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Table of Contents | |
Section | Page |
Start of eBook | 1 |
Title: The Tales and Novels, v15: The Mandrake & The Rhemese | 1 |
ETEXT EDITOR’S BOOKMARKS: | 11 |
Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) | 12 |
(Three Pages) | 14 |
Author: Jean de La Fontaine
Release Date: March, 2004 [EBook #5289] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on June 21, 2002]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** Start of the project gutenberg Ebook tales and novels of Fontaine, V15 ***
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 15.
Contains:
The Mandrake
The Rhemese
The mandrake
Florentine we now design to show;—
A greater blockhead ne’er appeared below;
It seems a prudent woman he had wed,
With beauty that might grace a monarch’s bed;
Young, brisk, good-humoured, with engaging mien;
None in the town, or round, the like was seen:
Her praises every voice inclined to sing,
And judged her worthy of a mighty king;
At least a better husband she deserved:
An arrant fool he looked, and quite unnerved.
This Nicia Calfucci (for such his name)
Was fully bent to have a father’s fame,
And thought his country honour he could do,
Could he contrive his lineage to pursue.
No holy saint in Paradise was blessed,
But what this husband fervently addressed;
From day to day, so oft he teazed for grace,
They scarcely knew his off’rings where to place.
No matron, quack, nor conjurer around,
But what he tried their qualities profound;
Yet all in vain: in spite of charm or book,
No father he, whatever pains he took.
ToFlorence then returned a youth from France;
Where
he had studied,—more than complaisance:
Well
trained as any from that polished court;
To
Fortune’s favours anxious to resort;
Gallant
and seeking ev’ry fair to please;
Each
house, road, alley, soon he knew at ease;
The
husbands, good or bad, their whims and years,
With
ev’ry thing that moved their hopes or fears;
What
sort of fuel best their females charmed;
What
spies were kept by those who felt alarmed;
The
if’s, for’s, to’s, and ev’ry
artful wile,
That
might in love a confidant beguile,
Or
nurse, or father-confessor, or dog;
When
passion prompts, few obstacles can clog.
Thesnares were spread, each stratagem was laid;
And
every thing arranged to furnish aid,
When
our gay spark determined to invest
Old
Nicia with the cuckold’s branching crest.
The
plan no doubt was well conceived and bold;
The
lady to her friends appeared not cold;
Within
her husband’s house she seemed polite;
But
ne’er familiarly was seen invite,
No
further could a lover dare proceed;
Not
one had hope the belle his flame would heed.
Ouryouth, Calimachus, no sooner came,
But
he howe’er appeared to please the dame;
His
camp he pitched and entered on the siege
Of
fair Lucretia, faithful to her liege,
Who
presently the haughty tigress played,
And
sent him, like the rest, away dismayed.
He,
scarcely knew what saint he could invoke;
When
Nicia’s folly served him for a cloak;
However
strange, no stratagem nor snare,
But
what the fool would willingly prepare
With
all his heart, and nothing fancy wrong;
That
might to others possibly belong.
The
lover and himself, as learned men,
Had
conversations ev’ry now and then;
For
Nicia was a doctor in the law:
Degree,
to him, not worth a single straw;
Far
better had he common prudence traced;
And
not his confidence so badly placed.
Oneday he to Calimachus complained,
Of
want of heirs, and wished they could be gained:
Where
lay the fault? He was a gay gallant;
Lucretia
young with features to enchant.
When
I at Paris was, replied our wight,
There
passed a clever man, a curious sight,
His
company with anxious care I sought,
And
was at length a hundred secrets taught;
’Mong
others how, at will, to get an heir:—
A
certain thing, he often would declare;
The
great Mogul had tried it on his queen,
just
two years since, the heir might then be seen;
And
many other princesses of fame,
Had
added by it to their husband’s name.
