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Table of Contents | |
Section | Page |
Start of eBook | 1 |
Title: The Tales and Novels, v3: The Muleteer and Others | 1 |
ETEXT EDITOR’S BOOKMARKS: | 12 |
Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) | 13 |
(Three Pages) | 15 |
Author: Jean de La Fontaine
Release Date: March, 2004 [EBook #5277] [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, V3 ***
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 3.
Contains:
The Muleteer
The Servant Girl Justified
The Three Gossips’ Wager
The muleteer
The Lombard princes oft pervade my mind;
The present tale Boccace relates you’ll find;
Agiluf was the noble monarch’s name;
Teudelingua he married, beauteous dame,
The last king’s widow, who had left no heir,
And whose dominions proved our prince’s share.
No
Beauty round compare could with the queen;
And
ev’ry blessing on the throne was seen,
When
Cupid, in a playful moment, came,
And
o’er Agiluf’s stable placed his flame;
There
left it carelessly to burn at will,
Which
soon began a muleteer to fill,
With
love’s all-powerful, all-consuming fire,
That
naught controls, and youthful breasts desire.
Themuleteer was pleasing to the sight:
Gallant,
good-humoured, airy, and polite,
And
ev’ry way his humble birth belied;
A
handsome person, nor was sense denied;
He
showed it well, for when the youth beheld,
With
eyes of love, the queen, who all excelled,
And
ev’ry effort anxiously had made,
To
stop the flames that would his heart invade;
When
vain it proved, he took a prudent part:—
Whocan, like Cupid, manage wily art?
Whate’er
stupidity we may discern,
His
pupils more within a day can learn,
Than
Masters knowledge in the schools can gain,
Though
they in study should ten years remain;
The
lowest clown he presently inspires,
With
ev’ry tendency that love requires;
Of
this our present tale’s a proof direct,
And
none that feel—its truths will e’er
suspect:
Theam’rous muleteer his thoughts employed;
Consid’ring
how his wish might be enjoyed.
Without
success to certainty were brought,
Life
seemed to him not worth a slender thought;
To
hazard ev’ry thing; to live or die!
Possession
have!—or in the grave to lie!
TheLombard custom was, that when the king,
Who
slept not with his queen, (a common thing
In
other countries too), desired to greet
His
royal consort, and in bed to meet,
A
night-gown solely o’er his back he threw,
And
then proceeded to the interview,
Knocked
softly at the door, on which a fair,
Who
waited on the queen with anxious care,
Allowed
the prince to enter; took his light,
(Which
only glimmered in the midst of night,)
Then
put it out, and quickly left the room:—
A
little lantern to dispel the gloom,
With
waxen taper that emitted rays—
In
diff’rent countries various are their ways!
Ourwily, prying, crafty muleteer,
Knew
well these forms were current through the year:
He,
like the king, at night himself equipped,
And
to the queen’s superb apartment slipped.
His
face concealed the fellow tried to keep;
The
waiting dame was more than half asleep;
The
lover got access:—soon all was clear;
The
prince’s coming he had but to fear,
And,
as the latter had, throughout the day,
The
chase attended an extensive way,
’Twas
more than probable he’d not be led,
(Since
such fatigue he’d had,) to quit his bed.
Perfumed,
quite neat, and lively as a bird,
Our
spark (safe entered) uttered not a word.
’Twas
often customary with the king,
When
state affairs, or other weighty thing,
Displeasure
gave, to take of love his fill,
Yet
let his tongue the while continue still.
A
singularity we needs must own,
With
this the wife was long familiar grown.
Ouram’rous wight more joys than one received,
If
our narrator of the tale’s believed;
(In
bed a muleteer is worth three kings,
And
value oft is found in humble things.)
The
queen began to think her husband’s rage
Had
proved a stimulus such wars to wage,
And
made him wond’rous stout in pleasure’s
sport,
Though
all the while his thoughts were-’bout the court.
Withperfect justice Heav’n its gifts bestows;
But
equal talents all should not compose.
