 | Puss in boots, and the Marquis of Carabas |  |
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PLATE VII.
So sultry is the day, in truth,
The water tempts the willing youth;
He springs to meet it—puss receives,
And hides the clothes his master leaves;
Then, as his majesty drives by,
The cat sets up a doleful cry,
And wrings his hands—I mean his paws—
“Stop!” cries the king, “I'll know the cause!”
The water tempts the willing youth;
He springs to meet it—puss receives,
And hides the clothes his master leaves;
Then, as his majesty drives by,
The cat sets up a doleful cry,
And wrings his hands—I mean his paws—
“Stop!” cries the king, “I'll know the cause!”
Descending from the coach, he calls
His little favorite to his side:
“What mean,” he asked, “these fearful squalls?”
When thus demurely puss replied:
“Alas! the while in yonder lake
My master bathes, his splendid clothes
Some wandering thief has dared to take,
And he must stay there, I suppose!
He'll catch his death of cold!”—“No, no!
Haste—to the royal wardrobe go!
Bring thence a suit!”—As thus he said,
The king caressed his favorite's head.
His little favorite to his side:
“What mean,” he asked, “these fearful squalls?”
When thus demurely puss replied:
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My master bathes, his splendid clothes
Some wandering thief has dared to take,
And he must stay there, I suppose!
He'll catch his death of cold!”—“No, no!
Haste—to the royal wardrobe go!
Bring thence a suit!”—As thus he said,
The king caressed his favorite's head.
Meanwhile young William, mute, amazed,
Between the waving branches gazed,
And saw a vision of delight,
“That soon became a part of sight.”
Within the coach a graceful girl,
With hair of gold and teeth of pearl,
Sat blooming like a rose-bud rare,
That blesses all the balmy air;
The loving heaven had lent her eyes
The hue of its own summer skies;
And on her cheek, by mischief sent,
A sportive dimple came and went.
Between the waving branches gazed,
And saw a vision of delight,
“That soon became a part of sight.”
Within the coach a graceful girl,
With hair of gold and teeth of pearl,
Sat blooming like a rose-bud rare,
That blesses all the balmy air;
The loving heaven had lent her eyes
The hue of its own summer skies;
And on her cheek, by mischief sent,
A sportive dimple came and went.
The royal suit was quickly brought,
Will donned it with abstracted thought,
And half repenting what he did,
Followed the king, as he was bid.
'Twas but a moment—“What!” cried he,
“Since fate, the king, and puss agree,
To make a noble lord of me,
Shall I deny the royal sway?
The king can do no wrong, they say,
I'll take his word for 't, come what may!”
Then with a gay, but courteous grace,
He to the monarch bowed assent,
Before the princess took his place,
And off like light the coursers went.
Will donned it with abstracted thought,
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Followed the king, as he was bid.
'Twas but a moment—“What!” cried he,
“Since fate, the king, and puss agree,
To make a noble lord of me,
Shall I deny the royal sway?
The king can do no wrong, they say,
I'll take his word for 't, come what may!”
Then with a gay, but courteous grace,
He to the monarch bowed assent,
Before the princess took his place,
And off like light the coursers went.
| Puss in boots, and the Marquis of Carabas | |