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<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=431340" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>Joconde</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">IN Lombardy's fair land, in days of yore,<br>Once dwelt a prince, of youthful charms, a store;<br>Each FAIR, with anxious look, his favours sought,<br>And ev'ry heart within his net was caught.<br>Quite proud of beauteous form and smart address,<br>In which the world was led to acquiesce,<br>He cried one day, while ALL attention paid,<br>I'll bet a million, Nature never made<br>Beneath the sun, another man like me,<br>Whose symmetry with mine can well agree.<br>If such exist, and here will come, I swear<br>I'll show him ev'ry lib'ral princely care.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">A noble Roman, who the challenge heard,<br>This answer gave the king his soul preferr'd<br>--Great prince, if you would see a handsome man,<br>To have my brother here should be your plan;<br>A frame more perfect Nature never gave;<br>But this to prove, your courtly dames I crave;<br>May judge the fact, when I'm convinc'd they'll find:<br>Like you, the youth will please all womankind;<br>And since so many sweets at once may cloy,<br>'Twere well to have a partner in your joy.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE king, surpris'd, expressed a wish to view<br>This brother, form'd by lines so very true;<br>We'll see, said he, if here his charms divine<br>Attract the heart of ev'ry nymph, like mine;<br>And should success attend our am'rous lord,<br>To you, my friend, full credit we'll accord.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">AWAY the Roman flew, Joconde to get,<br>(So nam'd was he in whom these features met <br>'Midst woods and lawns, retir'd from city strife,<br>And lately wedded to a beauteous wife;<br>If bless'd, I know not; but with such a fair,<br>On him must rest the folly to despair.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE Roman courtier came, his business told<br>The brilliant offers from the monarch bold;<br>His mission had success, but still the youth<br>Distraction felt, which 'gan to shake his truth;<br>A pow'rful monarch's favour there he view'd;<br>A partner here, with melting tears bedew'd;<br>And while he wavered on the painful choice,<br>She thus address'd her spouse with plaintive voice:</div><div style="margin:10px 0">CAN you, Joconde, so truly cruel prove,<br>To quit my fervent love in courts to move?<br>The promises of kings are airy dreams,<br>And scarcely last beyond the day's extremes<br>By watchful, anxious care alone retain'd,<br>And lost, through mere caprice, as soon as gain'd.<br>If weary of my charms, alas! you feel,<br>Still think, my love, what joys these woods conceal;<br>Here dwell around tranquillity and ease;<br>The streams' soft murmurs, and the balmy breeze,<br>Invite to sleep; these vales where breathe the doves,<br>All, all, my dear Joconde, renew our loves;<br>You laugh!--Ah! cruel, go, expose thy charms,<br>Grim death will quickly spare me these alarms!</div><div style="margin:10px 0">JOCONDE'S reply our records ne'er relate,<br>Nor what he did, nor how he left his mate;<br>And since contemp'raries decline the task;<br>'Twere folly, such details of me to ask.<br>We're told, howe'er, when ready to depart,<br>With flowing tears she press'd him to her heart;<br>And on his arm a brilliant bracelet plac'd,<br>With hair around her picture nicely trac'd;<br>This guard in full remembrance of my love,<br>She cried;--then clasped her hands to pow'rs above.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">TO see such dire distress, and poignant grief,<br>Might lead to think, soon death would bring relief;<br>But I, who know full well the female mind,<br>At best oft doubt affliction of the kind.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">JOCONDE set out at length; but that same morn;<br>As on he mov'd, his soul with anguish torn,<br>He found the picture he had quite forgot,<br>Then turn'd his steed, and back began to trot.<br>While musing what excuse to make his mate,<br>At home he soon arriv'd, and op'd the gate;<br>Alighted unobserv'd, ran up the stairs;<br>And ent'ring to the lady unawares,<br>He found this darling rib, so full of charms;<br>Intwin'd within a valet's brawny arms!</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'MIDST first emotions of the husband's ire;<br>To stab them while asleep he felt desire;<br>Howe'er, he nothing did; the courteous wight;<br>In this dilemma, clearly acted right;<br>The less of such misfortunes said is best;<br>'Twere well the soul of feeling to divest;<br>Their lives, through pity, or prudential care;<br>With much reluctance, he was led to spare;<br>Asleep he left the pair, for if awake,<br>In honour, he a diff'rent step would take.