Do any thing within your power to please; Nay, even affect a seeming drunkenness: Clip every word; and if by chance you speak Too home, or if too broad a jest you break, In your excuse the company will join, And lay the fault upon the force of wine. True drunkenness is subject to offend; But when 'tis feigned, 'tis oft a lover's friend. Then safely you may praise her beauteous face, And call him happy, who is in her grace. Her husband thinks himself the man designed; But curse the cuckold in your secret mind. When all are risen, and prepare to go, Mix with the crowd, and tread upon her toe. This is the proper time to make thy court; For now she's in the vein, and fit for sport. Lay bashfulness, that rustic virtue, by; To manly confidence thy thoughts apply. On fortune's foretop timely fix thy hold; Now speak and speed, for Venus loves the bold. No rules of rhetoric here I need afford; } Only begin, and trust the following word; } It will be witty of its own accord. } Act well the lover; let thy speech abound In dying words, that represent thy wound; Distrust not her belief; she will be moved; All women think they merit to be loved. Sometimes a man begins to love in jest, And, after, feels the torment he profest, For your own sakes be pitiful, ye fair; For a feigned passion may a true prepare. By flatteries we prevail on womankind; As hollow banks by streams are undermined. Tell her, her face is fair, her eyes are sweet; Her taper fingers praise, and little feet. Such praises even the chaste are pleased to hear; Both maids and matrons hold their beauty dear. Once naked Pallas with Jove's queen appeared, And still they grieve that Venus was preferred. Praise the proud peacock, and he spreads his train; Be silent, and he pulls it in again. Pleased is the courser in his rapid race; Applaud his running, and he mends his pace. But largely promise, and devoutly swear; And, if need be, call every God to hear. Jove sits above, forgiving with a smile The perjuries that easy maids beguile. He swore to Juno by the Stygian lake; } Forsworn, he dares not an example make, } Or punish falsehood, for his own dear sake. } 'Tis for our interest that the gods should be; } Let us believe them; I believe, they see, } And both reward, and punish equally. } Not that they live above like lazy drones, Or kings below, supine upon their thrones. Lead then your lives as present in their sight; } Be just in dealings, and defend the right; } By fraud betray not, nor oppress by might. } But 'tis a venial sin to cheat the fair;