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<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=431343" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>Nicaise</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">TO serve the shop as 'prentice was the lot;<br>Of one who had the name of Nicaise got;<br>A lad quite ignorant beyond his trade,<br>And what arithmetick might lend him aid;<br>A perfect novice in the wily art,<br>That in amours is used to win the heart.<br>Good tradesmen formerly were late to learn<br>The tricks that soon in friars we discern;<br>They ne'er were known those lessons to begin,<br>Till more than down appeared upon the chin.<br>But now-a-days, in practice, 'tis confessed,<br>These shopkeepers are knowing as the best.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">OUR lad of ancient date was less advanced;<br>At scenes of love his eyes had never glanced;<br>Be that as 'twill, he now was in the way,<br>And naught but want of wit produced delay:<br>A belle indeed had on him set her heart<br>His master's daughter felt LOVE'S poignant smart;<br>A girl of most engaging mind and mien,<br>And always steady in her conduct seen.<br>Sincerity of soul or humour free,<br>Or whether with her taste it might agree,<br>A fool 'twas clear presided o'er her soul,<br>And all her thoughts and actions felt control.<br>Some bold gallant would p'erhaps inform her plain,<br>She ever kept wild Folly in her train,<br>And nothing say to me who tales relate;<br>But oft on reason such proceedings wait.<br>If you a goddess love, advance she'll make;<br>Our belle the same advantages would take.<br>Her fortune, wit, and charm, attention drew,<br>And many sparks would anxiously pursue;<br>How happy he who should her heart obtain,<br>And Hymen prove he had not sighed in vain!<br>But she had promised, to the modest youth,<br>Who first was named, her confidence and truth;<br>The little god of pleasing soft desire<br>With full compliance with his whims require.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THe belle was pleased the 'prentice to prefer:<br>A handsome lad with truth we may aver,<br>Quite young, well made, with fascinating eye:<br>Such charms are ne'er despised we may rely,<br>But treasures thought, no FAIR will e'er neglect;<br>Whate'er her senses say, she'll these respect.<br>For one that LOVE lays hold of by the soul,<br>A thousand by the eyes receive control.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THIS sprightly girl with soft endearing ease,<br>Exerted ev'ry care the lad to please,<br>To his regards she never shy appeared;<br>Now pinched his arm, then smiled and often leered;<br>Her hand across his eyes would sometimes put;<br>At others try to step upon his foot.<br>To this he nothing offered in reply,<br>Though oft his throbbing bosom heaved a sigh.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">So many tender scenes, at length we find,<br>Produced the explanation LOVE designed;<br>The youthful couple, we may well believe,<br>Would from each other mutual vows receive;<br>They neither promises nor kisses spared,<br>Incalculable were the numbers shared;<br>If he had tried to keep exact account,<br>He soon had been bewildered with th' amount;<br>To such infinity it clearly ran,<br>Mistakes would rise if he pursued the plan;<br>A ceremony solely was required,<br>Which prudent girls have always much admired,<br>Yet this to wait gave pain and made her grieve;<br>From you, said she, the boon I would receive;<br>Or while I live the rapture never know,<br>That Hymen at his altar can bestow;<br>To you I promise, by the pow'rs divine,<br>My hand and heart I truly will resign.<br>Howe'er I'll freely say, should Hymen fail<br>To make me your's and wishes not prevail,<br>You must not fancy I'll become a nun,<br>Though much I hope to act as I've begun;<br>To marry you would please me to the soul;<br>But how can WE the ruling pow'rs control?<br>Too much I'm confident you love my fame,<br>To aim at what might bring me soon to shame:<br>In wedlock I've been asked by that and this;<br>My father thinks these offers not amiss;<br>But, Nicaise, I'll allow you still to hope,<br>That if with others I'm obliged to cope,<br>No matter whether counsellor or judge.<br>Since clearly ev'ry thing to such I grudge,<br>The marriage eve, or morn, or day, or hour,<br>To you I'll give--the first enchanting flow'r.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE lad most gratefully his thanks returned;<br>His breast with ev'ry soft emotion burned.<br>Within a week, to this sweet charmer came,<br>A rich young squire, who soon declared his flame;<br>On which she said to Nicaise:--he will do;<br>This spark will easily let matters through;<br>And as the belle was confident of that,<br>She gave consent and listened to his chat.<br>Soon all was settled and arranged the day,<br>When marriage they no longer would delay,<br>You'll fully notice this:--I think I view<br>The thoughts which move around and you pursue;<br>'Twas doubtless clear, whatever bliss in store,<br>The lady was betrothed, and nothing more.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THOUGH all was fixed a week before the day,<br>Yet fearing accidents might things delay,<br>Or even break the treaty ere complete,<br>She would not our apprentice fully greet,<br>Till on the very morn she gave her hand,<br>Lest chance defeated what was nicely planned.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">HOWE'ER the belle was to the altar led,<br>A virgin still, and doomed the squire to wed,<br>Who, quite impatient, consummation sought,<br>As soon as he the charmer back had brought;<br>But she solicited the day apart,<br>And this obtained, alone by prayers and art.