'A great many People are mistaken in these Books; and tho' they were made use of as a Pretence to drive the Author from the Court of _Augustus_, and confine him to _Tomos_ on the Frontiers of the _Getae_ and _Sarmatae_, yet they were not the true Cause of his Confinement. They are very far from being so licentious as the Writings of several other Poets, both _Greek_ and _Latin_. However we must own he might have been a little more discreet, especially in some Places[A]. [Note A: He means in the other two Books.] 'That which offended the _Romans_ most in this Work, cannot touch us. It has always been more dangerous in _Italy_ to converse with Women of Honour, and frequent their Houses, than 'tis with us; where there is more Liberty, and what in that Country may be an Occasion of Debauchery, would not at all be so in ours. 'Notwithstanding all that has been said against these Books _of the Art of Love_, by some over-scrupulous Persons, whose Discretion has too much of Affectation in it: they are not only necessary for the Knowledge of the _Latin_ Tongue, and the _Roman_ History, concerning which they contain several Things very particular; but for the noble Sentiments we find in them, which the _Gravest_ and _Learnedest_ Writers have thought worthy to be quoted for _Authorities_. 'In a Word, there's nothing in them that comes near the _Licence_ of some _Epigrams_ of _Catullus_, _Martial_, and _Ausonius_, of some _Satires_ of _Horace_ and _Juvenal_, and several other Pieces of _Ancient_ and _Modern_ Authors, which are read and commented upon; and about which even celebrated _Jesuits_ and other religious Persons, as eminent for their Piety as their Erudition, have employed their Studies. Yet who has condemn'd or complain'd of them? We must confess, such Things should be managed with Address; and those of them who have meddled with any of the Authors I have named, have shewn that it may be done so, by their succeeding so happily in it. 'As for this Treatise of the _Art of Love_, for which the Author has also prescrib'd a _Remedy_, as it is liable to be ill interpreted by those whose Pens poison every Thing they touch; so it may bear a good Construction, by such as know how to turn every Thing to Advantage. 'I will yet say, this _Art_ may be apply'd to those that intend to marry. There is nothing sure against Decency in all that. I agree, if you will have it so, that it extends so far as to direct one to the Means to gain a Mistress. If this was not lawful heretofore in _Italy_, on account of the jealous Humour of the _Italians_, we cannot, for the same Reason only, say it ought to be forbidden in our Country, any more than in several others, provided we could be sure the Ladies Modesty would not be offended, before whom Youth should be always careful not to exceed the Bounds of the Respect that's due to them.'