’Twas
very true; I’ve seen it fully proved:
The
remedy all obstacles removed;
’Tis
from the root of certain tree expressed;
A
juice most potent ev’ry where confessed,
And
Mandrake called, which taken by a wife;
More
pow’r evinces o’er organick life,
Than
from conventual grace was e’er derived,
Though
in the cloister youthful friars hived.
Tenmonths from hence I’ll you a father make;
No
longer time than that I ask to take;
This
period o’er, the child to church we’ll
bring,—
If
true, said Nicia, what a glorious thing!
You’ll
do me services I can’t express.—
Don’t
doubt it, cried the spark of smart address:
Must
I the fact so oft to you repeat?
I’ve
seen it with my eyes; ’tis most complete;
You
mean to jest, assuredly my friend;
Would
you by doubts the great Mogul offend?
So
handsomely this traveller he paid,
No
sign of discontent he e’er betrayed.
’Tisexcellent, the Florentine replied;
Lucretia
must be pleased to have it tried;
What
satisfaction! in her arms to view
An
infant that my lineage will renew.
Now,
worthy friend, you god-father shall stand;
This
very day pray take the thing in hand.
Notquite so fast, rejoined our smart gallant,
First
know the plan, before consent you grant;
There
is an ill attends the whole affair;
But
what below, alas! is free from care;
This
juice, possessing virtues so divine,
Has
also pow’rs that prove the most malign:
Whoe’er
receives the patient’s first embrace;
Too
fatally the dire effects will trace;
Death
oft succeeds the momentary joy;
We
scarcely good can find without alloy.
Yourservant; sir, said Nicia with surprise;
No
more of this: the name will me suffice;
Lucretia
we will let remain at ease:
What
you propose can never truly please;
If
I must die by getting of a son,
’Tis
better far the benefit to shun;
Go
find some other for your wondrous art;
In
fact I’m not inclined with life to part.
Howstrange your conduct, cried the sprightly youth:
Extremes
you seek, and overleap the truth;
Just
now the fond desire to have a boy
Chased
ev’ry care and filled your heart with joy;
At
present quite the contrary appears
A
moment changed your fondest hopes to fears;
Come,
hear the rest; no longer waste your breath:
Kind
Nature all can cure, excepting death.
What’s
necessary pray, that things succeed?
Some
youthful clod for once should take the lead,
And
clear the way of ev’ry venom round
Then
you with safety may commence to sound;
No
time you’ll lose, but instantly begin
And
you’ll most certainly your object win.
This
step is necessary to the end;
Some
lad of little worth I recommend;
Atfirst the husband disapproved the plan,
The
infamy, and danger which they ran
Perhaps
the magistrate might have him sought,
And
he, of murder, guilty might be thought;
The
sudden death would mightily perplex;
A
fellow’s creature’s loss would sorely vex;
Lucretia,
who’d withstood each tempter’s charms,
Was
now to be disgraced in rustick arms!
Calimachus,
with eagerness replied;
I
would a man of consequence provide,
Or
one, at all events, whose anxious aim
Would
be, aloud the myst’ry, to proclaim!
But
fear and folly would contain the clown,
Or
money at the worst would stop renown,
Your
better half apparently resigned;
The
clod without intention of the kind;
In
short whate’er arrived, ’tis clear your
case
Could
not with Cuckoldom be well in place.
Besides
’tis no way certain but our blade,
By
strength of nerves the poison may evade;
And
that’s a double reason for the choice,
Since
with more certainty we shall rejoice:
The
venom may evaporate in fume,
And
Mandrake pleasing pow’rs at once assume;
For
when I spoke of death, I did not mean,
That
nothing from it would the person screen;
To-morrow
we the rustick lad must name;
To-night
the potion given your charming dame;
I’ve
some already with me, all prepared;
Let
nothing of your project be declared:
You
should not seem to know what we’ve designed;
Ligurio
you’ll permit this clod to find;
You
can most thoroughly in him confide:
Discretion,
secrecy, with him reside.
