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<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=431333" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>A Confidant Without Knowing It; Or The Stratagem</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">NO master sage, nor orator I know,<br>Who can success, like gentle Cupid show;<br>His ways and arguments are pleasing smiles,<br>Engaging looks, soft tears, and winning wiles.<br>Wars in his empire will at times arise,<br>And, in the field, his standard meet the eyes;<br>Now stealing secretly, with skilful lure.<br>He penetrates to hearts supposed secure,<br>O'erleaps the ramparts that protect around,<br>And citadels reduces, most renowned.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">I DARE engage, two fortresses besiege<br>Leave one to Mars, and t'other to this liege.<br>And though the god of war should numbers bring,<br>With all the arms that can his thunders fling,<br>Before the fort he'll vainly waste his time,<br>While Cupid, unattended, in shall climb,<br>Obtain possession perfectly at ease,<br>And grant conditions just as he shall please.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">I NOW propose to give a fav'rite tale :--<br>The god of Love was never known to fail,<br>In finding stratagems, as I have read,<br>And many have I seen most nicely spread.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE young Aminta was Gerontes' wife,<br>With whom she lived, it seems, a wretched life.<br>Far better she deserved than what she had,<br>For he was jealous, and his temper bad:<br>An aged hunks, while she was in the hour<br>When hearts, that never felt LOVE'S mighty pow'r,<br>Are presently by tender objects caught,<br>Which ne'er before had entered in the thought.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">WHEN first Aminta saw young Cleon's face,<br>A lad possessing all engaging grace,<br>Much prudence then she ev'ry way displayed,<br>E'en more perhaps than necessary made.<br>For though we may suppose the lovely fair,<br>Would ev'ry effort use to 'scape the snare,<br>Yet when the god of soft persuasion takes<br>The fatal moment, havock soon he makes,<br>In vain his duty, any thing opposed,<br>If once the tender sentiment's disclosed.<br>Aminta consolation had in view<br>'Twas that alone the passion from her drew,<br>A meeting innocent, to vent her tears,<br>And, to a feeling friend, express her fears.<br>'Tis represented thus I cannot doubt;<br>But sight of meat brings appetite about;<br>And if you would avoid the tempting bit,<br>'Tis better far at table not to sit.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">AMINTA hoped to render Cleon kind;<br>Poor innocent! as yet to dangers blind,<br>These conversations she was led to deem,<br>Mere friendly ways that raised sincere esteem;<br>And this alone she ardently desired,<br>Without supposing more would be required,<br>Or any thing improper be the case:<br>She'd rather die than suffer such disgrace.<br>'Twas difficult the business to commence;<br>A letter 's often lost, or gives offence,<br>And many serious accidents arrive:<br>To have a confidant 'twere better strive;<br>But where could such a female friend be found?<br>Gerontes dreaded was by all around.<br>I've said already, Cupid will obtain,<br>One way or t'other, what he wants to gain;<br>And this will show the observation just<br>The maxim's such as you may always trust.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">A FEMALE relative young Cleon had,<br>A peevish prude, who looked upon the lad,<br>As one she had a right to rule and scold;<br>Her name was Mistress Alice: sour and old.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">ONE summer's day, Aminta to her said:<br>I cannot think how 'tis, your cousin's led,<br>(Though quite indifferent he is to me,<br>And doubtless such will ever prove to be)<br>With various fond attentions, to pretend,<br>He loves me--much beyond a common friend.<br>My window oft he passes day and night;<br>I cannot move a step, but he's in sight,<br>And in a moment at my heels appears;<br>Notes, letters full of soft expressions, dears,<br>To me are sent by one I will not name,<br>For known to you, she would be thought to blame:<br>Pray put an end to such a wild pursuit<br>It nothing can produce but wretched fruit;<br>My husband may take fire at things like these;<br>And as to Cleon.--me he'll never please;<br>I'll thank you to inform him what I say;<br>Such steps are useless: folly they betray.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">MUCH praise Aminta from the dame received;<br>Who promised that the conduct, which aggrieved;<br>To Cleon she would mention, as desired,<br>And reprimand him, as the fault required:<br>So well would scold him, that she might be sure,<br>From him in future she would be secure.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE foll'wing day our youth to Alice came;<br>To pay a visit solely was his aim;<br>She told him what Aminta had declared,<br>And, in her lecture, words by no means spared.<br>The lad, surprised, on oath the whole denied,<br>And vowed to gain her love, he never tried.<br>Old Alice called her cousin, imp of Hell;<br>Said she, in all that's wicked, you excel;<br>You will not all your base designs confess;<br>The oaths are false on which you lay such stress,<br>And punishment most richly you deserve;<br>But false or true, from this I will not swerve,<br>That you should recollect, Aminta 's chaste,<br>And never will submit to be disgraced;<br>Renounce her from this hour; no more pursue:--<br>That easily, said Cleon, I can do;<br>Away he went: the case considered o'er;<br>But still the myst'ry he could not explore.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THREE days had scarcely passed: Aminta came,<br>To pay a visit to our ancient dame;<br>Cried she I fear, you have not seen as yet,<br>This youth, who worse and worse appears to get.<br>Rage, Mistress Alice, instantly o'erspread,<br>And ev'ry thing that's vile she of him said.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">NO sooner had Aminta gone away,<br>But she for Cleon sent without delay.