Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine Part 11

Such my conclusion, spite of fools or brutes, With whose ideas reason never suits.

YES, yes, but honour has, you know, a claim: Who e'er denied it?--never 'twas my aim.

But what of honour?--nothing else is heard; At Rome a different conduct is preferred; The cuckold there, who takes the thing to heart, Is thought a fool, and acts a blockhead's part; While he, who laughs, is always well received And honest fellow through the town believed.

Were this misfortune viewed with proper eyes, Such ills from cuckoldom would ne'er arise.

THAT advantageous 'tis, we now will prove: Folks laugh; your wife a pliant glove shall move; But, if you've twenty favourites around, A single syllable will ne'er resound.

Whene'er you speak, each word has double force; At table, you've precedency of course, And oft will get the very nicest parts; Well pleased who serves you!--all the household smarts No means neglect your favour to obtain; You've full command; resistance would be vain.

Whence this conclusion must directly spring: To be a cuckold is a useful thing.

AT cards, should adverse fortune you pursue; To take revenge is ever thought your due; And your opponent often will revoke, That you for better luck may have a cloak: If you've a friend o'er head and ears in debt: At once, to help him numbers you can get.

You fancy these your rind regales and cheers She's better for it; more beautiful appears; The Spartan king, in Helen found new charms, When he'd recovered her from Paris' arms.

YOUR wife the same; to make her, in your eye, More beautiful 's the aim you may rely; For, if unkind, she would a hag be thought, Incapable soft love scenes to be taught.

These reasons make me to my thesis cling,-- To be a cuckold is a useful thing.

IF much too long this introduction seem, The obvious cause is clearly in the theme, And should not certainly be hurried o'er, But now for something from th' historick store.

A CERTAIN man, no matter for his name, His country, rank, nor residence nor fame, Through fear of accidents had firmly sworn, The marriage chain should ne'er by him be worn; No tie but friendship, from the s.e.x he'd crave: If wrong or right, the question we will wave.

Be this as 't will, since Hymen could not find Our wight to bear the wedded knot inclined, The G.o.d of love, to manage for him tried, And what he wished, from time to time supplied; A lively fair he got, who charms displayed, And made him father to a little maid; Then died, and left the spark dissolved in tears: Not such as flow for wives, (as oft appears) When mourning 's nothing more than change of dress: His anguish spoke the soul in great distress.

THE daughter grew in years, improved in mien, And soon the woman in her air was seen; Time rolls apace, and once she's ridded of her bib, Then alters daily, and her tongue gets glib, Each year still taller, till she's found at length; A perfect belle in look, in age, in strength.

His forward child, the father justly feared, Would cheat the priest of fees so much revered; The lawyer too, and G.o.d of marriage-joys; Sad fault, that future prospects oft destroys: To trust her virtue was not quite so sure; He chose a convent, to be more secure, Where this young charmer learned to pray and sew; No wicked books, unfit for girls to know, Corruption's page the senses to beguile Dan Cupid never writes in convent style:

OF nothing would she talk but holy-writ; On which she could herself so well acquit, That oft the gravest teachers were confused; To praise her beauty, scarcely was excused; No flatt'ry pleasure gave, and she'd reply: Good sister stay!--consider, we must die; Each feature perishes:--'tis naught but clay; And soon will worms upon our bodies prey: Superior needle-work our fair could do; The spindle turn at ease:--embroider too; Minerva's skill, or Clotho's, could impart; In tapestry she'd gained Arachne's art; And other talents, too, the daughter showed; Her sense, wealth, beauty, soon were spread abroad: But most her wealth a marked attention drew; The belle had been immured with prudent view, To keep her safely till a spouse was found, Who with sufficient riches should abound.

From convents, heiresses are often led Directly to the altar to be wed.

SOME time the father had the girl declared His lawful child, who all his fondness shared.

As soon as she was free from convent walls, Her taste at once was changed from books to b.a.l.l.s; Around Calista (such was named our fair) A host of lovers showed attentive care; Cits, courtiers, officers, the beau, the sage, Adventurers of ev'ry rank and age.

