If you're a stranger to the sex, enquireWhere you may find a mistress to admire.To learn their haunts my books of love peruse,Where from a swarm of beauties you may choose.But if my precepts have the least pretenceTo truth, and if I speak Apollo's sense,Tho' Aetna's fires within your bosom glow,Dissemble, and appear more cold than snow.In spite of torture, still from tears refrain;Laugh when you have most reason to complain.Nor do I such severe commands impart,At once to bid you tear her from your heart:But counterfeit; you'll prove in the event,That careless lover whom you represent.Oft when the merry round I would not keep,I've seem'd to nod, and, seeming, fall'n asleep.I've laugh'd at him who fool'd away his heart,Dissembling passion, till he felt the smart.Love comes by use; disuse will love expel;Learn to feign health, and you will soon be wellIf she has bid you come, and fix'd the night,Tho' sure that she to mock you did invite,Yet go; and if you find the door fast lock'd,Endure the disappointment; be not shock'd;Nor curse the gate, nor fond entreaties make,Nor on the threshold a hard lodging take:And when you see her next, complaints forbear,Nor in your looks the least resentment wear.Her pride will stoop, and give your feign'd neglectWhat she denied to your sincere respect.Nor is't enough your mistress thus to cheat,You on yourself must put the same deceit:Acquaint not your own thoughts with the design,Till the work's done and you have sprung the mire.For else 'tis odd, but nature in your heartWill faction raise, and take your mistress' part.What you propose will soon effected be,Your progress sure, if made with secrecy.Conceal your nets; if they are spread in sight,The bird you meant to take you'll only fright.Nor suffer her you love, so much to prizeHer charming self, that she may you despise.Take courage; conscious of your merit seem,And worthy you'll appear of her esteem.E'en then when you her door wide open spy,Nay, tho' called in, yet pass regardless by.She'll offer you her bed; refuse to takeThe favour, or a doubtful answer make.Let wisdom once but teach you to abstainFrom what you wish, you may your wish obtain.Perhaps at my severe advice you'll start,But know, I act a reconciler's part.Diseases in a thousand forms are rang'd;As tempers vary, med'cines must be chang'd.Some bodies must a sharp long course endure,A single drug on others works a cure.If your soft nature yield to Cupid's stroke,And strength is wanting to support his yoke,Forbear against the wind and tide to strive;Slacken your sail, and with the current drive.For first the raging thirst in which you fry,Must be assuag'd, ere other means you try:Drink freely then: nor can you safely trustTo satisfaction, drink even to disgust.This is not the only advice which Ovid gives that has a little too much of libertinism in it; but he proposes a less evil to avoid a greater.Visit your mistress, keep her in your sight,Lock'd up all day, and in your arms all night.Still sit at board, though appetite decay,And though you find you could be absent, stay:Indulge desire, till your desires are cloy'd,And love by too much plenty is destroy'd.