see upon how nice and exact a balance the happi- | salmagundy, with the head and tail so neatly laid, ness of eating depends! I could scarce forbear smiling, not to say worse, at such exactness and such dainties; and told my friend, that those scales would be of extraordinary use at Dunstable; and that, if the annotator had not prescribed his dormouse, I should upon the first occasion be glad to visit it, if I knew its visiting-days and hours, so as not to disturb it. My friend said, there remained but two books more, one of sea and the other of river fish, in the account of which he would not be long, seeing his memory began to fail him almost as much as my patience. 'Tis true, in a long work, soft slumbers creep, And gently sink the artist into sleep'; especially when treating of dormice. : The ninth book is concerning sea fish, where, amongst other learned annotations, is recorded that famous voyage of Apicius, who, having spent many millions, and being retired into Campania, heard that there were lobsters of a vast and unusual bigness in Africa, and thereupon impatiently got on shipboard the same day; and, having suffered much at sea, came at last to the coast. But the fame of so great a man's coming had landed before him, and all the fishermen sailed out to meet him, and presented him with their fairest lobsters. He asked, if they had no larger. They answered, "Their sea produced nothing more excellent than what they had brought." This honest freedom of theirs, with his disappointment, so disgusted him, that he took pet, and bade the master return home again immediately and so, it seems, Africa lost the breed of one monster more than it had before. There are many receipts in the book, to dress cramp-fish, that numb the hands of those that touch them; the cuttle-fish, whose blood is like ink; the pourcontrel, or many feet; the sea-urchin, or hedge-hog; with several others, whose sauces are agreeable to their natures. But, to the comfort of us moderns, the ancients often ate their oysters alive, and spread hard eggs minced over their sprats, as we do now over our salt-fish. There is one thing very curious concerning herrings. It seems, the ancients were very fantastical, in making one thing pass for another; so, at Petronius's supper, the cook sent up a fat goose, fish, and wild-fowl of all sorts to appearance, but still all were made out of the several parts of one single porker. The great Nicomedes, king of Bithynia, had a very delighful deception of this nature put upon him by his 'cook: the king was extremely affected with fresh herrings; (as indeed who is not?) but, being far up in Asia from the sea-coast, his whole wealth could not have purchased one; but his cook contrived some sort of meat, which, put into a frame, so resembled a herring, that it was extremely satisfactory both to this prince's eyes and gusto. My friend told me, that, to the honour of the city of London, he had seen a thing of this nature there; that is, a herring, or rather a Art of Cookery, ver. 449. Lord Lyttelton's Nineteenth Dialogue of the Dead (perhaps the most humorous in that admira ble collection) seems to have been entirely founded on the hints suggested by Dr. King. N. that it surprised him.. He says, many of the species may be found at the Sugar Loaf in Bell Yard, as giving an excellent relish to Burton ale, and not costing above sixpence, an inconsiderable price for so imperial a dainty! The tenth book, as my friend tells me, is concerning fish sauces, which consist of variety of ingredients, amongst which is generally a kind of frumetary. But it is not to be forgotten by any person who would boil fish exactly, that they threw them alive into the water, which at present is said to be a Dutch receipt, but was derived from the Romans. It seems, Seneca the philosopher, (a man from whose morose temper little good in the art of cookery could be expected) in his third book of Natural Questions, correcting the luxury of the times, says, the Romans were come to that daintiness, that they would not eat a fish unless upon the same day it was taken, "that it might taste of the sea," as they expressed it; and therefore had them brought by persons who rode post, and made a great outcry, whereupon all other people were obliged to give them the road. It was an usual expression for a Roman to say, "in other matters I may confide in you; but in a thing of this weight, it is not consistent with my gravity and prudence. I will trust nothing but my own eyes. Bring the fish hither, let me see him breathe his last." And, when the poor fish was brought to table swimming and gasping, would cry out, Nothing is more beautiful than a dying mullet!" My friend says, the annotator looks upon these as jests made by the Stoics, and spoken absurdly and beyond nature;" though the annotator at the same time tells us, that it was a law at Athens, that the fishermen should not wash their fish, but bring them as they came out of the sea. Happy were the Athenians in good laws, and the Romans in great examples! But I believe our Britons need wish their friends no longer life, than till they see London served with live herrings and gasping mackarel. It is true, we are not quite so barbarous but that we throw our crabs alive into scalding water, and tie our lobsters to the spit to hear them squeak when they are roasted; our eels use the same peristaltic motion upon the gridiron, when their skin is off and their guts are out, as they did before; and our gudgeons, taking opportunity of jumping after they are flowered, give occasion to the admirable remark of some persons' folly, when, to avoid the danger of the frying-pan, they leap into the fire. My friend said, that the mention of eels put him in mind of the concluding remark of the annotator, "That they who amongst the Sybarites would fish for eels, or sell them, should be free from all taxes." I was glad to hear of the word conclude; and told him nothing could be more acceptable to me than the mention of the Sybarites, of whom I shortly intend a