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Table of Contents | |
Section | Page |
Start of eBook | 1 |
Title: The Tales and Novels, v8: The Ephesian Matron and Others | 1 |
ETEXT EDITOR’S BOOKMARKS: | 12 |
Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) | 13 |
(Three Pages) | 14 |
Author: Jean de La Fontaine
Release Date: March, 2004 [EBook #5282] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on June 14, 2002]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** Start of the project gutenberg Ebook tales and novels of Fontaine, V8 ***
This eBook was produced by David Widger widger@cecomet.net
[Note: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of the file for those who may wish to sample the author’s ideas before making an entire meal of them. D.W.]
The tales
and novels
of
J. De La Fontaine
Volume 8.
Contains:
The Eel Pie
The Magnificent
The Ephesian Matron
Theeel pie
However exquisite we beauty find,
It satiates sense, and palls upon the mind:
Brown bread as well as white must be for me;
My motto ever is—variety.
That brisk brunette, with languid, sleepy eye,
Delights my fancy; Can you tell me why?
The reason ’s plain enough:—she ’s something new.
The other mistress, long within my view,
Though lily fair, with seraph features blessed,
No more emotion raises in my breast;
Her heart assents, while mine reluctant proves;
Whence this diversity that in us moves?
From hence it rises, to be plain and free,
My motto ever is—variety.
Thesame in other words, I’ve often said;
’Tis
right, at times, disguise with care to spread.
The
maxim’s good, and with it I agree:
My
motto ever is—variety.
A
certain spouse the same devise had got,
Whose
wife by all was thought a handsome lot.
His
love, howe’er, was over very soon;
It
lasted only through the honeymoon;
Possession
had his passion quite destroyed;
In
Hymen’s bands too oft the lover ’s cloyed.
One,
’mong his valets, had a pretty wife;
The
master was himself quite full of life,
And
soon the charmer to his wishes drew,
With
which the husband discontented grew,
And
having caught them in the very fact,
He
rang his mate the changes for the act;
Sad
names he called her, howsoever just,
A
silly blockhead! thus to raise a dust,
For
what, in ev’ry town ’s so common found;
May
we worse fortune never meet around!
Hemade the paramour a grave harangue
Don’t
others give, said he, the poignant pang;
But
ev’ry one allow to keep his own,
As
God and reason oft to man have shown,
And
recommended fully to observe;
You
from it surely have not cause to swerve;
You
cannot plead that you for beauty pine
You’ve
one at home who far surpasses mine;
No
longer give yourself such trouble, pray:
You,
to my help-mate, too much honour pay;
Such
marked attentions she can ne’er require
Let
each of us, alone his own admire.
To
others’ WELLs you never ought to go,
While
your’s with sweets is found to overflow;
I
willingly appeal to connoisseurs;
If
heav’n had blessed me with such bliss as your’s,
That
when I please, your lady I could take,
I
would not for a queen such charms forsake.
But
since we can’t prevent what now is known,
I
wish, good sir, contented with your own,
(And
’tis, I hope, without offence I speak,)
You’ll
favours from my wife no longer seek.
Themaster, neither no nor yes replied,
But
orders gave, his man they should provide;
For
dinner ev’ry day, what pleased his taste,
A
pie of eels, which near him should be placed.
Hisappetite at first was wond’rous great;
Again,
the second time, as much he ate;
But
when the third appeared, he felt disgust,
And
not another morsel down could thrust.
The
valet fain would try a diff’rent dish;
’Twas
not allowed;—you’ve got, said they,
your wish;
’Tis
pie alone; you like it best you know,
And
no objection you must dare to show.
I’msurfeited, cried he, ’tis far too much:
Pie
ev’ry day! and nothing else to touch!
Not
e’en a roasted eel, or stewed, or fried!
Dry
bread I’d rather you’d for me provide.
Of
your’s allow me some at any rate,
Pies,
(devil take them!) thoroughly I hate;
They’ll
follow me to Paradise I fear,
Or
further yet;—Heav’n keep me from such
cheer!
