Believingev’ry artifice in love
          Was tolerated by the pow’rs above,
          One eve he turned a heifer from the rest;
          Conducted by the girl his thoughts possessed;
          The others left, not counted by the fair,
          (Youth seldom shows the necessary care,)
          With easy, loit’ring steps the cottage sought,
          Where ev’ry night they usually were brought.

          Hermother, more experienced than the maid,
          Observed, that from the cattle one had strayed;
          The girl was scolded much, and sent to find
          The heifer indiscreetly left behind. 
          Fair Isabella gave a vent to tears;
          Invoked sweet echo to disperse her fears: 
          Solicited with fervent, piercing cry,
          To tell her where lorn Io she might spy,
          Whose little bell the spark deprived of sound;
          When he withdrew her from the herd around.

          Thelover now the tinkling metal shook;
          The path that t’wards it led the charmer took. 
          The well known note was pleasing to her ear;
          Without suspecting treachery was near,
          She followed to a wood, both deep and large,
          In hopes at least she might regain her charge.

          Guessher surprise, good reader, when she heard,
          A lover’s voice, who would not be deterred. 
          Said he, fair maid whene’er the heart’s on fire,
          ’Tis all permitted that can quench desire. 
          On this, with piercing cries she rent the air;
          But no one came:—­she sunk to dire despair.

          Yebeauteous dames avoid the Sylvan shade;
          Dread dangers solitary woods pervade.

The glutton

          A Sturgeon, once, a glutton famed was led
          To have for supper—­all, except the head. 
          With wond’rous glee he feasted on the fish;
          And quickly swallowed down the royal dish. 
          O’ercharged, howe’er, his stomach soon gave way;
          And doctors were required without delay.

          Thedanger imminent, his friends desired
          He’d settle ev’ry thing affairs required. 
          Said he, in that respect I’m quite prepared;
          And, since my time so little is declared,
          With diligence, I earnestly request,
          The sturgeon’s head you’ll get me nicely dressed.

ETEXT EDITOR’S BOOKMARKS: 

Avoid attorneys, if you comfort crave
Few ponder long when they can dupe with ease
He who loves would fain be loved as well

*** End of the project gutenberg Ebook tales and novels of Fontaine, V9 ***