The
prince’s virtues doubtless were designed,
To
take command, and govern o’er mankind.
The
lawyer, points of difficulty views,
Decides
with judgment, and the truth pursues.
In
Cupid’s scenes the muleteer succeeds:—
Each
has his part:—none universal meeds.
Withpleasures feasted, our gallant retired,
Before
the morn fresh blushes had acquired.
But
scarcely had he left the tender scene,
’Ere
king Agiluf came to see his queen,
Who
much surprise expressed, and to him said:
My
dear, I know your love, but from this bed,
You’ll
recollect how recently you went,
And
having wonders done, should be content.
For
heav’n’s sake, consider more your health;
‘Tis
dearer far to me than Croesus’ wealth.
Withinthe royal breast suspicions rose,
But
nothing then the monarch would disclose.
He
instantly withdrew without a word;
His
sentiments to speak had been absurd,
And
to the stable flew, since he believed
The
circumstances, which his bosom grieved,
Whate’er
mysterious doubts might then appear,
Proceeded
from some am’rous muleteer.
Whenround the dorture he began to creep,
The
troop appeared as if dissolved in sleep,
And
so they truly were, save our gallant,
Whose
terrors made him tremble, sigh, and pant:
No
light the king had got; it still was dark;
Agiluf
groped about to find the spark,
Persuaded
that the culprit might be known,
By
rapid beating of the pulse alone.
The
thought was good; to feel the prince began,
And
at the second venture, found his man,
Who,
whether from the pleasures he’d enjoyed,
Or
fear, or dread discov’ry to avoid,
Experienced
(spite of ev’ry wily art,)
At
once quick beating of the pulse and heart.
In
doubt how this adventure yet might end,
He
thought to seem asleep would him befriend.
Meanwhilethe king, though not without much pains,
Obtained
the scissors used for horses’ manes.
With
these, he said, I’ll mark the fond gallant,
That
I may know again the one I want.
Themonarch from the muleteer with care,
In
front, snipt off a bulky lock of hair.
This
having done, he suddenly withdrew;
But
carelessly away the trophy threw;
Of
which the sly gallant advantage took,
And
thus the prince’s subtle project shook;
For
instantly began our artful spark,
His
fellow servants like himself to mark.
Whenday arrived the monarch was surprised,
To
see each muleteer alike disguised;
No
hair in front of either now was seen;
Why,
how is this? said he: What can it mean?
Fifteen
or more, if I believe my sight,
My
wife has satisfied this very night.
Well!
well! he’ll now escape if mum he prove;
But
there again I trust he ne’er shall move.
The servant girl justified
Boccace alone is not my only source;
T’another shop I now shall have recourse;
Though, certainly, this famed Italian wit
Has many stories for my purpose fit.
But since of diff’rent dishes we should taste;
Upon an ancient work my hands I’ve placed;
Where full a hundred narratives are told,
And various characters we may behold;
From life, Navarre’s fair queen the fact relates;
My story int’rest in her page creates;
Beyond dispute from her we always find,
Simplicity with striking art combin’d.
Yet, whether ’tis the queen who writes, or not;
I shall, as usual, here and there allot
Whate’er additions requisite appear;
Without such license I’d not persevere,
But quit, at once, narrations of the sort;
Some may be long, though others are too short.
Letus proceed, howe’er (our plan explained:)
A
pretty servant-girl a man retain’d.
She
pleas’d his eye, and presently he thought,
With
ease she might to am’rous sports be brought;
He
prov’d not wrong; the wench was blithe and gay,
A
buxom lass, most able ev’ry way.
Atdawn, one summer’s morn, the spark was led
To
rise, and leave his wife asleep in bed;
He
sought at once the garden, where he found
The
servant-girl collecting flow’rs around,
To
make a nosegay for his better half,
Whose
birth-day ’twas:—he soon began to
laugh,
And
while the ranging of the flow’rs he prais’d,
The
servant’s neckerchief he slyly rais’d.
