Thehost one evening from the mansion went;
          A friend he left himself to represent,
          And with the charming fair supply his place,
          Which, in the dark he thought, with easy grace,
          Might be effected, if he held his tongue,
          And properly behaved the whole night long. 
          To this the other willingly agreed;
          (What friend would be refused, if thus in need?)
          And this new-comer had complete success
          He scarcely could his ecstacy express.

          Thedame exclaimed:—­pray how could he pretend;
          To treat me so, and leave me to a friend? 
          The other thought the host was much to blame;
          But since ’tis o’er, said he, be now your aim,
          To punish his contempt of beauteous charms;
          With favours load me—­take me to your arms;
          Caress with fond embrace; bestow delight;
          And seem to love me, though in mere despite.

          Shefollowed his advice:  avenged the wrong;
          And naught omitted, pleasures to prolong. 
          If he obtained his wishes from the fair,
          The host about it scarcely seemed to care.

          Thesixth adventure of our charming belle,
          Some writers one way, some another tell;
          Whence many think that favour I have shown,
          And for her, one gallant the less would own. 
          Mere scandal this; from truth I would nor swerve,
          To please the fair:  more credence I deserve;
          Her husband only eight precursors had;
          The fact was such;—­I none suppress nor add.

          Thehost returned and found his friend content;
          To pardon him Alaciel gave consent;
          And ’tween them things would equally divide
          Of royal bosoms clemency’s the pride.

          Whilethus the princess passed from hand to hand
          She oft amused her fancy ’mong a band
          Of charming belles that on her would attend,
          And one of these she made an humble friend. 
          The fav’rite in the house a lover had,
          A smart, engaging, handsome, clever lad,
          Well born, but much to violence inclined
          A wooer that could scarcely be confined
          To gentle means, but oft his suit began,
          Where others end, who follow Cupid’s plan.

          Itone day happened, that this forward spark;
          The girl we speak of, met within the park,
          And to a summer-house the fav’rite drew;
          The course they took the princess chanced to view
          As wand’ring near; but neither swain nor fair,
          Suspicion had, that any one was there;
          And this gallant most confidently thought,