Between two citizensA controversy grew.The one was poor, but much he knew:The other, rich, with little sense,Claim’d that, in point of excellence,The merely wise should bow the kneeTo all such money’d men as he.The merely fools, he should have said;For why should wealth hold up its head,When merit from its side hath fled?‘My friend,’ quoth […]

Said Jupiter, one day,As on a cloud he lay,‘Observing all our crimes,Come, let us change the times,By leasing out anewA world whose wicked crewHave wearied out our grace,And cursed us to our face.Hie hellward, Mercury;A Fury bring to me,The direst of the three.Race nursed too tenderly,This day your doom shall be!’E’en while he spoke their […]

Four creatures, wont to prowl,–Sly Grab-and-Snatch, the cat,Grave Evil-bode, the owl,Thief Nibble-stitch, the rat,And Madam Weasel, prim and fine,–Inhabited a rotten pine.A man their home discover’d there,And set, one night, a cunning snare.The cat, a noted early-riser,Went forth, at break of day,To hunt her usual prey.Not much the wiserFor morning’s feeble ray,The noose did suddenly […]

Thou lust of gain,–foul fiend, whose evil eyesRegard as nought the blessings of the skies,Must I for ever battle thee in vain?How long demandest thou to gainThe meaning of my lessons plain?Will constant getting never cloy?Will man ne’er slacken to enjoy?Haste, friend; thou hast not long to live:Let me the precious word repeat,And listen to […]

IN Lombardy’s fair land, in days of yore, Once dwelt a prince, of youthful charms, a store; Each FAIR, with anxious look, his favours sought, And ev’ry heart within his net was caught. Quite proud of beauteous form and smart address, In which the world was led to acquiesce, He cried one day, while ALL […]

WE’RE told, that once a cobbler, BLASE by name; A wife had got, whose charms so high in fame; But as it happened, that their cash was spent, The honest couple to a neighbour went, A corn-factor by trade, not overwise To whom they stated facts without disguise; And begged, with falt’ring voice denoting care, […]

WHEN Francis (named the first) o’er Frenchmen reign’d, In Italy young Arthur laurels gained, And oft such daring valour showed in fight, With ev’ry honour he was made a knight; The monarch placed the spur upon his heel, That all around his proper worth might feel. Then household deities at home he sought, Where–not at […]

SOME time ago from Rome, in smart array, A younger brother homeward bent his way, Not much improved, as frequently the case With those who travel to that famous place. Upon the road oft finding, where he stayed, Delightful wines, and handsome belle or maid, With careless ease he loitered up and down.– One day […]

THE Lombard princes oft pervade my mind; The present tale Boccace relates you’ll find; Agiluf was the noble monarch’s name; Teudelingua he married, beauteous dame, The last king’s widow, who had left no heir, And whose dominions proved our prince’s share. No Beauty round compare could with the queen; And ev’ry blessing on the throne […]

ONCE on a time, as hist’ry’s page relates, A lord, possessed of many large estates, Was angry with a poor and humble clod, Who tilled his grounds and feared his very nod. Th’ offence (as often happens) was but small, But on him, vowed the peer, his rage should fall– Said he, a halter, rascal, […]

BOCCACE alone is not my only source; T’another shop I now shall have recourse; Though, certainly, this famed Italian wit Has many stories for my purpose fit. But since of diff’rent dishes we should taste; Upon an ancient work my hands I’ve placed; Where full a hundred narratives are told, And various characters we may […]

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, […]

A CERTAIN husband who, from jealous fear, With one eye slept while t’other watched his dear, Deprived his wife of every social joy, (Friends oft the jealous character annoy,) And made a fine collection in a book, Of tricks with which the sex their wishes hook. Strange fool! as if their wiles, to speak the […]

WHO knows the world will never feel surprise, When men are duped by artful women’s eyes; Though death his weapon freely will unfold; Love’s pranks, we find, are ever ruled by gold. To vain coquettes I doubtless here allude; But spite of arts with which they’re oft endued; I hope to show (our honour to […]

OFT have I seen in wedlock with surprise, That most forgot from which true bliss would rise When marriage for a daughter is designed, The parents solely riches seem to mind; All other boons are left to heav’n above, And sweet SIXTEEN must SIXTY learn to love! Yet still in other things they nicer seem, […]

A GASCON (being heard one day to swear, That he’d possess’d a certain lovely fair,) Was played a wily trick, and nicely served; ‘Twas clear, from truth he shamefully had swerved: But those who scandal propagate below, Are prophets thought, and ev’ry action know; While good, if spoken, scarcely is believed, And must be viewed, […]

THE worst of ills, with jealousy compared, Are trifling torments ev’ry where declared. IMAGINE, to yourself a silly fool, To dark suspicion grown an easy tool; No soft repose he finds, by night or day; But rings his ear, he’s wretched ev’ry way! Continually he dreams his forehead sprouts; The truth of reveries he never […]

WHAT various ways in which a thing is told Some truth abuse, while others fiction hold; In stories we invention may admit; But diff’rent ’tis with what historick writ; Posterity demands that truth should then Inspire relation, and direct the pen. ALACIEL’S story’s of another kind, And I’ve a little altered it, you’ll find; Faults […]

THE key, which opes the chest of hoarded gold. 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 […]

SOME wit, handsome form and gen’rous mind; A triple engine prove in love we find; By these the strongest fortresses are gained E’en rocks ‘gainst such can never be sustained. If you’ve some talents, with a pleasing face, Your purse-strings open free, and you’ve the place. At times, no doubt, without these things, success Attends […]