Remedia amoris
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
407.433
Now is the time your artifice to try,
407.434
Act not so much the lover as the spy;
407.435
For vanity makes all the fair presume
407.436
There's nothing which their charms can misbecome.
407.437
Take this occasion her defects to find,
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When you can fix them deeply in your mind;
407.439
In the dull minute of your discontents,
407.440
(The pensive mood when sated love repents,)
407.441
To your sick thoughts her blemishes display,
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And, for aversion, by those means make way.
407.443
These helps, you'll say, are trivial; I confess,
407.444
Singly they are, but join'd will have success.
407.445
By one small viper's bite an ox is killed;This is a little malicious on the sex, and shows that the least vice of a mistress is fatal to a lover.
407.446
The forest-boar by a less dog is held.
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Unite my precepts if apart they fail,
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And by resistless number you'll prevail.
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But different minds for different methods call,
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Nor what cures most will have effect on all;
407.451
E'en that which makes another's flame expire,
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Perhaps may prove but fuel to your fire.
407.453
For one disgusted with the nymph's undress,
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Grows cold and weary of her warm caress,
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Another from his wanton mistress flies,
407.456
When he his rival's recent raptures spies,
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Like warm desire; and he but little loves,
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Whom ev'ry trifle shocks, and nothing moves.
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To those I write, for my advice they need,
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Whose hardy passion can unbalk'd proceed.
407.461
What think you of that lover who could lie
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Concealed, to see what custom must deny?
407.463
I to no such indecent means direct,
407.464
Not to be practis'd tho' of sure effect.