To please the youthful Prince whom courtly fame
Destines entempled in my works to be,
How shall I write a fable with this name—
<i>Le Chat et la Souris?</i> ("The Cat and the Mouse.")
How can I represent in verse a maid
Who, sweet in aspect, yet still ruthless played
With hearts her charms snared, as you see
<i>Le petit Chat</i> does <i>la Souris?</i>
Shall I sketch Fortune, and show her deceit?—
Tell how she gulls the world with the old cheat?
Treating poor self-complacent friends you see
<i>Comme le Chat</i> does <i>la Souris?</i>
Shall I depict of all earth's royalty
The only one her restless wheel that stays?
The one who wars with Europe's chivalry;
And with the strongest of his foemen plays,
<i>Comme le Chat</i> with <i>la Souris?</i>
But as I write, there comes, insensibly,
The plan that suits me, if I don't mistake;
I should spoil all if lazy I should be:
Mockery the Prince of my poor muse would make,
<i>Comme le Chat</i> of <i>la Souris.</i>