Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine Part 34

At length the abbess said:--we've now not time To take the chapter's votes upon her crime; 'Twould make it late; let each to bed return, And, till to-morrow, we'll the case adjourn.

No chapter met, howe'er, when morrow came; Another day arrived, and still the same; The sages of the convent thought it best, In fact, to let the mystick business rest.

Much noise, perhaps, would hurt religion's cause, And, that considered, prudent 'twere to pause.

Base envy made them Isabella hate, And dark suspicions to the abbess state.

In short, unable by their schemes to get The morsel she'd so fortunately met, Each nun exerted all her art to find, What equally might satisfy the mind.

Old friends were willingly received again; Her gallant our belle was suffered to retain; The rector and the abbess had their will; And, such their union, precepts to fulfill, That if a nun had none to give her bliss, To lend a friend was nothing thought amiss.

KING CANDAULES AND THE DOCTOR OF LAWS

IN life oft ills from self-imprudence spring; As proof, Candaules' story we will bring; In folly's scenes the king was truly great: His va.s.sal, Gyges, had from him a bait, The like in gallantry was rarely known, And want of prudence never more was shown.

MY friend, said he, you frequently have seen The beauteous face and features of the queen; But these are naught, believe me, to the rest, Which solely can be viewed when quite undressed.

Some day I'll let you gratify your eyes; Without her knowledge I'll means devise; But on condition:--you'll remember well What you behold, to no one you will tell, In ev'ry step most cautiously proceed, And not your mind with silly wishes feed; No sort of pleasure surely I could take, To see vain pa.s.sion you her lover make.

You must propose, this charming form to view, As if mere marble, though to nature true; And I'm convinced you'll readily declare, Beyond nor art can reach, nor thought prepare; Just now I left her in the bath at ease: A judge you are, and shall the moment seize; Come, witness my felicity supreme; You know her beauties are my constant theme.

AWAY they went, and Gyges much admired; Still more than that: in truth his breast was fired; For when she moved astonishment was great, And ev'ry grace upon her seemed to wait.

Emotion to suppress howe'er he tried, Since he had promised what he felt to hide; To hold his tongue he wished, but that might raise Suspicions of designs and mystick ways.

Exaggeration was the better part, And from the subject he would never start, But fully praised each beauty in detail, Without appearing any thing to veil.

G.o.ds! Gyges cried, how truly, king, you're blessed; The skin how fair--how charming all the rest!

THIS am'rous conversation by the queen Was never heard, or she'd enraged have been; In ancient days of ignorance, we find, The s.e.x, to show resentment, much inclined; In diff'rent light at present this appears, And fulsome praises ne'er offend their ears.

OUR arch observer struggled with his sighs Those feelings much increased, so fair the prize: The prince, in doubt, conducted him away; But in his heart a hundred arrows lay; Each magick charm directed pointed darts; To flee were useless: LOVE such pain imparts, That nothing can at times obstruct its course; So quick the flight: so truly great the force.

WHILE near the king, much caution Gyges showed; But soon the belle perceived his bosom glowed; She learned the cause:--her spouse the tale disclosed, And laughed and jeered, as he the facts exposed: A silly blockhead! not to know a queen Could raillery not bear on such a scene.

But had it pleased her wishes, still 'twere right (Such honour's dictates) to discover spite; And this she truly did, while in her mind, To be revenged she fully was inclined.

FOR once, good reader, I should wish thee wife; Or otherwise, thou never can'st in life, Conceive the lengths a woman oft will go, Whose breast is filled with wrath and secret woe.

A mortal was allowed these charms to view, Which others' eyes could never dare pursue.

Such treasures were for G.o.ds, or rather kings The privilege of both are beauteous things.

THESE thoughts induced the queen revenge to seek; Rage moved her breast, and shame possessed her cheek.

E'en Cupid, we are told, a.s.sistance gave; What from his aim effectually can save?

Fair in person was Gyges to behold; Excuses for her easy 'twere to mould; To show her charms, what baseness could excel?

And on th' exposer all her hatred fell.

Besides, he was a husband, which is worse With these each sin receives a double curse.

What more shall I detail?--the facts are plain: Detested was the king:--beloved the swain; All was accomplished, and the monarch placed Among the heroes who with horns are graced; No doubt a dignity not much desired, Though in repute, and easily acquired.

SUCH merit had the prince's folly got, 'In petto', Vulcan's brother was his lot; The distance thence is little to the HAT: The honour much the same of this or that.

SO far 'twas pa.s.sing well, but, in the intrigue; The cruel Parcae now appeared to league; And soon the lovers, on possession bent, To black Cocytus' sh.o.r.es the monarch sent; Too much of certain potions forced to drink, He quickly viewed the dreary, horrid brink; While pleasing the objects Gyges' eyes beheld; And in the palace presently he dwelled, For, whether love or rage the widow fired, Her throne and hand she gave, as was required.

T' EXTEND this tale was never my design; Though known full well, I do not now repine; The case so thoroughly my purpose served.

Ne'er from the narrative the object swerved; And scarcely can I fancy, better light The DOCTOR will afford to what I write.

The scenes that follow I from Rome have drawn; Not Rome of old, ere manners had their dawn, When customs were unpleasant and severe The females, silly, and gallants in fear; But Rome of modern days, delightful spot!

Where better tastes have into fas.h.i.+on got, And pleasure solely occupies the mind To rapture ev'ry bosom seems resigned.

A tempting journey truly it appears, For youths from twenty on to thirty years.

