s: Like the first old Greek privateer, the Argo.


s: And must have meals, at least one meal a day;


s: He cannot live, like woodcocks, upon suction,


s: But, like the shark and tiger, must have prey;


s: Your labouring people think beyond all question,


s: Beef, veal, and mutton, better for digestion.


s: And thus it was with this our hapless crew;


s: For on the third day there came on a calm,


s: And though at first their strength it might renew,


s: Lull'd them like turtles sleeping on the blue


s: Of ocean, when they woke they felt a qualm,


s: And fell all ravenously on their provision,


s: Instead of hoarding it with due precision.


s: They ate up all they had, and drank their wine,


s: On what, in fact, next day were they to dine?


s: They hoped the wind would rise, these foolish men!


s: And carry them to shore; these hopes were fine,


s: But as they had but one oar, and that brittle,


s: It would have been more wise to save their victual.


s: The fourth day came, but not a breath of air,


s: And Ocean slumber'd like an unwean'd child:


s: The fifth day, and their boat lay floating there,


s: The sea and sky were blue, and clear, and mild--


s: With their one oar (I wish they had had a pair)


s: What could they do? and hunger's rage grew wild:


s: So Juan's spaniel, spite of his entreating,


s: Was kill'd and portion'd out for present eating.


s: On the sixth day they fed upon his hide,


s: And Juan, who had still refused, because


s: The creature was his father's dog that died,


s: Now feeling all the vulture in his jaws,


s: With some remorse received (though first denied)


s: The seventh day, and no wind--the burning sun


s: Blister'd and scorch'd, and, stagnant on the sea,


s: They lay like carcasses; and hope was none,


s: Save in the breeze that came not; savagely


s: They glared upon each other--all was done,


s: Water, and wine, and food,--and you might see


s: (Although they spoke not) in their wolfish eyes.


s: At length one whisper'd his companion, who


s: Whisper'd another, and thus it went round,


s: An ominous, and wild, and desperate sound;


s: And when his comrade's thought each sufferer knew,


s: 'T was but his own, suppress'd till now, he found:


s: And out they spoke of lots for flesh and blood,


s: And who should die to be his fellow's food.


s: But ere they came to this, they that day shared


s: Some leathern caps, and what remain'd of shoes;


s: And then they look'd around them and despair'd,


s: And none to be the sacrifice would choose;


s: At length the lots were torn up, and prepared,


s: But of materials that much shock the Muse--


s: Having no paper, for the want of better,


s: They took by force from Juan Julia's letter.


s: The lots were made, and mark'd, and mix'd, and handed,


s: In silent horror, and their distribution


s: Lull'd even the savage hunger which demanded,


s: Like the Promethean vulture, this pollution;


s: None in particular had sought or plann'd it,


s: 'T was nature gnaw'd them to this resolution,


s: By which none were permitted to be neuter--


s: And the lot fell on Juan's luckless tutor.


s: The surgeon had his instruments, and bled


s: Pedrillo, and so gently ebb'd his breath,


s: You hardly could perceive when he was dead.


s: Like most in the belief in which they 're bred,


s: And then held out his jugular and wrist.


s: Had his first choice of morsels for his pains;


s: Preferr'd a draught from the fast-flowing veins:


s: Part was divided, part thrown in the sea,


s: And such things as the entrails and the brains


s: Regaled two sharks, who follow'd o'er the billow--


s: The sailors ate the rest of poor Pedrillo.


s: The sailors ate him, all save three or four,


s: Who were not quite so fond of animal food;


s: Feel now his appetite increased much more;


s: 'T was not to be expected that he should,


s: Dine with them on his pastor and his master.


s: 'T was better that he did not; for, in fact,


s: The consequence was awful in the extreme;


s: For they, who were most ravenous in the act,


s: Went raging mad--Lord! how they did blaspheme!


s: And foam and roll, with strange convulsions rack'd,


s: Drinking salt water like a mountain-stream,


s: Tearing, and grinning, howling, screeching, swearing,


s: And, with hyaena-laughter, died despairing.


s: Their numbers were much thinn'd by this infliction,


s: And all the rest were thin enough, Heaven knows;


s: And some of them had lost their recollection,


s: Happier than they who still perceived their woes;


s: But others ponder'd on a new dissection,


s: Who had already perish'd, suffering madly,


s: For having used their appetites so sadly.


s: And next they thought upon the master's mate,


s: As fattest; but he saved himself, because,


s: Besides being much averse from such a fate,


s: There were some other reasons: the first was,


s: And that which chiefly proved his saving clause


s: Was a small present made to him at Cadiz,


s: Of poor Pedrillo something still remain'd,


s: But was used sparingly,--some were afraid,


s: And others still their appetites constrain'd,


s: All except Juan, who throughout abstain'd,


s: Chewing a piece of bamboo and some lead:


s: At length they caught two boobies and a noddy,


s: And then they left off eating the dead body.


s: And if Pedrillo's fate should shocking be,


s: His tale: if foes be food in hell, at sea


s: 'T is surely fair to dine upon our friends,


s: When shipwreck's short allowance grows too scanty,


s: Without being much more horrible than Dante.


s: And the same night there fell a shower of rain,


s: For which their mouths gaped, like the cracks of earth


s: When dried to summer dust; till taught by pain


s: Men really know not what good water 's worth;


s: Or with a famish'd boat's-crew had your berth,


s: Or in the desert heard the camel's bell,


s: You 'd wish yourself where Truth is--in a well.


s: It pour'd down torrents, but they were no richer


s: Until they found a ragged piece of sheet,


s: Which served them as a sort of spongy pitcher,


s: And when they deem'd its moisture was complete


s: They wrung it out, and though a thirsty ditcher


s: Might not have thought the scanty draught so sweet


s: As a full pot of porter, to their thinking


s: They ne'er till now had known the joys of drinking.


s: And their baked lips, with many a bloody crack,


s: Suck'd in the moisture, which like nectar stream'd;


s: Their throats were ovens, their swoln tongues were black,


s: As the rich man's in hell, who vainly scream'd


s: To beg the beggar, who could not rain back


s: A drop of dew, when every drop had seem'd


s: To taste of heaven--If this be true, indeed


s: Some Christians have a comfortable creed.


s: There were two fathers in this ghastly crew,


s: And with them their two sons, of whom the one


s: But he died early; and when he was gone,


s: His nearest messmate told his sire, who threw


s: One glance at him, and said, 'Heaven's will be done!


s: I can do nothing,' and he saw him thrown


s: But the boy bore up long, and with a mild


s: Little he said, and now and then he smiled,


s: He saw increasing on his father's heart,


s: With the deep deadly thought that they must part.


s: And o'er him bent his sire, and never raised


s: His eyes from off his face, but wiped the foam


s: From his pale lips, and ever on him gazed,


s: And when the wish'd-for shower at length was come,


s: And the boy's eyes, which the dull film half glazed,


s: Brighten'd, and for a moment seem'd to roam,


s: He squeezed from out a rag some drops of rain


s: Into his dying child's mouth--but in vain.


s: The boy expired--the father held the clay,


s: And look'd upon it long, and when at last


s: Death left no doubt, and the dead burthen lay


s: Stiff on his heart, and pulse and hope were past,


s: 'T was borne by the rude wave wherein 't was cast;


s: And gave no sign of life, save his limbs quivering.


s: Now overhead a rainbow, bursting through


s: The scattering clouds, shone, spanning the dark sea,


s: Resting its bright base on the quivering blue;


s: Clearer than that without, and its wide hue


s: Wax'd broad and waving, like a banner free,


s: Then changed like to a bow that 's bent, and then


s: Forsook the dim eyes of these shipwreck'd men.


s: It changed, of course; a heavenly chameleon,


s: Brought forth in purple, cradled in vermilion,


s: Baptized in molten gold, and swathed in dun,


s: Glittering like crescents o'er a Turk's pavilion,


s: Just like a black eye in a recent scuffle


s: (For sometimes we must box without the muffle).


s: Our shipwreck'd seamen thought it a good omen--


s: It is as well to think so, now and then;


s: 'T was an old custom of the Greek and Roman,


s: Folks are discouraged; and most surely no men


s: Had greater need to nerve themselves again


s: Than these, and so this rainbow look'd like hope--


s: And plumage (probably it might have err'd


s: Upon its course), pass'd oft before their eyes,


s: And tried to perch, although it saw and heard


s: The men within the boat, and in this guise


s: It came and went, and flutter'd round them till


s: Night fell: this seem'd a better omen still.


s: 'T was well this bird of promise did not perch,


s: Because the tackle of our shatter'd bark


s: Was not so safe for roosting as a church;


s: And had it been the dove from Noah's ark,


s: Returning there from her successful search,


s: Which in their way that moment chanced to fall,


s: They would have eat her, olive-branch and all.


s: But not with violence; the stars shone out,


s: The boat made way; yet now they were so low,


s: They knew not where nor what they were about;


s: Some fancied they saw land, and some said 'No!'


s: The frequent fog-banks gave them cause to doubt--


s: Some swore that they heard breakers, others guns,


s: As morning broke, the light wind died away,


s: When he who had the watch sung out and swore,


s: If 't was not land that rose with the sun's ray,


s: He wish'd that land he never might see more;


s: And the rest rubb'd their eyes and saw a bay,


s: Or thought they saw, and shaped their course for shore;


s: Distinct, and high, and palpable to view.


s: And then of these some part burst into tears,


s: And others, looking with a stupid stare,


s: Could not yet separate their hopes from fears,


s: And seem'd as if they had no further care;


s: While a few pray'd (the first time for some years)--


s: And at the bottom of the boat three were


s: Asleep: they shook them by the hand and head,


s: And tried to awaken them, but found them dead.


s: The day before, fast sleeping on the water,


s: They found a turtle of the hawk's-bill kind,


s: And by good fortune, gliding softly, caught her,


s: Which yielded a day's life, and to their mind


s: Proved even still a more nutritious matter,


s: They thought that in such perils, more than chance


s: Had sent them this for their deliverance.


s: The land appear'd a high and rocky coast,


s: And higher grew the mountains as they drew,


s: Set by a current, toward it: they were lost


s: To what part of the earth they had been tost,


s: So changeable had been the winds that blew;


s: Some thought it was Mount AEtna, some the highlands,


s: Of Candia, Cyprus, Rhodes, or other islands.


s: Meantime the current, with a rising gale,


s: Still set them onwards to the welcome shore,


s: Like Charon's bark of spectres, dull and pale:


s: Their living freight was now reduced to four,


s: And three dead, whom their strength could not avail


s: To heave into the deep with those before,


s: Though the two sharks still follow'd them, and dash'd


s: The spray into their faces as they splash'd.


s: Famine, despair, cold, thirst, and heat, had done


s: Their work on them by turns, and thinn'd them to


s: Such things a mother had not known her son


s: Amidst the skeletons of that gaunt crew;


s: By night chill'd, by day scorch'd, thus one by one


s: They perish'd, until wither'd to these few,


s: But chiefly by a species of self-slaughter,


s: In washing down Pedrillo with salt water.


