Part 18

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.

I, TRULY, for the spaniel was exchanged; What you'd too much of, freely I arranged, To grant away, this jewel to obtain My value 's nothing great, you think, 'tis plain; And, surely, you'd have thought me very wrong, When such a prize I met, to haggle long. 'Twas he this palace raised; but I have done; Remember, since you've yet a course to run, Take care again how you command my death; In spite of your designs I draw my breath. Though none but Atis with me had success, I now desire, he may Lucretia bless, And wish her to surrender up her charms, (Just like myself) to his extended arms. If you approve, our peace at once is made: If not--while I've this dog I'm not afraid, But you defy: I dread not swords nor bowl; The little dog can warn me of the whole; The jealous he confounds; be that no more; Such folly hence determine to give o'er. If you, to put restraints on women choose, You'll sooner far their fond affections lose.

THE whole our judge conceded;--could he less? The secret of his recent change of dress Was promised to be kept: and that unknown, E'en cuckoldom again might there have flown.

OUR couple mutual compensation made, Then bade adieu to hill, and dale, and glade.

SOME critick asks the handsome palace' fate; I answer:--that, my friend, I shan't relate; It disappeared, no matter how nor when. Why put such questions?--strict is not my pen. The little dog, pray what of that became? To serve the lover was his constant aim.

AND how was that?--You're troublesome my friend: The dog perhaps would more assistance lend; On new intrigues his master might be bent; With single conquest who was e'er content?

THE fav'rite spaniel oft was missing found; But when the little rogue had gone his round, He'd then return, as if from work relieved, To her who first his services received. His fondness into fervent friendship grew; As such gay Atis visited anew; He often came, but Argia was sincere, And firmly to her vow would now adhere: Old Anselm too, had sworn, by heav'n above; No more to be suspicious of his love; And, if he ever page became again, To suffer punishment's severest pain.

THE EEL PIE

HOWEVER exquisite we BEAUTY find, It satiates sense, and palls upon the mind: Brown bread as well as white must be for me; My motto ever is--VARIETY.

THAT brisk brunette, with languid, sleepy eye, Delights my fancy; Can you tell me why? The reason 's plain enough:--she 's something new. The other mistress, long within my view, Though lily fair, with seraph features blessed, No more emotion raises in my breast; Her heart assents, while mine reluctant proves; Whence this diversity that in us moves? From hence it rises, to be plain and free, My motto ever is--VARIETY.