One
thing, however, nearly I’d forgot;
A
bandage for the eyes we should allot;
And
when well bound he nothing e’er can trace
Of
whom, or what, the lady, or the place.
Thewhole arrangement Nicia much approved;
But
now ’twas time the lady should be moved.
At
first she thought it jest, then angry grew,
And
vowed the plan she never would pursue;
Her
life she’d rather forfeit than her name:
Thefair Lucretia seemed so firmly bent,
To
father Timothy at length they went,
Who
preached the lady such a fine discourse,
She
ceded more through penitence than force.
Moreovershe was promised that the lad
Should
be nor clownish, nor in person bad;
Nor
such as any way might give disgust,
But
one to whom she perfectly might trust.
Thewondrous draught was taken by the fair;
Next
day our Wight prepared his wily snare:
Himself
bepowdered like a miller’s man,
With
beard and whiskers to complete his plan;
A
better metamorphose ne’er was seen;
Ligurio,
who had in the secret been,
So
thoroughly disguised the lover thought,
At
midnight him to Nicia freely brought,
With
bandage o’er the eyes and hair disdained,
Not
once the husband of deceit complained.
Besidethe dame in silence slid our spark;
In
silence she attended in the dark,
Perfumed
and nicely ev’ry way bedecked;
For
what? you ask, or whom did she expect;
Were
all these pains a miller to receive?—
Too
much they cannot take, the sex believe;
And
whether kings or millers be their aim,
The
wish to please is ever found the same.
’Tis
double honour in a woman thought,
When
by her charms a torpid heart is caught;
She,
who in icy bosoms flame can raise,
Deserving
doubtless is of treble praise.
Thespark disguised, his place no sooner took,
But
awkwardness he presently forsook;
No
more the miller, but the smart gallant:
The
lady found him kind and complaisant;
Such
moments we’ll suppose were well employed;
Though
trembling fears not perfectly destroyed.
She,
to herself, remarked, ’tis very strange,
This
lad’s demeanour should so quickly change;
He’s
quite another character, ’tis clear;
What
pity that his end should be so near;
Alas!
he merits not so hard a fate;
I
feel regret the lot should him await;
And
while soft pleasure seems his heart’s delight;
His
soul is doomed from hence to take its flight.
Thehusband who so fully gave consent,
Was
led his partner’s suff’rings to lament
The
spirit of a queen in truth she showed,
When
cuckoldom was on her spouse bestowed;
In
decoration, forced to acquiesce,
She
would not condescend to join caress.
Lucretiahowsoe’er the lad approved;
His
winning manners much her favour moved.
Whenhe the subtle venom had subdued,
He
took her hand, and having fondly sued,
Said
he, your pardon lady now I ask;
Be
not displeased when I remove the mask;
Your
rage restrain; a trick on you’s been played;
Calimachus
am I; be not dismayed;
Approve
my sacrifice; the secret’s known;
Your
rigour would be useless now if shown;
Should
I be doomed howe’er to breathe my last,
I
die content, rememb’ring what has passed;
You
have the means my life at will to take;
More
havock with me soft delight could make,
Than
any poison that the draught possessed;
Mere
folly, imposition, all the rest.
Tillthen Lucretia had resistance made;
To
seem submissive she was still afraid;
The
lover was not hated by the belle,
But
bashfulness she could not well dispel,
Which,
joined to simple manners mixed with fear,
Ungrateful
made her, spite of self, appear.
Insilence wrapt, and scarcely drawing breath,
By
passion moved, and yet ashamed to death,
Not
knowing how to act, so great her grief,
From
tears, her throbbing bosom sought relief.
Look,
could she e’er her lover in the face?
Will
he not think me covered with disgrace?
Said
she, within herself;—what else believe?
My
wits were lost to let him thus deceive.
