Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine — Complete. Jean de la Fontaine

bless'd, I know not; but with such a fair,

      On him must rest the folly to despair.

      THE Roman courtier came, his business told

      The brilliant offers from the monarch bold;

      His mission had success, but still the youth

      Distraction felt, which 'gan to shake his truth;

      A pow'rful monarch's favour there he view'd;

      A partner here, with melting tears bedew'd;

      And while he wavered on the painful choice,

      She thus address'd her spouse with plaintive voice:

      Original

      CAN you, Joconde, so truly cruel prove,

      To quit my fervent love in courts to move?

      The promises of kings are airy dreams,

      And scarcely last beyond the day's extremes

      By watchful, anxious care alone retain'd,

      And lost, through mere caprice, as soon as gain'd.

      If weary of my charms, alas! you feel,

      Still think, my love, what joys these woods conceal;

      Here dwell around tranquillity and ease;

      The streams' soft murmurs, and the balmy breeze,

      Invite to sleep; these vales where breathe the doves,

      All, all, my dear Joconde, renew our loves;

      You laugh!—Ah! cruel, go, expose thy charms,

      Grim death will quickly spare me these alarms!

      JOCONDE'S reply our records ne'er relate,

      Nor what he did, nor how he left his mate;

      And since contemp'raries decline the task;

      'Twere folly, such details of me to ask.

      We're told, howe'er, when ready to depart,

      With flowing tears she press'd him to her heart;

      And on his arm a brilliant bracelet plac'd,

      With hair around her picture nicely trac'd;

      This guard in full remembrance of my love,

      She cried;—then clasped her hands to pow'rs above.

      TO see such dire distress, and poignant grief,

      Might lead to think, soon death would bring relief;

      But I, who know full well the female mind,

      At best oft doubt affliction of the kind.

      JOCONDE set out at length; but that same morn;

      As on he mov'd, his soul with anguish torn,

      He found the picture he had quite forgot,

      Then turn'd his steed, and back began to trot.

      While musing what excuse to make his mate,

      At home he soon arriv'd, and op'd the gate;

      Alighted unobserv'd, ran up the stairs;

      And ent'ring to the lady unawares,

      He found this darling rib, so full of charms;

      Intwin'd within a valet's brawny arms!

      'MIDST first emotions of the husband's ire;

      To stab them while asleep he felt desire;

      Howe'er, he nothing did; the courteous wight;

      In this dilemma, clearly acted right;

      The less of such misfortunes said is best;

      'Twere well the soul of feeling to divest;

      Their lives, through pity, or prudential care;

      With much reluctance, he was led to spare;

      Asleep he left the pair, for if awake,

      In honour, he a diff'rent step would take.—

      Had any smart gallant supplied my place,

      Said he, I might put up with this disgrace;

      But naught consoles the thought of such a beast;

      Dan Cupid wantons, or is blind at least;

      A bet, or some such whim, induc'd the god,

      To give his sanction to amours so odd.

      THIS perfidy Joconde so much dismay'd;

      His spirits droop'd, his lilies 'gan to fade;

      No more he look'd the charmer he had been;

      And when the court's gay dames his face had seen;

      They cried, Is this the beauty, we were told,

      Would captivate each heart, or young or old?

      Why, he's the jaundice; ev'ry view displays

      The mien of one—just fasted forty days!

      Original

      WITH secret pleasure, this, Astolphus learn'd;

      The Roman, for his brother, risks discern'd,

      Whose secret griefs were carefully conceal'd,

      (And these Joconde could never wish reveal'd;)

      Yet, spite of gloomy looks and hollow eyes,

      His graceful features pierc'd the wan disguise,

      Which fail'd to please, alone through want of life,

      Destroy'd by thinking on a guilty wife.

      THE god of love, in pity to our swain,

      At last revok'd BLACK CARE'S corroding reign;

      For, doubtless, in his views he oft was cross'd,

      While such a lover to the world was lost.

      THE hero of our tale, at length, we find

      Was well rewarded: LOVE again proved kind;

      For, musing as he walk'd alone one day,

      And pass'd a gall'ry, (held a secret way,)

      A voice in plaintive accents caught his ear,

      And from the neighb'ring closet came, 'twas clear:

      My dear Curtade, my only hope below,

      In vain I love;—you colder, colder grow;

      While round no fair can boast so fine a face,

      And numbers wish they might supply thy place,

      Whilst thou with some gay page prefer'st a bet,

      Or game of dice with some low, vulgar set,

      To meeting me alone; and when just now

      To thee I sent, with