Tales and Novels of J. de La Fontaine — Volume 24 by Jean de La Fontaine
page 7 of 18 (38%)
page 7 of 18 (38%)
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Not long attended for the marriage fruit:
The lady soon put matters 'yond dispute; Produced a girl at first, and then a boy, To fill th' expecting parent's breast with joy. THE son, when grown of size, a tutor had, No pedant rude, with Greek and Latin mad, But young and smart, a master too of arts, Particularly learned in what imparts, The gentle flame, the pleasing poignant pang, That Ovid formerly so sweetly sang. Some knowledge of good company he'd got; A charming voice and manner were his lot; And if we may disclose the mystick truth, 'Twas Cupid who preceptor made the youth. He with the brother solely took a place, That better he the sister's charms might trace; And under this disguise he fully gained What he desired, so well his part he feigned: An able master, or a lover true, To teach or sigh, whichever was in view, So thoroughly he could attention get, Success alike in ev'ry thing he met. IN little time the boy could construe well The odes of Horace:--Virgil's fable tell; And she whose beauty caught the tutor's eyes, A perfect mistress got of heaving sighs. So oft she practised what the master taught, Her stomach feeble grew, whate'er was sought; |
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