Theirnoisy mirth the master thither drew,
Who
much desired the frolick to pursue;
My
friend, said he, I greatly feel surprise,
That
you so soon are weary grown of pies;
Have
I not heard you frequently declare,
Eel-pie
’s of all, the most delicious fare?
Quite
fickle, certainly, must be your taste;
Can
any thing in me so strange be traced?
When
I exchange a food which you admire;
You
blame and say, I never ought to tire;
Whenthus the master had himself expressed,
The
valet presently was less distressed;
Some
arguments, howe’er, at first he used;
For,
after all—are fully we excused,
When
we our pleasure solely have in view;
Without
regarding what’s to others due?
I
relish change; well, take it; but ’tis best,
To
gain the belles with love of gold possessed;
And
that appears to me the proper plan;
In
truth, our lover very soon began
To
practise this advice;—his voice and way
Could
angel-sweetness instantly convey.
Hiswords were always gilt; (impressive tongue!)
To
gilded words will sure success belong.
In
soft amours they’re ev’ry thing ’tis
plain
The
maxim ’s certain, and our aim will gain;
My
meaning doubtless easily is seen;
A
hundred times repeated this has been
Th’
impression should be made so very deep,
That
I thereon can never silence keep;
And
this the constant burden of my song-
To
gilded words will sure success belong.
Theyeasily persuade the beauteous dame;
Her
dog, her maid, duenna, all the same;
The
husband sometimes too, and him we’ve shown
’Twas
necessary here to gain alone;
By
golden eloquence his soul was lulled;
Although
from ancient orators not culled:
Their
books retained have nothing of the kind;
Our
jealous spouse indulgent grew we find.
He
followed e’en, ’tis said, the other’s
plan—
And,
thence his dishes to exchange began.
Themaster and his fav’rite’s freaks around;
Continually
the table-talk were found;
He
always thought the newest face the best:
Where’er
he could, each beauty he caressed;
The
wife, the widow, daughter, servant-maid,
The
nymph of field or town:—with all he played;
And,
while he breathed, the same would always be;
His
motto ever was—variety.
The magnificent
Somewit, handsome form and gen’rous mind;
A
triple engine prove in love we find;
By
these the strongest fortresses are gained
E’en
rocks ’gainst such can never be sustained.
If
you’ve some talents, with a pleasing face,
A
Florentine, magnificent by name,
Was
what we’ve just described, in fact and fame;
The
title was bestowed upon the knight,
For
noble deeds performed by him in fight.
The
honour ev’ry way he well deserved;
His
upright conduct (whence he never swerved,)
Expensive
equipage, and presents made,
Proclaimed
him all around what we’ve pourtrayed.
Withhandsome person and a pleasing mien,
Gallant,
a polished air, and soul serene;
A
certain fair of noble birth he sought,
Whose
conquest, doubtless, brilliant would be thought;
Which
in our lover doubly raised desire;
Renown
and pleasure lent his bosom fire.
Thejealous husband of the beauteous fair
Was
Aldobrandin, whose suspicious care
Resembled
more, what frequently is shown
For
fav’rites mistresses, than wives alone.
He
watched her every step with all his eyes;
A
hundred thousand scarcely would suffice;
Indeed,
quite useless Cupid these can make;
And
Argus oft is subject to mistake:
Repeatedly
they’re duped, although our wight,
(Who
fancied he in ev’ry thing was right,)
Himself
so perfectly secure believed,
By
gay gallants he ne’er could be deceived.
Tosuitors, howsoe’er, he was not blind;
To
covet presents, greatly he inclined.
The
lover yet had no occasion found,
To
drop a word to charms so much renowned;
He
thought his passion was not even seen;
And
if it had, would things have better been?
What
would have followed? what had been the end?
The
reader needs no hint to comprehend.
