Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine Part 9

How many do we see, by slow degrees, And, step by step, accord their ALL to please, Who, at the onset, never dreamed to grant The smallest favour to their fond gallant.

The G.o.d of love so archly acts his part, And, in unguarded moments, melts the heart, That many belles have tumbled in the snare, Who, how it happened, scarcely could declare.

WHEN they had reached the pleasing secret spot; Young Hispal wished to go within the grot; Though nearly overcome, she this declined; But then his services arose to mind; Her life from Ocean's waves, her honour too, To him she owed; what could he have in view?

A something, which already has been shown, Was saved through Hispal's nervous arm alone: Said he, far better bless a real friend, Than have each treasure rifled in the end, By some successful ruffian; think it o'er; You little dream for whom you guard the store.

THE princess felt the truth of this remark, And half surrendered to the loving spark; A show'r obliged the pair, without delay, To seek a shed:--the place I need not say; The rest within the grotto lies concealed:-- The scenes of Cupid ne'er should be revealed.

Alaciel blame, or not--I've many known, With less excuses, who've like favours shown.

ALONE the cavern witnessed not their bliss; In love, a point once gained, naught feels amiss, If trees could speak that grew within the dell, What joys they viewed--what stories they might tell!

The park, the lawn, the pleasure grounds, and bow'rs, The belts of roses, and the beds of flow'rs, All, all could whisper something of the kind; At length, both longed their friends again to find, Quite cloyed with love, they sighed to be at court; Thus spoke the fair her wishes to support.

LOVED youth, to ME you must be ever dear; To doubt it would ungen'rous now appear; But tell me, pray, what's love without desire, Devoid of fear, and nothing to acquire?

Flame unconfined is soon exhausted found, But, thwarted in its course 'twill long abound; I fear this spot, which we so highly prize, Will soon appear a desert in our eyes, And prove at last our grave; relieve my woe; At once to Alexandria, Hispal go; Alive p.r.o.nounced, you presently will see, What worthy people think of you and me; Conceal our residence, declare you came, My journey to prepare, (your certain aim,) And see that I've a num'rous escort sent, To guard me from a similar event.

By it, believe me, you shall nothing lose; And this is what I willingly would choose; For, be I single, or in Hymen's band, I'd have you follow me by sea and land, And be a.s.sured, should favour I withdraw, That I've observed in you some glaring flaw.

WERE her intentions fully as expressed, Or contrary to what her lips confessed, No matter which her view, 'twas very plain, If she would Hispal's services retain, 'Twere right the youth with promises to feed, While his a.s.sistance she so much must need: As soon as he was ready to depart She pressed him fondly to her glowing heart, And charged him with a letter to the king; This Hispal hastened to the prince to bring; Each sail he crowded:--plied with ev'ry oar; A wind quite fair soon brought him to sh.o.r.e; To court he went, where all with eager eyes, Demanded if he lived, amid surprise, And where he left the princess; what her state?

These questions answered, Hispal, quite elate, Procured the escort, which, without delay, Though leaving him behind, was sent away: No dark mistrust retained the n.o.ble youth; But Zarus wished it: such appeared the truth.

BY one of early years the troop was led, A handsome lad, and elegantly bred.

He landed with his party near the park.

And these in two divided ere 'twas dark.

ONE half he left a guard upon the sh.o.r.e, And with the other hastened to the door, Where dwelled the belle, who daily fairer grew: Our chief was smitten instantly at view; And, fearing opportunity again, Like this, perhaps, he never might obtain, Avowed at once his pa.s.sion to the fair; At which she frowned, and told him, with an air; To recollect his duty, and her rank:-- With equals only, he should be so frank.

ON these occasions, prudent 'tis to show Your disappointment by a face of woe; Seem ev'ry way the picture of despair:-- This countenance our knight appeared to wear; To starve himself he vowed was his design; To use the poniard he should ne'er incline, For then no time for penitence would rest.-- The princess of his folly made a jest.