--<br>Had any smart gallant supplied my place,<br>Said he, I might put up with this disgrace;<br>But naught consoles the thought of such a beast;<br>Dan Cupid wantons, or is blind at least;<br>A bet, or some such whim, induc'd the god,<br>To give his sanction to amours so odd.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THIS perfidy Joconde so much dismay'd;<br>His spirits droop'd, his lilies 'gan to fade;<br>No more he look'd the charmer he had been;<br>And when the court's gay dames his face had seen;<br>They cried, Is this the beauty, we were told,<br>Would captivate each heart, or young or old?<br>Why, he's the jaundice; ev'ry view displays<br>The mien of one,--just fasted forty days!</div><div style="margin:10px 0">WITH secret pleasure, this, Astolphus learn'd;<br>The Roman, for his brother, risks discern'd,<br>Whose secret griefs were carefully conceal'd,<br>(And these Joconde could never wish reveal'd <br>Yet, spite of gloomy looks and hollow eyes,<br>His graceful features pierc'd the wan disguise,<br>Which fail'd to please, alone through want of life,<br>Destroy'd by thinking on a guilty wife.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE god of love, in pity to our swain,<br>At last revok'd BLACK CARE'S corroding reign;<br>For, doubtless, in his views he oft was cross'd,<br>While such a lover to the world was lost.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE hero of our tale, at length, we find<br>Was well rewarded: LOVE again proved kind;<br>For, musing as he walk'd alone one day,<br>And pass'd a gall'ry, (held a secret way,)<br>A voice in plaintive accents caught his ear,<br>And from the neighb'ring closet came, 'twas clear:<br>My dear Curtade, my only hope below,<br>In vain I love;--you colder, colder grow;<br>While round no fair can boast so fine a face,<br>And numbers wish they might supply thy place,<br>Whilst thou with some gay page prefer'st a bet,<br>Or game of dice with some low, vulgar set,<br>To meeting me alone; and when just now<br>To thee I sent, with rage thou knit'st thy brow,<br>And Dorimene, with ev'ry curse abus'd<br>Then played again, since better that amus'd,<br>And left me here, as if not worth a thought,<br>Or thou didst scorn what I so fondly sought.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">ASTONISHMENT, at once, our Roman seiz'd;<br>But who's the fair that thus her bosom eas'd?<br>Or, who's the gay Adonis, form'd to bless?<br>You'd try a day, and not the secret guess,<br>The queen's the belle:--and, doubtless you will stare,<br>The king's own dwarf the idol of her care!</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE Roman saw a crevice in the wood,<br>Through which he took a peep from where he stood;<br>To Dorimene our lovers left the key,<br>Which she had dropt when lately forc'd to flee,<br>And this Joconde pick'd up, a lucky hit,<br>Since he could use it when he best thought fit.<br>It seems, said he, I'm not alone in name,<br>And since a prince so handsome is the same,<br>Although a valet has supplied my place,<br>Yet see, the queen prefers a dwarf's embrace.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THIS thought consol'd so well,--his youthful rays<br>Returned, and e'en excelled his former days;<br>And those who lately ridicul'd his charms,<br>Now anxious seem'd to revel in his arms<br>'Twas who could have him,--even prudes grew kind;--<br>By many belles Astolphus was resign'd;<br>Though still the king retain'd enough, 'twas seen;--<br>But now let us resume the dwarf and queen.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">OUR Roman, having satisfied his eyes,<br>At length withdrew, confounded by surprise.<br>Who follows courts, must oft with care conceal,<br>And scarcely know what sight and ears reveal.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">YET, by Joconde the king was lov'd so well,<br>What now he'd seen he greatly wish'd to tell;<br>But, since to princes full respect is due,<br>And what concerns them, howsoever true,<br>If thought displeasing, should not be dispos'd<br>In terms direct, but obviously dispos'd,<br>To catch the mind, Joconde at ease detail'd,<br>From days of yore to those he now bewail'd,<br>The names of emp'rors and of kings, whose brows,<br>By wily wives, were crown'd with leafless boughs!<br>And who, without repining, view'd their lot,<br>Nor bad made worse, but thought things best forgot.