From him they have allured, and would retain; But to a piercing eye 'tis all in vain: For common sense brings all their cheats to view, And the false light discovers by the true; Which a wise harlot owns, and hopes to find A pardon for defects, that run through all the kind. Nor always do they feign the sweets of love, When round the panting youth their pliant limbs they move. And cling, and heave and moisten every kiss; They often share, and more than share the bliss: From every part, even to their inmost soul, They feel the trickling joys, and run with vigour to the goal. Stirred with the same impetuous desire, Birds, beasts, and herds, and mares, their males require; Because the throbbing nature in their veins Provokes them to assuage their kindly pains. The lusty leap the expecting female stands, By mutual heat compelled to mutual bands. Thus dogs with lolling tongues by love are tied, Nor shouting boys nor blows their union can divide; At either end they strive the link to loose, In vain, for stronger Venus holds the noose; Which never would those wretched lovers do, } But that the common heats of love they know; } The pleasure therefore must be shared in common too: } And when the woman's more prevailing juice Sucks in the man's, the mixture will produce The mother's likeness; when the man prevails, His own resemblance in the seed he seals. But when we see the new-begotten race Reflect the features of each parent's face, Then of the father's and the mother's blood The justly tempered seed is understood; When both conspire, with equal ardour bent, From every limb the due proportion sent, When neither party foils, when neither foiled, This gives the splendid features of the child. Sometimes the boy the grandsire's image bears; Sometimes the more remote progenitor he shares; Because the genial atoms of the seed Lie long concealed ere they exert the breed; And, after sundry ages past, produce The tardy likeness of the latent juice. Hence, families such different figures take, And represent their ancestors in face, and hair, and make; Because of the same seed, the voice, and hair, } And shape, and face, and other members are, } And the same antique mould the likeness does prepare. } Thus, oft the father's likeness does prevail In females, and the mother's in the male; For, since the seed is of a double kind, From that, where we the most resemblance find, We may conclude the strongest tincture sent, And that was in conception prevalent. Nor can the vain decrees of powers above Deny production to the act of love, Or hinder fathers of that happy name, Or with a barren womb the matron shame; As many think, who stain with victims blood