s: As they drew nigh the land, which now was seen


s: They felt the freshness of its growing green,


s: That waved in forest-tops, and smooth'd the air,


s: And fell upon their glazed eyes like a screen


s: From glistening waves, and skies so hot and bare--


s: Lovely seem'd any object that should sweep


s: Away the vast, salt, dread, eternal deep.


s: The shore look'd wild, without a trace of man,


s: Were mad for land, and thus their course they ran,


s: Though right ahead the roaring breakers lay:


s: To show its boiling surf and bounding spray,


s: But finding no place for their landing better,


s: They ran the boat for shore,--and overset her.


s: But in his native stream, the Guadalquivir,


s: Juan to lave his youthful limbs was wont;


s: And having learnt to swim in that sweet river,


s: Had often turn'd the art to some account:


s: A better swimmer you could scarce see ever,


s: He could, perhaps, have pass'd the Hellespont,


s: As once (a feat on which ourselves we prided)


s: So here, though faint, emaciated, and stark,


s: He buoy'd his boyish limbs, and strove to ply


s: With the quick wave, and gain, ere it was dark,


s: The beach which lay before him, high and dry:


s: The greatest danger here was from a shark,


s: That carried off his neighbour by the thigh;


s: As for the other two, they could not swim,


s: Which, providentially for him, was wash'd


s: Just as his feeble arms could strike no more,


s: And the hard wave o'erwhelm'd him as 't was dash'd


s: Within his grasp; he clung to it, and sore


s: The waters beat while he thereto was lash'd;


s: At last, with swimming, wading, scrambling, he


s: Roll'd on the beach, half-senseless, from the sea:


s: There, breathless, with his digging nails he clung


s: Fast to the sand, lest the returning wave,


s: From whose reluctant roar his life he wrung,


s: Should suck him back to her insatiate grave:


s: And there he lay, full length, where he was flung,


s: Before the entrance of a cliff-worn cave,


s: With just enough of life to feel its pain,


s: And deem that it was saved, perhaps in vain.


s: With slow and staggering effort he arose,


s: And quivering hand; and then he look'd for those


s: Who long had been his mates upon the sea;


s: But none of them appear'd to share his woes,


s: Save one, a corpse, from out the famish'd three,


s: Who died two days before, and now had found


s: An unknown barren beach for burial ground.


s: And as he gazed, his dizzy brain spun fast,


s: And down he sunk; and as he sunk, the sand


s: Swam round and round, and all his senses pass'd:


s: He fell upon his side, and his stretch'd hand


s: Droop'd dripping on the oar (their jurymast),


s: His slender frame and pallid aspect lay,


s: As fair a thing as e'er was form'd of clay.


s: How long in his damp trance young Juan lay


s: He knew not, for the earth was gone for him,


s: And Time had nothing more of night nor day


s: For his congealing blood, and senses dim;


s: And how this heavy faintness pass'd away


s: He knew not, till each painful pulse and limb,


s: And tingling vein, seem'd throbbing back to life,


s: For Death, though vanquish'd, still retired with strife.


s: His eyes he open'd, shut, again unclosed,


s: For all was doubt and dizziness; he thought


s: He still was in the boat and had but dozed,


s: And felt again with his despair o'erwrought,


s: And wish'd it death in which he had reposed;


s: And then once more his feelings back were brought,


s: And slowly by his swimming eyes was seen


s: 'T was bending dose o'er his, and the small mouth


s: Seem'd almost prying into his for breath;


s: And chafing him, the soft warm hand of youth


s: Recall'd his answering spirits back from death;


s: And, bathing his chill temples, tried to soothe


s: Its gentle touch and trembling care, a sigh


s: Then was the cordial pour'd, and mantle flung


s: Around his scarce-clad limbs; and the fair arm


s: Raised higher the faint head which o'er it hung;


s: And her transparent cheek, all pure and warm,


s: Pillow'd his death-like forehead; then she wrung


s: His dewy curls, long drench'd by every storm;


s: And watch'd with eagerness each throb that drew


s: A sigh from his heaved bosom--and hers, too.


s: And lifting him with care into the cave,


s: Young, yet her elder, and of brow less grave,


s: To kindle fire, and as the new flames gave


s: Light to the rocks that roof'd them, which the sun


s: She was, appear'd distinct, and tall, and fair.


s: Her brow was overhung with coins of gold,


s: That sparkled o'er the auburn of her hair--


s: Her clustering hair, whose longer locks were roll'd


s: In braids behind; and though her stature were


s: They nearly reach'd her heel; and in her air


s: There was a something which bespoke command,


s: Her hair, I said, was auburn; but her eyes


s: Were black as death, their lashes the same hue,


s: Of downcast length, in whose silk shadow lies


s: Deepest attraction; for when to the view


s: Forth from its raven fringe the full glance flies,


s: Ne'er with such force the swiftest arrow flew;


s: 'T is as the snake late coil'd, who pours his length,


s: And hurls at once his venom and his strength.


s: Her brow was white and low, her cheek's pure dye


s: Like twilight rosy still with the set sun;


s: Short upper lip--sweet lips! that make us sigh


s: (A race of mere impostors, when all 's done--


s: I 've seen much finer women, ripe and real,


s: Than all the nonsense of their stone ideal).


s: I 'll tell you why I say so, for 't is just


s: One should not rail without a decent cause:


s: I ne'er saw justice done, and yet she was


s: Yield to stern Time and Nature's wrinkling laws,


s: They will destroy a face which mortal thought


s: Ne'er compass'd, nor less mortal chisel wrought.


s: Her dress was very different from the Spanish,


s: Simpler, and yet of colours not so grave;


s: For, as you know, the Spanish women banish


s: Bright hues when out of doors, and yet, while wave


s: Around them (what I hope will never vanish)


s: But with our damsel this was not the case:


s: Her dress was many-colour'd, finely spun;


s: Her locks curl'd negligently round her face,


s: But through them gold and gems profusely shone:


s: Her girdle sparkled, and the richest lace


s: Flow'd in her veil, and many a precious stone


s: Flash'd on her little hand; but, what was shocking,


s: Her small snow feet had slippers, but no stocking.


s: The other female's dress was not unlike,


s: Was coarser; and her air, though firm, less free;


s: Her hair was thicker, but less long; her eyes


s: As black, but quicker, and of smaller size.


s: And these two tended him, and cheer'd him both


s: With food and raiment, and those soft attentions,


s: Which are (as I must own) of female growth,


s: And have ten thousand delicate inventions:


s: They made a most superior mess of broth,


s: A thing which poesy but seldom mentions,


s: But the best dish that e'er was cook'd since Homer's


s: I 'll tell you who they were, this female pair,


s: Lest they should seem princesses in disguise;


s: Besides, I hate all mystery, and that air


s: Of clap-trap which your recent poets prize;


s: And so, in short, the girls they really were


s: They shall appear before your curious eyes,


s: Mistress and maid; the first was only daughter


s: Left him, at last, the sole of many masters


s: A fisher, therefore, was he,--though of men,


s: For wandering merchant-vessels, now and then,


s: And sometimes caught as many as he wish'd;


s: He sought in the slave-market too, and dish'd


s: Full many a morsel for that Turkish trade,


s: By which, no doubt, a good deal may be made.


s: He was a Greek, and on his isle had built


s: A very handsome house from out his guilt,


s: Heaven knows what cash he got or blood he spilt,


s: But this I know, it was a spacious building,


s: Full of barbaric carving, paint, and gilding.


s: The greatest heiress of the Eastern Isles;


s: Still in her teens, and like a lovely tree


s: She grew to womanhood, and between whiles


s: The cliff, towards sunset, on that day she found,


s: Don Juan, almost famish'd, and half drown'd;


s: But being naked, she was shock'd, you know,


s: Yet deem'd herself in common pity bound,


s: A stranger' dying, with so white a skin.


s: But like conveying to the cat the mouse,


s: Because the good old man had so much 'nous,'


s: Unlike the honest Arab thieves so brave,


s: He would have hospitably cured the stranger,


s: And sold him instantly when out of danger.


s: And therefore, with her maid, she thought it best


s: To place him in the cave for present rest:


s: And when, at last, he open'd his black eyes,


s: Their charity increased about their guest;


s: And their compassion grew to such a size,


s: It open'd half the turnpike-gates to heaven


s: (St. Paul says, 't is the toll which must be given).


s: They made a fire,--but such a fire as they


s: Upon the moment could contrive with such


s: Materials as were cast up round the bay,--


s: Some broken planks, and oars, that to the touch


s: Were nearly tinder, since so long they lay


s: But, by God's grace, here wrecks were in such plenty,


s: That there was fuel to have furnish'd twenty.


s: For Haidee stripped her sables off to make


s: His couch; and, that he might be more at ease,


s: And warm, in case by chance he should awake,


s: She and her maid--and promised by daybreak


s: For breakfast, of eggs, coffee, bread, and fish.


s: And thus they left him to his lone repose:


s: Juan slept like a top, or like the dead,


s: Who sleep at last, perhaps (God only knows),


s: Just for the present; and in his lull'd head


s: Throbb'd in accursed dreams, which sometimes spread


s: Till the eye, cheated, opens thick with tears.


s: Young Juan slept all dreamless:--but the maid,


s: Who smooth'd his pillow, as she left the den


s: Look'd back upon him, and a moment stay'd,


s: And turn'd, believing that he call'd again.


s: He slumber'd; yet she thought, at least she said


s: (The heart will slip, even as the tongue and pen),


s: He had pronounced her name--but she forgot


s: And pensive to her father's house she went,


s: Better than her knew what, in fact, she meant,


s: A year or two 's an age when rightly spent,


s: In gaining all that useful sort of knowledge


s: Which is acquired in Nature's good old college.


s: The morn broke, and found Juan slumbering still


s: Fast in his cave, and nothing clash'd upon


s: His rest; the rushing of the neighbouring rill,


s: And the young beams of the excluded sun,


s: Troubled him not, and he might sleep his fill;


s: And need he had of slumber yet, for none


s: Had suffer'd more--his hardships were comparative


s: To those related in my grand-dad's 'Narrative.'


s: Not so Haidee: she sadly toss'd and tumbled,


s: And started from her sleep, and, turning o'er


s: Dream'd of a thousand wrecks, o'er which she stumbled,


s: And handsome corpses strew'd upon the shore;


s: And woke her maid so early that she grumbled,


s: And call'd her father's old slaves up, who swore


s: In several oaths--Armenian, Turk, and Greek--


s: They knew not what to think of such a freak.


s: But up she got, and up she made them get,


s: With some pretence about the sun, that makes


s: Sweet skies just when he rises, or is set;


s: And 't is, no doubt, a sight to see when breaks


s: Bright Phoebus, while the mountains still are wet


s: With mist, and every bird with him awakes,


s: And night is flung off like a mourning suit


s: Worn for a husband,--or some other brute.


s: I say, the sun is a most glorious sight,


s: I 've seen him rise full oft, indeed of late


s: Which hastens, as physicians say, one's fate;


s: And so all ye, who would be in the right


s: In health and purse, begin your day to date


s: From daybreak, and when coffin'd at fourscore,


s: Engrave upon the plate, you rose at four.