<br>E'en I, who now your majesty address,<br>Continued he, am sorry to confess,<br>The very day I left my native earth,</div><div style="margin:10px 0">To wait upon a prince of royal birth,<br>Was forced t'acknowledge cuckoldom among<br>The gods who rule the matrimonial throng,<br>And sacrifice thereto with aching heart<br>Cornuted heads dire torments oft impart:</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE tale he then detail'd, that rais'd his spleen;<br>And what within the closet he had seen;<br>The king replied, I will not be so rude,<br>To question what so clearly you have view'd;<br>Yet, since 'twere better full belief to gain,<br>A glimpse of such a fact I should obtain,<br>Pray bring me thither; instantly our wight;<br>Astolphus led, where both his ears and sight<br>Full proof receiv'd, which struck the prince with awe;<br>Who stood amaz'd at what he heard and saw.<br>But soon reflection's all-convincing pow'r<br>Induced the king vexation to devour;<br>True courtier-like, who dire misfortunes braves,<br>Feels sprouting horns, yet smiles at fools and knaves:<br>Our wives, said he, a pretty trick have play'd,<br>And shamefully the marriage bed betray'd;<br>Let us the compliment return, my friend,<br>And round the country our amours extend;<br>But, in our plan the better to succeed,<br>Our names we'll change; no servants we shall need;--<br>For your relation I desire to pass,<br>So you'll true freedom use; then with a lass<br>We more at ease shall feel, more pleasure gain;<br>Than if attended by my usual train.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">JOCONDE with joy the king's proposal heard;<br>On which the latter with his friend conferr'd;<br>Said he, 'twere surely right to have a book,<br>In which to place the names of those we hook,<br>The whole arrang'd according to their rank,<br>And I'll engage no page remains a blank,<br>But ere we leave the range of our design,<br>E'en scrup'lous dames shall to our wish incline,<br>Our persons handsome, with engaging air,<br>And sprightly, brilliant wit no trifling share,--<br>'Twere strange, possessing such engaging charms,<br>They should not tumble freely in our arms.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE, baggage ready, and the paper-book,<br>our smart gallants the road together took,<br>But 'twould be vain to number their amours;<br>With beauties, Cupid favoured them by scores;<br>Blessed, if only seen by either swain,<br>And doubly bless'd who could attention gain:<br>Nor wife of alderman, nor wife of mayor,<br>Of justice, nor of governor was there,<br>Who did not anxiously desire her name<br>Might straight be entered in the book of fame!<br>Hearts, which before were thought as cold as ice,<br>Now warm'd at once and melted in a trice.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">SOME infidel, I fancy, in my ear<br>Would whisper-probabilities, I fear,<br>Are rather wanting to support the fact;<br>However perfectly gallants may act,<br>To gain a heart requires full many a day<br>If more be requisite I cannot say;<br>'Tis not my plan to dupe or young or old,<br>But such to me, howe'er the tale is told,<br>And Ariosto never truth forsakes;<br>Yet, if at ev'ry step a writer takes,<br>He's closely question'd as to time and place,<br>He ne'er can end his work with easy grace.<br>To those, from whom just credence I receive,<br>Their tales I promise fully to believe.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">AT length, when our advent'rers round had play'd,<br>And danc'd with ev'ry widow, wife, and maid,<br>The full blown lily and the tender rose,<br>Astolphus said, though clearly I suppose,<br>We can as many hearts securely link,<br>As e'er we like, yet better now, I think,<br>To stop a while in some delightful spot,<br>And that before satiety we've got;<br>For true it is, with love as with our meat;<br>If we, variety of dishes eat,<br>The doctors tell us inj'ry will ensue,<br>And too much raking none can well pursue.<br>Let us some pleasing fair-one then engage,<br>To serve us both:--enough she'll prove I'll wage.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">JOCONDE at once replied, with all my heart,<br>And I a lady know who'll take the part;<br>She's beautiful; possesses store of wit;<br>And is the wife of one above a cit.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">WITH such to meddle would be indiscreet,<br>Replied the king, more charms we often meet,<br>Beneath a chambermaid or laundress' dress,<br>Than any rich coquette can well possess.<br>Besides, with those, less form is oft requir'd,<br>While dames of quality must be admir'd;<br>Their whims complied with, though suspicions rise;<br>And ev'ry hour produces fresh surprise,<br>But this sweet charmer of inferior birth<br>A treasure proves; a source of bliss on earth.<br>No trouble she to carry here nor there;<br>No balls she visits, and requires no care;<br>The conquest easy, we may talk or not;<br>The only difficulty we have got,<br>Is how to find one, we may faithful view;<br>So let us choose a girl, to love quite new.