Kitap 2
Time will defects and blemishes endear,
And make them lovely to your eyes appear:
720
Unusual scents at first may give offence;
Time reconciles them to the vanquish'd sense.
Her vices soften with some kinder phrase;
If she is swarthy as the negro's face,Blacker than Illyrian pitch, says Ovid. by which we find Illyria was famous for it. The Greeks called the people who lived above Macedonia and Thrace, as far as Chaonia and Thesprotus to the Danube, Illyrians, according to Appian.
Call it a graceful brown, and that complexion praise.
725
The ruddy lass must be like Venus fair,
Or like Minerva that has yellow hair.
If pale and meagre, praise her shape and youth,
Active when small, when gross she's plump and smooth.
Ev'ry excess by soft'ning terms disguise,
730
And in some neighb'ring virtue hide each vibe.
Nor ask her age, consult no register,
Under whose reign she's born, or what's the year!
If fading youth chequers her hair with white,
Experience makes her perfect in delight;
735
In her embrace sublimer joys are found,
A fruitful soil, and cultivated ground!
The hours enjoy whilst youth and pleasures last,