s: And Haidee met the morning face to face;


s: Her own was freshest, though a feverish flush


s: Had dyed it with the headlong blood, whose race


s: From heart to cheek is curb'd into a blush,


s: Like to a torrent which a mountain's base,


s: That overpowers some Alpine river's rush,


s: Checks to a lake, whose waves in circles spread;


s: And down the cliff the island virgin came,


s: And near the cave her quick light footsteps drew,


s: While the sun smiled on her with his first flame,


s: And young Aurora kiss'd her lips with dew,


s: Mistake you would have made on seeing the two,


s: Although the mortal, quite as fresh and fair,


s: Had all the advantage, too, of not being air.


s: And then she stopp'd, and stood as if in awe


s: (For sleep is awful), and on tiptoe crept


s: And wrapt him closer, lest the air, too raw,


s: Should reach his blood, then o'er him still as death


s: Bent with hush'd lips, that drank his scarce-drawn breath.


s: And thus like to an angel o'er the dying


s: Who die in righteousness, she lean'd; and there


s: All tranquilly the shipwreck'd boy was lying,


s: But Zoe the meantime some eggs was frying,


s: Since, after all, no doubt the youthful pair


s: Must breakfast--and betimes, lest they should ask it,


s: She drew out her provision from the basket.


s: She knew that the best feelings must have victual,


s: And that a shipwreck'd youth would hungry be;


s: Besides, being less in love, she yawn'd a little,


s: And felt her veins chill'd by the neighbouring sea;


s: But there were eggs, fruit, coffee, bread, fish, honey,


s: With Scio wine,--and all for love, not money.


s: The coffee made, would fain have waken'd Juan;


s: But Haidee stopp'd her with her quick small hand,


s: And without word, a sign her finger drew on


s: Her lip, which Zoe needs must understand;


s: And, the first breakfast spoilt, prepared a new one,


s: Because her mistress would not let her break


s: That sleep which seem'd as it would ne'er awake.


s: For still he lay, and on his thin worn cheek


s: On the snow-tops of distant hills; the streak


s: Of sufferance yet upon his forehead lay,


s: Where the blue veins look'd shadowy, shrunk, and weak;


s: And his black curls were dewy with the spray,


s: Which weigh'd upon them yet, all damp and salt,


s: Mix'd with the stony vapours of the vault.


s: And she bent o'er him, and he lay beneath,


s: Hush'd as the babe upon its mother's breast,


s: Droop'd as the willow when no winds can breathe,


s: Lull'd like the depth of ocean when at rest,


s: Fair as the crowning rose of the whole wreath,


s: Although his woes had turn'd him rather yellow.


s: He woke and gazed, and would have slept again,


s: But the fair face which met his eyes forbade


s: Those eyes to close, though weariness and pain


s: Had further sleep a further pleasure made;


s: For woman's face was never form'd in vain


s: He turn'd from grisly saints, and martyrs hairy,


s: To the sweet portraits of the Virgin Mary.


s: And look'd upon the lady, in whose cheek


s: The pale contended with the purple rose,


s: Her eyes were eloquent, her words would pose,


s: Although she told him, in good modern Greek,


s: That he was faint, and must not talk, but eat.


s: That finer, simpler music ne'er was heard;


s: Without knowing why--an overpowering tone,


s: Whence Melody descends as from a throne.


s: Not yet a dreamer, till the spell is broke


s: Who like a morning slumber--for the night


s: Shows stars and women in a better light.


s: And Juan, too, was help'd out from his dream,


s: Or sleep, or whatso'er it was, by feeling


s: Of the new fire, which Zoe kept up, kneeling


s: To stir her viands, made him quite awake


s: And long for food, but chiefly a beef-steak.


s: But beef is rare within these oxless isles;


s: Goat's flesh there is, no doubt, and kid, and mutton;


s: A joint upon their barbarous spits they put on:


s: But this occurs but seldom, between whiles,


s: For some of these are rocks with scarce a hut on;


s: Others are fair and fertile, among which


s: This, though not large, was one of the most rich.


s: I say that beef is rare, and can't help thinking


s: From which our modern morals rightly shrinking


s: A cow's shape for a mask--was only (sinking


s: Fed upon beef--I won't say much of beer,


s: Because 't is liquor only, and being far


s: From this my subject, has no business here;


s: A pleasure--like all pleasures--rather dear;


s: That beef and battles both were owing to her.


s: A sight on which he had not lately gazed,


s: As all his latter meals had been quite raw,


s: Three or four things, for which the Lord he praised,


s: And, feeling still the famish'd vulture gnaw,


s: A priest, a shark, an alderman, or pike.


s: He ate, and he was well supplied: and she,


s: Who watch'd him like a mother, would have fed


s: Him past all bounds, because she smiled to see


s: Such appetite in one she had deem'd dead;


s: Knew (by tradition, for she ne'er had read)


s: That famish'd people must be slowly nurst,


s: And fed by spoonfuls, else they always burst.


s: Rather by deeds than words, because the case


s: Was urgent, that the gentleman, whose fate


s: Had made her mistress quit her bed to trace


s: The sea-shore at this hour, must leave his plate,


s: Unless he wish'd to die upon the place--


s: She snatch'd it, and refused another morsel,


s: Saying, he had gorged enough to make a horse ill.


s: Next they--he being naked, save a tatter'd


s: Pair of scarce decent trowsers--went to work,


s: And in the fire his recent rags they scatter'd,


s: And dress'd him, for the present, like a Turk,


s: Or Greek--that is, although it not much matter'd,


s: Omitting turban, slippers, pistols, dirk,--


s: They furnish'd him, entire, except some stitches,


s: With a clean shirt, and very spacious breeches.


s: And then fair Haidee tried her tongue at speaking,


s: Although he listen'd so that the young Greek in


s: Her earnestness would ne'er have made an end;


s: Her speech out to her protege and friend,


s: Till pausing at the last her breath to take,


s: And then she had recourse to nods, and signs,


s: And smiles, and sparkles of the speaking eye,


s: And read (the only book she could) the lines


s: Of his fair face, and found, by sympathy,


s: And darts in one quick glance a long reply;


s: A world of words, and things at which she guess'd.


s: And now, by dint of fingers and of eyes,


s: No doubt, less of her language than her look:


s: Turns oftener to the stars than to his book,


s: From Haidee's glance than any graven letter.


s: 'T is pleasing to be school'd in a strange tongue


s: By female lips and eyes--that is, I mean,


s: When both the teacher and the taught are young,


s: As was the case, at least, where I have been;


s: They smile so when one 's right, and when one 's wrong


s: They smile still more, and then there intervene


s: Pressure of hands, perhaps even a chaste kiss;--


s: I learn'd the little that I know by this:


s: That is, some words of Spanish, Turk, and Greek,


s: Learning that language chiefly from its preachers,


s: Barrow, South, Tillotson, whom every week


s: I study, also Blair, the highest reachers


s: I hate your poets, so read none of those.


s: As for the ladies, I have nought to say,


s: A wanderer from the British world of fashion,


s: Where I, like other 'dogs, have had my day,'


s: Like other men, too, may have had my passion--


s: But that, like other things, has pass'd away,


s: And all her fools whom I could lay the lash on:


s: Foes, friends, men, women, now are nought to me


s: But dreams of what has been, no more to be.


s: To hear new words, and to repeat them; but


s: Were such as could not in his breast be shut


s: He was in love,--as you would be, no doubt,


s: For Juan, who was somewhat fond of rest--


s: She came into the cave, but it was merely


s: And she would softly stir his locks so curly,


s: Without disturbing her yet slumbering guest,


s: Breathing all gently o'er his cheek and mouth,


s: And every morn his colour freshlier came,


s: And every day help'd on his convalescence;


s: 'T was well, because health in the human frame


s: Is pleasant, besides being true love's essence,


s: For health and idleness to passion's flame


s: Are oil and gunpowder; and some good lessons


s: Are also learnt from Ceres and from Bacchus,


s: Without whom Venus will not long attack us.


s: While Venus fills the heart (without heart really


s: Love, though good always, is not quite so good),


s: For love must be sustain'd like flesh and blood,--


s: While Bacchus pours out wine, or hands a jelly:


s: Heaven knows,--it may be Neptune, Pan, or Jove.


s: When Juan woke he found some good things ready,


s: A bath, a breakfast, and the finest eyes


s: That ever made a youthful heart less steady,


s: Besides her maid's as pretty for their size;


s: And repetition 's tiresome and unwise,--


s: Both were so young, and one so innocent,


s: That bathing pass'd for nothing; Juan seem'd


s: To her, as 'twere, the kind of being sent,


s: Of whom these two years she had nightly dream'd,


s: A something to be loved, a creature meant


s: To be her happiness, and whom she deem'd


s: Must share it,--Happiness was born a twin.


s: It was such pleasure to behold him, such


s: Nature with him, to thrill beneath his touch,


s: To watch him slumbering, and to see him wake:


s: But then the thought of parting made her quake;


s: He was her own, her ocean-treasure, cast


s: Like a rich wreck--her first love, and her last.


s: And thus a moon roll'd on, and fair Haidee


s: Such plentiful precautions, that still he


s: Remain'd unknown within his craggy nook;


s: At last her father's prows put out to sea


s: But three Ragusan vessels, bound for Scio.


s: Then came her freedom, for she had no mother,


s: So that, her father being at sea, she was


s: Female, as where she likes may freely pass,


s: Without even the incumbrance of a brother,


s: The freest she that ever gazed on glass;


s: I speak of Christian lands in this comparison,


s: Where wives, at least, are seldom kept in garrison.


s: Now she prolong'd her visits and her talk


s: (For they must talk), and he had learnt to say


s: For little had he wander'd since the day


s: On which, like a young flower snapp'd from the stalk,


s: Drooping and dewy on the beach he lay,--


s: And thus they walk'd out in the afternoon,


s: With cliffs above, and a broad sandy shore,


s: Guarded by shoals and rocks as by an host,


s: With here and there a creek, whose aspect wore


s: And rarely ceased the haughty billow's roar,


s: Save on the dead long summer days, which make


s: The outstretch'd ocean glitter like a lake.


s: And the small ripple spilt upon the beach


s: Scarcely o'erpass'd the cream of your champagne,


s: When o'er the brim the sparkling bumpers reach,


s: That spring-dew of the spirit! the heart's rain!


s: Few things surpass old wine; and they may preach


s: Who please,--the more because they preach in vain,--


s: Let us have wine and women, mirth and laughter,


s: Glory, the grape, love, gold, in these are sunk


s: The hopes of all men, and of every nation;


s: Without their sap, how branchless were the trunk


s: Of life's strange tree, so fruitful on occasion:


s: But to return,--Get very drunk; and when


s: You wake with headache, you shall see what then.


s: Ring for your valet--bid him quickly bring


s: Some hock and soda-water, then you 'll know


s: A pleasure worthy Xerxes the great king;


s: For not the bless'd sherbet, sublimed with snow,


s: Nor the first sparkle of the desert-spring,


s: After long travel, ennui, love, or slaughter,


s: Vie with that draught of hock and soda-water.


