Nextday but one, gay Clidamant, whose joy
          Appeared so great, ’twas free from all alloy,
          By hazard met a friend, to whom he told
          (Most indiscreetly) what to him was sold;
          How Cupid favoured what he most required,
          And freely granted all he had desired. 
          Though large the blessing, yet he grudged the cost;
          The sum gave pain:  a hundred crowns were lost! 
          The friend proposed they should at once decide,
          The charge and pleasure ’tween them to divide. 
          Our husband thought his purse not over strong,
          That saving fifty crowns would not be wrong. 
          But then, on t’other hand, to lend the fair,
          In ev’ry view had got an awkward air;
          Would she, as was proposed, consent to two? 
          To keep things secret would their lips be true? 
          Or was it fair to sacrifice her charms,
          And lay her open thus to dire alarms?

          Thefriend this difficulty soon removed,
          And represented that the cavern proved
          So very dark, the girl would be deceived;
          With one more shrewd the trick might be achieved. 
          Sufficient howsoever it would be,
          If they by turns, and silent, could agree
          To meet the belle, and leave to Love the rest,
          From whom they hoped assistance if distressed. 
          Such silence to observe no hurt could do,
          And Alice would suppose, a prudent view
          Retained the tongue, since walls have often ears,
          And, being mum, expressive was of fears.

          Whenthus the two gallants their plan had laid,
          And ev’ry promised pleasure fully weighed,
          They to the husband’s mansion made their way,
          Where yet the wife between the bed-clothes lay. 
          The servant girl was near her mistress found;
          Her dress was plain:  no finery around;
          In short, ’twas such that, when the moment came;
          To fail the meeting could not be her aim.

          Thefriends disputed which the lead should take,
          And strong pretentions both appeared to make;
          The husband, honours home would not allow: 
          Such compliments were out of fashion now. 
          To settle this, at length three dice they took;
          The friend was highest placed in Fortune’s book. 
          The both together to the cavern flew,
          And for the servant soon impatient grew;
          But Alice never came, and in her room
          The mistress, softly treading ’mid the gloom,
          The necessary signal gently gave,
          On which she entered presently the cave,
          And this so suddenly, no time was found
          To make remarks on change or errors round,