The Old Man’s Calendar (Jean de La Fontaine Poems)
OFT have I seen in wedlock with surprise, That most forgot from which true bliss would rise When marriage for ...
OFT have I seen in wedlock with surprise, That most forgot from which true bliss would rise When marriage for ...
SOME wit, handsome form and gen'rous mind; A triple engine prove in love we find; By these the strongest fortresses ...
FLORENTINE we now design to show;-- A greater blockhead ne'er appeared below; It seems a prudent woman he had wed, ...
TO you, my friends, allow me to detail, The feats of monks in Catalonia's vale, Where oft the holy fathers ...
THE worst of ills, with jealousy compared, Are trifling torments ev'ry where declared. IMAGINE, to yourself a silly fool, To ...
WHEN Venus and Hypocrisy combine, Oft pranks are played that show a deep design; Men are but men, and friars ...
WHEN Francis (named the first) o'er Frenchmen reign'd, In Italy young Arthur laurels gained, And oft such daring valour showed ...
A DEMON, blacker in his skin than heart, So great a charm was prompted to impart; To one in love, ...
A CERTAIN husband who, from jealous fear, With one eye slept while t'other watched his dear, Deprived his wife of ...
AS WILLIAM walking with his wife was seen, A man of rank admired her lovely mien. Who gave you such ...
WHEN William went from home (a trader styled): Six months his better half he left with child, A simple, comely, ...
HOWEVER exquisite we BEAUTY find, It satiates sense, and palls upon the mind: Brown bread as well as white must ...
I RECOLLECT, that lately much I blamed, The sort of lover, avaricious named; And if in opposites we reason see, ...
A STURGEON, once, a glutton famed was led To have for supper--all, except the head. With wond'rous glee he feasted ...
NEAR Rome, of yore, close to the Florence road, Was seen a humble innkeeper's abode; Small sums were charged; few ...
SOME time ago from Rome, in smart array, A younger brother homeward bent his way, Not much improved, as frequently ...
THE key, which opes the chest of hoarded gold. Unlocks the heart that favours would withhold. To this the god ...
WHO knows the world will never feel surprise, When men are duped by artful women's eves; Though death his weapon ...
IF once in love, you'll soon invention find And not to cunning tricks and freaks be blind; The youngest 'prentice, ...
THOSE who in fables deal, bestow at ease Both names and titles, freely as they please. It costs them scarcely ...
DAN CUPID, though the god of soft amour, In ev'ry age works miracles a store; Can Catos change to male ...
A CERTAIN pious rector (John his name), But little preached, except when vintage came; And then no preparation he required ...
TO serve the shop as 'prentice was the lot; Of one who had the name of Nicaise got; A lad ...
IN ev'ry age, at Naples, we are told, Intrigue and gallantry reign uncontrolled; With beauteous objects in abundance blessed. No ...
TO charms and philters, secret spells and prayers, How many round attribute all their cares! In these howe'er I never ...
IN Eastern climes, by means considered new; The Mount's old-man, with terrors would pursue; His large domains howe'er were not ...
IF these gay tales give pleasure to the FAIR, The honour's great conferred, I'm well aware; Yet, why suppose the ...
IN Lombardy's fair land, in days of yore, Once dwelt a prince, of youthful charms, a store; Each FAIR, with ...
IN life oft ills from self-imprudence spring; As proof, Candaules' story we will bring; In folly's scenes the king was ...
NO master sage, nor orator I know, Who can success, like gentle Cupid show; His ways and arguments are pleasing ...
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