s: The coast--I think it was the coast that


s: Was just describing--Yes, it was the coast--


s: The sands untumbled, the blue waves untost,


s: And all was stillness, save the sea-bird's cry,


s: And dolphin's leap, and little billow crost


s: By some low rock or shelve, that made it fret


s: And forth they wander'd, her sire being gone,


s: And mother, brother, guardian, she had none,


s: Save Zoe, who, although with due precision


s: Thought daily service was her only mission,


s: Bringing warm water, wreathing her long tresses,


s: And asking now and then for cast-off dresses.


s: It was the cooling hour, just when the rounded


s: Red sun sinks down behind the azure hill,


s: Which then seems as if the whole earth it bounded,


s: Circling all nature, hush'd, and dim, and still,


s: With the far mountain-crescent half surrounded


s: On one side, and the deep sea calm and chill


s: With one star sparkling through it like an eye.


s: And thus they wander'd forth, and hand in hand,


s: Over the shining pebbles and the shells,


s: Glided along the smooth and harden'd sand,


s: Work'd by the storms, yet work'd as it were plann'd,


s: In hollow halls, with sparry roofs and cells,


s: They turn'd to rest; and, each clasp'd by an arm,


s: Yielded to the deep twilight's purple charm.


s: They look'd up to the sky, whose floating glow


s: Spread like a rosy ocean, vast and bright;


s: They gazed upon the glittering sea below,


s: Whence the broad moon rose circling into sight;


s: They heard the wave's splash, and the wind so low,


s: And saw each other's dark eyes darting light


s: Their lips drew near, and clung into a kiss;


s: A long, long kiss, a kiss of youth, and love,


s: Where heart, and soul, and sense, in concert move,


s: And the blood 's lava, and the pulse a blaze,


s: Each kiss a heart-quake,--for a kiss's strength,


s: I think, it must be reckon'd by its length.


s: By length I mean duration; theirs endured


s: Heaven knows how long--no doubt they never reckon'd;


s: And if they had, they could not have secured


s: The sum of their sensations to a second:


s: They had not spoken; but they felt allured,


s: As if their souls and lips each other beckon'd,


s: Which, being join'd, like swarming bees they clung--


s: Their hearts the flowers from whence the honey sprung.


s: Who shut in chambers think it loneliness;


s: The silent ocean, and the starlight bay,


s: The twilight glow which momently grew less,


s: The voiceless sands and dropping caves, that lay


s: Around them, made them to each other press,


s: As if there were no life beneath the sky


s: Save theirs, and that their life could never die.


s: They fear'd no eyes nor ears on that lone beach,


s: They felt no terrors from the night, they were


s: All in all to each other: though their speech


s: Was broken words, they thought a language there,--


s: And all the burning tongues the passions teach


s: Of nature's oracle--first love,--that all


s: Which Eve has left her daughters since her fall.


s: Haidde spoke not of scruples, ask'd no vows,


s: She was all which pure ignorance allows,


s: And flew to her young mate like a young bird;


s: And, never having dreamt of falsehood, she


s: And she was worshipp'd; after nature's fashion,


s: Their intense souls, into each other pour'd,


s: If souls could die, had perish'd in that passion,--


s: But by degrees their senses were restored,


s: And, beating 'gainst his bosom, Haidee's heart


s: So lonely, loving, helpless, and the hour


s: Was that in which the heart is always full,


s: And, having o'er itself no further power,


s: But pays off moments in an endless shower


s: Of hell-fire--all prepared for people giving


s: So loving and so lovely--till then never,


s: Excepting our first parents, such a pair


s: Had run the risk of being damn'd for ever;


s: And Haidee, being devout as well as fair,


s: Had, doubtless, heard about the Stygian river,


s: They look upon each other, and their eyes


s: Gleam in the moonlight; and her white arm clasps


s: Round Juan's head, and his around her lies


s: Half buried in the tresses which it grasps;


s: She sits upon his knee, and drinks his sighs,


s: He hers, until they end in broken gasps;


s: And thus they form a group that 's quite antique,


s: And when those deep and burning moments pass'd,


s: She slept not, but all tenderly, though fast,


s: Sustain'd his head upon her bosom's charms;


s: And now and then her eye to heaven is cast,


s: And then on the pale cheek her breast now warms,


s: Pillow'd on her o'erflowing heart, which pants


s: With all it granted, and with all it grants.


s: A child the moment when it drains the breast,


s: A sailor when the prize has struck in fight,


s: Feel rapture; but not such true joy are reaping


s: As they who watch o'er what they love while sleeping.


s: For there it lies so tranquil, so beloved,


s: All that it hath of life with us is living;


s: So gentle, stirless, helpless, and unmoved,


s: And all unconscious of the joy 't is giving;


s: All it hath felt, inflicted, pass'd, and proved,


s: Hush'd into depths beyond the watcher's diving:


s: There lies the thing we love with all its errors


s: And all its charms, like death without its terrors.


s: The lady watch'd her lover--and that hour


s: Of Love's, and Night's, and Ocean's solitude,


s: O'erflow'd her soul with their united power;


s: Amidst the barren sand and rocks so rude


s: She and her wave-worn love had made their bower,


s: Where nought upon their passion could intrude,


s: And all the stars that crowded the blue space


s: Saw nothing happier than her glowing face.


s: For all of theirs upon that die is thrown,


s: And if 't is lost, life hath no more to bring


s: To them but mockeries of the past alone,


s: And their revenge is as the tiger's spring,


s: Deadly, and quick, and crushing; yet, as real


s: Torture is theirs, what they inflict they feel.


s: They are right; for man, to man so oft unjust,


s: Awaits them, treachery is all their trust;


s: Taught to conceal, their bursting hearts despond


s: Over their idol, till some wealthier lust


s: Buys them in marriage--and what rests beyond?


s: A thankless husband, next a faithless lover,


s: Then dressing, nursing, praying, and all 's over.


s: Some take a lover, some take drams or prayers,


s: Some mind their household, others dissipation,


s: Some run away, and but exchange their cares,


s: Losing the advantage of a virtuous station;


s: Few changes e'er can better their affairs,


s: From the dull palace to the dirty hovel:


s: Some play the devil, and then write a novel.


s: Haidee was Nature's bride, and knew not this;


s: Haidee was Passion's child, born where the sun


s: Showers triple light, and scorches even the kiss


s: Of his gazelle-eyed daughters; she was one


s: Made but to love, to feel that she was his


s: Who was her chosen: what was said or done


s: Elsewhere was nothing. She had naught to fear,


s: Hope, care, nor love, beyond, her heart beat here.


s: And oh! that quickening of the heart, that beat!


s: How much it costs us! yet each rising throb


s: Fine truths; even Conscience, too, has a tough job


s: To make us understand each good old maxim,


s: So good--I wonder Castlereagh don't tax 'em.


s: And now 't was done--on the lone shore were plighted


s: Their hearts; the stars, their nuptial torches, shed


s: Ocean their witness, and the cave their bed,


s: By their own feelings hallow'd and united,


s: Their priest was Solitude, and they were wed:


s: And they were happy, for to their young eyes


s: O, Love! of whom great Caesar was the suitor,


s: Sappho the sage blue-stocking, in whose grave


s: All those may leap who rather would be neuter


s: (Leucadia's rock still overlooks the wave)--


s: For, after all, we cannot call thee devil.


s: Thou mak'st the chaste connubial state precarious,


s: And jestest with the brows of mightiest men:


s: Have much employ'd the muse of history's pen;


s: Their lives and fortunes were extremely various,


s: Such worthies Time will never see again;


s: Yet to these four in three things the same luck holds,


s: They all were heroes, conquerors, and cuckolds.


s: Thou mak'st philosophers; there 's Epicurus


s: If only from the devil they would insure us,


s: How pleasant were the maxim (not quite new),


s: 'Eat, drink, and love, what can the rest avail us?'


s: And should he have forgotten her so soon?


s: I can't but say it seems to me most truly


s: Perplexing question; but, no doubt, the moon


s: Does these things for us, and whenever newly


s: Strong palpitation rises, 't is her boon,


s: Else how the devil is it that fresh features


s: Have such a charm for us poor human creatures?


s: Of such quicksilver clay that in his breast


s: Love, constant love, has been my constant guest,


s: And yet last night, being at a masquerade,


s: I saw the prettiest creature, fresh from Milan,


s: Which gave me some sensations like a villain.


s: And whisper'd, 'Think of every sacred tie!'


s: 'But then her teeth, and then, oh, Heaven! her eye!


s: I'll just inquire if she be wife or maid,


s: 'Stop!' cried Philosophy, with air so Grecian


s: (Though she was masqued then as a fair Venetian);


s: 'Stop!' so I stopp'd.--But to return: that which


s: Some favour'd object; and as in the niche


s: Is but a heightening of the 'beau ideal.'


s: Drawn from the stars, and filter'd through the skies,


s: Without which life would be extremely dull;


s: In short, it is the use of our own eyes,


s: With one or two small senses added, just


s: To hint that flesh is form'd of fiery dust.


s: Yet 't is a painful feeling, and unwilling,


s: In the same object graces quite as killing


s: 'T would save us many a heartache, many a shilling


s: (For we must get them any how or grieve),


s: Whereas if one sole lady pleased for ever,


s: How pleasant for the heart as well as liver!


s: The heart is like the sky, a part of heaven,


s: But changes night and day, too, like the sky;


s: Now o'er it clouds and thunder must be driven,


s: And darkness and destruction as on high:


s: But when it hath been scorch'd, and pierced, and riven,


s: Its storms expire in water-drops; the eye


s: Pours forth at last the heart's blood turn'd to tears,


s: Which make the English climate of our years.


s: For the first passion stays there such a while,


s: That all the rest creep in and form a junction,


s: Life knots of vipers on a dunghill's soil,--


s: Rage, fear, hate, jealousy, revenge, compunction,--


s: So that all mischiefs spring up from this entrail,


s: Like earthquakes from the hidden fire call'd 'central,'


s: In the mean time, without proceeding more


s: Each canto of the twelve, or twenty-four;


s: For them and theirs with all who deign to read.


s: Hail, Muse! et cetera.--We left Juan sleeping,


s: And watch'd by eyes that never yet knew weeping,


s: And loved by a young heart, too deeply blest


s: To feel the poison through her spirit creeping,


s: Or know who rested there, a foe to rest,


s: Had soil'd the current of her sinless years,


s: And turn'd her pure heart's purest blood to tears!


s: O, Love! what is it in this world of ours


s: Which makes it fatal to be loved? Ah, why


s: With cypress branches hast thou Wreathed thy bowers,


s: As those who dote on odours pluck the flowers,


s: And place them on their breast--but place to die--


s: Thus the frail beings we would fondly cherish


s: Are laid within our bosoms but to perish.


s: In her first passion woman loves her lover,


s: In all the others all she loves is love,


s: Which grows a habit she can ne'er get over,


s: And fits her loosely--like an easy glove,


s: As you may find, whene'er you like to prove her:


s: One man alone at first her heart can move;


s: She then prefers him in the plural number,


s: Not finding that the additions much encumber.


s: I know not if the fault be men's or theirs;


s: But one thing 's pretty sure; a woman planted


s: (Unless at once she plunge for life in prayers)


s: Although, no doubt, her first of love affairs


s: Is that to which her heart is wholly granted;


s: Yet there are some, they say, who have had none,


s: But those who have ne'er end with only one.


