Book IV: The Lion in Love

Sévigné, type of every graceIn female form and face,In your regardlessness of men,Can you show favour whenThe sportive fable craves your ear,And see, unmoved by fear,A lion's haughty heartThrust through by Love's audacious dart?Strange conqueror, Love! And happy he,And strangely privileged and free,Who only knows by storyHim and his feats of glory!If on this subject you are wontTo think the simple truth too blunt,The fabulous may less affront;Which now, inspired with gratitude,Yea, kindled into zeal most fervent,Doth venture to intrudeWithin your maiden solitude,And kneel, your humble servant.--In times when animals were speakers,Among the quadrupedal seekersOf our allianceThere came the lions.And wherefore not? for thenThey yielded not to menIn point of courage or of sense,Nor were in looks without pretence.A high-born lion, on his wayAcross a meadow, met one dayA shepherdess, who charm'd him so,That, as such matters ought to go,He sought the maiden for his bride.Her sire, it cannot be denied,Had much preferr'd a son-in-lawOf less terrific mouth and paw.It was not easy to decide--The lion might the gift abuse--'Twas not quite prudent to refuse.And if refusal there should be,Perhaps a marriage one would see,Some morning, made clandestinely.For, over and aboveThe fact that she could bearWith none but males of martial air,The lady was in loveWith him of shaggy hair.Her sire, much wanting coverTo send away the lover,Thus spoke:--'My daughter, sir,Is delicate. I fear to herYour fond caressingsWill prove rough blessings.To banish all alarmAbout such sort of harm,Permit us to remove the cause,By filing off your teeth and claws.In such a case, your royal kissWill be to her a safer bliss,And to yourself a sweeter;Since she will more respondTo those endearments fondWith which you greet her.'The lion gave consent at once,By love so great a dunce!Without a tooth or claw now view him--A fort with cannon spiked.The dogs, let loose upon him, slew him,All biting safely where they liked.

O, tyrant Love! when held by you,We may to prudence bid adieu.