Butto return to our forlorn gallant,
Whose
bosom for the lady’s ’gan to pant;
He,
to his doctor, not a word had said;
Now
here, now there, he tried to pop his head.
But
neither door nor window could he find,
Where
he might glimpse the object of his mind,
Or
even hear her voice, or sound her name;
No
fortress had he ever found the same;
Yet
still to conquer he was quite resolved,
And
oft the manner in his mind revolved.
This
plan at length he thought would best succeed,
To
execute it doubtless he had need
Of
ev’ry wily art he could devise,
Surrounded
as he was by eagle-eyes.
I
think the reader I’ve already told,
Our
husband loved rich presents to behold;
Though
none he made, yet all he would receive;
Whate’er
was offered he would never leave.
Magnificenta handsome horse had got,
It
ambled well, or cantered, or would trot;
He
greatly valued it, and for its pace,
’Twas
called the Pad; it stept with wond’rous grace:
By
Aldobrandin it was highly praised;
Enough
was this: the knight’s fond hopes were raised;
Who
offered to exchange, but t’other thought,
He
in a barter might perhaps be caught.
’Tis
not, said he, that I the horse refuse;
But
I, in trucking, never fail to lose.
Onthis, Magnificent, who saw his aim;
Replied,
well, well, a better scheme we’ll frame;
No
changing we’ll allow, but you’ll permit,
That
for the horse, I with your lady sit,
You
present all the while, ’tis what I want;
I’m
curious, I confess, and fort it pant.
Besides,
your friends assuredly should know
What
mind, what sentiments may from her flow.
Just
fifteen minutes, I no more desire:
What!
cried the other, you my wife require?
No,
no, pray keep your horse, that won’t be right.
But
you’ll be present, said the courteous knight.
And
what of that? rejoined the wily spouse.
Why,
cried Magnificent, then naught should rouse
Your
fears or cares, for how can ill arise,
While
watched by you, possessed of eagle-eyes?
Thehusband ’gan to turn it in his mind;
Thought
he, if present, what can be designed?
The
plan is such as dissipates my fears;
The
offer advantageous too appears;
He’s
surely mad; I can’t conceive his aim;
But,
to secure myself and wife from shame;
Without
his knowledge, I’ll forbid the fair
Her
lips to open, and for this prepare.
Come,
cried old Aldobrandin, I’ll consent:
But,
said the other, recollect ’tis meant,
So
distant from us, all the while you stay,
That
not a word you hear of what I say.
Agreed,
rejoined the husband:—let’s begin;
Away
he flew, and brought the lady in.
Whenour gallant the charming belle perceived;
Elysium
seemed around, he half believed.
The
salutations o’er, they went and sat
Together
in a corner, where their chat
Could
not be heard, if they to talk inclined;
Our
brisk gallant no long harangues designed,
But
to the point advanced without delay;
Thuscircumstanced, fair lady, let me, pray;
To
you at once, my adoration pay;
No
words my admiration can express;
Your
charms enslave my senses, I confess;
Can
you suppose to answer would be wrong?
Too
much good sense to you should now belong;
Had
I the leisure, I’d in form disclose
The
tender flame with which my bosom glows;
Each
horrid torment; but by Fate denied
Blessed
opportunities, let me not hide,
While
moments offer, what pervades my heart,
And
openly avow the burning smart
Few
minutes I have got to travel o’er
What
gen’rally requires six months or more.
Cold
is that lover who will not pursue,
With
ev’ry ardour, beauty, when in view.
But
why this silence?—not a word you say!
You
surely will not send me thus away!
That
heav’n, an angel made you, none deny;
But
still, to what is asked you should reply.
Your
husband this contrived I plainly see,
Who
fancies that replies were not to be,
Since
in our bargain they were never named;
For
shuffling conduct he was ever famed;
But
I’ll come round him, spite of all his art;
I
can reply for you, and from the heart,
Since
I can read your wishes in your eyes;
’Tis
thus to say—Good, sir, I would advise
That
you regard me, not as marble cold;
Your
various tournaments and actions bold,
Your
serenades, and gen’ral conduct prove,
What
tender sentiments your bosom move.
