And as too much profperity Till we by turn of fortune taught So when the hoary afhes grow Around Love's coals it is time to blow; To raise your cares to hide its own, And have you by a rival croft, Only in hopes you may n't be loft. 1400 1405 Sometimes they fay that you are faulty, And that they know where you were naughty; And then perhaps your eyes they 'd tear, Or elfe dilacerate your hair, 1410 Not with their own but friends' confent. 1425 Which made his hands, both hard and brawny, His whole complexion was a fallow, Where black had not destroy'd the yellow. One foot was clump'd, which was the stronger, 1430 T'other fpiny, tho' much longer; So both to the proportion come Of the forefinger and the thumb. In fhort, the whole of him was nafty, 1435 For fometimes fhe her knee is crimping, They car'd not what was faid or done, Till Impudence defy'd the Sun. Vulcan was told of this. Quoth he, 1445 1450 Which when a pulley gave a fnap Then feign'd that he must go from home; And none but he to mind the trade. Love was too eager to beware Of falling into any fnare. 'They went to bed, and so were caught, And then they of repentance thought. The show being ready to begin Vulcan would call his neighbours in. Jove fhould be there, that does make bold 1455 1466 1465 With Juno, that notorious scold; Neptune, first bargeman on the water ; 1470 With Proferpine hot from her oven; In stealing customs and in running; And Dy the midwife, tho' a virgin; 1475 And Æfculapius the furgeon; P 1480 And all the Cupids should be by To fee their mother's infamy. One Momus cry'd, "You're hugely pleas'd; 1485 I hope your mind will foon be eas'd; "For when fo publickly you find it ' People you know will little mind it : They love to tell what no one knows, "And they themselves only fuppofe. "Not ev'ry hufband can afford "To be a cuckold on record; "Nor fhould he be a cuckold styl'd' "That once or fo has been beguil'd, "Unless he makes it demonftration, "Then puts it in fome proclamation, "With gen'ral voice of all the nation." 1490 1495 The company were come, when Vulcan hopping, And for his key in left fide-pocket gropping, "Cries, "It is but op'ning of that door "To prove myself a cuckold, her a whore." They all defir'd his leave that they might go; They were not curious of fo vile a fhow: Perfons concern'd might one another fee, 1500 And they'd believe fince witneffes were three: 1505 Have cur'd the fault without the noife of Fame. The work is done: and now let Ovid have 1511 Some gratitude attending on his grave: Th' afpiring palm, the verdant laurel, ftrow, Neftor in court, Achilles in the field, 1515 As Ajax had in fingle combat force, And as Automedon best rul'd the horse, As Calchas vers'd in prophecies from Jove, 1520 The poet's honour will be much the less Than that which by his means you may poffefs WHO PART XI. I who the art of war to Danaans gave 1530 |