s: That love and marriage rarely can combine,


s: Although they both are born in the same clime;


s: Marriage from love, like vinegar from wine--


s: Is sharpen'd from its high celestial flavour


s: There 's something of antipathy, as 't were,


s: Between their present and their future state;


s: Is used until the truth arrives too late--


s: The same things change their names at such a rate;


s: For instance--passion in a lover 's glorious,


s: But in a husband is pronounced uxorious.


s: (But that, of course, is rare), and then despond:


s: The same things cannot always be admired,


s: That both are tied till one shall have expired.


s: Sad thought! to lose the spouse that was adorning


s: Our days, and put one's servants into mourning.


s: There 's doubtless something in domestic doings


s: Which forms, in fact, true love's antithesis;


s: Romances paint at full length people's wooings,


s: For no one cares for matrimonial cooings,


s: There 's nothing wrong in a connubial kiss:


s: Think you, if Laura had been Petrarch's wife,


s: He would have written sonnets all his life?


s: The future states of both are left to faith,


s: For authors fear description might disparage


s: The worlds to come of both, or fall beneath,


s: And then both worlds would punish their miscarriage;


s: So leaving each their priest and prayer-book ready,


s: They say no more of Death or of the Lady.


s: Have sung of heaven and hell, or marriage, are


s: Dante and Milton, and of both the affection


s: Was hapless in their nuptials, for some bar


s: Of fault or temper ruin'd the connection


s: (Such things, in fact, it don't ask much to mar):


s: Were not drawn from their spouses, you conceive.


s: Some persons say that Dante meant theology


s: Although my opinion may require apology,


s: Unless indeed it was from his own knowledge he


s: Decided thus, and show'd good reason why;


s: I think that Dante's more abstruse ecstatics


s: The fault was theirs, not mine; it is not fair,


s: The blame on me, unless you wish they were;


s: Then if you 'd have them wedded, please to shut


s: The book which treats of this erroneous pair,


s: 'T is dangerous to read of loves unlawful.


s: Yet they were happy,--happy in the illicit


s: But more imprudent grown with every visit,


s: Haidee forgot the island was her sire's;


s: When we have what we like, 't is hard to miss it,


s: At least in the beginning, ere one tires;


s: Thus she came often, not a moment losing,


s: Let not his mode of raising cash seem strange,


s: Although he fleeced the flags of every nation,


s: His title, and 't is nothing but taxation;


s: But he, more modest, took an humbler range


s: Pursued o'er the high seas his watery journey,


s: The good old gentleman had been detain'd


s: By winds and waves, and some important captures;


s: And, in the hope of more, at sea remain'd,


s: Although a squall or two had damp'd his raptures,


s: By swamping one of the prizes; he had chain'd


s: His prisoners, dividing them like chapters


s: In number'd lots; they all had cuffs and collars,


s: And averaged each from ten to a hundred dollars.


s: Among his friends the Mainots; some he sold


s: To his Tunis correspondents, save one man


s: Toss'd overboard unsaleable (being old);


s: The rest--save here and there some richer one,


s: Were link'd alike, as for the common people he


s: Had a large order from the Dey of Tripoli.


s: The merchandise was served in the same way,


s: Pieced out for different marts in the Levant;


s: Except some certain portions of the prey,


s: French stuffs, lace, tweezers, toothpicks, teapot, tray,


s: All which selected from the spoil he gathers,


s: Robb'd for his daughter by the best of fathers.


s: Two parrots, with a Persian cat and kittens,


s: A terrier, too, which once had been a Briton's,


s: These to secure in this strong blowing weather,


s: Despatching single cruisers here and there,


s: He shaped his course to where his daughter fair


s: But that part of the coast being shoal and bare,


s: And rough with reefs which ran out many a mile,


s: His port lay on the other side o' the isle.


s: About the time and place where he had been:


s: He left his ship to be hove down next day,


s: So that all hands were busy beyond measure,


s: In getting out goods, ballast, guns, and treasure.


s: Which overlook'd the white walls of his home,


s: He stopp'd.--What singular emotions fill


s: Their bosoms who have been induced to roam!


s: With fluttering doubts if all be well or ill--


s: With love for many, and with fears for some;


s: All feelings which o'erleap the years long lost,


s: And bring our hearts back to their starting-post.


s: The approach of home to husbands and to sires,


s: Most naturally some small doubt inspires--


s: (None trusts the sex more, or so much admires--


s: But they hate flattery, so I never flatter);


s: Wives in their husbands' absences grow subtler,


s: And daughters sometimes run off with the butler.


s: May not have the good fortune of Ulysses;


s: Not all lone matrons for their husbands mourn,


s: Or show the same dislike to suitors' kisses;


s: The odds are that he finds a handsome urn


s: To his memory--and two or three young misses


s: Born to some friend, who holds his wife and riches,--


s: And that his Argus--bites him by the breeches.


s: Has in his absence wedded some rich miser;


s: May quarrel, and the lady growing wiser,


s: An honest friendship with a married lady--


s: To last--of all connections the most steady,


s: And the true Hymen (the first 's but a screen)--


s: Yet for all that keep not too long away,


s: I 've known the absent wrong'd four times a day.


s: Much less experience of dry land than ocean,


s: On seeing his own chimney-smoke, felt glad;


s: But not knowing metaphysics, had no notion


s: Of the true reason of his not being sad,


s: He loved his child, and would have wept the loss of her,


s: But knew the cause no more than a philosopher.


s: He saw his white walls shining in the sun,


s: He heard his rivulet's light bubbling run,


s: The distant dog-bark; and perceived between


s: The moving figures, and the sparkling sheen


s: Of arms (in the East all arm)--and various dyes


s: Of colour'd garbs, as bright as butterflies.


s: And as the spot where they appear he nears,


s: Surprised at these unwonted signs of idling,


s: He hears--alas! no music of the spheres,


s: But an unhallow'd, earthly sound of fiddling!


s: The cause being past his guessing or unriddling;


s: A pipe, too, and a drum, and shortly after,


s: And still more nearly to the place advancing,


s: Descending rather quickly the declivity,


s: Through the waved branches o'er the greensward glancing,


s: Like dervises, who turn as on a pivot, he


s: Perceived it was the Pyrrhic dance so martial,


s: To which the Levantines are very partial.


s: And further on a group of Grecian girls,


s: The first and tallest her white kerchief waving,


s: Were strung together like a row of pearls,


s: Link'd hand in hand, and dancing; each too having


s: Down her white neck long floating auburn curls


s: (The least of which would set ten poets raving);


s: Their leader sang--and bounded to her song,


s: With choral step and voice, the virgin throng.


s: And here, assembled cross-legg'd round their trays,


s: Small social parties just begun to dine;


s: Pilaus and meats of all sorts met the gaze,


s: Above them their dessert grew on its vine,


s: Dropp'd in their laps, scarce pluck'd, their mellow store.


s: A band of children, round a snow-white ram,


s: There wreathe his venerable horns with flowers;


s: While peaceful as if still an unwean'd lamb,


s: The patriarch of the flock all gently cowers


s: Or eats from out the palm, or playful lowers


s: His brow, as if in act to butt, and then


s: Yielding to their small hands, draws back again.


s: Their classical profiles, and glittering dresses,


s: Their large black eyes, and soft seraphic cheeks,


s: Crimson as cleft pomegranates, their long tresses,


s: The gesture which enchants, the eye that speaks,


s: The innocence which happy childhood blesses,


s: Made quite a picture of these little Greeks;


s: Sigh'd for their sakes--that they should e'er grow older.


s: Afar, a dwarf buffoon stood telling tales


s: Of secret treasures found in hidden vales,


s: Of charms to make good gold and cure bad ails,


s: Of rocks bewitch'd that open to the knockers,


s: Transform'd their lords to beasts (but that 's a fact).


s: Song, dance, wine, music, stories from the Persian,


s: All pretty pastimes in which no offence is;


s: But Lambro saw all these things with aversion,


s: Perceiving in his absence such expenses,


s: Ah! what is man? what perils still environ


s: The happiest mortals even after dinner--


s: Is all that life allows the luckiest sinner;


s: Pleasure (whene'er she sings, at least) 's a siren,


s: That lures, to flay alive, the young beginner;


s: Lambro's reception at his people's banquet


s: Was such as fire accords to a wet blanket.


s: Too much, and wishing gladly to surprise


s: (In general he surprised men with the sword)


s: His daughter--had not sent before to advise


s: And long he paused to re-assure his eyes


s: In fact much more astonish'd than delighted,


s: He did not know (alas! how men will lie)


s: Avouch'd his death (such people never die),


s: And put his house in mourning several weeks,--


s: But now their eyes and also lips were dry;


s: The bloom, too, had return'd to Haidee's cheeks,


s: Her tears, too, being return'd into their fount,


s: She now kept house upon her own account.


s: Hence all this rice, meat, dancing, wine, and fiddling,


s: Which turn'd the isle into a place of pleasure;


s: The servants all were getting drunk or idling,


s: A life which made them happy beyond measure.


s: Her father's hospitality seem'd middling,


s: Compared with what Haidee did with his treasure;


s: 'T was wonderful how things went on improving,


s: While she had not one hour to spare from loving.


s: Perhaps you think in stumbling on this feast


s: There was no mighty reason to be pleased;


s: The whip, the rack, or dungeon at the least,


s: And that, proceeding at a very high rate,


s: He show'd the royal penchants of a pirate.


s: You 're wrong.--He was the mildest manner'd man


s: That ever scuttled ship or cut a throat:


s: You never could divine his real thought;


s: No courtier could, and scarcely woman can


s: Pity he loved adventurous life's variety,


s: Tapping the shoulder of the nighest guest,


s: With a peculiar smile, which, by the way,


s: The vinous Greek to whom he had address'd


s: The questioner, fill'd up a glass of wine,


s: Presented the o'erflowing cup, and said,


s: 'Talking 's dry work, I have no time to spare.'


s: A second hiccup'd, 'Our old master 's dead,


s: You 'd better ask our mistress who 's his heir.'


s: 'Our mistress!' quoth a third: 'Our mistress!--pooh!-


s: You mean our master--not the old, but new.'


s: These rascals, being new comers, knew not whom


s: They thus address'd--and Lambro's visage fell--


s: Pass'd, but he strove quite courteously to quell


s: The expression, and endeavouring to resume


s: His smile, requested one of them to tell


s: Who seem'd to have turn'd Haidee into a matron.


s: 'I know not,' quoth the fellow, 'who or what


s: He is, nor whence he came--and little care;


s: But this I know, that this roast capon 's fat,


s: And that good wine ne'er wash'd down better fare;


s: Direct your questions to my neighbour there;


s: He 'll answer all for better or for worse,


s: For none likes more to hear himself converse.'


s: I said that Lambro was a man of patience,


s: And certainly he show'd the best of breeding,


s: Which scarce even France, the paragon of nations,


s: E'er saw her most polite of sons exceeding;


s: He bore these sneers against his near relations,


s: His own anxiety, his heart, too, bleeding,


s: The insults, too, of every servile glutton,


s: Who all the time was eating up his mutton.


