Читать книгу Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine — Complete - Jean de la Fontaine - Страница 36

WILLIAM

Not now, sir, no, not now.

HUSBAND

Why, when then, friend?

WILLIAM

While I was in the tree,

Alive, sir, flay me, if I did not see

You on the verdant lawn my lady lay,

And kiss, and toy, and other frolicks play.

WIFE

'Twere surely better if thou held'st thy tongue,

Or thou'lt a beating get before 'tis long.

HUSBAND

No, no, my dear, he's mad, and I design

The fellow in a madhouse to confine.

WILLIAM

Is't folly, pray, to see what we behold?

WIFE

What hast thou seen?

WILLIAM

What I've already told:—

My master and yourself at Cupid's game,

Or else the tree 's enchanted I proclaim.

WIFE

ENCHANTED! nonsense; such a sight to see!

HUSBAND

To know the truth myself, I'll climb the tree,

Then you the fact will quickly from me learn;

We may believe what we ourselves discern.

SOON as the master they above descried,

And that below our pair he sharply eyed,

The butler took the lady in his arms,

And grew at once familiar with her charms;

At sight of this the husband gave a yell:

Made haste to reach the ground, and nearly fell;

Such liberties he wish'd at once to stop,

Since what he'd seen had nearly made him drop.

How! how!—cried he:—what, e'en before my sight?

What can you mean? said she without affright.

HUSBAND

DAR'ST thou to ask again?

WIFE

AND why not, pray?

HUSBAND

FINE, pretty doings!—Presently you'll say;

That what I've seen 'tis folly to believe.

WIFE

Too much is this:—such accusations grieve.

HUSBAND

Thou did'st most clearly suffer his embrace.

WIFE

I? WHY, you dream!

HUSBAND

This seems a curious case.

MY reason's flown'! or have I lost my eyes?

WIFE

CAN you suppose my character I prize

So very little, that these pranks I'd play

Before your face, when I might ev'ry day

Find minutes to divert myself at will,

And (if lik'd such frolicks) take my fill?

HUSBAND

I KNOW not what to think nor what to do;

P'rhaps this same tree can tricks at will pursue;

Let's see again; aloft he went once more,

And William acted as he'd done before;

But now the husband saw the playful squeeze;

Without emotion, and returned at ease.

To find the cause, said he, no longer try,

The tree's enchanted, we may well rely.

SINCE, that's the fact, replied the cunning jade;

To burn it, quickly William seek fort aid;

The tree accurst no longer shall remain;

Her will the servant wish'd not to restrain,

But soon some workmen brought, who felled the tree;

And wondered what the fault our fair could see.

Down hew it, cried the lady, that's your task;

More concerns you not; folly 'tis to ask.