He fasted one whole day; she-tried in vain To make him from the enterprise refrain.

AT length, the second day she 'gan to feel, And strong emotion scarcely could conceal.

What! let a person die her charms could save!

'Twas cruel, thus to treat a youth so brave.

Through pity, she at last, to please the chief, Consented to bestow on him relief; For, favours, when conferred with sullen air, But little gratify she was aware.

WHen satisfied the smart gallant appeared, And anxiously to putting off adhered, Pretending that the wind and tide would fail; The galleys sometimes were unfit to sail, Repairs required; then further heard the news, That certain pirates had unpleasant views; To fall upon the escort they'd contrived: At length, a pirate suddenly arrived, Surprized the party left upon the sh.o.r.e, Destroyed the whole; then sought the house for more, And scaled the walls while darkness spread around.

The pirate was Grifonio's second found, Who, in a trice, the n.o.ble mansion took, And joy gave place to grief in ev'ry look.

THe Alexandrian swore and cursed his lot; The pirate soon the lady's story got, And, taking her aside, his share required Such impudence Alaciel's patience tired, Who, ev'ry thing refused with haughty air; Of this, howe'er, the robber was aware; In Venus' court no novice was he thought; To gain the princess anxiously he sought; Said he, you'd better take me as a friend; I'm more than pirate, and you'll comprehend, As you've obliged one dying swain to fast, You fast in turn, or you'll give way at last; 'Tis justice this demands: we sons of sea Know how to deal with those of each degree; Remember you will nothing have to eat, Till your surrender fully is complete.

NO haggling, princess pray, my word receive; What could be done, her terror to relieve?

Above all law is might:--'twill take its course; Entire submission is the last resource.

OF'T what we would not, we're obliged to do, When fate our steps with rigour will pursue.

No folly greater than to heighten pain, When we are sensible relief is vain.

What she, through pity, to another gave, Might well be granted when herself 'twould save.

AT length she yielded to this suitor rude:-- No grief so great, but what may be subdued.

'Twould in the pirate doubtless have been wise, The belle to move, and thus prevent surprise; But who, from folly in amours is free?

The G.o.d of love and wisdom ne'er agree.

WHILE our gay pirate thought himself at ease, The wind quite fair to sail when he might please, Dame Fortune, sleepy only while we wake, And slily watching when repose we take, Contrived a trick the cunning knave to play, And this was put in force ere break of day.

A LORD, the owner of a neighb'ring seat, Unmarried;--fond of what was nice and neat, Without attachment, and devoid of care, Save something new to meet among the FAIR; Grew tired of those he long around had viewed, Now constantly, in thought, our belle pursued.

He'd money, friends, and credit all his days, And could two thousand men at pleasure raise: One charming morn, together these he brought; Said he, brave fellows, can it well be thought, That we allow a pirate, (dire disgrace!) To plunder as he likes before our face, And make a slave of one whose form 's divine?

Let's to the castle, such is my design, And from the ruffian liberate the fair; This evening ev'ry one will here repair, Well armed, and then in silence we'll proceed, (By night 'tis nothing will impede,) And ere Aurora peeps, perform the task; The only booty that I mean to ask Is this fair dame; but not a slave to make, I anxiously desire to let her take Whate'er is her's:--restore her honour too; All other things I freely leave to you; Men, horses, baggage, in a word, the whole Of what the knavish rascals now control.

Another thing, howe'er:--I wish to hang The pirate instantly, before his gang.

THIS speech so well succeeded to inspire, That scarcely could the men retain their ire.

THE evening came, the party soon arrived; They ate not much, but drink their rage revived.

By such expensive treats we've armies known, In Germany and Flanders overthrown; And our commander was of this aware 'Twas prudent, surely, no expense to spare.

THEY carried ladders for the escalade, And each was furnished with a tempered blade; No other thing embarra.s.sing they'd got; No drums; but all was silent as the grot.

THEY reached the house when nearly break of day, The time old Morpheus' slumbers often weigh; The gang, with few exceptions, (then asleep), Were sent, their vigils with grim death to keep.

