'When the unguarded maid alone repairs
To ease the burthens of her sins and cares;
When youth in each, and privacy conspire
To kindle wishes, and befriend desire;
If she has practised in the trade before,
(Few else of proselytes to us brought o’er)
Little of force, or artifice will need.
To make you in the victory succeed:
But if some untaught innocent she be,
Rude, and unknowing in the mystery,
She'll cost more labour to be made comply.
Make her by pumping understand the sport.
And undermine with secret trains the fort,
Sometimes, as if you'd blame her gaudy dress,
Her naked pride, her jewels, point, and lace.
Find opportunity her breasts to press;
Oft feel her hand, and whisper in her ear.
You find the secret marks of lewdness there;
Sometimes with naughty sense her blushes raise,
And make 'em guilt, she never knew, confess;
'Thus,' may you say, 'with such a leering smile,
So languishing a look you hearts beguile;
Thus with your foot, hand, eye, you tokens speak.
These signs deny, these assignations make;
Thus 'tis you clip, with such a fierce embrace
You clasp your lover to your breast and face;
Thus are your hungry lips with kisses cloyed,
Thus is your hand, and thus your tongue employed.'
’Ply her with talk like this; and, if she incline
To help devotion, give her Aretine[1]
Instead of the rosary. Never despair;
She, that to such discourse will lend an ear,
Though chaster than cold cloistered nuns she were,
- ↑ Peter Aretino, born in Tuscany 1492, died 1557; a writer of indecent lampoons. He stood so high in favour with the leading sovereigns of Europe, and three of the Popes, that he obtained an employment in the Vatican, expected to be made a cardinal, and took the title of Il Divino.
