I think you cry—­how wond’rously exact,
          To bring the casket into ev’ry act! 
          Is that a circumstance of weight I pray? 
          It truly seems so, and without delay,
          You’ll see if I be wrong; no airy flight,
          Or jeer, or raillery, have I in sight. 
          Had I embarked our couple in a ship
          Without or cash or jewels for the trip,
          Distress had followed, you must be aware;
          ’Tis past our pow’r to live on love or air;
          In vain affection ev’ry effort tries
          Inexorable hunger all defies.

          Thecasket, with the diamonds proved a source,
          To which ’twas requisite to have recourse;
          Some Hispal sold, and others put in pawn,
          And purchased, near the coast, a house and lawn;
          With woods, extensive park, and pleasure ground;
          And many bow’rs and shady walks around,
          Where charming hours they passed, and this ’twas plain,
          Without the casket they could n’er obtain.

          Beneaththe wood there was a secret grot,
          Where lovers, when they pleased, concealment got,
          A quiet, gloomy, solitary place,
          Designed by nature for the billing race.

          Oneday, as through the grove a walk they sought,
          The god of love our couple thither brought;
          His wishes, Hispal, as they went along,
          Explained im part by words direct and strong;
          The rest his sighs expressed, (they spoke the soul;)—­
          The princess, trembling, listened to the whole.

          Saidhe, we now are in a place retired,
          Unknown to man, (such spots how oft desired!)
          Let’s take advantage of the present hour: 
          No joys, but those of love, are in our pow’r;
          All others see withdrawn! and no one knows
          We even live; perhaps both friends and foes
          Believe us in the belly of a whale;
          Allow me, lovely princess, to prevail;
          Bestow your kindness, or, without delay,
          Those charms to Mamolin let me convey. 
          Yet, why go thither?—­happy you could make
          The man, whose constancy no perils shake,
          What would you more?—­his passion’s ardent grown;
          And surely you’ve enough resistance shown.

          Suchtender elocution Hispal used,
          That e’en to marble, ’Twould have warmth infused;
          While fair Alaciel, on the bark of trees,
          With bodkin wrote, apparently at ease. 
          But Cupid drew her thoughts to higher things,
          Than merely graving what from fancy springs. 
          Her lover and the place, at once assured,
          That such a secret would be well secured;
          A tempting bait, which made her, with regret,
          Resist the witching charm that her beset.