Yourfond affection constantly I praised,
And
quickly felt a flame within me raised;
Yet
what avails?—Oh, that I’ll soon disclose;
Since
we agree, allow me to propose,
Our
mutual wishes we enjoy to-night;
And
turn to ridicule that jealous Wight;
In
short, reward him for his wily fear,
In
watching us so very closely here.
Your
garden will be quite the thing, I guess;
Go
thither, pray, and never fear success;
Depend
upon it, soon his country seat
Your
spouse will visit:—then the hunks we’ll
cheat.
When
plunged in sleep the grave duennas lie,
Arise,
furred gown put on, and quickly fly;
With
careful steps you’ll to the garden haste;
I’ve
got a ladder ready to be placed
Against
Magnificent(for her he now replied,)
This
flame you’ll soon no reason have to hide
Through
dread or fear of my old jealous fool,
Who
wisely fancies he can woman rule.
Thelover, feigning rare, the lady left,
And
grumbling much, as if of hope bereft,
Addressed
the husband thus: you’re vastly kind;
As
well with no-one converse I might find;
If
horses you so easily procure,
You
Fortune’s frowns may very well endure.
Mine
neighs, at least, but this fair image seems,
Mere
pretty fish; I’ve satisfied my schemes;
What
now of precious minutes may remain,
If
any one desire my chance to gain,
A
bargain he shall have:—most cheap the prize;
The
husband laughed till tears bedewed his eyes.
Said
he, these youths have always in their head
Some
word’rous fancies; follies round them spread.
Friend,
from pursuit you much too soon retire:
With
time we oft obtain our fond desire.
But
I shall always keep a watchful eye;
Some
knowing tricks methinks I yet can spy;
Howe’er,
the horse must now be clearly mine,
And
you’ll the pad of course to me resign;
To
you no more expense; and from to-day,
Be
not displeased to see me on it, pray;
At
ease I’ll ride my country house to view;—
That
very night he to the mansion flew,
And
our good folks immediately repaired,
Where
gay Magnificent no pains had spared
To
get access; what passed we won’t detail;
Soft
scenes, you’ll doubtless guess, should there
prevail.
Thedame was lively, beautiful, and young;
The
lover handsome, finely formed, and strong;
Alike
enchanted with each other’s charms,
Three
meetings were contrived without alarms;
A
fair so captivating to possess,
What
mortal could be satisfied with less?
In
golden dreams the sage duennas slept;
A
female sentinel to watch was kept.
A
Summer-house was at the garden end,
Which
to the pair much ease was found to lend;
Old
Aldobrandin, when he built the same,
Ne’er
fancied love, would in it freak and game.
What numbers round, whom Fortune favours less;
Have got a wife, but not a horse possess;
And, what yet still more wond’rous may appear,
Know ey’ry thing that passes with their dear.
The Ephesian matron
[Note: See Chapters
111 & 112 from The Satyricon by
Petronius Arbiter. DW]
If there’s a tale more common than the rest,
The one I mean to give is such confessed.
Why choose it then? you ask; at whose desire?
Hast not enough already tuned thy lyre?
What favour can thy matron now expect,
Since novelty thou clearly dost neglect?
Besides, thou’lt doubtless raise the critick’s rage.
See if it looks more modern in my page.
AtEphesus, in former times, once shone,
A
fair, whose charms would dignify a throne;
And,
if to publick rumour credit ’s due,
Celestial
bliss her husband with her knew.
Naught
else was talked of but her beauteous face,
And
chastity that adds the highest grace;
From
ev’ry quarter numbers flocked to see
This
belle, regarded as from errors free.
The
honour of her sex, and country too;
As
such, old mothers held her up to view,
And
wished their offspring’s wives like her to act:
The
sons desired the very same in fact;
From
her, beyond a doubt, our prudes descend,
An
ancient, celebrated house, depend.
