Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine — Volume 07 by Jean de La Fontaine
page 11 of 32 (34%)
page 11 of 32 (34%)
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Unlocks the heart that favours would withhold.
To this the god of love has oft recourse, When arrows fail to reach the secret source, And I'll maintain he's right, for, 'mong mankind, Nice presents ev'ry where we pleasing find; Kings, princes, potentates, receive the same, And when a lady thinks she's not to blame, To do what custom tolerates around; When Venus' acts are only Themis' found, I'll nothing 'gainst her say; more faults than one, Besides the present, have their course begun. A MANTUAN judge espoused a beauteous fair: Her name was Argia:--Anselm was her care, An aged dotard, trembling with alarms, While she was young, and blessed with seraph charms. But, not content with such a pleasing prize, His jealousy appeared without disguise, Which greater admiration round her drew, Who doubtless merited, in ev'ry view, Attention from the first in rank or place So elegant her form, so fine her face. 'TWOULD endless prove, and nothing would avail, Each lover's pain minutely to detail: Their arts and wiles; enough 'twill be no doubt, To say the lady's heart was found so stout, She let them sigh their precious hours away, And scarcely seemed emotion to betray. |
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