Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine Part 23

BETWEEN the lovers all was blithe and gay, When suddenly the friend, though far from day, Was forced to rise ('twas plain a pressing case,) And move the infant's cradle from its place, To ope the door, and lest he noise might make, Or any way by chance the child should wake, He set it carefully beside his bed, And (softly treading) to the garden sped.

ON his return he pa.s.sed the cradle by; To place it as before he would not try, But went to sleep; when presently a sound, From something that had tumbled, rang around, Awoke his wife, who ran below, That what had happened she might clearly know.

No fool in such adventures was our Wight: The opportunity he would not slight, But played the husband well: no, no, I'm wrong; He played it ill:--too oft, too much, too long; For whosoe'er would wish to do it well, Should softly go:--the gentle most excel.

IN truth, the wife was quite surprised to find Her spouse so much to frolicking inclined; Said she, what ails the man, he's grown so gay?

A lad of twenty's not more fond of play.

Well! let's enjoy the moments while we can; G.o.d's will be done, since life is but a span!

THE words were scarcely said, when our gallant Renewed his fun, and nothing seemed to want; Indeed, the hostess still her charms possessed, And, on occasion, well might be caressed.

MEANWHILE Coletta, dreading a surprise, Prevailed upon her paramour to rise; 'Twas nearly break of day when he withdrew, But, groping to his place the way anew, Pinucio, by the cradle too, was led To miss his friend's and take the landlord's bed.

No sooner in than with an under voice, (Intriguers oft too eagerly rejoice,) Said he, my friend, I wish I could relate The pleasure I've received; my bliss is great; To you, I'm sorry, Fortune proves so cold; Like happiness I'd fain in you behold; Coletta is a morsel for a king; Inestimable girl!--to me she'll cling.

I've many seen, but such a charming fair, There's not another like her any where.

WITH softest skin, delightful form and mien; Her ev'ry act resembles BEAUTY's queen; In short, before we'd ended with our fun, Six posts (without a fiction) we had run.

The host was struck with what the spark averred, And muttered something indistinctly heard.

THE hostess whispered HIM she thought her spouse:-- Again, my dear, such sparks let's never house; Pray don't you hear how they together chat?-- Just then the husband raised himself and sat; Is this your plan? said he with mighty rage; Was it for THIS you would my house engage?

You understand me, but I'll seek redress; Think you so very cheap to have success?

What, would you ruin families at will, And with our daughters take at ease your fill?

Away, I say! my house this moment quit; And as for You, abominable chit, I'll have your life: this hour you breathe your last; Such creatures only can with beasts be cla.s.sed.

PINUCIO heard the lecture with dismay, At once was mute, and grew as cold as clay; A moment's silence through the room prevailed; Coletta trembled, and her lot bewailed.

The hostess now, on ev'ry side perceived Her peril great, and for the error grieved.

The friend, howe'er, the cradle called to mind, Which caused the many ills we've seen combined, And instantly he cried:--Pinucio! strange You thus allow yourself about to range; Did I not tell you when the wine you took, 'Twould make many sad misfortunes hook?

Whene'er you freely drink, 'tis known fall well, Your sleep's disturbed, you walk, and nonsense tell.

Come, come to bed: the morning soon will peep; Pinucio took the hint, pretended sleep, And carried on so artfully the wile, The husband no suspicion had of guile.

The stratagem our hostess likewise tried, And to her daughter's bed in silence hied, Where she conceived her fortress was so strong, She presently began to use her tongue, And cried aloud:--Impossible the fact; Such things he could not with Coletta act; I've with her been in bed throughout the night, And she, no more than I, has swerved from right; 'Twere mighty pretty, truly, here to come; At this the host a little while was dumb; But in a lower tone at length replied I nought with your account I'm satisfied.

THE party rose; the t.i.tter circled round; And each sufficient reason for it found; The whole was secret, and whoe'er had gained, With care upon the subject mute remained.

ST. JULIAN'S PRAYER

TO charms and philters, secret spells and prayers, How many round attribute all their cares!

In these howe'er I never can believe, And laugh at follies that so much deceive.