Who,
suddenly, on feeling of the hand,
Resistance
feign’d, and seem’d to make a stand;
But
since these liberties were nothing new,
They
other fun and frolicks would pursue;
The
nosegay at the fond gallant was thrown;
The
flow’rs he kiss’d, and now more ardent
grown
They
romp’d and rattl’d, play’d and skipt
around;
At
length the fair one fell upon the ground;
Our
am’rous spark advantage took of this,
And
nothing with the couple seem’d amiss.
Unluckily,
a neighbour’s prying eyes
Beheld
their playful pranks with great surprise,
She,
from her window, could the scene o’erlook;
When
this the fond gallant observ’d, he shook;
Said
he, by heav’ns! our frolicking is seen,
By
that old haggard, envious, prying quean;
But
do not heed it; instantly he chose
To
run and wake his wife, who quickly rose;—
So
much the dame he fondl’d and caress’d,
The
garden walk she took at his request,
To
have a nosegay, where he play’d anew
Pranks
just the same as those of recent view,
Which
highly gratified our lady fair,
Who
felt dispos’d, and would at eve repair,
To
her good neighbour, whom she bursting found,
With
what she’d seen that morn upon the ground.
Theusual greetings o’er, our envious dame,
With
scowling brow exclaim’d,—my dear,
your fame,
I
love too much not fully to detail,
What
I have witnessed, and with truth bewail;
Will
you continue, in your house to keep
A
girl, whose conduct almost makes me weep?
Anon
I’d kick her from your house, I say;
The
strumpet should not stay another day.
The
wife replied, you surely are deceiv’d;
An
honest, virtuous creature she’s believ’d.
Well,
I can easily, my friend, suppose,
Rejoin’d
the neighbour, whence this favour flows;
But
look about, and be convinc’d, this morn
From
my own window (true as you are born,)
Within
the garden I your husband spi’d
And
presently the servant girl I ey’d;
At
one another various flow’rs they threw,
And
then the minx a little graver grew.
I
understand you, cried the list’ning fair;
You
are deceiv’d:—myself alone was there.
Neighbour
But patience, if you please: attend I pray
You’ve no conception what I meant to say:
The playful fair was actively employ’d,
In plucking am’rous flow’rs—they kiss’d and toy’d.
Wife
’Twas clearly I, howe’er, for her you took.
Neighbour
The flow’rs for bosoms
quickly they forsook;
Large handfuls frequently they seem’d
to grasp,
And ev’ry beauty in its turn to clasp.
Wife
But still, why think you,
friend, it was not I?
Has not your spouse with you a right to
try
What freaks he likes?
Neighbour
But then, upon the ground
This girl was thrown, and never cried nor
frown’d;
You laugh.—
Wife
Indeed I do, ’twas myself.
Neighbour
A flannel petticoat display’d
Wife
’Twas mine:
Neighbour
Be patient:—and inform me, pray,
If this were worn by you or her to-day?
There lies the point, for, if you’ll me believe,
Your husband did—the most you can conceive.
Wife
How hard of credence!—’twas myself I vow.
Neighbour
Oh! that’s conclusive; I’ll be silent now;
Though truly I am led to think, my eyes
Are pretty sharp, and much I feel surprise
At what you say; in fact, I would have sworn,
I saw them thus at romps this very morn;
Excuse the hint, and do not turn her off.
Wife
Why, turn her off?—the
very thought I scoff;
She serves me well.
Neighbour
And so it seems is taught;
By all means keep her then, since thus she’s
thought.
The three gossips’ Wager
As o’er their wine one day, three gossips sat,
Discoursing various pranks in pleasant chat,
Each had a loving friend, and two of these
Most clearly managed matters at their ease.
Said one, a princely husband I have got.
A better in the world there’s surely not;
With him I can adjust as humour fits,
No need to rise at early dawn, like cits,
To prove to him that two and three make four,
Or ask his leave to ope or shut the door.
Uponmy word, replied another fair,
If
he were mine, I openly declare,
To
judge from what so pleasantly you say,
I’d
make a present of him new-year’s day.