history, showing how they deservedly banished cocks for waking them in a morning, and smiths for being useful; how one cried out because one of the rose-leaves he lay on was rumpled; how they taught their horses to dance; and so their enemies, coming against them with guitars and harpsichords, set them so upon their round o's and minuets, that the form of their battle was broken, and three hundred thousand of them slain, as Gouldman, Lyttleton, and several other good au thors, affirm. I told my friend, I had much overstayed my hour; but if, at any time, he would find Dick Humelbergius, Caspar Barthius, and another friend, with himself, I would invite him to inner of a few but choice dishes to cover the table at once, which, except they would think of any thing better, should be a salacacaby, a dish of fenugreek, a wild sheep's head and appurtenance with a suitable electuary, a ragout of capon's stones, and some dormouse sausages. If, as friends do with one another at a venisonpasty, you shall send for a plate, you know you may command it; for what is mine is yours, as being entirely your, &c. THE ART OF LOVE: IN IMITATION OF OVID DE ARTE AMANDI. To the lord Herbert', eldest son of his excellency MY LORD, bore the mastership in that art; and therefore, in the fourth book De Tristibus, when he would give some account of himself to future ages, he calls himself Tenerorum Lusor Amorum, as if he gloried principally in the descriptions he had made of that passion. The present imitation of him is at least such a one as Mr. Dryden mentions, "to be an endeavour of a latter poet to write like one who has written before him on the same subject; that is, not to translate his words, or be confined to his sense, but only to set him as a pattern, and to write as he supposes that author would have done, had he lived in our age and in our country. But he dares not say that sir John Denham2, or Mr. Cowley, have carried this libertin way, as the latter calls it, so far as this definition reaches." But, alas! the present imitator has come up to it, if not perhaps succeeded it. Sir John Denham had Virgil, and Mr. Cowley had Pindar, to deal with, who both wrote upon lasting foundations: but the present subject being love, it would be unreasonable to think of too great a confinement to be laid on it. And though the passion and grounds of it will continue the same through all ages; yet there will be many little modes, fashions, and graces, ways of complaisance and address, entertainments and diversions, which time will vary. Since the world will expect new things, and persons will write, and the ancients have so great a fund of learning; whom can the moderns take better to copy than such originals? It is most likely they may not come up to them; but it is a thousand to one but their imitation is better than any clumsy invention of their own. Whoever undertakes this way of writing, has as much reason to understand the true scope, genius, and force of the expressions of his author, as a literal translator: and, after all, he lies under this misfortune, that the faults are all his own; and, if there is any thing that may seem pardonable, the Latin at the bottom3 shows to whom he is engaged for it. An imitator and his author stand much upon the same terms as Ben does with his father in the comedy 4. What thof he be my father, I an't bound pren THE following lines are written on a subject that will naturally be protected by the goodness and temper of your lordship: for, as the advantages of your mind and person must kindle the flames of love in the coldest breast; so you are of an age most susceptible of them in your own. You have acquired all those accomplishments at home, which others are forced to seek abroad; and have given the world assurance, by such beginnings, that you will soon be qualified to fill the highest offices of the crown with the same universal applause, that has constantly attended your illustrious father in the discharge of them. For the good of your posterity, may you ever be happy in the choice of what you love! And though these rules will be of small use to you, that can frame much better; yet let me beg leave that, by dedicating them to your service, may have the honour of telling the world, that I am obliged to your lord-posed several verses of Ovid, and has divided the ship; and that I am most entirely your lordship's most faithful humble servant, WILLIAM KING. PREFACE. It is endeavoured, in the following poems, to give the readers of both sexes some ideas of the art of love; such a love as is innocent and virtuous, and whose desires terminate in present happiness and that of posterity. It would be in vain to think of doing it without help from the ancients, amongst whom none has touched that passion more tenderly and justly than Ovid. He knew that he tice to 'en. There were many reasons why the imitator trans whole into fourteen parts, rather than keep it in three books. These may be too tedious to be recited; but, among the rest, some were, that matters of the same subject might lie more compact; that too large a heap of precepts together might appear too burthensome; and therefore (if small matters may allude to greater) as Virgil in his Georgics, so here most of the parts end with some remarkable fable, which carries with it some moral: yet, if any persons please to take the six first parts as the first book, and divide the eight last, they may make three books of them again. There have by chance some twenty lines crept into the poem out of the Remedy of Love, which, (as inani* Dryden alludes to The Destruction of Troy, &c. N. 2 3 In the first editions of the Art of Cookery, and of the Art of Love, Dr. King printed the original 1 Henry lord Herbert succeeded to his father's under the respective pages of his translations. N. titles in 1732, and died in 1749. N. + Congreve's Love for Love. N. mate things are generally the most wayward and provoking) since they would stay, have been suffered to stand there. But as for the love here mentioned, it