XXXI. I think with Alexander, that the act Redoubled; when a roast and a ragout, XXXIII. The other evening, ('twas on Friday last)— Just as my great coat was about me cast, My hat and gloves still lying on the table, I heard a shot-'twas eight o'clock scarce past- I found the military commandant XXXIV. XXXVIII. The scars of his old wounds were near his new, Those honor'd scars which brought him fame; And horrid was the contrast to the view But let me quit the theme, as such things claim, Perhaps, even more attention than is due From me: I gazed (as oft I have gazed the same) To try if I could wrench aught out of death, ;) | Which should confirm, or shake, or make a faith; Poor fellow! for some reason, surely bad, [there They had slain him with five slugs; and left him To perish on the pavement: so I had Him borne into the house and up the stair, And stripp'd, and look'd to-But why should I add More circumstances? vain was every care; 'The man was gone: in some Italian quarrel Kill'd by five bullets from an old gun-barrel. XXXV. I gazed upon him, for I knew him well; And, though I have seen many corpses, never Saw one, whom such an accident befell, [and liver, So calm; though pierced through stomach, heart, He seem'd to sleep, for you could scarcely tell (As he bled inwardly, no hideous river Of gore divulged the cause) that he was dead:So as I gazed on him, I thought or said— XXXVI. "Can this be death? then what is life or death? 'Go,' and he goeth; 'come,' and forth he stepp'd. The trump and bugle till he spake were dumbAnd now nought left him but the muffled drum." XXXVII. And they who waited once and worshipp'd-they Had faced Napoleon's foes until they fled,- XXXIX. But it was all a mystery. Here we are, And there we go:—but where? five bits of lead, Or three, or two, or one, send very far! And is this blood, then, form'd but to be shed? Can every element our elements mar? And air-earth-water-fire live-and we dead? We, whose minds comprehend all things? No more: But let us to the story as before. XL. The purchaser of Juan and acquaintance Wondering what next, till the caique was brought XLI. Here there conductor tapping at the wicket hand: They almost lost their way, and had to pick it- XLII. As they were plodding on their winding way, Through orange bowers, and jasmine, and so forth, (Of which I might have a good deal to say, There being no such profusion in the North Of oriental plants, "et cetera," But that of late your scribblers think it worth Their while to rear whole hotbeds in their works, Because one poet travell'd 'mongst the Turks :) XLIII. As they were threading on their way, there came Into Don Juan's head a thought, which he Whisper'd to his companion:-'twas the same Which might have then occurr'd to you or me. "Methinks," said he "it would be no great shame If we should strike a stroke to set us free; Let's knock that old black fellow on the head, And march away-'twere easier done than said.” XLIV. "Yes," said the other, "and when done, what then? And worse off than we hitherto have been ; Alas! man makes that great which makes nim little; The black, however, without hardly deigning And huge tombs worse-mankind, since Adam fell: A glance at that which rapt the slaves in wonder Trampled what they scarce trod for fear of staining. As if the milky-way their feet was under A certain press or cupboard, niched in yonder In that remote recess which you may see Might teach them this much better than I'm able. Or if you don't, the fault is not in me: Shows that we build when we should but entomb us. Of all the customs of this polish'd nation. LXIV. At last they reach'd a quarter most retired, Where echo wake as if from a long slumber : Though full of all things which could be desired, One wonder'd what to do with such a number Of articles which nobody required; Here wealth had done its utmost to encumber With furniture an exquisite apartment, LXXI. "For his own share-he saw but small objection He doubted not a few hours of reflection Which puzzled nature much to know what art meant. But they as soon shall circumcise my head— LXV. It seem'd, however, but to open on A range or suit of further chambers, which LXXII. "Cut off a thousand heads, before- -" -"Now Replied the other, "do not interrupt: [pray," Might lead to, heaven knows where; but in this one You put me out in what I had to say. The moveables were prodigally rich; Sofas 'twas half a sin to sit upon, So costly were they; carpets every stitch Of workmanship so rare, that made you wish You could glide o'er them like a golden fish. Sir!