For
pleasure never gives me full delight,
Unless
a little pain the bliss invite.
No
doubt your husband moves as he is led;
Thank
heav’n a different mortal claims my bed;
To
take him in, great nicety we need;
But
howsoe’er, at times I can succeed;
The
satisfaction doubly then is felt:—
In
fond emotion bosoms freely melt.
With
neither of you, husband or gallant,
Would
I exchange, though these so much you vaunt.
Onthis, the third with candour interfer’d;
She
thought that oft the god of love appear’d,
Good
husbands playfully to fret and vex,
Sometimes
to rally couples: then perplex;
But
warmer as the conversation grew,
She,
anxious that each disputant might view
Herself
victorious, (or believe it so,)
Exclaim’d,
if either of you wish to show
Who’s
in the right, with argument have done,
And
let us practise some new scheme of fun,
To
dupe our husbands; she who don’t succeed
Shall
pay a forfeit; all replied, “Agreed.”
She,
’mong the three, who felt the most constraint
Ador’d
a youth, contemporaries paint,
Well
made and handsome, but with beardless chin,
Which
led the pair a project to begin;
For
yet no opportunity they’d found,
T’
enjoy their wishes, save by stealth around;
Most
ardently she sought to be at ease,
And
’twas agreed the lucky thought to seize
That
like a chambermaid he should be dress’d,
And
then proceed to execute the jest,
Attend
upon the wily, wedded pair,
And
offer services with modest air
And
downcast eyes; the husband on her leer’d,
And
in her favour prepossess’d appear’d,
In
hopes one day, to find those pleasing charms
Resign’d
in secret to his longing arms.
Such
pretty cheeks and sparkling eyes he thought,
Had
ne’er till then his roving fancy caught;
The
girl was hir’d, but seemingly with pain,
Since
Prudence ultimately might complain,
That
(maid and master both so very young)
’Twould
not be wonderful if things went wrong.
Atfirst the husband inattention show’d,
And
scarcely on the maid a look bestow’d;
But
presently he chang’d his conduct quite,
And
presents gave, with promises not slight;
At
length the servant feign’d to lend an ear,
And
anxious seem’d obliging to appear.
Thetrap our cunning lovers having laid,
One
eve this message brought the smiling maid;
My
lady, sir, is ill, and rest requires,
To
sleep alone to-night she much desires.
To
grant the master’s wish the girl was led,
And
they together hurried off to bed.
Thehusband ’tween the sheets himself had plac’d;
The
nymph was in her petticoat, unlac’d;
When
suddenly appear’d the wily wife,
And
promis’d harmony was turn’d to strife.
Are
these your freaks, cried she with mark’d surprise;
Your
usual dish it seems then don’t suffice;
You
want, indeed, to have some nicer fare?
A
little sooner, by the saints I swear,
You’d
me a pretty trick, ’tis clear, have shown,
And
doubtless, then, tit bits to keep been prone.
This,
howsoe’er, to get you’re not design’d,
So
Onthis the trembling girl, o’ercome with fears;
Held
down her head and seem’d to hide her tears;
Pick’d
up her clothes and quickly stole away,
As
if afraid her mistress more might say;
And
hop’d to act the maid while Sol gave light,
But
play at ease the fond gallant at night;
At
once she fill’d two places in the house,
And
thought in both the husband she should chouse,
Who
bless’d his stars that he’d escap’d
so well,
And
sneak’d alone to rest within his cell,
While
our gay, am’rous pair advantage took,
To
play at will, and ev’ry solace hook,
Convinc’d
most thoroughly, once lovers kiss’d,
That
opportunity should n’er be miss’d.
Here
ends the trick our wily gossip play’d;
But
now let’s see the plot another laid.
Thesecond dame, whose husband was so meek,
That
only from her lips the truth he’d seek,
When
seated with him ’neath a pear tree’s shade,
Contriv’d
at ease and her arrangement made.
