FullReads

THE husband stood aghast!–admired the place,
Not built for man, e’en gods ‘twould not disgrace.
The rooms were gilt; the decorations fine;
The gardens and the pleasure-grounds divine;
Such rich magnificence was never seen;
Superb the whole, a charming blessed demesne.
The entrance ev’ry way was open found;
But not a person could be viewed around,
Except a negro, hideous to behold,
Who much resembled AEsop, famed of old.

OUR judge the negro for a porter took,
Who was the house to clean and overlook;
And taking him for such, the black addressed,
With full belief the title was the best,
And that he greatly honoured him, ’twas plain
(Of ev’ry colour men are proud and vain:)
Said he, my friend, what god this palace owns?
Too much it seems for those of earthly thrones;
No king, of consequence enough could be;
The palace, cried the black, belongs to me.

THE judge was instantly upon his knees,
The negro’s pardon asked, and sought to please;
I trust, said he, my lord, you’ll overlook
The fault I made: my ignorance mistook.
The universe has not so nice a spot;
The world so beautiful a palace got!

DOST wish me, said the black, the house to give,
For thee and thine therein at ease to live?
On one condition thou shalt have the place
For thee I seriously intend the grace,
If thou ‘lt on me a day or two attend,
As page of honour:–dost thou comprehend?
The custom know’st thou–better I’ll expound;
A cup-bearer with Jupiter is found,
Thou’st heard no doubt.

ANSELM

What, Ganymede?

NEGRO

The same;
And I’m that Jupiter of mighty fame;
The chief supreme who rules above the skies;
Be thou the lad with fascinating eyes,
Though not so handsome, nor in truth so young.

ANSELM

You jest, my lord; to youth I don’t belong;
‘Tis very clear;–my judge’s dress–my age!

NEGRO

I jest? thou dream’st.

ANSELM

My lord?

NEGRO

You won’t engage?
Just as you will:–’tis all the same you’ll find.

ANSELM

My lord! . . . The learned judge himself resigned,
The black’s mysterious wishes to obey;–
Alas! curst presents, how they always weigh!

A PAGE the magistrate was quickly seen,
In dress, in look, in age, in air, in mien;
His hat became a cap; his beard alone
Remained unchanged; the rest had wholly flown.

THUS metamorphosed to a pretty boy,
The judge proceeded in the black’s employ.
Within a corner hidden, Argia lay,
And heard what Anselm had been led to say.
The Moor howe’er was Manto, most renowned,
Transformed, as oft the fairy we have found;
She built the charming palace by her art,–
Now youthful features would to age impart.

AT length, as Anselm through a passage came,
He suddenly beheld his beauteous dame.
What! learned Anselm do I see, said she,
In this disguise?–It surely cannot be;
My eyes deceive me:–Anselm, grave and wise;
Give such a lesson? I am all surprise.

‘TIS doubtless he: oh, oh! our bald-pate sire;
Ambassador and judge, we must admire,
To see your honour thus in masquerade:–
At your age, truly, suffer to be made
A–modesty denies my tongue its powr’s
What!–you condemn to death for freaks like ours?
You, whom I’ve found *** you understand–for shame
Your crimes are such as all must blush to name.
Though I may have a negro for gallant,
And erred when Atis for me seemed to pant,
His merit and the black’s superior rank,
Must lessen, if not quite excuse my prank.
Howe’er, old boy, you presently shall see,
If any belle solicited should be,
To grant indulgencies, with presents sweet,
She will not straight capitulation beat;
At least, if they be such as I have viewed:–
Moor, change to dog; immediately ensued
The metamorphose that the fair required,
The black’moor was again a dog admired.
Dance, fav’rite; instantly he skipped and played;
And to the judge his pretty paw conveyed.
Spaniel, scatter gold; presently there fell
Large sums of money, as the sound could tell.
Such strong temptation who can e’er evade?
The dog a present to your wife was made.
Then show me, if you can, upon the earth,
A queen, a princess, of the highest birth,
Who would not virtue presently concede,
If such excuses for it she could plead;
Particularly if the giver proved
A handsome lad that elegantly moved.