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">SINCE these, replied the YOUTH, your thoughts appear,<br>What think you of our landlord's daughter here?<br>That she's a perfect virgin I've no doubt,<br>Nor can we find a chaster round about;<br>Her very doll more innocent won't prove,<br>Than this sweet nymph design'd with us to move.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE scheme our prince's approbation met;<br>The very girl, said he, I wish'd to get;<br>This night be our attack; and if her heart<br>Surrenders when our wishes we impart,<br>But one perplexity will then remain;<br>'Tis who her virgin favours shall obtain?<br>The honour 's all a whim, and I, as king,<br>At once assuredly should claim this thing:<br>The rest 'tis very easy to arrange;<br>As matters suit we presently can change.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">IF ceremony 'twere, Joconde replied,<br>All cavil then we quickly could decide;<br>Precedence would no doubt with you remain:<br>But this is quite another case 'tis plain;<br>And equity demands that we agree,<br>By lot to settle which the man shall be.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE noble youths no arguments would spare,<br>And each contended for the spoiler's care;<br>Howe'er Joconde obtained the lucky hit,<br>And first embrac'd this fancied dainty bit.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE girl who was the noble rival's aim,<br>That ev'ning to the room for something came;<br>Our heroes gave her instantly a chair,<br>And lavished praises on her face and hair;<br>A diamond ring soon sparkled in her eyes;<br>Its pleasing pow'rs at sight obtain'd the prize.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE bargain made, she, in the dead of night,<br>When silence reign'd and all was void of light,<br>With careful steps their anxious wish obey'd,<br>And 'tween them both, she presently was laid;<br>'Twas Paradise they thought, where all is nice,<br>And our young spark believ'd he broke the ice.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE folly I forgive him;--'tis in vain<br>On this to reason--idle to complain;<br>The WISE have oft been dup'd it is confest,<br>And Solomon it seems among the rest.<br>But gay Joconde felt nothing of the kind,<br>A secret pleasure glow'd within his mind;<br>He thought Astolphus wond'rous bliss had missed,<br>And that himself alone the fair had kiss'd;<br>A clod howe'er, who liv'd within the place,<br>Had, prior to the Roman, her embrace.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE soft amour extended through the night,<br>The girl was pleas'd, and all proceeded right;<br>The foll'wing night, the next, 'twas still the same;<br>Young Clod at length her coldness 'gan to blame;<br>And as he felt suspicious of the act,<br>He watch'd her steps and verified the fact:<br>A quarrel instantly between them rose;<br>Howe'er the fair, his anger to compose,<br>And favour not to lose, on honour vow'd,<br>That when the sparks were gone, and time allow'd,<br>She would oblige his craving, fierce desire;--<br>To which the village lad replied with ire:--<br>Pray what care I for any tavern guest,<br>Of either sex; to you I now protest,<br>If I be not indulg'd this very night,<br>I'll publish your amours in mere despite.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">HOW can we manage it, replied the belle,<br>I'm quite distressed--indeed the truth to tell,<br>I've promis'd them this night to come again,<br>And if I fail, no doubt can then remain,<br>But I shall lose the ring, their pledg'd reward,<br>Which would, you know for me, be very hard.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">TO you I wish the ring, replied young Clod,<br>But do they sleep in bed, or only nod?<br>Tell me, pray; oh, said she, they sleep most sound;<br>But then between them plac'd shall I be found,<br>And while the one amidst Love's frolicks sports,<br>The other quiet lies, or Morpheus courts.<br>On hearing this the rustick lad proposed,<br>To visit her when others' eyes were closed.<br>Oh! never risk it, quickly she replied;<br>'Twere folly to attempt it by their side.<br>He answer'd, never fear, but only leave<br>The door ajar, and me they'll not perceive.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE door she left exactly as he said;<br>The spark arriv'd, and then approach'd the bed,<br>('Twas near the foot,) then 'tween the sheets he slid,<br>But God knows how he lay, or what he did.<br>Astolphus and Joconde ne'er smelt a rat,<br>Nor ever dreamt of what their girl was at,<br>At length when each had turn'd and op'd his eyes,<br>Continual movement fill'd him with surprise.<br>The monarch softly said:--why how is this?