The
story I shall presently relate;
The
butler, strong, well dress’d, and full of prate:
Who
often made the other servants trot,
Stood
near when madam hit upon her plot,
To
whom she said, I wish the fruit to taste;
On
which the man prepar’d with ev’ry haste,
To
climb the tree, and off the produce shook;
But
while above, the fellow gave a look
Upon
the ground below, and feign’d he saw
The
spouse and wife—do more than kiss and paw:
The
servant rubb’d his eyes, as if in doubt,
William
Not now, sir, no, not now.
Husband
Why, when then, friend?
William
While I was in the tree,
Alive, sir, flay me, if I did not see
You on the verdant lawn my lady lay,
And kiss, and toy, and other frolicks play.
Wife
’Twere surely better
if thou held’st thy tongue,
Or thou’lt a beating get before ’tis
long.
Husband
No, no, my dear, he’s
mad, and I design
The fellow in a madhouse to confine.
William
Is’t folly, pray, to see what we behold?
Wife
What hast thou seen?
William
What I’ve
already told:—
My master and yourself at Cupid’s
game,
Or else the tree ’s enchanted I proclaim.
Wife
Enchanted! nonsense; such a sight to see!
Husband
To know the truth myself,
I’ll climb the tree,
Then you the fact will quickly from me learn;
We may believe what we ourselves discern.
Soon as the master they above descried,
And that below our pair he sharply eyed,
The butler took the lady in his arms,
And grew at once familiar with her charms;
At sight of this the husband gave a yell:
Made haste to reach the ground, and nearly fell;
Such liberties he wish’d at once to stop,
Since what he’d seen had nearly made him drop.
How! how!—cried he:—what, e’en before my sight?
What can you mean? said she without affright.
Husband
DAR’ST thou to ask again?
Wife
And why not, pray?
Husband
Fine, pretty doings!—Presently
you’ll say;
That what I’ve seen ’tis folly
to believe.
Wife
Too much is this:—such accusations grieve.
Husband
Thou did’st most clearly suffer his embrace.
Wife
I? Why, you dream!
Husband
This
seems a curious case.
My reason’s flown’! or
have I lost my eyes?
Wife
Can you suppose my character I prize
So very little, that these pranks I’d play
Before your face, when I might ev’ry day
Find minutes to divert myself at will,
And (if lik’d such frolicks) take my fill?
Husband
I know not what to think nor what to do;
P’rhaps this same tree can tricks at will pursue;
Let’s see again; aloft he went once more,
And William acted as he’d done before;
But now the husband saw the playful squeeze;
Without emotion, and returned at ease.
To find the cause, said he, no longer try,
The tree’s enchanted, we may well rely.
Since,
that’s the fact, replied the cunning jade;
To
burn it, quickly William seek fort aid;
The
tree accurst no longer shall remain;
Her
will the servant wish’d not to restrain,
But
soon some workmen brought, who felled the tree;
And
wondered what the fault our fair could see.
Down
hew it, cried the lady, that’s your task;
More
concerns you not; folly ’tis to ask.
Oursecond gossip thus obtained success;
But
now the third: we’ll see if she had less:
To
female friends she often visits paid,
And
various pastimes there had daily play’d;
A
leering lover who was weary grown,
Desired
one night she’d meet him quite alone.
Two,
if you will, replied the smiling fair;
A
trifle ’tis you ask, and I’ll repair
Where’er
you wish, and we’ll recline at ease;
My
husband I can manage, if I please,
While
thus engag’d.—The parties soon agreed;
But
still the lady for her wits had need,
Since
her dear man from home but rarely went,
No
pardons sought at Rome, but was content
With
what he nearer got, while his sweet wife
More
fondness mark’d for gratifying life,
And
ever anxious, warmest zeal to show,
Was
always wishing distant scenes to know;
As
pilgrim oft she’d trod a foreign road,
But
now desir’d those ancient ways t’explode;
A
plan more rare and difficult she sought,
And
round her toe our wily dame bethought,
To
tie a pack-thread, fasten’d to the door,
Which
open’d to the street: then feign’d
to snore
Beside
her husband, Harry Berlinguier,
(So,
usually, they nam’d her wedded dear.)