Yet with the beauteous FAIR, 'tis very true, These WORDS, as SACRED VIRTUES, oft they view; The spell and philter wonders work in love Hearts melt with charms supposed from pow'rs above!

MY aim is now to have recourse to these, And give a story that I trust will please, In which Saint Julian's prayer, to Reynold D'Ast, Produced a benefit, good fortune cla.s.sed.

Had he neglected to repeat the charm, Believed so thoroughly to guard from harm, He would have found his cash accounts not right, And pa.s.sed a.s.suredly a wretched night.

ONE day, to William's castle as he moved.

Three men, whose looks he very much approved, And thought such honest fellows he had round, Their like could nowhere be discovered round; Without suspecting any thing was wrong, The three, with complaisance and fluent tongue, Saluted him in humble servile style, And asked, (the minutes better to beguile,) If they might bear him company the way; The honour would be great, and no delay; Besides, in travelling 'tis safer found, And far more pleasant, when the party's round; So many robbers through the province range, (Continued they) 'tis wonderfully strange, The prince should not these villains more restrain; But there:--bad MEN will somewhere still remain.

TO their proposal Reynold soon agreed, And they resolved together to proceed.

When 'bout a league the travellers had moved, Discussing freely, as they all approved, The conversation turned on spells and prayer, Their pow'r o'er worms of earth, or birds of air; To charm the wolf, or guard from thunder's roar, And many wonderful achievements more; Besides the cures a prayer would oft produce; To man and beast it proves of sov'reign use, Far greater than from doctors e'er you'll view, Who, with their Latin, make so much ado.

IN turn, the three pretended knowledge great, And mystick facts affected to relate, While Reynold silently attention paid To all the words the honest fellows said:-- Possess you not, said one, some secret prayer To bring you aid, when dangers round you stare?

To this our Reynold seriously replied, Myself, on secret spells, I do not pride; But still some WORDS I have that I repeat, Each morn I travel, that I may not meet A horrid lodging where I stop at night; 'Tis called SAINT JULIAN'S PRAYER that I recite, And truly I have found, that when I fail To say this prayer, I've reason to bewail.

But rarely I neglect so good a thing, That ills averts, and may such blessings bring.

And have you clearly said it, sir, to day?

Cried one of those he met upon his way.

Yes, Reynold answered. Well, replied the Wight; I'll wage, I'm better lodged than you to-night.

'TWAS very cold, and darkness 'gan to peep; The place was distant yet, where they might sleep.

Perhaps, said Reynold, 'tis your usual care, In travelling, to say, like me, this prayer.

Not so, the other cried, to you I vow, Invoking saints is not my practice now; But should I lose, thenceforth I'll them address.-- Said Reynold, readily I acquiesce; My life I'd venture, should you to an inn, For, in the town, I've neither friend nor kin, And, if you like, we'll this exception make.

The other answered: Well, the bet I'll take; Your horse and coat against my purse you wage, And, sure of gaining, readily engage.

Our Wight might then have thoroughly perceived, His horse was lost--no chance to be relieved.

BESIDE a wood, as on the party moved, The one, who betting had so much approved, Now changed his tone, and in a surly way, Exclaimed:--Alight--you'll find it time to pray; Let me apprize you, distant is the place, And much you'll need Saint Julian's special grace.

Come off, I tell you:--instantly they took His purse, horse, clothes, and all their hands could hook E'en seized his boots, and said with subtle sneer, Your feet, by walking, won't the worse appear; Then sought a diff'rent road by rapid flight, And, presently the knaves were out of sight; While Reynold still with stockings, drawers, and shirt, But wet to skin, and covered o'er with dirt: (The wind north-east in front--as cold as clay;) In doleful dumps proceeded on his way, And justly feared, that spite of faith and prayer, He now should meet, at night, with wretched fare.

HOWEVER, some pleasing hopes he still had yet, That, from his cloak-bag, he some clothes might get; For, we should note, a servant he had brought, Who in the neighbourhood a farrier sought.

To set a shoe upon his horse, and then Should join his master on the road agen; But that, as we shall find, was not the case, And Reynold's dire misfortune thence we trace.