s: To bid men come, and go, and come again--


s: To see his orders done, too, out of hand--


s: Whether the word was death, or but the chain--


s: It may seem strange to find his manners bland;


s: Yet such things are, which I can not explain,


s: Though doubtless he who can command himself


s: Not that he was not sometimes rash or so,


s: Then calm, concentrated, and still, and slow,


s: His angry word once o'er, he shed no blood,


s: But in his silence there was much to rue,


s: And his one blow left little work for two.


s: He ask'd no further questions, and proceeded


s: So that the few who met him hardly heeded,


s: For Haidee's sake, is more than I can say,


s: But certainly to one deem'd dead, returning,


s: This revel seem'd a curious mode of mourning.


s: If all the dead could now return to life


s: (Which God forbid!) or some, or a great many,


s: No doubt whate'er might be their former strife,


s: The present weather would be much more rainy--


s: Tears shed into the grave of the connection


s: Would share most probably its resurrection.


s: He enter'd in the house no more his home,


s: A thing to human feelings the most trying,


s: Perhaps, than even the mental pangs of dying;


s: To find our hearthstone turn'd into a tomb,


s: And round its once warm precincts palely lying


s: The ashes of our hopes, is a deep grief,


s: He enter'd in the house--his home no more,


s: For without hearts there is no home; and felt


s: Without a welcome; there he long had dwelt,


s: There his few peaceful days Time had swept o'er,


s: There his worn bosom and keen eye would melt


s: Of mild demeanour though of savage mood,


s: With temperance in pleasure, as in food,


s: Quick to perceive, and strong to bear, and meant


s: For something better, if not wholly good;


s: His country's wrongs and his despair to save her


s: Had stung him from a slave to an enslaver.


s: The love of power, and rapid gain of gold,


s: The dangerous life in which he had grown old,


s: The wild seas, and wild men with whom he cruised,


s: And made him a good friend, but bad acquaintance.


s: But something of the spirit of old Greece


s: Flash'd o'er his soul a few heroic rays,


s: T is true he had no ardent love for peace--


s: Alas! his country show'd no path to praise:


s: Hate to the world and war with every nation


s: He waged, in vengeance of her degradation.


s: Still o'er his mind the influence of the clime


s: Its power unconsciously full many a time,--


s: A taste seen in the choice of his abode,


s: A pleasure in the gentle stream that flow'd


s: Past him in crystal, and a joy in flowers,


s: The only thing which kept his heart unclosed


s: Amidst the savage deeds he had done and seen;


s: There wanted but the loss of this to wean


s: His feelings from all milk of human kindness,


s: And turn him like the Cyclops mad with blindness.


s: The cubless tigress in her jungle raging


s: Is dreadful to the shepherd and the flock;


s: But violent things will sooner bear assuaging,


s: Their fury being spent by its own shock,


s: Than the stern, single, deep, and wordless ire


s: To find our children running restive--they


s: In whom our brightest days we would retrace,


s: Our little selves re-form'd in finer clay,


s: And clouds come o'er the sunset of our day,


s: They kindly leave us, though not quite alone,


s: (Provided they don't come in after dinner);


s: Her children up (if nursing them don't thin her);


s: Like cherubs round an altar-piece they cling


s: To the fire-side (a sight to touch a sinner).


s: Shines like a guinea and seven-shilling pieces.


s: Old Lambro pass'd unseen a private gate,


s: At wassail in their beauty and their pride:


s: Before them, and fair slaves on every side;


s: Gems, gold, and silver, form'd the service mostly,


s: Mother of pearl and coral the less costly.


s: Lamb and pistachio nuts--in short, all meats,


s: And saffron soups, and sweetbreads; and the fishes


s: Were of the finest that e'er flounced in nets,


s: Drest to a Sybarite's most pamper'd wishes;


s: Of raisin, orange, and pomegranate juice,


s: Squeezed through the rind, which makes it best for use.


s: These were ranged round, each in its crystal ewer,


s: And fruits, and date-bread loaves closed the repast,


s: In small fine China cups, came in at last;


s: The hand from burning underneath them placed,


s: Cloves, cinnamon, and saffron too were boil'd


s: Up with the coffee, which (I think) they spoil'd.


s: The hangings of the room were tapestry, made


s: Of velvet panels, each of different hue,


s: And thick with damask flowers of silk inlaid;


s: The upper border, richly wrought, display'd,


s: Soft Persian sentences, in lilac letters,


s: From poets, or the moralists their betters.


s: Quite common in those countries, are a kind


s: Like skulls at Memphian banquets, to the mind


s: The words which shook Belshazzar in his hall,


s: And took his kingdom from him: You will find,


s: Though sages may pour out their wisdom's treasure,


s: There is no sterner moralist than Pleasure.


s: A beauty at the season's close grown hectic,


s: A genius who has drunk himself to death,


s: (For that 's the name they like to pray beneath)--


s: But most, an alderman struck apoplectic,


s: Are things that really take away the breath,--


s: And show that late hours, wine, and love are able


s: To do not much less damage than the table.


s: On crimson satin, border'd with pale blue;


s: Their sofa occupied three parts complete


s: Of the apartment--and appear'd quite new;


s: The velvet cushions (for a throne more meet)


s: Were scarlet, from whose glowing centre grew


s: A sun emboss'd in gold, whose rays of tissue,


s: Meridian-like, were seen all light to issue.


s: Crystal and marble, plate and porcelain,


s: Had done their work of splendour; Indian mats


s: And Persian carpets, which the heart bled to stain,


s: Over the floors were spread; gazelles and cats,


s: And dwarfs and blacks, and such like things, that gain


s: Their bread as ministers and favourites (that 's


s: With mother of pearl or ivory, stood at hand,


s: Or were of tortoise-shell or rare woods made,


s: Fretted with gold or silver:--by command,


s: The greater part of these were ready spread


s: With viands and sherbets in ice--and wine--


s: Kept for all comers at all hours to dine.


s: She wore two jelicks--one was of pale yellow;


s: Of azure, pink, and white was her chemise--


s: 'Neath which her breast heaved like a little billow;


s: With buttons form'd of pearls as large as peas,


s: All gold and crimson shone her jelick's fellow,


s: And the striped white gauze baracan that bound her,


s: Like fleecy clouds about the moon, flow'd round her.


s: One large gold bracelet clasp'd each lovely arm,


s: That the hand stretch'd and shut it without harm,


s: The limb which it adorn'd its only mould;


s: So beautiful--its very shape would charm;


s: And, clinging as if loath to lose its hold,


s: The purest ore enclosed the whitest skin


s: That e'er by precious metal was held in.


s: Around, as princess of her father's land,


s: Announced her rank; twelve rings were on her hand;


s: Her hair was starr'd with gems; her veil's fine fold


s: Below her breast was fasten'd with a band


s: Of lavish pearls, whose worth could scarce be told;


s: Her orange silk full Turkish trousers furl'd


s: Her hair's long auburn waves down to her heel


s: Flow'd like an Alpine torrent which the sun


s: Dyes with his morning light,--and would conceal


s: The silken fillet's curb, and sought to shun


s: Their bonds whene'er some Zephyr caught began


s: Round her she made an atmosphere of life,


s: The very air seem'd lighter from her eyes,


s: They were so soft and beautiful, and rife


s: And pure as Psyche ere she grew a wife--


s: Too pure even for the purest human ties;


s: Her eyelashes, though dark as night, were tinged


s: (It is the country's custom), but in vain;


s: For those large black eyes were so blackly fringed,


s: The glossy rebels mock'd the jetty stain,


s: And in their native beauty stood avenged:


s: Her nails were touch'd with henna; but again


s: The power of art was turn'd to nothing, for


s: They could not look more rosy than before.


s: The skin relieved appear more fairly fair;


s: She had no need of this, day ne'er will break


s: On mountain tops more heavenly white than her:


s: The eye might doubt if it were well awake,


s: But Shakspeare also says, 't is very silly


s: 'To gild refined gold, or paint the lily'


s: The sparkling gems beneath you might behold,


s: Like small stars through the milky way apparent;


s: His turban, furl'd in many a graceful fold,


s: An emerald aigrette with Haidee's hair in 't


s: Surmounted as its clasp--a glowing crescent,


s: Whose rays shone ever trembling, but incessant.


s: And now they were diverted by their suite,


s: Dwarfs, dancing girls, black eunuchs, and a poet,


s: Which made their new establishment complete;


s: The last was of great fame, and liked to show it:


s: His verses rarely wanted their due feet;


s: And for his theme--he seldom sung below it,


s: As the psalm says, 'inditing a good matter.'


s: He praised the present, and abused the past,


s: He turn'd, preferring pudding to no praise--


s: For some few years his lot had been o'ercast


s: But now he sung the Sultan and the Pacha


s: With truth like Southey, and with verse like Crashaw.


s: And always changed as true as any needle;


s: His polar star being one which rather ranges,


s: And not the fix'd--he knew the way to wheedle:


s: So vile he 'scaped the doom which oft avenges;


s: And being fluent (save indeed when fee'd ill),


s: He lied with such a fervour of intention--


s: There was no doubt he earn'd his laureate pension.


s: But he had genius,--when a turncoat has it,


s: That without notice few full moons shall pass it;


s: Even good men like to make the public stare:--


s: But to my subject--let me see--what was it?-


s: O!--the third canto--and the pretty pair--


s: Their loves, and feasts, and house, and dress, and mode


s: Had been the favourite of full many a mess


s: Of men, and made them speeches when half mellow;


s: And though his meaning they could rarely guess,


s: Yet still they deign'd to hiccup or to bellow


s: Of which the first ne'er knows the second cause.


s: And having pick'd up several odds and ends


s: Of free thoughts in his travels for variety,


s: He deem'd, being in a lone isle, among friends,


s: Might for long lying make himself amends;


s: And, singing as he sung in his warm youth,


s: He had travell'd 'mongst the Arabs, Turks, and Franks,


s: And knew the self-loves of the different nations;


s: And having lived with people of all ranks,


s: Had something ready upon most occasions--


s: Which got him a few presents and some thanks.


s: He varied with some skill his adulations;


s: Of conduct was which he observed in Greece.


s: Thus, usually, when he was ask'd to sing,


s: He gave the different nations something national;


s: 'T was all the same to him--'God save the king,'


s: Or 'Ca ira,' according to the fashion all:


s: From the high lyric down to the low rational:


s: If Pindar sang horse-races, what should hinder


s: Himself from being as pliable as Pindar?


s: In France, for instance, he would write a chanson;


s: In Spain, he'd make a ballad or romance on


s: The last war--much the same in Portugal;


s: Would be old Goethe's (see what says De Stael);


s: In Greece, he sing some sort of hymn like this t' ye:


s: The isles of Greece, the Isles of Greece!


s: Than your sires' 'Islands of the Blest.'


s: I dream'd that Greece might still be free;


s: To think such breasts must suckle slaves


s: Thus sung, or would, or could, or should have sung,


s: If not like Orpheus quite, when Greece was young,


s: Yet in these times he might have done much worse:


s: His strain display'd some feeling--right or wrong;


s: Of others' feeling; but they are such liars,


s: And take all colours--like the hands of dyers.


