Of this our present tale's a proof direct,

And none that feel—its truths will e'er suspect:

THE am'rous muleteer his thoughts employed;

Consid'ring how his wish might be enjoyed.

Without success to certainty were brought,

Life seemed to him not worth a slender thought;

To hazard ev'ry thing; to live or die!

Possession have!—or in the grave to lie!

THE Lombard custom was, that when the king,

Who slept not with his queen, (a common thing