OUR preacher, quite ashamed of what she'd done, Now lost her voice, and noticed not the nun; The murmur buzzed around, too well expressed, What thoughts the holy sisterhood possessed. At length the abbess said:--we've now not time To take the chapter's votes upon her crime; 'Twould make it late; let each to bed return, And, till to-morrow, we'll the case adjourn. No chapter met, howe'er, when morrow came; Another day arrived, and still the same; The sages of the convent thought it best, In fact, to let the mystick business rest. Much noise, perhaps, would hurt religion's cause, And, that considered, prudent 'twere to pause. Base envy made them Isabella hate, And dark suspicions to the abbess state. In short, unable by their schemes to get The morsel she'd so fortunately met, Each nun exerted all her art to find, What equally might satisfy the mind. Old friends were willingly received again; Her gallant our belle was suffered to retain; The rector and the abbess had their will; And, such their union, precepts to fulfill, That if a nun had none to give her bliss, To lend a friend was nothing thought amiss. KING CANDAULES AND THE DOCTOR OF LAWS IN life oft ills from self-imprudence spring; As proof, Candaules' story we will bring; In folly's scenes the king was truly great: His vassal, Gyges, had from him a bait, The like in gallantry was rarely known, And want of prudence never more was shown. MY friend, said he, you frequently have seen The beauteous face and features of the queen; But these are naught, believe me, to the rest, Which solely can be viewed when quite undressed. Some day I'll let you gratify your eyes; Without her knowledge I'll means devise; But on condition:--you'll remember well What you behold, to no one you will tell, In ev'ry step most cautiously proceed, And not your mind with silly wishes feed; No sort of pleasure surely I could take, To see vain passion you her lover make. You must propose, this charming form to view, As if mere marble, though to nature true; And I'm convinced you'll readily declare, Beyond nor art can reach, nor thought prepare; Just now I left her in the bath at ease: A judge you are, and shall the moment seize; Come, witness my felicity supreme; You know her beauties are my constant theme.