s: But words are things, and a small drop of ink,


s: Falling like dew, upon a thought, produces


s: That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think;


s: 'T is strange, the shortest letter which man uses


s: Instead of speech, may form a lasting link


s: Of ages; to what straits old Time reduces


s: Frail man, when paper--even a rag like this,


s: Survives himself, his tomb, and all that 's his.


s: And when his bones are dust, his grave a blank,


s: His station, generation, even his nation,


s: Become a thing, or nothing, save to rank


s: Or graven stone found in a barrack's station


s: May turn his name up, as a rare deposit.


s: And glory long has made the sages smile;


s: 'T is something, nothing, words, illusion, wind--


s: Depending more upon the historian's style


s: Than on the name a person leaves behind:


s: Troy owes to Homer what whist owes to Hoyle:


s: To the great Marlborough's skill in giving knocks,


s: Milton 's the prince of poets--so we say;


s: Learn'd, pious, temperate in love and wine;


s: But, his life falling into Johnson's way,


s: We 're told this great high priest of all the Nine


s: Was whipt at college--a harsh sire--odd spouse,


s: For the first Mrs. Milton left his house.


s: All these are, certes, entertaining facts,


s: Like Shakspeare's stealing deer, Lord Bacon's bribes;


s: Like Titus' youth, and Caesar's earliest acts;


s: Like Burns (whom Doctor Currie well describes);


s: Like Cromwell's pranks;--but although truth exacts


s: These amiable descriptions from the scribes,


s: As most essential to their hero's story,


s: They do not much contribute to his glory.


s: All are not moralists, like Southey, when


s: He prated to the world of 'Pantisocracy;'


s: Or Wordsworth unexcised, unhired, who then


s: Season'd his pedlar poems with democracy;


s: Or Coleridge, long before his flighty pen


s: Let to the Morning Post its aristocracy;


s: When he and Southey, following the same path,


s: Espoused two partners (milliners of Bath).


s: Such names at present cut a convict figure,


s: Are good manure for their more bare biography.


s: Wordsworth's last quarto, by the way, is bigger


s: Than any since the birthday of typography;


s: A drowsy frowzy poem, call'd the 'Excursion.'


s: But Wordsworth's poem, and his followers, like


s: Joanna Southcote's Shiloh, and her sect,


s: Are things which in this century don't strike


s: And the new births of both their stale virginities


s: Have proved but dropsies, taken for divinities.


s: But these are my addresses from the throne,


s: Which put off business to the ensuing session:


s: The world, not quite so great as Ariosto.


s: I know that what our neighbours call 'longueurs'


s: (We 've not so good a word, but have the thing


s: In that complete perfection which ensures


s: Form not the true temptation which allures


s: The reader; but 't would not be hard to bring


s: We learn from Horace, 'Homer sometimes sleeps;'


s: We feel without him, Wordsworth sometimes wakes,--


s: To show with what complacency he creeps,


s: With his dear 'Waggoners,' around his lakes.


s: He wishes for 'a boat' to sail the deeps--


s: Of ocean?--No, of air; and then he makes


s: If he must fain sweep o'er the ethereal plain,


s: And Pegasus runs restive in his 'Waggon,'


s: Could he not beg the loan of Charles's Wain?


s: Or if, too classic for his vulgar brain,


s: He fear'd his neck to venture such a nag on,


s: And he must needs mount nearer to the moon,


s: Could not the blockhead ask for a balloon?


s: 'Pedlars,' and 'Boats,' and 'Waggons!' Oh! ye shades


s: Of Pope and Dryden, are we come to this?


s: That trash of such sort not alone evades


s: Contempt, but from the bathos' vast abyss


s: Floats scumlike uppermost, and these Jack Cades


s: Of sense and song above your graves may hiss--


s: The 'little boatman' and his 'Peter Bell'


s: T' our tale.--The feast was over, the slaves gone,


s: The dwarfs and dancing girls had all retired;


s: The Arab lore and poet's song were done,


s: The rosy flood of twilight's sky admired;--


s: That heavenliest hour of Heaven is worthiest thee!


s: The time, the clime, the spot, where I so oft


s: Have felt that moment in its fullest power


s: Sink o'er the earth so beautiful and soft,


s: While swung the deep bell in the distant tower,


s: Or the faint dying day-hymn stole aloft,


s: And not a breath crept through the rosy air,


s: And yet the forest leaves seem'd stirr'd with prayer.


s: Look up to thine and to thy Son's above!


s: Those downcast eyes beneath the Almighty dove--


s: What though 't is but a pictured image?--strike--


s: That painting is no idol,--'t is too like.


s: Some kinder casuists are pleased to say,


s: In nameless print--that I have no devotion;


s: But set those persons down with me to pray,


s: And you shall see who has the properest notion


s: Of getting into heaven the shortest way;


s: My altars are the mountains and the ocean,


s: Earth, air, stars,--all that springs from the great Whole,


s: Who hath produced, and will receive the soul.


s: Sweet hour of twilight!--in the solitude


s: Of the pine forest, and the silent shore


s: Rooted where once the Adrian wave flow'd o'er,


s: To where the last Caesarean fortress stood,


s: Evergreen forest! which Boccaccio's lore


s: And Dryden's lay made haunted ground to me,


s: How have I loved the twilight hour and thee!


s: Making their summer lives one ceaseless song,


s: Were the sole echoes, save my steed's and mine,


s: And vesper bell's that rose the boughs along;


s: His hell-dogs, and their chase, and the fair throng


s: Which learn'd from this example not to fly


s: From a true lover,--shadow'd my mind's eye.


s: O, Hesperus! thou bringest all good things--


s: To the young bird the parent's brooding wings,


s: The welcome stall to the o'erlabour'd steer;


s: Whate'er of peace about our hearthstone clings,


s: Whate'er our household gods protect of dear,


s: Are gather'd round us by thy look of rest;


s: Thou bring'st the child, too, to the mother's breast.


s: Soft hour! which wakes the wish and melts the heart


s: Of those who sail the seas, on the first day


s: When they from their sweet friends are torn apart;


s: Or fills with love the pilgrim on his way


s: As the far bell of vesper makes him start,


s: Is this a fancy which our reason scorns?


s: Ah! surely nothing dies but something mourns!


s: Of nations freed, and the world overjoy'd,


s: Some hands unseen strew'd flowers upon his tomb:


s: Perhaps the weakness of a heart not void


s: Of feeling for some kindness done, when power


s: Had left the wretch an uncorrupted hour.


s: But I 'm digressing; what on earth has Nero,


s: More than such madmen's fellow man--the moon's?


s: Of verse (the name with which we Cantabs please


s: 'T is being too epic, and I must cut down


s: They 'll never find it out, unless I own


s: The fact, excepting some experienced few;


s: And then as an improvement 't will be shown:


s: I 'll prove that such the opinion of the critic is


s: For oftentimes when Pegasus seems winning


s: The race, he sprains a wing, and down we tend,


s: Like Lucifer when hurl'd from heaven for sinning;


s: Our sin the same, and hard as his to mend,


s: Being pride, which leads the mind to soar too far,


s: Till our own weakness shows us what we are.


s: But Time, which brings all beings to their level,


s: Man,--and, as we would hope,--perhaps the devil,


s: That neither of their intellects are vast:


s: While youth's hot wishes in our red veins revel,


s: We know not this--the blood flows on too fast;


s: But as the torrent widens towards the ocean,


s: As boy, I thought myself a clever fellow,


s: And wish'd that others held the same opinion;


s: They took it up when my days grew more mellow,


s: And other minds acknowledged my dominion:


s: Now my sere fancy 'falls into the yellow


s: Leaf,' and Imagination droops her pinion,


s: And the sad truth which hovers o'er my desk


s: Turns what was once romantic to burlesque.


s: 'T is that I may not weep; and if I weep,


s: 'T is that our nature cannot always bring


s: Our hearts first in the depths of Lethe's spring,


s: Ere what we least wish to behold will sleep:


s: Some have accused me of a strange design


s: Against the creed and morals of the land,


s: My own meaning when I would be very fine;


s: But the fact is that I have nothing plann'd,


s: Pulci was sire of the half-serious rhyme,


s: Who sang when chivalry was more Quixotic,


s: And revell'd in the fancies of the time,


s: True knights, chaste dames, huge giants, kings despotic:


s: But all these, save the last, being obsolete,


s: Perhaps no better than they have treated me


s: Not what they saw, but what they wish'd to see:


s: But if it gives them pleasure, be it so;


s: This is a liberal age, and thoughts are free:


s: To their own hearts' most sweet society;


s: With his rude scythe such gentle bosoms; he


s: Sigh'd to behold them of their hours bereft,


s: Though foe to love; and yet they could not be


s: Meant to grow old, but die in happy spring,


s: Before one charm or hope had taken wing.


s: Their faces were not made for wrinkles, their


s: Pure blood to stagnate, their great hearts to fail;


s: The blank grey was not made to blast their hair,


s: But like the climes that know nor snow nor hail


s: They were all summer: lightning might assail


s: A long and snake-like life of dull decay


s: Was not for them--they had too little day.


s: They were alone once more; for them to be


s: Cut from its forest root of years--the river


s: Damm'd from its fountain--the child from the knee


s: And breast maternal wean'd at once for ever,--


s: Would wither less than these two torn apart;


s: Alas! there is no instinct like the heart--


s: The heart--which may be broken: happy they!


s: Thrice fortunate! who of that fragile mould,


s: Break with the first fall: they can ne'er behold


s: The long year link'd with heavy day on day,


s: And all which must be borne, and never told;


s: While life's strange principle will often lie


s: Deepest in those who long the most to die.


s: 'Whom the gods love die young,' was said of yore,


s: The death of friends, and that which slays even more--


s: The death of friendship, love, youth, all that is,


s: Except mere breath; and since the silent shore


s: Awaits at last even those who longest miss


s: The old archer's shafts, perhaps the early grave


s: Which men weep over may be meant to save.


s: Haidee and Juan thought not of the dead--


s: The heavens, and earth, and air, seem'd made for them:


s: They found no fault with Time, save that he fled;


s: They saw not in themselves aught to condemn:


s: Each was the other's mirror, and but read


s: Joy sparkling in their dark eyes like a gem,


s: And knew such brightness was but the reflection


s: Of their exchanging glances of affection.


s: The gentle pressure, and the thrilling touch,


s: The least glance better understood than words,


s: Which still said all, and ne'er could say too much;


s: A language, too, but like to that of birds,


s: Known but to them, at least appearing such


s: Sweet playful phrases, which would seem absurd


s: To those who have ceased to hear such, or ne'er heard,--


s: All these were theirs, for they were children still,


s: And children still they should have ever been;


s: They were not made in the real world to fill


s: But like two beings born from out a rill,


s: To pass their lives in fountains and on flowers,


s: And never know the weight of human hours.


s: Moons changing had roll'd on, and changeless found


s: Those their bright rise had lighted to such joys


s: As rarely they beheld throughout their round;


s: And these were not of the vain kind which cloys,


s: For theirs were buoyant spirits, never bound


s: By the mere senses; and that which destroys


s: Most love, possession, unto them appear'd


s: A thing which each endearment more endear'd.