<br>My friend has eaten something, for in bliss,<br>He revels on, and truly much I fear,<br>His health will show, it may be bought too dear.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THIS very sentiment Joconde bethought;<br>But Clod a breathing moment having caught,<br>Resum'd his fun, and that so oft would seek:<br>He gratified his wishes for a week;<br>Then watching carefully, he found once more;<br>Our noble heroes had begun to snore,<br>On which he slyly took himself away,<br>The road he came, and ere 'twas break of day;<br>The girl soon follow'd, since she justly fear'd,<br>Still more fatigues:--so off she quickly steer'd,</div><div style="margin:10px 0">AT length when both the nobles were awake;<br>Astolphus said, my friend you rest should take,<br>'Twere better till to-morrow keep in bed,<br>Since sleep, with such fatigues, of course has fled:<br>You talk at random, cried the Roman youth;<br>More rest I fancy you require in truth;<br>You've led a pretty life throughout the night;<br>I? said the king; why I was weary quite,<br>So long I waited; you no respite gave,<br>But wholly seem'd our little nymph t' enslave;<br>At length to try if I from rage could keep,<br>I turn'd my back once more, and went to sleep.<br>If you had willingly the belle resign'd,<br>I was, my friend, to take a turn inclin'd;<br>That had sufficed for me, since I, like you,<br>Perpetual motion never can pursue.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">YOUR raillery, the Roman youth replied,<br>Quite disconcerted, pray now lay aside,<br>And talk of something else; you've fully shown,<br>That I'm your vassal, and since you are grown<br>So fond that you to keep the girl desire,<br>E'en wholly to yourself, why I'll retire;<br>Do with her what you please, and we shall see,<br>How long this furor will with you agree.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">IT may, replied the king, for ever last,<br>If ev'ry night like this, I'm doom'd to fast.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">SIRE, said Joconde, no longer let us thus,<br>In terms of playful raillery discuss;<br>Since such your pleasure, send me from your view;<br>On this the youthful monarch angry grew,<br>And many words between the friends arose;<br>The presence of the nymph Astolphus chose;<br>To her they said, between us judge, sweet fair,<br>And every thing was stated then with care.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE girl with blushing cheeks before them kneel'd,<br>And the mysterious tale at once reveal'd.<br>Our heroes laugh'd; the treach'ry vile excus'd;<br>And gave the ring, which much delight diffus'd;<br>Together with a handsome sum of gold,<br>Which soon a husband in her train enroll'd,<br>Who, for a maid, the pretty fair-one took;<br>And then our heroes wand'ring pranks forsook,<br>With laurels cover'd, which in future times,<br>Will make them famous through the Western climes;<br>More glorious since, they only cost, we find,<br>Those sweet ATTENTIONS pleasing to the MIND.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">So many conquests proud of having made,<br>And over full the BOOK of--those who'd play'd;<br>Said gay Astolphus we will now, my friend,<br>Return the shortest road and poaching end;<br>If false our mates, yet we'll console ourselves,<br>That many others have inconstant elves.<br>Perhaps, in things a change will be one day,<br>And only tender flames LOVE'S torch display;<br>But now it seems some evil star presides,<br>And Hymen's flock the devil surely rides.<br>Besides, vile fiends the universe pervade,<br>Whose constant aim is mortals to degrade,<br>And cheat us to our noses if they can,<br>(Hell's imps in human shape, disgrace to man!)<br>Perhaps these wretches have bewitch'd our wives,<br>And made us fancy errors in their lives.<br>Then let us like good citizens, our days<br>In future pass amidst domestick ways;<br>Our absence may indeed restore their hearts,<br>For jealousy oft virtuous truths imparts.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">IN this Astolphus certainly believ'd;<br>The friends return'd, and kindly were receiv'd;<br>A little scolding first assail'd the ear;<br>But blissful kisses banish'd ev'ry fear.<br>To balls and banquets ALL themselves resigned;<br>Of dwarf or valet nothing more we find;<br>Each with his wife contentedly remained:--<br>'Tis thus alone true happiness is gained.</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=431340" data-title="Joconde de La Fontaine" data-description="IN Lombardy's fair land, in days of yore,
Once dwelt a prince, of youthful charms, a store;
Each FAIR, with anxious look, his favours sought,
And ev'ry heart within his net was caught.
Quite proud of beauteous form and smart address,
In which the ..."></div>
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