The Mandrake (Jean de La Fontaine Poem)
FLORENTINE we now design to show;-- A greater blockhead ne'er appeared below; It seems a prudent woman he had wed, ...
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 ...
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, ...
AS WILLIAM walking with his wife was seen, A man of rank admired her lovely mien. Who gave you such ...
I RECOLLECT, that lately much I blamed, The sort of lover, avaricious named; And if in opposites we reason see, ...
I AM always inclined to suspect The best story under the sun As soon as by chance I detect That ...
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 ...
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 ...
HE surely must be wrong who loving fears; And does not flee when beauty first appears. Ye FAIR, with charms ...
THE key, which opes the chest of hoarded gold. Unlocks the heart that favours would withhold. To this the god ...
THE husband's dire mishap, and silly maid, In ev'ry age, have proved the fable's aid; The fertile subject never will ...
WHEN Cupid with his dart, would hearts assail, The rampart most secure is not the VEIL; A husband better will ...
DAN CUPID, though the god of soft amour, In ev'ry age works miracles a store; Can Catos change to male ...
WHO knows the world will never feel surprise, When men are duped by artful women's eves; Though death his weapon ...
THOSE who in fables deal, bestow at ease Both names and titles, freely as they please. It costs them scarcely ...
IF truth give pleasure, surely we should try; To found our tales on what we can rely; Th' experiment repeatedly ...
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 life oft ills from self-imprudence spring; As proof, Candaules' story we will bring; In folly's scenes the king was ...
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 ...
NO master sage, nor orator I know, Who can success, like gentle Cupid show; His ways and arguments are pleasing ...
YOUR name with ev'ry pleasure here I place, The last effusions of my muse to grace. O charming Phillis! may ...
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