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<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=431391" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>The River Scamander</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">I'M now disposed to give a pretty tale;<br>Love laughs at what I've sworn and will prevail;<br>Men, gods, and all, his mighty influence know,<br>And full obedience to the urchin show.<br>In future when I celebrate his flame,<br>Expressions not so warm will be my aim;<br>I would not willingly abuses plant,<br>But rather let my writings spirit want.<br>If in these verses I around should twirl,<br>Some wily knave and easy simple girl,<br>'Tis with intention in the breast to place;<br>On such occasions, dread of dire disgrace;<br>The mind to open, and the sex to set<br>Upon their guard 'gainst snares so often met.<br>Gross ignorance a thousand has misled,<br>For one that has been hurt by what I've said.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">I'VE read that once, an orator renowned<br>In Greece, where arts superior then were found,<br>By law's severe decree, compelled to quit<br>His country, and to banishment submit,<br>Resolved that he a season would employ,<br>In visiting the site of ancient Troy.<br>His comrade, Cymon, with him thither went,<br>To view those ruins, we so oft lament.<br>A hamlet had been raised from Ilion's wall,<br>Ennobled by misfortune and its fall;<br>Where now mere names are Priam and his court;<br>Of all devouring Time the prey and sport.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">O TROY! for me thy very name has got<br>Superior charms:--in story fruitful spot;<br>Thy famed remains I ne'er can hope to view,<br>That gods by labour raised, and gods o'erthrew;<br>Those fields where daring acts of valour shone;<br>So many fights were lost:--so many won.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">BUT to resume my thread, and not extend<br>Too much the subjects which our plan suspend;<br>This Cymon, who's the hero of our tale,<br>When walking near the banks that form the dale<br>Through which Scamander's waters freely flow,<br>Observed a youthful charmer thither go,<br>To breathe the cool refreshing breeze around;<br>That on its verdant borders oft she'd found.<br>Her veil was floating, and her artless dress,<br>A shepherdess seemed clearly to express.<br>Tall, elegantly formed, with beauteous mien,<br>And ev'ry feature lovely to be seen,<br>Young Cymon felt emotion and surprise,<br>And thought 'twas Venus that had caught his eyes,<br>Who on the river's side her charms displayed,<br>Those wondrous treasures all perfection made.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">A GROT was nigh, to which the simple fair,<br>Not dreaming ills, was anxious to repair;<br>The heat, some evil spirit, and the place,<br>Invited her the moment to embrace,<br>To bathe within the stream that near her ran;<br>And instantly her project she began.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE spark concealed himself; each charm admired;<br>Now this, now that, now t'other feature fired;<br>A hundred beauties caught his eager sight;<br>And while his bosom felt supreme delight,<br>He turned his thoughts advantages to take,<br>And of the maiden's error something make;<br>Assumed the character, and dress; and air;<br>That should a wat'ry deity declare;<br>Within the gliding flood his vestments dipt:<br>A crown of rushes on his head he slipt;<br>Aquatick herbs and plants around he twined:<br>Then Mercury intreated to be kind,<br>And Cupid too, the wily god of hearts;<br>How could the innocent resist these arts?</div><div style="margin:10px 0">AT length a foot so fair the belle exposed,<br>E'en Galatea never such disclosed;<br>The stream, that glided by, received the prize;<br>Her lilies she beheld with downcast eyes,<br>And, half ashamed, herself surveyed at ease,<br>While round the zephyrs wantoned in the breeze.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">WHEN thus engaged, the lover near her drew;<br>At whose approach away the damsel flew,<br>And tried to hide within the rocky cell;<br>Cried Cymon, I beneath these waters dwell,<br>And o'er their course a sov'reign right maintain;<br>Be goddess of the flood, and with me reign;<br>Few rivers could with you like pow'rs divide;<br>My crystal's clear: in me you may confide;<br>My heart is pure; with flow'rs I'll deck the stream,<br>If worthy of yourself the flood you deem;<br>Too happy should this honour you bestow,<br>And with me, 'neath the current, freely go.<br>Your fair companions, ev'ry one I'll make<br>A nymph of fountains, hill, or grove, or lake;<br>My pow'r is great, extending far around<br>Where'er the eye can reach, 'tis fully found.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE eloquence he used, her fears and dread;<br>Lest she might give offence by what she said,<br>In spite of bashfulness that bliss alloys,<br>Soon all concluded with celestial joys.<br>'Tis even said that Cupid lent supplies;<br>From superstition many things arise.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">THE spark withdrew, delighted by success;<br>Return said he:--we'll mutually caress;<br>But secret prove: let none our union learn;<br>Concealment is to me of high concern;<br>To make it publick would improper be,<br>Till on Olympus' mount the gods we see,<br>In council met, to whom I'll state the case;<br>On this the new-made goddess left the place,<br>In ev'ry thing contented as a dove,<br>And fully witnessed by the god of love.<br>Two months had passed, and not a person knew<br>Their frequent meetings, pleasure to pursue.<br>O mortals! is it true, as we are told,<br>That ev'ry bliss at last is rendered cold?<br>The sly gallant, though not a word he said,<br>The grot to visit now was rarely led.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">AT length a wedding much attention caught;<br>The lads and lasses of the hamlet sought,<br>To see the couple pass: the belle perceived<br>The very man for whom her bosom heaved,<br>And loudly cried, behold Scamander's flood!<br>Which raised surprise; soon numbers round her stood,<br>Astonishment expressed, but still the fair,<br>Whate'er was asked, would nothing more declare,<br>Than, in the spacious, blue, ethereal sky,<br>Her marriage would be soon, they might rely.<br>A laugh prevailed; for what was to be done?<br>The god with hasty steps away had run,<br>And none with stones pursued his rapid flight:<br>The deity was quickly ought of sight.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">WERE this to happen now, Scamander's stream<br>Would not so easily preserve esteem;<br>But crimes like these (whoever was abused),<br>In former days, were easily excused.<br>With time our maxims change, and what was then,<br>Though wrong at present, may prevail agen.<br>Scamander's spouse some raillery received;<br>But in the end she fully was relieved:<br>A lover e'en superior thought her charms,<br>(His taste was such) and took her to his arms.<br>The gods can nothing spoil! but should they cause<br>A belle to lose a portion of applause,<br>A handsome fortune give, and you'll behold,<br>That ev'ry thing can be repaired by gold.</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=431391" data-title="The River Scamander de La Fontaine" data-description="I'M now disposed to give a pretty tale;
Love laughs at what I've sworn and will prevail;
Men, gods, and all, his mighty influence know,
And full obedience to the urchin show.
In future when I celebrate his flame,
Expressions not so warm will be my..."></div>
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