EXCURSUS to TAKE TIME BY THE FORELOCK.
Quoting from Mérard de Saint-Just, (Espiègleries Joyeusetés), Poggio’s translator gives a variant in verse of the foregoing story. We reproduce it in less ambitious English prose:—
“Pierre the Red, wrapped in his bed-clothes, felt himself stimulated by the burning flame of the god of love, and he invited his wife to come straightway to his arms. It chanced that she was praying, and she made reply: ‘Wait a while.’ And whilst her Paters and her Agnus’ and her Aves were accomplished, Pierre’s ardour had had time to grow cold. She entered the bed, but the chilled husband maintained his pretence. She drew near him; he did not budge. ‘Beloved, what dost wish? I have said my prayers.’—’Good,’ quoth Pierre the Red. ‘But I have grown soft.’”
FIRST MEETING BETWEEN A YOUTH AND HIS FIANCÉE.[118]
An old man had a son, a fine lad. Another old man had a daughter, a marriageable girl. They pictured these two young ones married.
“Ivanouchka,” said the father, “I desire thee to marry the daughter of our neighbour; approach her and discourse gently and courteously with her.”
“Machoutka,” said the other old man, “I would give thee in marriage to the son of our neighbour; seek to meet him and have pleasant converse with him.”
These two young persons met in the street and greeted each other.