<br>He presently appeared; yet to detail<br>How Alice stormed, I certainly should fail;<br>Unless an iron tongue I could obtain:<br>All Hell was ransacked epithets to gain;<br>And Lucifer and Beelzebub were used:<br>No mortal ever was so much abused.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">QUITE terrified, poor lad, he scarcely knew;<br>Her fury was so great, what best to do;<br>If he allowed that he had acted wrong,<br>'Twould wound his conscience and defile his tongue.<br>He home repaired, and turning in his mind<br>What he had heard, at length his thoughts inclined,<br>To fancy that Aminta was disposed,<br>To play some cunning trick, which, not disclosed,<br>Would operate to bring her wish about;<br>I see, said he, the scheme I should not doubt;<br>It surely is my duty kind to be:<br>Methinks I hear her freely say to me,<br>O Cleon! show affection, I am yours;<br>I love her too, for beauty that secures;<br>And while her seraph charms my bosom fire;<br>I equally the stratagem admire.<br>Most freely howsoe'er I will confess,<br>At first I was so dull, I could not guess<br>At what she aimed, but now the object's plain:<br>Aminta o'er my heart desires to reign.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THIS minute, if I durst, I'd thither go,<br>And, full of confidence, declare my woe,<br>The subtle flame that burns without controul;<br>What hurt to paint feelings of my soul?<br>From balance of accounts 'twill both exempt:<br>'Tis better far to love than show contempt.<br>But should the husband find me in the house?--<br>Ne'er think of that, and try the hunks to chouse.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THEIR course had hardly run three other days,<br>When fair Aminta, studious still of ways<br>To have her wish, again to Alice came,<br>To give dear Cleon notice of her flame.<br>My home, cried she, 'tis requisite I leave:<br>To ruin me, your cousin, I perceive,<br>Is still resolved, for presents now he sends;<br>But he mistakes, and blindly wealth expends;<br>I'm clearly not the woman he suspects:<br>See here, what jewels rare to please the sex!<br>Nice rubies, diamonds too, but what is more,<br>My portrait I have found among the store,<br>Which must have been from memory designed,<br>Since only with my husband that you'll find.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">WHEN I arose, this person known to you,<br>Whose name I must conceal (to honour true),<br>Arrived and brought me what I just have shown;<br>The whole should at your cousin's head be thrown;<br>And were he present:--but I'll curb my rage;<br>Allow me to proceed, and you engage<br>To hear the rest:--he word has also sent,<br>That as to-day he knew my husband went<br>On business to his cottage in the wood,<br>Where he would sleep the night, he understood,<br>No sooner should the servants be in bed,<br>And Morpheus' robe be o'er their senses spread,<br>But to my dressing room he would repair:--<br>What can he hope, such project to declare?<br>A meeting place indeed!--he must be mad;<br>Were I not fearful 'twould affliction add<br>To my old husband, I would set a watch,<br>Who, at the entrance, should the villain catch;<br>Or put him instantly to shame and flight;<br>This said, she presently was out of sight.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">AN hour had passed when Cleon came anew;<br>The jewels at him in a moment flew;<br>And scarcely Mistress Alice could refrain,<br>From wreaking further vengeance on the swain.<br>Is this your plan? cried she; but what is worse,<br>I find you still desire a greater curse;<br>And then she told him all Aminta said,<br>When last to visit her the fair was led.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">HIMSELF most fully warned the youth now thought;<br>I loved, cried he, 'tis true; but that is naught,<br>Since nothing from the belle I must expect:<br>In future her completely I'll neglect.<br>That is the line, said Alice, you should take;<br>The lad howe'er was fully now awake,<br>And thoroughly resolved to seek the dame,<br>Whose cunning wiles had set him in a flame.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE, midnight hour the clock no sooner told;<br>Than Cleon ran the myst'ry to unfold,<br>And to the spot repaired, which he supposed,<br>Aminta meant, from what had been disclosed;<br>The place was well described, and there he found;<br>Awaiting at the door, this belle renowned,<br>Without attendants: sleep their eyes o'erspread:<br>Behind thick clouds the very stars had fled:<br>As all had been expected, in he went,<br>Most thoroughly they both appeared content;<br>Few words were used: in haste the pair withdrew,<br>Where ev'ry wish at ease they might pursue.<br>The smart gallant at once her beauty praised;<br>His admiration presently was raised;<br>Sweet kindness followed; charms were oft admired;<br>And all was managed as their hearts desired.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">SAID youthful Cleon, now you'll tell me why<br>This stratagem you were induced to try?<br>For such before in love was never seen;<br>'Tis excellent, and worthy Beauty's queen.<br>A lovely blush o'erspread Aminta's face,<br>And gave her lily-cheeks superior grace.<br>He praised her person, artifice, and wit,<br>And did whate'er the moments would admit.</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><br />poem by <a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/by.php?a=La+Fontaine">La Fontaine</a><div class=q>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=citatepedia" async="async"></script><div style="display:inline-block" class="addthis_sharing_toolbox" data-url="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=431333" data-title="A Confidant Without Knowing It; Or The Stratagem de La Fontaine" data-description="NO master sage, nor orator I know,
Who can success, like gentle Cupid show;
His ways and arguments are pleasing smiles,
Engaging looks, soft tears, and winning wiles.
Wars in his empire will at times arise,
And, in the field, his standard meet the..."></div>
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