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The Lovers Assistant, Or, New Art Of Love
by
[Footnote 15: In Caesar’s Forum, which was built on the Appian Way, was the Temple of Venus Genetrix.]
[Footnote 16: Races were run at Rome in April in the Circus Maximus, which was likewise the Scene of many other public Exercises and Shews.]
[Footnote 17: And when the Procession shall pass on with the Ivory Deities, do you applaud most the Statue of Lady Venus. Thus the Original. The Paraphrase preserves the same Sense, though in other Circumstances. These Statues were carried in Procession on many Occasions, particularly at the Maegalesian Games.]
[Footnote 18: Adjusting her cushion. ]
[Footnote 19: Putting a Foot-stool under her. ]
[Footnote 20: The Original mentioned the Fights of the Gladiators. The Paraphrase comes as near as our Customs admit; for the British Ladies never attend to see Men kill one another in jest.]
[Footnote 21: Augustus Caesar among other rich Shews, with which he entertained the People, exhibited to them a Sea-Fight in a Place dug on purpose near the banks of the Tyber. The Poet takes this occasion of introducing many Compliments to the Grandson of this Prince. We have done little more than altered Names in this Place; and as we are assured all here said is as properly applicable to the noble Person to whom we have transferred it, the learned Reader will admire that any Passage in an antient Author can be so apposite to the present Times, and the true English Reader will be no less delighted to see Ovid introduced as singing forth the Praises of the British Hero.]
[Footnote 22: Parthia. ]
[Footnote 23: The Crassi.]
[Footnote 24: Hercules. ]
[Footnote 25: Bacchus. ]
[Footnote 26: The Original here described the many Nations who are led Captives.]
[Footnote 27: Here we have inverted the Original; but sure the Sense upholds us in so doing.]
[Footnote 28: Baiae, a Place not far from Naples, famous for wholesome as well as pleasant Baths. It is described very largely by Diodorus; and Horace mentions it as the pleasantest Place in the World.]
[Footnote 29: In the Original, the Temple of Diana in the Suburbs. It stood in a Grove not far from Rome. The next Line, Partaque per gladios, etc. alludes to a very singular Custom, by which the Priests of this Temple succeeded to each other, viz. by Conquest in single Combat, for which every Slave or Fugitive was admitted to contend, and the Victor was rewarded with the Priesthood. This Practice was renewed every Year, and was, as Strabo informs us, originally taken from the Scythians.]
[Footnote 30: Byblis fell in love with her Brother Caunus; and upon his rejecting her Addresses, hanged herself. The Poets feign she was afterwards turned into a Fountain. See Metam. IX.]
[Footnote 31: Myrrha was the Daughter of Cinyras, who being in love with her Father, took an Opportunity, while her Mother was employed in the Sacrifices to Ceres, to supply her Place. Her Father discovering the Imposture, ran after her with a drawn Sword to kill her: But she escaped by means of the Night, and fled into Sabeaea. She was changed into the Myrrh-Tree. The Story of which is in Metam. X. But though the Poets have subjoined Fable to this Fact, it is related by Pliny as a true History.]