-as I said, as soon as I have supp'd, "So much the better," Juan said, "for them: Else they shall feel the weight of this my arm, Which is not quite so light as you may deem. "Then if I do," said Juan, "I'll be" "Hold!""You fool! I tell you no one means you harm LXXVI. "I offer you a handsome suit of clothes: A woman's true; then there is a cause I yield thus far; but soon will break the charm, Why you should wear them."—"What, though my Though somewhat grieved, could scarce forbear a soul loathes Upon the metamorphosis in view, Farewell!" they mutually exclaim'd: "this soil The effeminate garb?"-Thus, after a short pause," And then he swore; and, sighing, on he slipp'd Which girt a slight chemise as white as milk, Which-as we say-or, as the Scotch say, whilk, (The rhyme obliges me to this :-sometimes Kings are not more imperative than rhymes)→ LXXVIII. Whilk, which (or what you please) was owing to His toilet, though no doubt a little backward; When some untoward part of raiment stuck hard; One difficulty still remain'd,-his hair Was hardly long enough; but Baba found So many false long tresses all to spare, That soon his head was most completely crown'd, After the manner then in fashion there; And this addition with such gems was bound As suited the ensemble of his toilet, While Baba made him comb his head and oil it. LXXXIV. "Farewell!" said Juan; "should we meet no more, LXXXV And thus they parted, each by separate doors; LXXXVI. The giant door was broad, and bright, and high, LXXXVII. This massy portal stood at the wide close Until you nearly trod on them, and then You started back in horror to survey The wondrous hideousness of those small men, Whose color was not black, nor white, nor gray, But an extraneous mixture, which no pen Can trace, although perhaps the pencil may; They were misshapen pigmies, deaf and dumbMonsters, who cost a no less monstrous sum. LXXXIX. Their duty was-for they were strong, and though They look'd so little, did strong things at timesTo ope this door, which they could really do, The hinges being as smooth as Rogers' rhymes; And now and then, with tough strings of the bow, As is the custom of those eastern climes, To give some rebel Pacha a cravat; For mutes are generally used for that. XC. They spoke by signs-that is not spoke at all; And, looking like two incubi, they glared As Baba with his fingers made them fall To heaving back the portal folds: it scared Juan a moment, as this pair so small, With shrinking serpent optics on him stared; It was as if their little looks could poison Or fascinate whome'er they fix'd their eyes on. XCI. Before they enter'd, Baba paused to hint XCII. ""Twould be convenient; for these mutes have eyes Like needles, which might pierce those petticoats; And if they should discover your disguise, You know how near us the deep Bosphorus floats; And you and I may chance, ere morning rise, To find our way to Marmora without boats, Stich'd up in sacks-a mode of navigation A good deal practised here upon occasion." XCIII. With this encouragement, he led the way A rich confusion form'd a disarray In such sort, that the eye along it cast Could hardly carry any thing away, Object on object flash'd so bright and fast; A dazzling mass of gems, and gold, and glitter, Magnificently mingled in a litter. In the more chasten'd domes of western kings, In this imperial hall, at distance lay A lady; Baba stopp'd, and kneeling, sign'd XCVI. The lady, rising up with such an air As Venus rose with from the wave, on them Bent like an antelope á Paphian pair Of eyes, which put out each surrounding gem; And, raising up an arm as moonlight fair, She sign'd to Baba, who first kiss'd the hem Of her deep-purple robe, and, speaking low Pointed to Juan, who remain'd below. XCVII. Her presence was as lofty as her state; Her beauty of that overpowering kind, Whose force description only would abate: I'd rather leave it much to your own mind, Than lessen it by what I could relate Of forms and features; it would strike you blind, Could I do justice to the full detail; So, luckily for both, my phrases fail. XCVIII. This much however I may add-her years [springs, XCIX. She spake some words to her attendants, who Who wore their uniform, by Baba chosen: I won't be bail for any thing beyond. C. They bow'd obeisance and withdrew, retiring, |