HOWE’ER,
so cunningly with him she dealt,
That
Harry turn’d, and soon the pack-thread felt,
Which
rais’d distrust, and led him to suspect
Some
bad design the thread was meant t’effect.
A
little time, as if asleep, he lay
Considering
how to act, or what to say;
Then
rose, (his spouse believing not awake,)
And
softly treading, lest the room should shake;
The
pack-thread follow’d to the outer door,
And
thence concluded (what he might deplore,)
That
his dear partner from her faith would stray,
And
some gallant that night design’d to play
The
lover’s part and draw the secret clue,
When
she would rise, and with him freaks pursue,
While
he (good husband!) quietly in bed
Might
sleep, not dreaming that his wife had fled.
Forotherwise, what use such pains to take?
A
visit cuckoldom, perhaps, might make;
An
honour that he’d willingly decline;
On
which he studied how to countermine;
And
like a sentinel mov’d to and fro’,
To
watch if any one would thither go
To
pull the string, that he could see with ease,
And
then he’d instantly the culprit seize.
The,
reader will perceive, we may suppose,
Besides
the entrance which the husband chose,
On
t’other side a door, where our gallant
Could
enter readily, as he might want,
And
there the spark a chambermaid let in:—
Oft
servants prone are found a bribe to win.
WhileBerlinguier thus watch’d around and round;
The
friends with one another pleasures found;
But
heav’n alone knows how nor what they were:—
No
fact transpir’d save all was free from care;
So
well the servant kept the careful watch,
That
not a chance was given the pair to catch:
Thespark at dawn the lady left alone,
And
ere the husband came the bird was flown;
Then
Harry, weary, took his place again,
Complaining,
that he’d felt such racking pain,
And
dreading, lest alarms her breast should seize,
Within
another room he’d sought for ease.
Two
days had pass’d, when madam thought once more,
To
set the thread, as she had done before;
He
left the bed, pretending he was sick,
Resumed
his post; again the lover came,
And,
with my lady, play’d the former game.
Thescheme so well succeeded, that the pair
Thrice
wish’d to try the wily pack-thread snare;
The
husband with the cholic mov’d away,
His
place the bold gallant resum’d till day.
Atlength their ardour ’gan, it seems, to cool,
And
Harry, they no longer tried to fool;
’Twas
time to seek the myst’ry of the plot,
Since,
to three acts, the comedy was got.
Atmidnight, when the spark had left the bed;
A
servant, by his orders, drew the thread;
On
whom the husband, without fear, laid hold,
And
with him enter’d like a soldier bold,
Not
then supposing he’d a valet seiz’d;
Well
tim’d it prov’d, howe’er;—the
lady pleas’d
Her
voice to raise, on hearing what was said,
And
through the house confusion quickly spread.
Thevalet now before them bent the knee,
And
openly declar’d, he came to see
The
chambermaid, whom he was wont to greet,
And
by the thread to rouse when time to meet:
Arethese your knavish tricks, replied the dame,
With
eyes upon her maid that darted flame;
When
I by chance observ’d about your toe,
A
thread one night, I then resolv’d to know
Your
scheme in full, and round my own I tied
A
clue, on which I thoroughly relied,
To
catch this gay gallant, that you pretend
Your
husband will become, I apprehend.
Be
that as ’twill, to-night from hence you go.
My
dear, said Berlinguier, I’d fain say no;
Let
things remain until to-morrow, pray
And
then my lady presently gave way.
A
fortune Harry on the girl bestow’d;
The
like our valet to his master ow’d;
To
church the happy couple smiling went:—
They’d
known each other long, and were content.
Thusended then, the third and last amour;
The
trio hasten’d Macae to implore,
To
say which gain’d the bet, who soon replied:—
I
find it, friends, not easy to decide.
Thecase hangs up, and there will long remain;
’Tis
often thus when justice we’d obtain:
Was always wishing distant scenes to know
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