64
AMYNTAS.
Let him be bold; and if he wants a favour,
Sollicit, importune; and if he finds
Sollicitation, importunity,
Are feeble, ineffectual mediators;
Let him embrace a gay, unguarded moment,
To steal with dexterous theft the wished-for bliss.
And if his circumspection cannot steal it;
Let him risk all to win the golden prize,
And seize it with a gallant violence.
Women well know to wield their proper weapons;
Or women would be blanks in the creation:
It is not in their province to procure
Protection and respect from selfish man
By their strong influence in society.
They have no hold of the proud, lordly being,
Except the tender, silken bands of pleasure;
And if their tension is not nice, they break.
This tension is the politicks of love.
We must not give, the moment you demand,
Or we should nothing have worthy of giving.
Sollicit, importune; and if he finds
Sollicitation, importunity,
Are feeble, ineffectual mediators;
Let him embrace a gay, unguarded moment,
To steal with dexterous theft the wished-for bliss.
And if his circumspection cannot steal it;
Let him risk all to win the golden prize,
And seize it with a gallant violence.
Women well know to wield their proper weapons;
Or women would be blanks in the creation:
It is not in their province to procure
Protection and respect from selfish man
By their strong influence in society.
They have no hold of the proud, lordly being,
Except the tender, silken bands of pleasure;
And if their tension is not nice, they break.
This tension is the politicks of love.
We must not give, the moment you demand,
Or we should nothing have worthy of giving.
Would
