two, it partend, doth belong.  
Great Riuers being weal oft divided,  
Do shrink at length to Brooks that may be strided  
This trick hath many helped, therefore we see,  
Women for spite term it inconstancy.  
The old love, by succession out is drove,  
In heal, Paris lost Oenone's love.  
Shee which hath many sons, makes not such mone,  
As she which looseth all her sons in one,  
The fastest love a second love undoes,  
For in a crosse-way love himself doth loose.  
Although thy heart with fire like Aetna flamme,  
Let not thy mistress once perceive the same:  
Smother thy passions, and let not thy face,  
Tell thy mindes secrets, while she is in place:  
Thy heart being stormy, let thy face be clear,  
Nor let loues fire by smoke of sighs appear.  
Dissemble long, till thy dissembling breed,  
Such use, as thou art out of love indeed.  
I haue, from drinking, so myself to keep,  
lain on a bed and winck'd myself asleep.  
Oft haue I seen youths fain themselves in love,  
Till taken at their words they so did prove.  
If she appoint thee any time to come,  
And coming thither findest her not at home.  
Do not make Sonnets at her chamber door,  
Nor thy repulse as a mischance deplore,  
Nor to her, when thou meetest her again,  
Of thine own wrongs or her untruth complain.  
For, to be patient, time will easy make it,  
If thou haue patience but to undertake it.  
He that from far his mistress doth admire;  
And dares not hope of his having desire:  
His wound, a cure, uncurable will prove,  
For what we think forbidden, most we love.  
Distrust not then, till thou hear her reply,  
" Who asketh faintly, teacheth to deny.  
If all these fail, this next will help impart,  
And love of others to self-love convert.  
Since thoughts of love no longer us possess,  
Then while we live in health and happiness.  
Let him that is indebted think alone,  
That while he thinks his day draws nearer on:  
Whom a hard father from his will doth let,  
Let him before him still his father set.  
Let him which will a wife with nothing take,  
think from preferment she will keep him back:  
None need this physic of physicians borrow,  
For none but hath some cause of fear or sorrow.  
Let him that deeply loues and is foregone,  
( Like an ill-doer) fear to be alone.  
use not to silent groves alone to shrink,  
Nothing love more upholdeth then to think:  
Then will thy mind thy mistress picture take,  
For memory all things past doth present make.  
Then like pygmalion we an image frame,  
And fall in love devoutly with the same.  
Therefore, then night, less dangerous is the day,  
Because then, thoughts new born, talk sends away.  
Then shalt thou find how much a friend is worth,  
Into whose breast thou mayst thy grief poure forth.  
Phillis alone frequented th'riuers side,  
clouded with shade of trees, till there she died.  
Who loues must louers company refuse,  
For love is as infectious as news.  
By looking on sore eyes, we sore eyes get,  
And fire doth always on the next house set.  
Did not infection to next neighbours fly,  
Diseases would with their first owners die.  
A wound new healed will soon break out again,  
Therefore from seeing of thy love refrain:  
Nor will this serve, but thou must shun her kin,  
And even the house which she abideth in  
Let not her Nurse or Chamber-maide once move thee  
Though they protest, how much their mistress loues thee  
Nor into any question of her break,  
Nor of her talk( though thou against her speak)  
He that says oft that he is not in love,  
By repetition doth himself disprove.  
I would not wish thy love in hatred end,  
Let her that was thy love, be still thy friend.  
But when ye needs must meet, then show thy spirit,  
think how she loues some fellow of less merit,  
Make not thyself against thou seest her fine,  
For this is doubtless, of some love, a sign.  
The reason is( as I myself haue tried)  
Why many men so long in love abide,  
Because if they some kinder look obtain,  
They forth-with think they are beloved again.  
" To our own flattery soon we credite give,  
" And what we would haue true we soon beleeue.  
So they like Gamesters lose on more and more,  
Lest they should loose that little lost before.  
But trust not thou their words,& though they swear,  
Yet womens oaths are oather of Atheists here.  
Nor as a sign of grief their weeping take,  
But think, their eyes, use, soluble doth make.  
Bee still and sullen, bear a grudge in mind,  
Nor tell the cause least she excuses find:  
He that beginneth with his love to chide,  
That man is willing to bs satisfide.  
Beauty is nothing worth, for if we love,  
The fowl'st she in our iudgement faire will prove:  
Therefore the onely means by which to try them,  
Is then to judge when fairer do stand by them:  
confer their faces and with all their mind,  
Who seeth onely with his eyes is blind.  
Comparison, the touch-stone is, whereby,  
We from the good the better do descry.  
'tis but a trifle which I mean to speak,  
And yet, loues strength, this trifle oft doth break.  
All letters written from thy mistress, burn:  
Such relics, louers mindes do backward turn.  
Though thou canst not behold thē while they flamme.  
Thy loues last funeral fire, do think the same.  
Take heed least thou into the place refort,  
Which hath been accessary to your sport:  
stir not the ashes which do fire conceal,  
Nor touch the wound which is about to heal.  
love cannot be maintained with poverty,  
His riot doth with riches best agree.  
Honour and titles, though not felt nor seen,  
The chiefest cause of love to some haue been.  
Frequent not plays, for whiles we others love,  
See acted, we ourselves do parties prove.  
Vpon my proof, music and Dancing fly,  
For music, Trees and Stones did mollify:  
And fishes too though they themselves be dumb  
To hear Arions harp did gladly come.  
And Dancing doth in some more Passions raise,  
Then reason pacifies in many daies.  
These melt the mind and soft our hearts do make,  
And thereby loues impression apt to take.  
Touch not the Poets which of love do sing,  
They us to love by imitation bring,  
Whiles we in them do others love behold,  
Change but the names the Tale of us is  told.  
What man( but some stiff clown) but soon will prove  
By reading of such books in love, with love?  
bar them I say, because in them is found,  
A certain music and a wanton sound.  
unless I by Apollo be misled,  
'tis a mutation which most love hath bread.  
Much easiness doth cloy, and most we set,  
By that which we with doubt from others get:  
Then frame this self me rival, but surmise,  
That could in middle of her bed she lies.  
Atrides could lie dull by Helens side,  
And was content at Creet from her to bide.  
until by Paris she from him was rented,  
Then was his love by others love augmented.  
Lastly, I must some meats forbid the sick,  
That I in all may be physician like:  
use not on sweet and iuicy meats to feed,  
Of such, the fullness, doth lusts hunger breed:  
And stuffed with such, we any do admire,  
When all their beauty lies in our desire.  
But Wine is more provoking far then meat,  
This heats our blood and it on rage doth set.  
This drowns our mind and makes it sense obey,  
" Loues wings being wet he cannot fly away.     
THE END.