In fact, the fellow, worthless we'll suppose, Had viewed from far what accidents arose, Then turned aside, his safety to secure, And left his master dangers to endure; So steadily be kept upon the trot, To Castle-William, ere 'twas night, he got, And took the inn which had the most renown; For fare and furniture within the town, There waited Reynold's coming at his ease, With fire and cheer that could not fail to please.

His master, up to neck in dirt and wet, Had num'rous difficulties o'er to get; And when the snow, in flakes obscured the air, With piercing cold and winds, he felt despair; Such ills he bore, that hanging might be thought A bed of roses rather to be sought.

CHANCE so arranges ev'ry thing around ALL good, or ALL that's bad is solely found; When favours flow the numbers are so great, That ev'ry wish upon us seems to wait; But, if disposed, misfortunes to bestow; No ills forgot: each poignant pang we know.

In proof, attend my friends, this very night, The sad adventures that befell our wight, Who, Castle-William did not reach till late, When they, an hour or more, had shut the gate.

AT length our traveller approached the wall, And, somehow to the foot contrived to crawl; A roofed projection fortune led him near, That joined a house, and 'gan his heart to cheer.

Delighted with the change he now had got, He placed himself upon the sheltered spot; A lucky hit but seldom comes alone; Some straw, by chance, was near the mansion thrown, Which Reynold 'neath the jutting penthouse placed There, G.o.d be praised, cried he, a bed I've traced.

MEANWHILE, the storm from ev'ry quarter pressed; Our traveller was soon to death distressed; With cold benumbed; by fell despair o'erspread; He trembled, groaned:--teeth chattered in his head; So loud his plaints, at length they reached the ear Of one who dwelled within the mansion near: A servant girl; her mistress brisk and gay: A youthful widow, charming as the day; The governor she privately received: A n.o.ble marquis, who her cares relieved.

Oft interrupted when he sought the fair, And wished at ease her company to share; Desirous too of pa.s.sing quite unknown, A private door he presently was shown, That opened to the fields, and gave access: Through this he visited with such address, That none within the town his commerce viewed, Nor e'en a servant's eye his course pursued.

Surprise I feel, since pleasures of the mind, Apparently were not for lords designed; More pleased they seem when made the talk around And soft amours divulged, delights are found.

IT happened that the night our Job arrived, And, stretched on straw, misfortune just survived, The lady thought her fond gallant to see, And ev'ry moment hoped with him to be.

The supper ready, and the room prepared, Each rarity was served: no trouble spared; Baths, perfumes, wines, most exquisite, in place, And ev'ry thing around displaying grace, With Cupid's whole artillery in view, Not his, who would with sighs alone pursue, But that kind G.o.d who always favour shows, The source of happiness, whence pleasure flows.

MEANWHILE, however, while thus the lady sought.

By ev'ry charm to please, a note was brought; A page conveyed it, by the marquis sent, To say his coming business would prevent.

The disappointment doubtless was severe, But consolation certainly was near; It proved to Reynold wonderfully kind, For scarcely had our traveller resigned, And groaned aloud, but, tender as her dame, In haste the confidential servant came, And to the widow said:--I hear below Some poor unfortunate o'ercome with woe; 'Tis piercing cold, and he perhaps will die Some place, pray grant, where he to-night may lie.

MOST readily, replied the courteous fair, We never use the garret:--lodge him there; Some straw upon a couch will make a bed, On which the wand'rer may repose his head; Shut well the door, but first provide some meat, And then permit him thither to retreat.

WITHOUT this timely help 'twas clear our wight Had ne'er survived the horrors of the night; The door was ope'd, and Reynold blessed the hand That gave relief, and stopt life's ebbing sand.

His tale he told; got spirits, strength, and ease; In person tall, well made, and formed to please, He looked not like a novice in amour, Though young, and seeking shelter at a door.

His want of dress and miserable state Raised shame indeed, and showed distress was great.

Though LOVE be seen in Nature's pure array, No dirt appears, however you survey.

THIS servant girl now hastened to the fair, And ev'ry circ.u.mstance detailed with care.

See, said the lady, if within the press There be not clothes to furnish him a dress; My husband, now no more, must some have left; Yes, said the girl, you're not of them bereft, I recollect his wardrobe did abound; And presently a handsome suit she found.