Thespouse adored his beauteous charming wife:
But
soon, alas! he lost his precious life;
’Twere
useless on particulars to dwell:
His
testament, indeed, provided well
For
her he loved on earth to fond excess,
Which,
’yond a doubt, would have relieved distress;
Could
gold a cherished husband’s loss repair,
That
filled her soul with black corroding care.
A
widow, howsoever, oft appears
Distracted
’mid incessant floods of tears,
Who
thoroughly her int’rest recollects,
And,
spite of sobs, her property inspects.
OurMatron’s cries were loudly heard around,
And
feeling bosoms shuddered at the sound;
Though,
we, on these occasions, truly know,
The
plaint is always greater than the woe.
Some
ostentation ever is with grief
Those
who weep most the soonest gain relief.
Eachfriend endeavoured to console the fair;
Of
sorrow, she’d already had her share:
’Twas
wrong herself so fully to resign;—
Such
pious preachings only more incline
The
soul to anguish ’mid distractions dire:
Extremes
in ev’ry thing will soonest tire.
Atlength, resolved to shun the glorious light,
Since
her dear spouse no longer had the sight,
O’erwhelmed
with grief she sought Death’s dreary cell,
Her
love to follow, and with him to dwell.
A
slave, through pity, with the widow went;
To
live or die with her she was content;
To
die, howe’er, she never could intend:
No
doubt she only thought about her friend,
The
mistress whom she never wished to quit,
Since
from her birth with her she used to sit.
They
loved each other with a friendship true:
From
early years it daily stronger grew;
Look
through the universe you’ll scarcely find,
So
great a likeness, both in heart and mind.
The
slave, more clever than the lady fair,
At
first her mistress left to wild despair;
She
then essayed to soothe each torment dire;
But
reason ’s fruitless, with a soul on fire.
No
consolation would the belle receive,
For
one no more, she constantly would grieve,
And
sought to follow him to regions blessed:—
The
sword had shortest proved, if not the best.
Butstill the lady anxious was to view,
Again
those precious relicks, and pursue,
E’en
in the tomb what yet her soul held dear
No
aliment she took her mind to cheer;
The
gate of famine was the one she chose,
By
which to leave this nether world of woes.
A
day she passed; another day the same;
Her
only sustenance, sobs, sighs, and flame
Still
unappeased; she murmur’d ’gainst her fate;
But
nothing could her direful woes abate.
Anothercorpse a residence had got,
A
trifling distance from the gloomy spot;
But
very diff’rent, since, by way of tomb,
Enchained
on gibbet was the latter’s doom;
To
frighten robbers was the form designed,
And
show the punishment that rogues should find.
A
soldier, as a sentinel was set,
To
guard the gallows, who good payment met;
’Twas
ruled, howe’er, if robbers, parents, friends,
The
body carried off, to make amends,
The
sentinel at once should take its place
Severity
too great for such a case;
But
publick safety fully to maintain,
’Twas
right the sentry pardon should not gain.
Whilemoving round his post, he saw at night
Shine,
cross the tomb, a strange, unusual light,
Which
thither drew him, curious to unfold
What,
through the chinks, his eyesight could behold.
Ourwight soon heard the lady’s cries distressed,
On
which he entered, and with ardour pressed,
The
cause of such excessive grief to know,
And
if ’twas in his pow’r to ease her woe.
Dissolvedin tears, and quite o’ercome with care;
She
scarcely noticed that a man was there.
The
corpse, howe’er, too plainly told her pain,
And
fully seemed the myst’ry to explain.
We’ve
sworn, exclaimed the slave, what’s ’yond
belief,
That
here we’ll die of famine and of grief.
Thougheloquence was not the soldier’s art,
He
both convinced ’twas wrong with life to part:
The
dame was great attention led to pay,
To
what the son of Mars inclined to say,
Which
seemed to soften her severe distress:
With
time each poignant smart is rendered less.
