A strange tale I’ve heard—no offence—of their mode,
And the close-cutting rules of their well-prepared code;
This narrative’s true;—at least, so I’ve been told.—
A young Corsican noble, scarce twenty years old—
A mere boy in years, but with wealth at command,
And a title as proud as the best in the land—
About twelve years ago to gay Paris repaired,
To see life as ’tis there to be seen, and—get snared.[609]
With some friends like himself,—young, thoughtless and gay,[610]
He managed to while time and money away.[611]