NOT long ago, then, in the city dwelled, A master, who in teaching law excelled; In other matters he, howe'er, was thought A man that jollity and laughter sought.

He criticised whatever pa.s.sed around, And oft, at others' cost, diversion found.

IT happened that our learned doctor had, Among his many pupils (good and bad) A Frenchman, less designed to study laws, Than, in amours, perhaps, to gain applause.

One day, observing him with clouded mien, My friend, said he, you surely have the spleen, And, out of college, nothing seem to do; No law books read:--some object I'd pursue; A handsome Frenchman should his hours improve; Seek soft intrigues, or as a lover move; Talents you have, and gay coquettes are here Not one, thank heav'n, but numbers oft appear.

THE student answered, I am new at Rome, And, save the belles who sell their beauteous bloom, I can't perceive, gallants much business find, Each house, like monasteries, is designed, With double doors, and bolts, and matrons sour, And husbands Argus-eyed, who'd you devour.

Where can I go to follow up your plan, And hope, in spots like these, a flame to fan?

'Twere not less difficult to reach the moon, And with my teeth I'd bite it just as soon.

HA! HA! replied the doctor with delight, The honour which you do us is not slight; I pity men quite fresh and raw like you; Our town, I see, you've hardly travelled through, You fancy then, such wily snares are set, 'Tis difficult intrigues in Rome to get.

I'd have you know, we've creatures who devise, To horn their husbands under Argus' eyes.

'Tis very common; only try around, And soon you'll find, that sly amours abound.

Within the neighb'ring church go take your place, And, to the dames who pa.s.s in search of grace, Present your fingers dipt in water blessed:-- A sign for those who wish to be caressed.

In case the suppliant's air some lady please, Who knows her trade, and how to act at ease, She'll send a message, something to desire: You'll soon be found, wherever you retire, Though lodged so secretly, that G.o.d alone, Till then, your place of residence had known.

An aged female will on you attend, Who, used to this, will full a.s.sistance lend, Arrange an interview with wily art; No trouble take, you'll have an easy part; No trouble did I say? why, that's too much; Some things I would except, their pow'r is such; And proper 'tis, my friend, that I should hint, Attentions you at Rome should well imprint, And be discrete; in France you favours boast: Of ev'ry moment here you make the most; The Romans to the greatest lengths proceed.

So best, the spark replied, I like the deed; And, though no Gascon, I may boldly say; Superior prowess always I display.

Perhaps 'twas otherwise, for ev'ry wight; In this, to play the Gascon, thinks it right.

To all the doctor's words our youth adhered, And presently within a church appeared, Where daily came the choicest belles around, And loves and graces in their train were found, Or, if 'tis wished in modern phrase to speak, Attention num'rous angels there would seek.

Beneath their veils were beauteous sparkling eyes; The holy-water scarcely would suffice.

IN lucky spot the spark his station took, And gave to each that pa.s.sed a plaintive look; To some he bowed; to others seemed to pray, And holy water offered on their way.

One angel 'mong the rest the boon received, With easy pleasing air, that much relieved; On which the student to himself expressed, A fond belief, with her he might be blessed.

WHEN home, an aged female to him came, And soon a meeting place he heard her name.

To count particulars howe'er were vain Their pranks were many, and their folly plain; The belle was handsome; ev'ry bliss was sought, And all their moments most delightful thought.

HE, to the doctor, ev'ry matter told Discretion in a Frenchman would be cold; 'Tis out of nature, and bespeaks the cit; Smells strong of shop, and would not fas.h.i.+on fit.

THE learned teacher satisfaction showed, That such success from his instructions flowed, Laughed heartily at husbands, silly wights, Who had not wit to guard connubial rights, And from their lamb the wily wolf to keep: A shepherd will o'erlook a hundred sheep, While foolish man's unable to protect, E'en one where most he'd wish to be correct.

Howe'er, this care he thought was somewhat hard, But not a thing impossible to guard; And if he had not got a hundred eyes, Thank heav'n, his wife, though cunning to devise, He could defy:--her thoughts so well he knew, That these intrigues she never would pursue.

YOU'LL, ne'er believe, good reader, without shame, The doctor's wife was she our annals name; And what's still worse, so many things he asked, Her look, air, form, and secret charms unmasked, That ev'ry answer fully seemed to say, 'Twas clearly she, who thus had gone astray.

One circ.u.mstance the lawyer led to doubt: Some talents had the student pointed out, Which she had never to her husband shown, And this relief administered alone.

Thought he, those manners not to her belong, But all the rest are indications strong, And prove the case; yet she at home is dull; While this appears to be a prattling trull, And pleasing in her conversation too; In other matters 'tis my wife we view, Form, face, complexion, features, eyes, and hair, The whole combined p.r.o.nounces her the fair.

AT length, when to himself the sage had said 'Tis she; and then, 'tis not;--his senses led To make him in the first opinion rest, You well may guess what rage was in his breast.

A second meeting you have fixed? cried he; Yes, said the Frenchman, that was made with glee; We found the first so pleasing to our mind, That to another both were well inclined, And thoroughly resolved more fun to seek.

That's right, replied the doctor, have your freak; The lady howsoe'er I now could name.

The scholar answered, that to me's the same; I care not what she's called, Nor who she be: 'Tis quite enough that we so well agree.

By this time I'm convinced her loving spouse.

Possesses what an anchorite might rouse; And if a failure any where be met, At such a place to-morrow one may get, What I shall hope, exactly at the hour, To find resigned and fully in my pow'r:

IN bed I shall be instantly received, And from anxiety be soon relieved.