thought displeasing, should not be dispos’d
          In terms direct, but obviously dispos’d,
          To catch the mind, Joconde at ease detail’d,
          From days of yore to those he now bewail’d,
          The names of emp’rors and of kings, whose brows,
          By wily wives, were crown’d with leafless boughs! 
          And who, without repining, view’d their lot,
          Nor bad made worse, but thought things best forgot. 
          E’en I, who now your majesty address,
          Continued he, am sorry to confess,
          The very day I left my native earth,

          To wait upon a prince of royal birth,
          Was forced t’acknowledge cuckoldom among
          The gods who rule the matrimonial throng,
          And sacrifice thereto with aching heart
          Cornuted heads dire torments oft impart: 

          Thetale he then detail’d, that rais’d his spleen;
          And what within the closet he had seen;
          The king replied, I will not be so rude,
          To question what so clearly you have view’d;
          Yet, since ’twere better full belief to gain,
          A glimpse of such a fact I should obtain,
          Pray bring me thither; instantly our wight;
          Astolphus led, where both his ears and sight
          Full proof receiv’d, which struck the prince with awe;
          Who stood amaz’d at what he heard and saw. 
          But soon reflection’s all-convincing pow’r
          Induced the king vexation to devour;
          True courtier-like, who dire misfortunes braves,
          Feels sprouting horns, yet smiles at fools and knaves: 
          Our wives, said he, a pretty trick have play’d,
          And shamefully the marriage bed betray’d;
          Let us the compliment return, my friend,
          And round the country our amours extend;
          But, in our plan the better to succeed,
          Our names we’ll change; no servants we shall need;—­
          For your relation I desire to pass,
          So you’ll true freedom use; then with a lass
          We more at ease shall feel, more pleasure gain;
          Than if attended by my usual train.

          Jocondewith joy the king’s proposal heard;
          On which the latter with his friend conferr’d;
          Said he, ’twere surely right to have a book,
          In which to place the names of those we hook,
          The whole arrang’d according to their rank,
          And I’ll engage no page remains a blank,
          But ere we leave the range of our design,
          E’en scrup’lous dames shall to our wish incline,
          Our persons handsome, with engaging air,
          And sprightly, brilliant wit no trifling share,—­
          ’Twere strange, possessing such engaging charms,
          They should not tumble freely in our arms.