To his mistress, whofe husband is invited to a feaft with them. The poet inftructs her how to behave herself in his company.
YOUR husband will be with us at the treat;
May that be the last supper he shall eat.
And am poor I a guest invited there,
Only to fee, while he may touch the fair?
To fee you kifs and hug your naufeous lord, 5
While his lewd hand defcends below the board?
Now wonder not that Hippodamia's charms,
At fuch a fight, the Centaurs urg'd to arms;
That in a rage they threw their cups afide,
Affail'd the bridegroom, and would force the
bride.
I am not half a horse, (I would I were)
Yet hardly can from you my hands forbear.
Take then my counfel; which, obferv'd, may
Of fome importance both to you and me.
Be fure to come before your man be there ; There's nothing can be done; but come how
Sit next him (that belongs to decency)
But tread upon my foot in paffing by.
Read in my looks what filently they speak,
And flily, with your eyes, your answer make.
My lifted eye-brow fhall declare my pain ;
My right-hand to his fellow fhall complain ;
And on the back a letter fhall defign;
Befides a note that fhall be writ in wine.
Whene'er you think upon our last embrace, 25
With your fore-finger gently touch your face.
any word of mine offend my dear,
Pull, with your hand, the velvet of your ear.
If you are pleas'd with what I do or say,
Handle your rings, or with
As fuppliants use at altars,
Whene'er you with the
lord.
your fingers play. 30 hold the board, devil may take your
When he fills for you, never touch the cup,
But bid th' officious cuckold drink it up.
The waiter on thofe fervices employ:
Drink you, and I will fnatch it from the boy;
Watching the part where your sweet mouth
hath been,
And thence with eager lips will fuck it in.
If he, with clownish manners, thinks it fit
To tafte, and offer you the nafty bit,
Reject his greafy kindness, and restore
Th' unfav'ry morfel he had chew'd before.
Nor let his arms embrace your neck, nor rest
Your tender cheek upon his hairy breast.
Let not his hand within your bofom ftray,
And rudely with your pretty bubbies play.
But above all, let him no kiss receive;
That's an offence I never can forgive.
Do not, O do not that fweet mouth refign,
Left I rife up in arms, and cry, 'Tis mine.
I fhall thrust in betwixt, and void of fear
The manifeft adulterer will appear.
These things are plain to fight; but more I
doubt
What you conceal beneath your petticoat.
Take not his leg between your tender thighs, 55
Nor, with your hand, provoke my foe to rife.
How many love-inventions I deplore,
Which I myself have practis'd all before?
How oft have I been forc'd the robe to lift
In company; to make a homely shift
For a bare bout, ill huddled o'er in haste,
While o'er my fide the fair her mantle caft.
You to your
husband fhall not be fo kind;
But, left you should, your mantle leave behind.
Encourage him to tope; but kifs him not,
Nor mix one drop of water in his pot.
If he be fuddled well, and fnores apace,
Then we may
take advice from time and place.
When all depart, when compliments are loud,
Be fure to mix among the thickeft crowd:
There I will be, and there we cannot mifs,
Perhaps to grubble, or at least to kifs.
Alas! what length of labour I employ,
Juft to fecure a short and tranfient joy!
For night must part us: and when night is come,
Tuck'd underneath his arm he leads you home.
He locks you in; I follow to the door,
His fortune envy, and my own deplore.
He kiffes you,
he more than kiffes too;
Th' outrageous cuckold thinks it all his due. so
But add not to his joy by your confent,
And let it not be given, but only lent.
Return no kifs, nor move in any
Make it a dull and a malignant fport.
Had I my wifh, he fhould no pleasure take,
But flubber o'er your business for my fake.
And whate'er fortune fhall this night befal,
Coax me to-morrow, by forfwearing all.
IF
F for thyfelf thou wilt not watch thy whore,
Watch her for me, that I may love her more.
What comes with eafe we naufeously receive,
Who, but a fot, would fcorn to love with leave?
With hopes and fears my flames are blown up
higher ?
Make me defpair, and then I can defire.
Give me a jilt to teaze my jealous mind;
Deceits are virtues in the female kind.
fantastic humour knew, Play'd trick for trick, and kept herself ftill new: She, that next night I might the fharper come, Fell out with me, and fent me fafting home; Or fome pretence to lie alone would take; Whene'er the pleas'd, her head and teeth would ake:
"Till having won me to the highest strain, She took occafion to be sweet again.
With what a guft, ye gods, we then embrac'd! How ev'ry kifs was dearer than the last!
|