O’ercome
by sorrow, then she turned her head,
And
tried to hide herself within the bed,
At
furthest end, but vain alas her aim,
The
lover thither in a moment came:
Her
only ground, remaining unsubdued,
Surrendered
when the vanquisher pursued,
Who
every thing submitted to his will,
And
tears no more her eyes were found to fill;
Shame
took to flight, and scruples spread the wing;
How
happy those whom duping gain can bring!
Toosoon Aurora for our spark appeared;
Too
soon for her so thoroughly revered;
Said
he, the poison, that can life devour,
Requires
repeated acts to crush its pow’r.
The
foll’wing days our youthful am’rous pair
Found
opportunities for pleasing fare.
The
husband scarcely could himself contain,
So
anxiously he wished his aim to gain.
Thelover from the belle at length arose,
And
hastened to his house to seek repose;
But
scarcely had he placed himself in bed,
When
our good husband’s footsteps thither led;
He,
to the spark, related with delight,
How
mandrake-juice succeeded in the night.
Said
he, at first beside the bed I crept,
And
listened if the miller near her kept,
Or
whether he to converse was inclined,
And
ev’ry way to act as was designed.
I
then my wife was anxious to address,
And
whispered that she should the youth caress;
Nor
dread too much the spoiling of her charms:
Indeed
’twas all embarrassing alarms.
Don’t
think, said I, that either can deceive;
I
ev’ry thing shall hear, you may believe;
Know,
Nicia is a man, who well may say,
He’s
trusted without measure ev’ry day.
Prayrecollect my very life ’s at stake,
And
do not many difficulties make.
Convince
thereby how much your spouse you love;
’Twill
pleasure doubtless give the pow’rs above.
But
should the blockhead any how prove shy
Send
instantly to me; I shall be nigh;
I’m
going now to rest; by no means fail;
We’ll
soon contrive and ev’ry way prevail.
But
there was no necessity for this;
’Tis
pretty clear that nothing went amiss.
In
fact the rustick liked the business well,
And
seemed unwilling to resign the belle,
I
pity him, and much lament his lot;
But—he
must die and soon will be forgot:
A
fig for those who used to crack their jest;
In
nine months’ time a child will be the test.
The Rhemese
Nocity I to Rheims would e’er prefer:
Of
France the pride and honour I aver;
The
Holy Ampoule * and delicious wine,
Which
ev’ry one regards as most divine,
We’ll
set apart, and other objects take:
The
beauties round a paradise might make!
I
mean not tow’rs nor churches, gates, nor streets;
But
charming belles with soft enchanting sweets:
Such
oft among the fair Rhemese we view:
Kings
might be proud those graces to pursue.
One’mong these belles had to the altar led,
A
painter, much esteemed, and who had bread.
What
more was requisite!—he lived at ease,
And
by his occupation sought to please.
A
happy woman all believed his wife;
The
husband’s talents pleased her to the life:
For
gallantry howe’er he was renowned,
And
many am’rous dames, who dwelled around,
Would
seek the artist with a double aim:
So
all our chronicles record his fame.
But
since much penetration ’s not my boast,
I
just believe—what’s requisite at most.
WHENE’ER
the painter had in hand a fair,
He’d
jest his wife, and laugh with easy air;
But
Hymen’s rights proceeding as they ought,
With
jealous fears her breast was never fraught.
She
might indeed repay his tricks in kind,
And
gratify, in soft amours, her mind,
Except
that she less confidence had shown,
And
was not led to him the truth to own.
Amongthe men attracted by her smiles,
Two
neighbours, much delighted with her wiles;
Were
often tempted, by her sprightly wit,
To
listen to her chat, and with her sit;
For
she had far the most engaging mien,
Of
any charmer that around was seen.
Superior
understanding she possessed;
Though
fond of laughter, frolick, fun, and jest.
She
to her husband presently disclosed
The
love these cit-gallants to her proposed;
Both
known for arrant blockheads through the town,
And
ever boasting of their own renown.
