Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine | Page 5

who now your majesty address,?Continued he, am sorry to confess,?The very day I left my native earth,
To wait upon a prince of royal birth,?Was forced t'acknowledge cuckoldom among?The gods who rule the matrimonial throng,?And sacrifice thereto with aching heart?Cornuted heads dire torments oft impart:
THE tale he then detail'd, that rais'd his spleen; And what within the closet he had seen;?The king replied, I will not be so rude,?To question what so clearly you have view'd;?Yet, since 'twere better full belief to gain,?A glimpse of such a fact I should obtain,?Pray bring me thither; instantly our wight;?Astolphus led, where both his ears and sight?Full proof receiv'd, which struck the prince with awe; Who stood amaz'd at what he heard and saw.?But soon reflection's all-convincing pow'r?Induced the king vexation to devour;?True courtier-like, who dire misfortunes braves,?Feels sprouting horns, yet smiles at fools and knaves: Our wives, said he, a pretty trick have play'd,?And shamefully the marriage bed betray'd;?Let us the compliment return, my friend,?And round the country our amours extend;?But, in our plan the better to succeed,?Our names we'll change; no servants we shall need;-- For your relation I desire to pass,?So you'll true freedom use; then with a lass?We more at ease shall feel, more pleasure gain;?Than if attended by my usual train.
JOCONDE with joy the king's proposal heard;?On which the latter with his friend conferr'd;?Said he, 'twere surely right to have a book,?In which to place the names of those we hook,?The whole arrang'd according to their rank,?And I'll engage no page remains a blank,?But ere we leave the range of our design,?E'en scrup'lous dames shall to our wish incline,?Our persons handsome, with engaging air,?And sprightly, brilliant wit no trifling share,-- 'Twere strange, possessing such engaging charms,?They should not tumble freely in our arms.
THE baggage ready, and the paper-book,?our smart gallants the road together took,?But 'twould be vain to number their amours;?With beauties, Cupid favoured them by scores;?Blessed, if only seen by either swain,?And doubly bless'd who could attention gain:?Nor wife of alderman, nor wife of mayor,?Of justice, nor of governor was there,?Who did not anxiously desire her name?Might straight be entered in the book of fame!?Hearts, which before were thought as cold as ice, Now warm'd at once and melted in a trice.
SOME infidel, I fancy, in my ear?Would whisper-probabilities, I fear,?Are rather wanting to support the fact;?However perfectly gallants may act,?To gain a heart requires full many a day?If more be requisite I cannot say;?'Tis not my plan to dupe or young or old,?But such to me, howe'er the tale is told,?And Ariosto never truth forsakes;?Yet, if at ev'ry step a writer takes,?He's closely question'd as to time and place,?He ne'er can end his work with easy grace.?To those, from whom just credence I receive,?Their tales I promise fully to believe.
AT length, when our advent'rers round had play'd, And danc'd with ev'ry widow, wife, and maid,?The full blown lily and the tender rose,?Astolphus said, though clearly I suppose,?We can as many hearts securely link,?As e'er we like, yet better now, I think,?To stop a while in some delightful spot,?And that before satiety we've got;?For true it is, with love as with our meat;?If we, variety of dishes eat,?The doctors tell us inj'ry will ensue,?And too much raking none can well pursue.?Let us some pleasing fair-one then engage,?To serve us both:--enough she'll prove I'll wage.
JOCONDE at once replied, with all my heart,?And I a lady know who'll take the part;?She's beautiful; possesses store of wit;?And is the wife of one above a cit.
WITH such to meddle would be indiscreet,?Replied the king, more charms we often meet,?Beneath a chambermaid or laundress' dress,?Than any rich coquette can well possess.?Besides, with those, less form is oft requir'd,?While dames of quality must be admir'd;?Their whims complied with, though suspicions rise; And ev'ry hour produces fresh surprise,?But this sweet charmer of inferior birth?A treasure proves; a source of bliss on earth.?No trouble she to carry here nor there;?No balls she visits, and requires no care;?The conquest easy, we may talk or not;?The only difficulty we have got,?Is how to find one, we may faithful view;?So let us choose a girl, to love quite new.
SINCE these, replied the YOUTH, your thoughts appear, What think you of our landlord's daughter here??That she's a perfect virgin I've no doubt,?Nor can we find a chaster round about;?Her very doll more innocent won't prove,?Than this sweet nymph design'd with us to move.
THE scheme our prince's approbation met;?The very girl, said he, I wish'd to get;?This night be our attack; and if her heart?Surrenders when our wishes we impart,?But one perplexity will then remain;?'Tis who her virgin favours shall obtain??The honour 's all a whim, and I, as king,?At once assuredly should claim this thing:?The rest 'tis very easy to arrange;?As matters suit we presently can change.
IF ceremony 'twere, Joconde