Pleas'd or unpleas'd, no matter; crouding fit:
For fo the laws of public fhows permit.
Then find occafion to begin discourse;

Inquire, whofe chariot this, and whofe that horfe?
To whatsoever fide fhe is inclin'd,

Suit all your inclinations to her mind;

Like what he likes; from thence your court

begin;

And whom the favours, wifh that he

But when the ftatues of the Deities,

may win.

In chariots roll'd, appear before the prize;
When Venus comes, with deep devotion rife.
If duft be on her lap, or grains of fand,
Brush both away with your officious hand.
If none be there, yet brush that nothing thence;
And still to touch her lap make fome pretence.
Touch any thing of hers; and if her train
Sweep on the ground, let it not fweep in vain;
But gently take it up, and wipe it clean;
And while you wipe it, with obferving eyes,
Who knows but you may see her naked thighs!
Obferve, who fits behind her; and beware,
Left his incroaching knee should prefs the fair.
Light fervice takes light minds: for fome can

tell

Of favours won, by laying cushions well;

By fanning faces fome their fortune meet; And fome by laying footftools for their feet. Thefe overtures of love the Circus gives; Nor at the fword-play lefs the lover thrives: For there the fon of Venus fights his prize; And deepest wounds are oft receiv'd from eyes. One, while the crowd their acclamations make, Or while he bets, and puts his ring to stake, Is ftruck from far, and feels the flying dart; And of the fpectacle is made a part. Cæfar would reprefent a naval fight, For his own honor, and for Rome's delight. From either fea the youths and maidens come; And all the world was then contain'd in Rome. In this vaft concourfe, in this choice of game, What Roman heart but felt a foreign flame? Once more our prince prepares to make us glad; And the remaining Eaft to Rome will add. Rejoice, ye Roman foldiers, in your urns; Your enfigns from the Parthians fhall return; And the flain Craffi fhall no longer mourn. A youth is fent thofe trophies to demand; And bears his father's thunder in his hand: Doubt not th' imperial boy in wars unfeen; In childhood all of Cæfar's race are men.

}

Prevent their

Celestial feeds shoot out before their day,
years, and brook no dull delay.
Thus infant Hercules the fnakes did prefs,
And in his cradle did his fire confefs.
Bacchus, a boy, yet like a hero fought,
And early spoils from conquer'd India brought.
Thus you your father's troops fhall lead to fight,
And thus fhall vanquish in your father's right.
These rudiments you to your lineage owe;
Born to increase your titles, as you grow.
Brethren you had, revenge your brethren flain;
You have a father, and his rights maintain.
Arm'd by your country's parent, and your own,
Redeem your country, and restore his throne.
Your enemies affert an impious cause;

You fight both for divine and human laws.
Already in their cause they are o'ercome:
Subject them too, by force of arms, to Rome.
Great father Mars with greater Cæfar join,
To give a profp'rous omen to your line:
One of you is, and one fhall be divine.
I prophefy you fhall, you fhall o'ercome:
My verse shall bring you back in triumph home.
Speak in my verfe, exhort to loud alarms:
O were my numbers equal to your arms!

Then would I fing the Parthians overthrow
Their shot averfe fent from a flying bow:
The Parthians, who already flying fight,
Already give an omen of their flight.

O when will come the day, by heav'n defign'd,
When thou, the beft and faireft of mankind,
Drawn by white horses fhalt in triumph ride,
With conquer'd flaves attending on thy fide;
Slaves, that no longer can be safe in flight;
O glorious object, O furprifing fight,

O day of public joy; too good to end in night!
On fuch a day, if thou, and, next to thee,
Some beauty fits, the spectacle to see :

If the inquire the names of conquer'd kings,
Of mountains, rivers, and their hidden springs,
Answer to all thou know'ft; and, if need be,
Of things unknown feem to speak knowingly:
This is Euphrates, crown'd with reeds; and there
Flows the fwift Tigris with his fea-green hair.
Invent new names of things unknown before;
Call this Armenia, that the Cafpian shore;
Call this a Mede, and that a Parthian youth;
Talk probably; no matter for the truth.

In feafts, as at our fhows, new means abound; More pleasure there, than that of wine, is found.

The Paphian Goddefs there her ambush lays;
And Love betwixt the horns of Bacchus plays:
Defires increase at ev'ry swelling draught;
Brifk vapors add new vigor to the thought.
There Cupid's purple wings no flight afford;
But, wet with wine, he flutters on the board.
He shakes his pinions, but he cannot move;
Fix'd he remains, and turns a maudlin Love.
Wine warms the blood, and makes the spirits
flow;

Care flies, and wrinkles from the forehead go:
Exalts the poor, invigorates the weak;

Gives mirth and laughter, and a rofy cheek.
Bold truths it fpeaks; and fpoken, dares maintain;
And brings our old fimplicity again.

Love fparkles in the cup, and fills it higher:
Wine feeds the flames, and fuel adds to fire.
But choose no mistress in thy drunken fit;
Wine gilds too much their beauties and their wit.
Nor truft thy judgment when the tapers dance;
But fober, and by day, thy fuit advance.
By day-light Paris judg'd the beauteous three;
And for the faireft did the prize decree.
Night is a cheat, and all deformities
Are hid, or leffen'd in her dark difguife.