Click in the field, then press CTRL+C to copy the HTML code
<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=431358" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>The Cudgelled And Contented Cuckold</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=431358" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">SOME time ago from Rome, in smart array,<br>A younger brother homeward bent his way,<br>Not much improved, as frequently the case<br>With those who travel to that famous place.<br>Upon the road oft finding, where he stayed,<br>Delightful wines, and handsome belle or maid,<br>With careless ease he loitered up and down.--<br>One day there passed him in a country town,<br>Attended by a page, a lady fair,<br>Whose charming form and all-engaging air,<br>At once his bosom fired with fond desire;<br>And nearer still, her beauties to admire.<br>He most gallantly saw her safely home;<br>Attentions charm the sex where'er we roam.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=431358" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">OUR thoughtless rambler pleasures always sought:<br>From Rome this spark had num'rous pardons brought;<br>But,--as to virtues (this too oft we find),<br>He'd left them,--with his HOLINESS behind!</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=431358" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">THE lady was, by ev'ry one, confessed,<br>Of beauty, youth, and elegance possessed;<br>She wanted naught to form her bliss below,<br>But one whose love would ever fondly flow.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=431358" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">INDEED so fickle proved this giddy youth,<br>That nothing long would please his heart or tooth;<br>Howe'er he earnestly inquired her name,<br>And ev'ry other circumstance the same.<br>She's lady, they replied, to great 'squire Good,<br>Who's almost bald from age 'tis understood;<br>But as he's rich, and high in rank appears,<br>Why that's a recompense you know for years.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=431358" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">THESE facts our young gallant no sooner gained,<br>But ardent hopes at once he entertained;<br>To wily plots his mind he quickly bent,<br>And to a neighb'ring town his servants sent;<br>Then, at the house where dwelled our noble 'squire,<br>His humble services proposed for hire.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=431358" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">PRETENDING ev'ry sort of work he knew,<br>He soon a fav'rite with old Square-toes grew,<br>Who (first advising with his charming mate),<br>Chief falc'ner made him o'er his fine estate.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=431358" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">THE new domestick much the lady pleased;<br>He watched and eagerly the moment seized,<br>His ardent passion boldly to declare,<br>In which he showed a novice had no share.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=431358" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">'TWAS managed well, for nothing but the chase,<br>Could Square-toes tempt to quit her fond embrace,<br>And then our falc'ner must his steps attend:--<br>The very time he wished at home to spend.<br>The lady similar emotions showed;<br>For opportunity their bosoms glowed;<br>And who will feel in argument so bold,<br>When this I say, the contrary to hold?<br>At length with pity Cupid saw the case,<br>And kindly lent his aid to their embrace.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=431358" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">ONE night the lady said, with eager eyes,<br>My dear, among our servants, which d'ye prize,<br>For moral conduct most and upright heart?<br>To this her spouse replied, the faithful part<br>Is with the falc'ner found, I must decide:<br>To him my life I'd readily confide.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=431358" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">THEN you are wrong, said she,--most truly so,<br>For he's a good-for-nothing wretch I know;<br>You'll scarcely credit it, but t'other day,<br>He had the barefaced impudence to say,<br>He loved me much, and then his passion pressed:<br>I'd nearly fallen, I was so distressed.<br>To tear his eyes out, I designed at first,<br>And e'en to choke this wretch, of knaves the worst;<br>By prudence solely was I then restrained,<br>For fear the world should think his point was gained.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=431358" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">THE better then to prove his dark intent,<br>I feigned an inclination to consent,<br>And in the garden, promised as to-night,<br>I'd near the pear-tree meet this roguish wight.<br>Said I, my husband never moves from hence;<br>No jealous fancy, but to show the sense<br>He entertains of my pure, virtuous life,<br>And fond affection for a loving wife.<br>Thus circumstanced, your wishes see are vain,<br>Unless when he's asleep a march I gain,<br>And softly stealing from his torpid side,<br>With trembling steps I, to my lover, glide.<br>So things remain, my dear; an odd affair:--<br>On this Square-toes 'gan to curse and swear;<br>But his fond rib most earnestly besought,<br>His rage to stifle, as she clearly thought,<br>He might in person, if he'd take the pain,<br>Secure the rascal and redress obtain<br>You know, said she, the tree is near the door,<br>Upon the left and bears of fruit great store;<br>But if I may my sentiments express,<br>In cap and petticoats you'd best to dress;<br>His insolence is great, and you'll be right,<br>To give your strokes with double force to night;<br>Well work his back; flat lay him on the ground:--<br>A rascal! honourable ladies round,<br>No doubt he many times has served the same;<br>'Tis such impostors characters defame.<br>To rouse his wrath the story quite sufficed;<br>The spouse resolved to do as she advised.<br>Howe'er to dupe him was an easy lot;<br>The hour arrived, his dress he soon had got,<br>Away he ran with anxious fond delight.<br>In hopes the wily spark to trap that night.<br>But no one there our easy fool could see,<br>And while he waited near the fav'rite tree,<br>Half dead with cold, the falc'ner slyly stole,<br>To her who had so well contrived the whole;<br>Time, place, and disposition, all combined<br>The loving pair to mutual joys resigned.<br>When our expert gallant had with the dame,<br>An hour or more indulged his ardent flame,<br>Though forced at length to quit the loving lass,<br>'Twas not without the favourite parting glass;<br>He then the garden sought, where long the 'squire,<br>Upon the knave had wished to vent his ire.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=431358" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">NO sooner he the silly husband spied,<br>But feigning 'twas the wily wife he eyed,<br>At once he cried,--ah, vilest of the sex!<br>Are these thy tricks, so good a man to vex?<br>Oh shame upon thee! thus to treat his love,<br>As pure as snow, descending from above.<br>I could not think thou hadst so base a heart,<br>But clear it is, thou need'st a friendly part,<br>And that I'll act: I asked this rendezvous<br>With full intent to see if thou wert true;<br>And, God be praised, without a loose design,<br>To plunge in luxuries pronounced divine.<br>Protect me Heav'n! poor sinner that I'm here!<br>To guard thy honour I will persevere.<br>My worthy master could I thus disgrace?<br>Thou wanton baggage with unblushing face,<br>Thee on the spot I'll instantly chastise,<br>And then thy husband of the fact advise.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=431358" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">THE fierce harangue o'er Square-toes pleasure spread,<br>Who, mutt'ring 'tween his teeth, with fervour said:<br>O gracious Lord! to thee my thanks are due--<br>To have a wife so chaste--a man so true!<br>But presently he felt upon his back<br>The falc'ner's cudgel vigorously thwack,<br>Who soundly basted him as on he ran,<br>To gain the house, with terror, pale and wan.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><a href="http://www.citatepedia.com/comments.php?id=431358" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none">THE squire had wished his trusty man, no doubt,<br>Had not, at cudgelling, been quite so stout;<br>But since he showed himself so true a friend,<br>And with his actions could such prudence blend,<br>The master fully pardoned what he knew,<br>And quickly to his wife in bed he flew,<br>When he related every thing that passed<br>Were we, cried he, a hundred years to last,<br>My lovely dear, we ne'er on earth could find<br>A man so faithful, and so well inclined.<br>I'd have him take within our town a wife,<br>And you and I'll regard him during life.<br>In that, replied the lady, we agree,<br>And heartily thereto I pledged will be.</a></div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><a href="http://poems.citatepedia.com/">poem</a> by <strong><a rel="author" href="http://authors.citatepedia.com/by.php?a=La+Fontaine">La Fontaine</a></strong></div>