THE chief hung up:--the princess soon appeared; Her spirits presently our champion cheered; The pirate scarcely had her bosom moved:-- No tears at least a marked affection proved; But, by her prayers she pardon sought to gain, For some who were not in the conflict slain; Consoled the dying, and lamented those, Who, by the sword, had closed their book of woes: Then left the place without the least regret, Where such adventures and alarms she'd met.

'Tis said, indeed, she presently forgot The two gallants who last became her lot; And I can easily the fact believe: Removed from sight, but few for lovers grieve.

SHE, by her neighbour, was received, we're told, 'Mid costly furniture and burnished gold; We may suppose what splendour shone around, When all-attracting he would fain be found; The best of wines; each dish considered rare:-- The G.o.ds themselves received not better fare: Till then, Alaciel ne'er had tasted wine; Her faith forbade a liquor so divine; And, unacquainted with the potent juice, She much indulged at table in its use.

If lately LOVE disquieted her brain, New poison now pervaded ev'ry vein; Both fraught with danger to the beauteous FAIR, Whose charms should guarded be with ev'ry care.

THE princess by the maids in bed was placed; Then thither went the host with anxious haste, What sought he? you will ask:--mere torpid charms:-- I wish the like were clasped within my arms.

Give me as much, said one the other week, And see if I'd a neighbour's kindness seek.

Through Morpheus' sleepy pow'r, and Bacchus' wine: Our host, at length, completed his design.

ALACIEL, when at morn, she oped her eyes, Was quite o'ercome with terror and surprise, No tears would flow, and fear restrained her voice; Unable to resist, she'd got no choice.

A NIGHT thus pa.s.sed, the wily lover said, Must surely give a license to your bed.

The princess thought the same; but our gallant, Soon cloyed, for other conquests 'gan to pant.

THE host one evening from the mansion went; A friend he left himself to represent, And with the charming fair supply his place, Which, in the dark he thought, with easy grace, Might be effected, if he held his tongue, And properly behaved the whole night long.

To this the other willingly agreed; (What friend would be refused, if thus in need?) And this new-comer had complete success He scarcely could his ecstacy express.

THE dame exclaimed:--pray how could he pretend; To treat me so, and leave me to a friend?

The other thought the host was much to blame; But since 'tis o'er, said he, be now your aim, To punish his contempt of beauteous charms; With favours load me--take me to your arms; Caress with fond embrace; bestow delight; And seem to love me, though in mere despite.

SHE followed his advice: avenged the wrong; And naught omitted, pleasures to prolong.

If he obtained his wishes from the fair, The host about it scarcely seemed to care.

THE sixth adventure of our charming belle, Some writers one way, some another tell; Whence many think that favour I have shown, And for her, one gallant the less would own.

Mere scandal this; from truth I would nor swerve, To please the fair: more credence I deserve; Her husband only eight precursors had; The fact was such;--I none suppress nor add.

THE host returned and found his friend content; To pardon him Alaciel gave consent; And 'tween them things would equally divide Of royal bosoms clemency's the pride.

WHILE thus the princess pa.s.sed from hand to hand She oft amused her fancy 'mong a band Of charming belles that on her would attend, And one of these she made an humble friend.

The fav'rite in the house a lover had, A smart, engaging, handsome, clever lad, Well born, but much to violence inclined A wooer that could scarcely be confined To gentle means, but oft his suit began, Where others end, who follow Cupid's plan.

IT one day happened, that this forward spark; The girl we speak of, met within the park, And to a summer-house the fav'rite drew; The course they took the princess chanced to view As wand'ring near; but neither swain nor fair, Suspicion had, that any one was there; And this gallant most confidently thought, The girl by force, might to his terms be brought!

His wretched temper, obstacle to love, And ev'ry bliss bestowed by heav'n above, Had oft his hopes of favours lately marred; And fear, with those designs, had also jarred: The girl, howe'er, would likely have been kind, If opportunities had pleased her mind.