FROM these Calista presently made choice, Of one for whom her father gave his voice; A handsome lad, and thought good humoured too Few otherwise appear when first they woo.

Her fortune ample was; the dow'r the same; The belle an only child; the like her flame.

But better still, our couple's chief delight, Was mutual love and pleasure to excite.

TWO years in paradise thus pa.s.sed the pair, When bliss was changed to h.e.l.l's worst cank'ring care; A fit of jealousy the husband grieved, And, strange to tell, he all at once believed, A lover with success his wife addressed, When, but for him, the suit had ne'er been pressed; For though the spark, the charming fair to gain, Would ev'ry wily method try, 'twas plain, Yet had the husband never terrors shown, The lover, in despair, had quickly flown.

WHAT should a husband do whose wife is sought, With anxious fondness by another? Naught.

'Tis this that leads me ever to advise, To sleep at ease whichever side he lies.

In case she lends the spark a willing ear, 'Twill not be better if you interfere: She'll seek more opportunities you'll find; But if to pay attention she's inclined, You'll raise the inclination in her brain, And then the danger will begin again.

WHERE'ER suspicion dwells you may be sure, To cuckoldom 'twill prove a place secure.

But Damon (such the husband's name), 'tis clear, Thought otherwise, as we shall make appear.

He merits pity, and should be excused, Since he, by bad advice, was much abused; When had he trusted to himself to guide, He'd acted wisely,'--hear and you'll decide.

THE Enchantress Neria flourished in those days; E'en Circe, she excelled in Satan's ways; The storms she made obedient to her will, And regulated with superior skill; In chains the destinies she kept around; The gentle zephyrs were her sages found; The winds, her lacqueys, flew with rapid course; Alert, but obstinate, with pow'rful force.

WITH all her art th' enchantress could not find, A charm to guard her 'gainst the urchin blind; Though she'd the pow'r to stop the star of day, She burned to gain a being formed of clay.

If merely a salute her wish had been, She might have had it, easily was seen; But bliss unbounded clearly was her view, And this with anxious ardour she'd pursue.

Though charms she had, still Damon would remain, To her who had his heart a faithful swain: In vain she sought the genial soft caress: To Neria naught but friendship he'd express.

Like Damon, husbands nowhere now are found, And I'm not certain, such were e'er on ground.

I rather fancy, hist'ry is not here, What we would wish, since truth it don't revere, I nothing in the hippogriff perceive, Or lance enchanted, but we may believe; Yet this I must confess has raised surprise, Howe'er, to pa.s.s it will perhaps suffice; I've many pa.s.sed the same,--in ancient days; Men different were from us: had other ways; Unlike the present manners, we'll suppose; Or history would other facts disclose.

THE am'rous Neria to obtain her end, Made use of philters, and would e'en descend; To ev'ry wily look and secret art, That could to him she loved her flame impart.

Our swain his marriage vow to this opposed; At which th' enchantress much surprise disclosed.

You doubtless fancy, she exclaimed one day, That your fidelity must worth display; But I should like to know if equal care, Calista takes to act upon the square.

Suppose your wife had got a smart gallant, Would you refuse as much a fair to grant?

And if Calista, careless of your fame, Should carry to extremes a guilty flame, Would you but half way go? I truly thought, By st.u.r.dy hymen thus you'd not be caught.

Domestick joys should be to cits confined; For none but such were scenes like those designed.

BUT as to you:--decline Love's choice pursuit!

No anxious wish to taste forbidden fruit?

Though such you banish from your thoughts I see, A friend thereto I fain would have you be.

Come make the trial: you'll Calista find, Quite new again when to her arms resigned.

But let me tell you, though your wife be chaste, Erastus to your mansion oft is traced.

AND do you think, cried Damon with an air, Erastus visits as a lover there?

Too much he seems, my friend, to act a part, That proves the villain both in head and heart.

