Читать книгу Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine — Complete - Jean de la Fontaine - Страница 33

AS o'er their wine one day, three gossips sat,

Discoursing various pranks in pleasant chat,

Each had a loving friend, and two of these

Most clearly managed matters at their ease.

SAID one, a princely husband I have got.

A better in the world there's surely not;

With him I can adjust as humour fits,

No need to rise at early dawn, like cits,

To prove to him that two and three make four,

Or ask his leave to ope or shut the door.

UPON my word, replied another fair,

If he were mine, I openly declare,

To judge from what so pleasantly you say,

I'd make a present of him new-year's day.

For pleasure never gives me full delight,

Unless a little pain the bliss invite.

No doubt your husband moves as he is led;

Thank heav'n a different mortal claims my bed;

To take him in, great nicety we need;

But howsoe'er, at times I can succeed;

The satisfaction doubly then is felt:—

In fond emotion bosoms freely melt.

With neither of you, husband or gallant,

Would I exchange, though these so much you vaunt.

ON this, the third with candour interfer'd;

She thought that oft the god of love appear'd,

Good husbands playfully to fret and vex,

Sometimes to rally couples: then perplex;

But warmer as the conversation grew,

She, anxious that each disputant might view

Herself victorious, (or believe it so,)

Exclaim'd, if either of you wish to show

Who's in the right, with argument have done,

And let us practise some new scheme of fun,

To dupe our husbands; she who don't succeed

Shall pay a forfeit; all replied, “Agreed.”

But then, continued she, we ought to take

An oath, that we will full discov'ry make,

To one another of the various facts,

Without disguising even trifling acts.

And then, good upright Macae shall decide;

Thus things arrang'd, the ladies homeward plied.