Again, when to the room the hostess came,
          And found the cradle rested not the same,
          Good heav’ns! cried she, it joins my husband’s head: 
          And, but for that, I truly had been led
          To lay myself unthinkingly beside
          The strangers whom with lodging we provide;
          But, God be praised, this cradle shows the place
          Where my good husband’s pillow I must trace. 
          This said, she with the friend was quickly laid,
          Without suspecting what mistake she’d made.

          Betweenthe 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.

          Onhis return he passed 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.

          Intruth, 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;
          God’s will be done, since life is but a span!

          Thewords 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.

          MeanwhileColetta, 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;