<br>'Twas early morn, and 'stead of bed she dressed,<br>In ev'ry thing a queen had thought the best;<br>With diamonds, pearls, and various jewels rare;<br>Her husband riches had, she was aware,<br>Which raised her into rank that dress required,<br>And all her neighbours envied and admired.<br>Her lover, to secure the promised bliss,<br>An hour's indulgence gained to take a kiss.<br>A bow'r within a garden was the spot,<br>Which, for their private meeting, they had got.<br>A confidant had been employed around,<br>To watch if any one were lurking found.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE lady was the first who thither came;<br>To get a nosegay was, she said, her aim;<br>And Nicaise presently her steps pursued,<br>Who, when the turf within the bow'r he viewed,<br>Exclaimed, oh la! how wet it is my dear!<br>Your handsome clothes will be spoiled I fear!<br>A carpet let me instantly provide?<br>Deuce take the clothes! the fair with anger cried;<br>Ne'er think of that: I'll say I had a fall;<br>Such accident a loss I would not call,<br>When Time so clearly on the wing appears,<br>'Tis right to banish scruples, cares, and fears;<br>Nor think of clothes nor dress, however fine,<br>But those to dirt or flames at once resign;<br>Far better this than precious time to waste,<br>Since frequently in minutes bliss we taste;<br>A quarter of an hour we now should prize,<br>The place no doubt will very well suffice;<br>With you it rests such moments to employ,<br>And mutually our bosoms fill with joy.<br>I scarcely ought to say what now I speak,<br>But anxiously your happiness I seek.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">INDEED, the anxious, tender youth replied,<br>To save such costly clothes we should decide;<br>I'll run at once, and presently be here;<br>Two minutes will suffice I'm very clear.<br>AWAY the silly lad with ardour flew,<br>And left no time objections to renew.<br>His wondrous folly cured the charming dame;<br>Whose soul so much disdained her recent flame;<br>That instantly her heart resumed its place,<br>Which had too long been loaded with disgrace:<br>Go, prince of fools, she to herself exclaimed,<br>For ever, of thy conduct, be ashamed;<br>To lose thee surely I can ne'er regret,<br>Impossible a worse I could have met.<br>I've now considered, and 'tis very plain,<br>Thou merit'st not such favours to obtain;<br>From hence I swear, by ev'ry thing above;<br>My husband shall alone possess my love;<br>And least I might be tempted to betray,<br>To him I'll instantly the boon convey,<br>Which Nicaise might have easily received;<br>Thank Heav'n my breast from folly is relieved.<br>This said, by disappointment rendered sour,<br>The beauteous bride in anger left the bow'r.<br>Soon with the carpet simple Nicaise came,<br>And found that things no longer were the same.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE lucky hour, ye suitors learn I pray,<br>Is not each time the clock strikes through the day,<br>In Cupid's alphabet I think I've read,<br>Old Time, by lovers, likes not to be led;<br>And since so closely he pursues his plan,<br>'Tis right to seize him, often as you can.<br>Delays are dangerous, in love or war,<br>And Nicaise is a proof they fortune mar.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">QUITE out of breath with having quickly run;<br>Delighted too that he so soon had done,<br>The youth returned most anxious to employ,<br>The carpet for his mistress to enjoy,<br>But she alas! with rage upon her brow,<br>Had left the spot, he knew not why nor how;<br>And to her company returned in haste<br>The flame extinguished that her mind disgraced.<br>Perhaps she went the jewel to bestow,<br>Upon her spouse, whose breast with joy would glow:<br>What jewel pray?--The one that ev'ry maid<br>Pretends to have, whatever tricks she's played.<br>This I believe; but I'll no dangers run;<br>To burn my fingers I've not yet begun;<br>Yet I allow, howe'er, in such a case,<br>The girl, who fibs, therein no sin can trace.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">OUR belle who, thanks to Nicaise, yet retained;<br>In spite of self, the flow'r he might have gained,<br>Was grumbling still, when he the lady met<br>Why, how is this, cried he, did you forget,<br>That for this carpet I had gone away?<br>When spread, how nicely on it we might play!<br>You'd soon to woman change the silly maid;<br>Come, let's return, and not the bliss evade;<br>No fear of dirt nor spoiling of your dress;<br>And then my love I fully will express.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">NOT so, replied the disappointed dame,<br>We'll put it off:--perhaps 'twould hurt your frame<br>Your health I value, and I would advise,<br>To be at ease, take breath, and prudence prize;<br>Apprentice in a shop you now are bound<br>Next 'prentice go to some gallant around;<br>You'll not so soon his pleasing art require,<br>Nor to your tutorage can I now aspire.<br>Friend Nicaise take some neighb'ring servant maid,<br>You're quite a master in the shopping trade;<br>Stuffs you can sell, and ask the highest price;<br>And to advantage turn things in a trice.<br>But opportunity you can't discern;<br>To know its value,--prithee go and learn.</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=431343" data-title="Nicaise de La Fontaine" data-description="TO serve the shop as 'prentice was the lot;
Of one who had the name of Nicaise got;
A lad quite ignorant beyond his trade,
And what arithmetick might lend him aid;
A perfect novice in the wily art,
That in amours is used to win the heart.
Good tra..."></div>
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