being all prudent, honourable, and virtuous, there is no need of any remedy to be prescribed for it, but the speedy obtaining of what it desires. Should the imitator's style seem not to be sufficiently restrained, should he not have afforded pains for review or correction, let it be considered, that perhaps even in that he desired to imitate his author, and would not peruse them; lest, as some of Ovid's works were, so these might be committed to the flames. But he leaves that for the reader to do, if he pleases, when he has bought them. THE ART OF LOVE. PART I. WHOEVER knows not what it is to love, Chiron's command with strict obedience ties To foreign parts there is no need to roam: [shade, To Bath and Tunbridge they sometimes retreat, With waters to dispel the parching heat: But youth with reason there may oft' admire That which may raise in him a nobler fire; Till the kind fair relieves what he endures, Caus'd at that water which all others cures. Sometimes at marriage-rites you may espy Their charms protected by a mother's eye, Where to blest music they in dances move, With innocence and grace commanding love. But yearly when that solemn night returns, When grateful incense on the altar burns, For closing the most glorious day e'er seen, That first gave light to happy Britain's queen; Then is the time for noble youth to try To make his choice with a judicious eye. Not truth of foreign realms, not fables told Of nymphs ador'd, and goddesses of old, Equal those beauties who that circle frame; A subject fit for never-dying Fame: [thrown, Whose gold, pearl, diamonds, all around them Yet still can add no lustre to their own. But when their queen does to the senate go, And they make up the grandeur of the show; Then guard your hearts, ye makers of our laws, For fear the judge be forc'd to plead his cause; Lest the submissive part should fall to you, And they who suppliants help be forc'd to sue. Then may their yielding hearts compassion take, And grant your wishes, for your country's sake: Ease to their beauties' wounds may goodness give; And, since you make all happy, let you live. Sometimes these beauties on Newmarket plains, Ruling their gentle pads with silken reins, 5 George prince of Denmark, consort to the queen, greatly admired these fine gardens.-They were purchased by king William from lord chancellor Finch; were enlarged by queen Mary; and improved by queen Anne, who was so pleased with the place, that she frequently supped during the summer in the green-house. Queen Caroline extended the gardens to their present size, three miles and a half in compass. N. Behold the conflicts of the generous steeds, It is no treacherous or base piece of art, For, when two fencers ready stand to fight, Mark when the queen her thanks divine would Midst acclamations, that she long may live ; What is the gold adorns this royal state? 6 Sir Walter Raleigh is well known to have been indebted to this little mark of gallantry for his rise at court. N. Has not the emperor got some envoy here? PART II. IN love-affairs the theatre has part, As things that were the best at first As bees from hive, from mole-hill ants; Sporting and plays had harmless been, Where bastards, pimps, and thieves, and pandars, But then the rascals were so poor, They could not change a rogue for whore; And neighbouring jades resolv'd to tarry, Romulus bade his varlets go They all were free to come in gratis: There was much wishing, sighing, thinking, The sign for each man to his maid. Some rant, tear, run; whilst some sit still, Their rapes and lewdness without shame; Il be their fate who would corrupt the stage, ᏢᎪᎡᎢ 1II. Now learn those arts which teach you to obtain Those beauties which you see divinely reign. Though they by Nature are transcendent bright, And would be seen ev❜n through the gloom of night; Yet they their greatest lustre still display, In the meridian pitch of calmest day. 'Tis then we purple view, and costly gem, And with more admiration gaze on them. Faults seek the dark; they who by moon-light woo, May find their fair-one as inconstant too. When Modesty supported is by Truth, There is a boldness that becomes your youth. In gentle sounds disciose a lover's care, 'Tis better than your sighing and despair. Birds may abhor their groves, the flocks the plain, The hare, grown bold, may face the dogs again, When Beauty don't in Virtue's arms rejoice, Since harmony in love is Nature's voice. But harden'd Impudence sometimes will try At things which Justice cannot but deny. Then, what that says is insolence and pride, Is Prudence, with firm Honour for its guide. The lady's counsels often are betray'd By trusting secrets to a servile maid, The whole intrigues of whose insidious brain Are base, and only terminate in gain. Let them take care of too diffusive mirth; Suspicions thence, and thence attempts, take Had Ilium been with gravity employ'd, [birth. By Sinon's craft it had not been destroy'd. A vulgar air, mean songs, and free discourse, With sly insinuations, may prove worse To tender females than the Trojan horse. Take care how you from virtue stray; Crete was an isle, whose fruitful nations Whom all the kine obey'd as head; (Our tale to truth does not confine us.) That with his bull she fain would dance ye. "Methinks I look bizarre to day. Then tears would fall, and then she'd run, As would the Devil upon Dun. When she some handsome cow did spy, She'd scan her form with jealous eye; Say, How she frisks it o'er the plain, Runs on, and then turns back again! She seems a bear resolv'd to prance, Or a she-ass that tries to dance. In vain she thinks herself so fine: She can't please bull-y, for he's mine. But 'tis revenge alone assuages My envy when the passion rages. Here, rascal, quickly yoke that cow, And see the shrivel'd carrion plough. But second counsel's best: she dies: I'll make immediate sacrifice, And with the victim feast my eyes. "Tis thus my rivals I'll remove Who interpose 'twixt me and what I love. lo in Egypt's worship'd now, Since Jove transform'd her to a cow, |