To
him she gave their various speeches, tones,
Each
silly air: their tears, and sighs, and groans;
They’d
read, or rather heard, we may believe,
That,
when in love, with sighs fond bosoms heave.
Their
utmost to succeed these coxcombs tried,
And
seemed convinced they should not be denied;
A
common cause they would the business hold,
And
what one knew the other must be told.
Whichever
first a favour might obtain,
Should
tell his happiness to t’other swain.
Yefair ’tis thus they oft your kindness treat:
The
pleasure that he wished alone is sweet.
Love,
is no more; of t’other, laid in earth,
We’ve
here no traces scarcely from the birth.
You
serve for sport and prey, to giddy youth,
Devoid
of talents, principles, and truth.
’Tis
right they should suppose, still two are found;
Who
take their course continually round.
The
first that in your pleasure grounds appears;
I’d
have you, on his wings, to use the shears.
Ourlady then, her lovers to deceive,
One
day observed—you shall, my friends, this
eve;
Drink
wine with me:—my husband will away,
And,
what’s delightful, till to-morrow stay;
We
shall ourselves be able to amuse,
And
laugh, and sing, and talk as we may choose.
’Tis
excellent, cried they: things well you frame;
And
at the promised hour, the heroes came.
Whenintroduced, and all supposing clear,
A
sudden knocking turned their joy to fear;
The
door was barred; she to the window flew;
I
think, said she, that’s to the master due;
And
should it prove to be as I suspect:—
’Tis
he, I vow:—fly, hide, he’ll you detect;
Some
accident, suspicion, or design,
Has
brought him back to sleep, I now divine:
Ourtwo gallants, when dangers round them pressed,
A
closet entered, mightily distressed;
To
get away ’twere folly to have tried;
The
husband came, the roast he quickly spied;
With
pigeons too, in diff’rent fashions cooked;
Why,
hey! said he, as round about he looked:
What
guests have you that supper you prepare?
The
wife replied: two neighbours taste our fare:
Sweet
Alice, and good Simonetta, mean
To-night,
at table with us to be seen;
I’m
quite rejoiced to think that you are here:
The
company will more complete appear;
These
dames will, by your presence, nothing lose;
I’ll
run and hasten them: ’twill you amuse;
The
whole is ready; I’ll at once away,
And
beg, in coming, they’ll no more delay.
Theladies named were wives of our gallants,
So
fond of contraband, and smuggled grants,
Who,
vexed to be confined, still praised the dame,
For
skewing such address to ’scape from blame.
She
soon returned, and with her brought the fair,
Who,
gaily singing, entered free from care.
The
painter them received with bow and kiss;
To
praise their beauty he was not remiss;
Their
dress was charming; all he much admired;
Their
presence frolick, fun, and jest inspired,
Which
no way pleased the husbands in the cage,
Who
saw the freaks with marks of bursting rage:
The
door half open gave a view complete,
How
freely he their wives was led to treat.
Thingsthus commenced, the supper next was served;
From
playful tricks the painter never swerved,
But
placed himself at table ’twist the two,
And
jest and frolicking would still pursue.
To
women, wine, and fun, said he, I drink;
Put
round the toast; none from it e’er must shrink;
The
order was obeyed; the glass oft filled
The
party soon had all the liquor swilled:
Thewife just then, it seems, no servant kept;
More
wine to get, she to the cellar stept.
But
dreading ghosts, she Simonetta prayed;
To
light her down, she was so much afraid.
Thepainter was alone with Alice left,
A
country belle, of beauty not bereft:
Slight,
nicely made, with rather pretty face,
She
thought herself possessed of ev’ry grace,
And,
in a country town, she well might get
The
appellation of a gay coquette.
