Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine | Page 7

sufficed for me, since I, like you,
Perpetual
motion never can pursue.
YOUR raillery, the Roman youth replied,
Quite disconcerted, pray
now lay aside,
And talk of something else; you've fully shown,
That
I'm your vassal, and since you are grown
So fond that you to keep the
girl desire,
E'en wholly to yourself, why I'll retire;
Do with her what
you please, and we shall see,
How long this furor will with you agree.
IT may, replied the king, for ever last,
If ev'ry night like this, I'm
doom'd to fast.

SIRE, said Joconde, no longer let us thus,
In terms of playful raillery
discuss;
Since such your pleasure, send me from your view; On this
the youthful monarch angry grew,
And many words between the
friends arose;
The presence of the nymph Astolphus chose;
To her
they said, between us judge, sweet fair,
And every thing was stated
then with care.
THE girl with blushing cheeks before them kneel'd, And the mysterious
tale at once reveal'd.
Our heroes laugh'd; the treach'ry vile excus'd;

And gave the ring, which much delight diffus'd;
Together with a
handsome sum of gold,
Which soon a husband in her train enroll'd,

Who, for a maid, the pretty fair-one took;
And then our heroes
wand'ring pranks forsook,
With laurels cover'd, which in future times,

Will make them famous through the Western climes; More glorious
since, they only cost, we find,
Those sweet ATTENTIONS pleasing
to the MIND.
So many conquests proud of having made,
And over full the BOOK
of--those who'd play'd;
Said gay Astolphus we will now, my friend,

Return the shortest road and poaching end;
If false our mates, yet
we'll console ourselves,
That many others have inconstant elves.

Perhaps, in things a change will be one day,
And only tender flames
LOVE'S torch display;
But now it seems some evil star presides,

And Hymen's flock the devil surely rides.
Besides, vile fiends the
universe pervade,
Whose constant aim is mortals to degrade,
And
cheat us to our noses if they can,
(Hell's imps in human shape,
disgrace to man!)
Perhaps these wretches have bewitch'd our wives,

And made us fancy errors in their lives.
Then let us like good
citizens, our days
In future pass amidst domestick ways;
Our
absence may indeed restore their hearts,
For jealousy oft virtuous
truths imparts.
IN this Astolphus certainly believ'd;
The friends return'd, and kindly
were receiv'd;
A little scolding first assail'd the ear;
But blissful

kisses banish'd ev'ry fear.
To balls and banquets ALL themselves
resigned;
Of dwarf or valet nothing more we find;
Each with his
wife contentedly remained:--
'Tis thus alone true happiness is gained.
THE CUDGELLED AND
CONTENTED CUCKOLD
SOME time ago from Rome, in smart array,
A younger brother
homeward bent his way,
Not much improved, as frequently the case

With those who travel to that famous place.
Upon the road oft
finding, where he stayed,
Delightful wines, and handsome belle or
maid,
With careless ease he loitered up and down.--
One day there
passed him in a country town,
Attended by a page, a lady fair,

Whose charming form and all-engaging air,
At once his bosom fired
with fond desire;
And nearer still, her beauties to admire.
He most
gallantly saw her safely home;
Attentions charm the sex where'er we
roam.
OUR thoughtless rambler pleasures always sought:
From Rome this
spark had num'rous pardons brought; But,--as to virtues (this too oft we
find),
He'd left them,--with his HOLINESS behind!
THE lady was, by ev'ry one, confessed,
Of beauty, youth, and
elegance possessed;
She wanted naught to form her bliss below,

But one whose love would ever fondly flow.
INDEED so fickle proved this giddy youth,
That nothing long would
please his heart or tooth; Howe'er he earnestly inquired her name,

And ev'ry other circumstance the same.
She's lady, they replied, to
great 'squire Good,
Who's almost bald from age 'tis understood;
But
as he's rich, and high in rank appears,
Why that's a recompense you
know for years.
THESE facts our young gallant no sooner gained,
But ardent hopes at
once he entertained;
To wily plots his mind he quickly bent,
And to
a neighb'ring town his servants sent;
Then, at the house where

dwelled our noble 'squire, His humble services proposed for hire.
PRETENDING ev'ry sort of work he knew,
He soon a fav'rite with
old Square-toes grew,
Who (first advising with his charming mate),

Chief falc'ner made him o'er his fine estate.
THE new domestick much the lady pleased;
He watched and eagerly
the moment seized,
His ardent passion boldly to declare,
In which
he showed a novice had no share.
'TWAS managed well, for nothing but the chase,
Could Square-toes
tempt to quit her fond embrace, And then our falc'ner must his steps
attend:--
The very time he wished at home to spend.
The lady
similar emotions showed;
For opportunity their bosoms glowed;

And who will feel in argument so bold,
When this I say, the contrary
to hold?
At length with pity Cupid saw the case,
And kindly lent his
aid