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<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=431387" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>The Progress Of Wit</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">DIVERTING in extreme there is a play,<br>Which oft resumes its fascinating sway;<br>Delights the sex, or ugly, fair, or sour;<br>By night or day:--'tis sweet at any hour.<br>The frolick, ev'ry where is known to fame;<br>Conjecture if you can, and tells its name.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THIS play's chief charm to husbands is unknown;<br>'Tis with the lover it excels alone;<br>No lookers-on, as umpires, are required;<br>No quarrels rise, though each appears inspired;<br>All seem delighted with the pleasing game:--<br>Conjecture if you can, and tell its name.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">BE this as 'twill, and called whate'er it may;<br>No longer trifling with it I shall stay,<br>But now disclose a method to transmit<br>(As oft we find) to ninnies sense and wit.<br>Till Alice got instruction in this school,<br>She was regarded as a silly fool,<br>Her exercise appeared to spin and sew:--<br>Not hers indeed, the hands alone would go;<br>For sense or wit had in it no concern;<br>Whate'er the foolish girl had got to learn,<br>No part therein could ever take the mind;<br>Her doll, for thought, was just as well designed.<br>The mother would, a hundred times a day,<br>Abuse the stupid maid, and to her say<br>Go wretched lump and try some wit to gain.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE girl, quite overcome with shame and pain;<br>Her neighbours asked to point her out the spot,<br>Where useful wit by purchase might be got.<br>The simple question laughter raised around;<br>At length they told her, that it might be found<br>With father Bonadventure, who'd a stock,<br>Which he at times disposed of to his flock.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">AWAY in haste she to the cloister went,<br>To see the friar she was quite intent,<br>Though trembling lest she might disturb his ease;<br>And one of his high character displease.<br>The girl exclaimed, as on she moved,--Will he<br>Such presents willingly bestow on me,<br>Whose age, as yet, has scarcely reached fifteen?<br>With such can I be worthy to be seen?<br>Her innocence much added to her charms,<br>The gentle wily god of soft alarms<br>Had not a youthful maiden in his book,<br>That carried more temptation in her look.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">MOST rev'rend sir, said she, by friends I'm told,<br>That in this convent wit is often sold,<br>Will you allow me some on trust to take?<br>My treasure won't afford that much I stake;<br>I can return if more I should require;<br>Howe'er, you'll take this pledge I much desire;<br>On which she tried to give the monk a ring,<br>That to her finger firmly seemed to cling.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">BUT when the friar saw the girl's design,<br>He cried, good maid, the pledge we will decline,<br>And what is wished, provide for you the same;<br>'Tis merchandize, and whatsoe'er its fame,<br>To some 'tis freely giv'n:--to others taught<br>If not too dear, oft better when 'tis bought.<br>Come in and boldly follow where I lead;<br>None round can see: you've nothing here to heed;<br>They're all at prayers; the porter's at my will;<br>The very walls, of prudence have their fill.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">SHE entered as the holy monk desired,<br>And they together to his cell retired.<br>The friar on the bed this maiden threw;<br>A kiss would take:--she from him rather drew;<br>And said.--To give one wit is this the way?<br>Yes, answered he, and round her 'gan to play:<br>Upon her bosom then he put his hand<br>What now, said she, am I to understand?<br>Is this the way?--Said he, 'tis so decreed;<br>Then patiently she let the monk proceed,<br>Who followed up, from point to point, his aim;<br>And wit, by easy steps, advancing came,<br>Till its progression with her was complete;<br>Then Alice laughed, success appeared so sweet.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">A SECOND dose the friar soon bestowed,<br>And e'en a third, so fast his bounty flowed.<br>Well, said the monk, pray how d'ye find the play?<br>The girl replied: wit will not long delay;<br>'Twill soon arrive; but then I fear its flight:<br>I'm half afraid 'twill leave me ere 'tis night.<br>We'll see, rejoined the priest, that naught you lose;<br>But other secrets oftentimes we use.<br>Seek not those the smiling girl replied<br>With this most perfectly I'm satisfied;<br>Then be it so, said he, we'll recommence,<br>Nor longer keep the business in suspense,<br>But to the utmost length at once advance;<br>For this fair Alice showed much complaisance:<br>The secret by the friar was renewed;<br>Much pleasure in it Bonadventure viewed;<br>The belle a courtesy dropt, and then retired,<br>Reflecting on the wit she had acquired;<br>Reflecting, do you say?--To think inclined?<br>Yes, even more:--she sought excuse to find,<br>Not doubting that she should be forced to say,<br>Some cause for keeping her so long away.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">TWO days had passed, when came a youthful friend;<br>Fair Nancy with her often would unbend;<br>Howe'er, so very thoughtful Alice seemed,<br>That Nancy (who was penetrating deemed)<br>Was well convinced whatever Alice sought,<br>So very absent she was not for naught.<br>In questioning she managed with such art,<br>That soon she learned--what Alice could impart<br>To listen she was thoroughly disposed,<br>While t'other ev'ry circumstance disclosed,<br>From first to last, each point and mystick hit,<br>And e'en the largeness of the friar's wit,<br>The repetitions, and the wondrous skill<br>With which he managed ev'ry thing at will.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">BUT now, cried Alice, favour me I pray,<br>And tell at once, without reserve, the way<br>That you obtained such wit as you possess,<br>And all particulars to me confess.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">IF I, said Nancy, must avow the truth,<br>Your brother Alan was the bounteous youth,<br>Who me obliged therewith, and freely taught,<br>What from the holy friar you'd have bought.<br>My brother Alan!--Alan! Alice cried;<br>He ne'er with any was himself supplied;<br>I'm all surprise; he's thought a heavy clot,<br>How could he give what he had never got?</div><div style="margin:10px 0">FOOL! said the other, little thou can'st know;<br>For once, to me some information owe;<br>In such a case much skill is not required,<br>And Alan freely gave what I desired.<br>If me thou disbeliev'st, thy mother ask;<br>She thoroughly can undertake the task.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">ON such a point we readily should say,<br>Long live the fools who wit so well display!</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=431387" data-title="The Progress Of Wit de La Fontaine" data-description="DIVERTING in extreme there is a play,
Which oft resumes its fascinating sway;
Delights the sex, or ugly, fair, or sour;
By night or day:--'tis sweet at any hour.
The frolick, ev'ry where is known to fame;
Conjecture if you can, and tells its name...."></div>
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