Thewily spark, perceiving no one near;
Soon
ran from compliment to sweet and dear;
Her
lips assailed;—the tucker drew aside,
And
stole a kiss that hurt her husband’s pride,
Who
all beheld; but spouses, that are sage,
No
trifles heed, nor peccadillos page;
Though,
doubtless, when such meetings are possessed,
The
simple kiss gives room to dread the rest;
For
when the devil whispers in the ear
Of
one that sleeps, he wakes at once to fear.
The husband, howsoe’er, at length perceived Still more concessions, which his bosom grieved; While on the neck a hand appeared to please, The other wandered equally at ease; Be not offended, love! was often said; To frantick rage the sight her sposo led, Who, beating in his hat, was on the move To sally forth, his wrath to let them prove, To thrash his wife, and force her spark to feel his nervous arm could quickly make him reel.
Benot so silly, whispered t’other Wight;
To
stir up noise could ne’er be reckoned right;
Be
quiet now: consider where we are;
Keep
close, or else you’ll all our pleasures mar;
Remember,
written ’tis, By others do
The
same as you would like they should by you;
’Tis
proper in this place we should remain
Till
all is hushed in sleep: then freedom gain;
That’s
my opinion how we ought to act
Are
you not half a cuckold now, in fact?
Fair
Alice has consented:-that’s enough;
The
rest is mere compliance, nonsense, stuff!
Thehusband seemed the reasons to approve;
Some
slight attempts the lady made to move;
No
time for more. What then? you ask:—Why,
then—
The
lady put her cap to rights agen;
No
mark appeared suspicion to awake,
Except
her cheek a scarlet hue might take.
Mere
trifle that; from talking it might spring;
And
other causes, doubtless, we could bring.
Oneof the belles, howe’er, who went for wine,
Smiled,
on returning, at the blushing sign:
The
painter’s wife; but soon they filled each glass,
And
briskly round the bottle seemed to pass;
They
drank the host, the hostess, and the fair,
Who,
’mong the three, should first her wishes share.
Atlength, a second time the bottle failed;
The
hostess’ fear of ghosts again prevailed,
And
mistress Alice now for escort went,
Though
much she wished the other to have sent;
With
Simonetta she was forced to change,
And
leave the painter at his ease to range.
Thisdame at first appeared to be severe
Would
leave the room, and feigned to be sincere;
But
when the painter seized her by the gown,
She
prudence showed, and feared he’d pull her down;
Her
clothes might tear, which led her to remain:
On
this the husband scarcely could contain;
He
seemed resolved his hiding place to leave;
But
instantly the other pulled his sleeve;
Be
easy friend, said he, it is but right,
That
equal favours we should have to-night,
And
cuckoldom should take you to his care,
That
we alike in ev’ry thing may fare.
Arewe not brothers in adventure, pray?
And
such our solemn promises, to-day.
Since
one the painter clearly has disgraced,
The
other equally should be embraced.
In
spite of ev’ry thing you now advance,
Your
wife as well as mine shall have a dance;
A
hand I’ll lend, if wanting it be found;
Say
what you will, I’ll see she has her round.
She
had it then:—our painter tried to please;
The
lady equally appeared at ease;
Full
time the others gave, and when they came,
More
wine was not required by spark nor dame;
’Twas
late, and for the day enough he’d done;
Good
night was said: their course the belles had run;
The
painter, satisfied, retired to rest;
The
gay gallants, who lay so long distressed,
The
wily hostess from the closet drew,
Abashed,
disconsolate, and cuckolds too;
Still
worse to think, with all their care and pain;
That
neither of them could his wish obtain,
Or
e’en return the dame what she procured
Their
wives, whom she so cleverly allured.
Hereends our tale; the business is complete;
In
soft amours success alone is sweet.
* The Saint Ampoule, or Holy Ampulla, a vial said to have descended from heaven, in which was oil for anointing the kings of France at the coronation, and formerly kept at Rheims.
By others do The same as you would like they should
by you
The wish to please is ever found the same
We scarcely good can find without alloy
When passion prompts, few obstacles can clog
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