If,
said the soldier, you have made a vow,
That
you, some food to take will not allow;
Yet,
looking on while I my supper eat,
Will
not prolong your lives, nor oaths defeat.
Hisopen manner much was formed to please;
The
lady and her maid grew more at ease,
Which
made the gen’rous sentinel conclude,
To
bring his meat they would not fancy rude.
Thisdone, the slave no longer was inclined
To
follow Death, as soon she changed her mind.
Said
she, good madam, pleasing thoughts I’ve got;
Don’t
you believe that, if you live or not,
’Tis
to your husband ev’ry whit the same?
Had
you gone first, would he have had the name
Of
following to the grave as you design?
No,
no, he’d to another course incline.
Long
years of comfort we may clearly crave;
At
twenty years it’s surely wrong to brave
Both
death and famine in a gloomy tomb
There’s
time enough to think of such a doom.
At
best, too soon we die; do let us wait;
Here’s
nothing now at least to haste our fate.
In
truth, I wish to see a good old age:
To
bury charms like your’s, would that be sage?
Of
what advantage, I should wish to know,
To
carry beauty to the shades below?
Those
heavenly features make my bosom sigh,
To
think from earthly praise they mean to fly.
Thisflatt’ry roused the beauteous widowed fair;
The
god of soft persuasion soon was there,
And
from his quiver in a moment drew
Two
arrows keen, which from his bow-string flew;
With
one he pierced the soldier to the heart,
The
lady slightly felt the other dart.
Her
youth and beauty, spite of tears, appeared,
And
men of taste such charms had long revered;
A
mind of tender feeling might, through life.
Have
loved her—even though she were a wife.
Thesentinel was smitten with her charms;
Grief,
pity, sighs, belong to Cupid’s arms;
When
bosoms heave and eyes are drowned in tears,
Then
beauty oft with conq’ring grace appears.
Beholdour widow list’ning to his praise,
Incipient
fuel Cupid’s flame to raise;
Behold
her, even glad to view the wight,
Whose
well tim’d flatt’ry filled her with delight
Atlength, to eat he on the fair prevailed,
And
pleased her better than the dead bewailed.
So
well he managed, that she changed her plan,
And,
by degrees, to love him fondly ’gan.
The
son of Mars a darling husband grew,
While
yet her former dear was full in view.
Meantimethe corpse, that long in chains had swung,
By
thieves was carried off from where it hung.
The
noise was heard, and thither ran our wight;
But
vain his efforts:—they were out of sight;
Confused,
distressed, he sought again the tomb,
To
tell his grief and settle, ’mid the gloom,
How
best to act, and where his head to hide,
Since
hang he must, the laws would now decide.
Theslave replied, your gibbet-thief, you say,
Some
lurking rogues this night have borne away:
The
law, it seems, will ne’er accord you grace
The
corpse that’s here, let’s set in t’other’s
place:
The
passers-by the change will never tell
The
lady gave consent, and all was well.
O
fickle females, ever you’re the same;
A
woman’s a woman, both in mind and name
Some
fair we find, and some unlike the dove,
But
CONSTANCY’S the highest charm of love.
Yeprudes, for ever doubt of full success;
Don’t
boast at all: too much you may profess,
How
good soever your design may be,
Not
less is ours, you easily may see;
The
Matron’s tale is not beyond belief:
To
entertain, our object is in chief.
The widow’s only errors were her cries; And mad design her life to sacrifice; For, merely setting husband-dead in place of one of this patibulary race, Was surely not a fault so very grave: Her lover’s life was what she sought to save.
A
Living drum-boy, truly be it said,
Is
better far, than any monarch dead.
But reason ’s fruitless, with a soul on fire
Extremes in ev’ry thing will soonest tire
Possession had his passion quite destroyed
Some ostentation ever is with grief
The plaint is always greater than the woe
Those who weep most the soonest gain relief
Too much you may profess
*** End of the project gutenberg Ebook tales and novels of Fontaine, V8 ***
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