SAID Neria, mortified at this reply, Though he's a friend on whom you may rely, Calista beauty has; much worth the man, With smart address to execute his plan; And when we meet accomplishments so rare; Few women but will tumble in the snare.

THIS conversation was by Damon felt, A wife, brisk, young, and formed 'mid joys to melt; A man well versed in Cupid's wily way; No courtier bolder of the present day; Well made and handsome, with attractive mind; Wo what might happen was the husband blind?

Whoever trusts implicitly to friends, Too oft will find, on shadows he depends.

Pray where's the devotee, who could withstand, The tempting glimpse of charms that all command; Which first invite by halves: then bolder grow, Till fascination spreads, and bosoms glow?

Our Damon fancied this already done, Or, at the best, might be too soon begun: On these foundations gloomy views arose, Chimeras dire, destructive of repose.

TH' enchantress presently a hint received, That those suspicions much the husband grieved; And better to succeed and make him fret, She told him of a thing, 'mong witches met, 'Twas metamorphose-water (such the name) With this could Damon take Erastus' frame; His gait, his look, his carriage, air and voice Thus changed, he easily could mark her choice, Each step observe:--enough, he asked no more, Erastus' shape the husband quickly bore; His easy manner, and appearance caught: With captivating smiles his wife he sought.

And thus addressed the fair with ev'ry grace:-- How blithe that look! enchanting is your face; Your beauty's always great, I needs must say, But never more delightful than to-day.

CALISTA saw the flatt'ring lover's scheme; And turned to ridicule the wily theme.

His manner Damon changed, from gay to grave: Now sighs, then tears; but nothing could enslave; The lady, virtue firmly would maintain; At length, the husband, seeing all was vain, Proposed a bribe, and offered such a sum, Her anger dropt: the belle was overcome.

The price was very large, it might excuse, Though she at first was prompted to refuse; At last, howe'er her chast.i.ty gave way: To gold's allurements few will offer nay!

The cash, resistance had so fully laid, Surrender would at any time be made.

The precious ore has universal charms, Enchains the will, or sets the world in arms!

THOUGH elegant your form, and smart your dress, Your air, your language, ev'ry warmth express Yet, if a banker, or a financier, With handsome presents happen to appear, At once is blessed the wealthy paramour, While you a year may languish at the door.

THIS heart, inflexible, it seems, gave ground, To money's pow'rful, all-subduing sound; The rock now disappeared--and, in its stead, A lamb was found, quite easy to be led, Who, as a proof, resistance she would wave, A kiss, by way of earnest freely gave.

No further would the husband push the dame, Nor be himself a witness of his shame, But straight resumed his form, and to his wife, Cried, O Calista! once my soul and life Calista, whom I fondly cherished long; Calista, whose affection was so strong; Is gold more dear than hearts in union twined?

To wash thy guilt, thy blood should be a.s.signed.

But still I love thee, spite of evil thought; My death will pay the ills thou'st on me brought.

THE metamorphosis our dame surprised; To give relief her tears but just sufficed; She scarcely spoke; the husband, days remained, Reflecting on the circ.u.mstance that pained.

Himself a cuckold could he ever make, By mere design a liberty to take?

But, horned or not? the question seemed to be, When Neria told him, if from doubts not free, Drink from the cup:--with so much art 'tis made, That, whose'er of cuckoldom 's afraid, Let him but put it to his eager lips If he's a cuckold, out the liquor slips; He naught can swallow; and the whole is thrown About his face or clothes, as oft 's been shown.

But should, from out his brow, no horns yet pop-- He drinks the whole, nor spills a single drop.

THE doubt to solve, our husband took a sup, From this famed, formidably, magick cup; Nor did he any of the liquor waste:-- Well, I am safe, said he, my wife is chaste, Though on myself it wholly could depend; But from it what have I to apprehend?

Make room, good folks, who leafless branches wear; If you desire those honours I should share.

Thus Damon spoke, and to his precious wife A curious sermon preached, it seems, on life.