s: But theirs was love in which the mind delights


s: To lose itself when the old world grows dull,


s: And we are sick of its hack sounds and sights,


s: Intrigues, adventures of the common school,


s: Its petty passions, marriages, and flights,


s: Where Hymen's torch but brands one strumpet more,


s: Whose husband only knows her not a wh--re.


s: Hard words; harsh truth; a truth which many know.


s: Enough.--The faithful and the fairy pair,


s: What was it made them thus exempt from care?


s: Young innate feelings all have felt below,


s: Which perish in the rest, but in them were


s: Inherent--what we mortals call romantic,


s: And always envy, though we deem it frantic.


s: An opium dream of too much youth and reading,


s: But was in them their nature or their fate:


s: No novels e'er had set their young hearts bleeding,


s: For Haidee's knowledge was by no means great,


s: So that there was no reason for their loves


s: More than for those of nightingales or doves.


s: They gazed upon the sunset; 't is an hour


s: Dear unto all, but dearest to their eyes,


s: For it had made them what they were: the power


s: Of love had first o'erwhelm'd them from such skies,


s: When happiness had been their only dower,


s: And twilight saw them link'd in passion's ties;


s: Charm'd with each other, all things charm'd that brought


s: The past still welcome as the present thought.


s: I know not why, but in that hour to-night,


s: Even as they gazed, a sudden tremor came,


s: And swept, as 't were, across their hearts' delight,


s: Like the wind o'er a harp-string, or a flame,


s: When one is shook in sound, and one in sight;


s: And thus some boding flash'd through either frame,


s: And call'd from Juan's breast a faint low sigh,


s: While one new tear arose in Haidee's eye.


s: That large black prophet eye seem'd to dilate


s: With his broad, bright, and dropping orb were gone;


s: He felt a grief, but knowing cause for none,


s: His glance inquired of hers for some excuse


s: For feelings causeless, or at least abstruse.


s: She turn'd to him, and smiled, but in that sort


s: Which makes not others smile; then turn'd aside:


s: Whatever feeling shook her, it seem'd short,


s: And master'd by her wisdom or her pride;


s: When Juan spoke, too--it might be in sport--


s: Of this their mutual feeling, she replied--


s: 'If it should be so,--but--it cannot be--


s: Or I at least shall not survive to see.'


s: Juan would question further, but she press'd


s: His lip to hers, and silenced him with this,


s: And then dismiss'd the omen from her breast,


s: And no doubt of all methods 't is the best:


s: Some people prefer wine--'t is not amiss;


s: I have tried both; so those who would a part take


s: May choose between the headache and the heartache.


s: One of the two, according to your choice,


s: But which to choose, I really hardly know;


s: For both sides I could many reasons show,


s: And then decide, without great wrong to either,


s: It were much better to have both than neither.


s: With swimming looks of speechless tenderness,


s: Which mix'd all feelings, friend, child, lover, brother,


s: All that the best can mingle and express


s: When two pure hearts are pour'd in one another,


s: And love too much, and yet can not love less;


s: By the immortal wish and power to bless.


s: Mix'd in each other's arms, and heart in heart,


s: Why did they not then die?--they had lived too long


s: Should an hour come to bid them breathe apart;


s: Years could but bring them cruel things or wrong;


s: The world was not for them, nor the world's art


s: Love was born with them, in them, so intense,


s: They should have lived together deep in woods,


s: Unseen as sings the nightingale; they were


s: Call'd social, haunts of Hate, and Vice, and Care:


s: How lonely every freeborn creature broods!


s: The sweetest song-birds nestle in a pair;


s: The eagle soars alone; the gull and crow


s: Flock o'er their carrion, just like men below.


s: Now pillow'd cheek to cheek, in loving sleep,


s: Juan, and shuddering o'er his frame would creep;


s: And Haidee's sweet lips murmur'd like a brook


s: Stirr'd with her dream, as rose-leaves with the air.


s: Or as the stirring of a deep dear stream


s: Walks o'er it, was she shaken by the dream,


s: Good to the soul which we no more can bind;


s: Strange state of being! (for 't is still to be)


s: Senseless to feel, and with seal'd eyes to see.


s: She dream'd of being alone on the sea-shore,


s: Chain'd to a rock; she knew not how, but stir


s: She could not from the spot, and the loud roar


s: Grew, and each wave rose roughly, threatening her;


s: And o'er her upper lip they seem'd to pour,


s: Until she sobb'd for breath, and soon they were


s: Foaming o'er her lone head, so fierce and high--


s: Each broke to drown her, yet she could not die.


s: Anon--she was released, and then she stray'd


s: O'er the sharp shingles with her bleeding feet,


s: And stumbled almost every step she made;


s: And something roll'd before her in a sheet,


s: Which she must still pursue howe'er afraid:


s: 'T was white and indistinct, nor stopp'd to meet


s: Her glance nor grasp, for still she gazed, and grasp'd,


s: And ran, but it escaped her as she clasp'd.


s: The dream changed:--in a cave she stood, its walls


s: Where waves might wash, and seals might breed and lurk;


s: Her hair was dripping, and the very balls


s: Of her black eyes seem'd turn'd to tears, and mirk


s: The sharp rocks look'd below each drop they caught,


s: Which froze to marble as it fell,--she thought.


s: And wet, and cold, and lifeless at her feet,


s: Pale as the foam that froth'd on his dead brow,


s: Which she essay'd in vain to clear (how sweet


s: Were once her cares, how idle seem'd they now!),


s: Lay Juan, nor could aught renew the beat


s: Of his quench'd heart; and the sea dirges low


s: Rang in her sad ears like a mermaid's song,


s: And that brief dream appear'd a life too long.


s: And gazing on the dead, she thought his face


s: Like to her father's features, till each trace--


s: More like and like to Lambro's aspect grew--


s: With all his keen worn look and Grecian grace;


s: And starting, she awoke, and what to view?


s: O! Powers of Heaven! what dark eye meets she there?


s: 'T is--'t is her father's--fix'd upon the pair!


s: Then shrieking, she arose, and shrieking fell,


s: With joy and sorrow, hope and fear, to see


s: Him whom she deem'd a habitant where dwell


s: The ocean-buried, risen from death, to be


s: Perchance the death of one she loved too well:


s: I have seen such--but must not call to mind.


s: Up Juan sprung to Haidee's bitter shriek,


s: And caught her falling, and from off the wall


s: Snatch'd down his sabre, in hot haste to wreak


s: Vengeance on him who was the cause of all:


s: Then Lambro, who till now forbore to speak,


s: Smiled scornfully, and said, 'Within my call,


s: Put up, young man, put up your silly sword.'


s: And Haidee clung around him; 'Juan, 't is--


s: 'T is Lambro--'t is my father! Kneel with me--


s: He will forgive us--yes--it must be--yes.


s: Of pleasure and of pain--even while I kiss


s: Thy garment's hem with transport, can it be


s: That doubt should mingle with my filial joy?


s: Deal with me as thou wilt, but spare this boy.'


s: Calm in his voice, and calm within his eye--


s: Not always signs with him of calmest mood:


s: Then turn'd to Juan, in whose cheek the blood


s: Oft came and went, as there resolved to die;


s: In arms, at least, he stood, in act to spring


s: On the first foe whom Lambro's call might bring.


s: 'Young man, your sword;' so Lambro once more said:


s: Juan replied, 'Not while this arm is free.'


s: The old man's cheek grew pale, but not with dread,


s: Replied, 'Your blood be then on your own head.'


s: Then look'd dose at the flint, as if to see


s: 'T was fresh--for he had lately used the lock--


s: It has a strange quick jar upon the ear,


s: A moment more will bring the sight to bear


s: Upon your person, twelve yards off, or so;


s: If you have got a former friend for foe;


s: The ear becomes more Irish, and less nice.


s: Had stopp'd this Canto, and Don Juan's breath,


s: When Haidee threw herself her boy before;


s: Stern as her sire: 'On me,' she cried, 'let death


s: Descend--the fault is mine; this fatal shore


s: He found--but sought not. I have pledged my faith;


s: Your nature's firmness--know your daughter's too.'


s: A minute past, and she had been all tears,


s: She stood as one who champion'd human fears--


s: Pale, statue-like, and stern, she woo'd the blow;


s: And tall beyond her sex, and their compeers,


s: She drew up to her height, as if to show


s: A fairer mark; and with a fix'd eye scann'd


s: Her father's face--but never stopp'd his hand.


s: He gazed on her, and she on him; 't was strange


s: How like they look'd! the expression was the same;


s: In the large dark eye's mutual-darted flame;


s: For she, too, was as one who could avenge,


s: If cause should be--a lioness, though tame.


s: Her father's blood before her father's face


s: Boil'd up, and proved her truly of his race.


s: I said they were alike, their features and


s: Their stature, differing but in sex and years;


s: There was resemblance, such as true blood wears;


s: And now to see them, thus divided, stand


s: And sweet sensations should have welcomed both,


s: Show what the passions are in their full growth.


s: The father paused a moment, then withdrew


s: His weapon, and replaced it; but stood still,


s: And looking on her, as to look her through,


s: 'Not I,' he said, 'have sought this stranger's ill;


s: Would bear such outrage, and forbear to kill;


s: Done thine, the present vouches for the past.


s: 'Let him disarm; or, by my father's head,


s: His own shall roll before you like a ball!'


s: He raised his whistle, as the word he said,


s: And arm'd from boot to turban, one and all,


s: Some twenty of his train came, rank on rank;


s: He gave the word,--'Arrest or slay the Frank.'


s: Then, with a sudden movement, he withdrew


s: His daughter; while compress'd within his clasp,


s: 'Twixt her and Juan interposed the crew;


s: In vain she struggled in her father's grasp--


s: His arms were like a serpent's coil: then flew


s: The file of pirates; save the foremost, who


s: Had fallen, with his right shoulder half cut through.


s: The third, a wary, cool old sworder, took


s: The blows upon his cutlass, and then put


s: His own well in; so well, ere you could look,


s: His man was floor'd, and helpless at his foot,


s: With the blood running like a little brook


s: From two smart sabre gashes, deep and red--


s: And then they bound him where he fell, and bore


s: Old Lambro bade them take him to the shore,


s: Where lay some ships which were to sail at nine.


s: They laid him in a boat, and plied the oar


s: Until they reach'd some galliots, placed in line;


s: On board of one of these, and under hatches,


s: They stow'd him, with strict orders to the watches.


s: The world is full of strange vicissitudes,


s: And here was one exceedingly unpleasant:


s: A gentleman so rich in the world's goods,


s: Handsome and young, enjoying all the present,


s: Just at the very time when he least broods


s: On such a thing is suddenly to sea sent,


s: Wounded and chain'd, so that he cannot move,


s: Here I must leave him, for I grow pathetic,


s: Moved by the Chinese nymph of tears, green tea!


s: Than whom Cassandra was not more prophetic;


s: That I must have recourse to black Bohea:


s: 'T is pity wine should be so deleterious,


s: For tea and coffee leave us much more serious,


s: Unless when qualified with thee, Cogniac!


s: Ah! why the liver wilt thou thus attack,


s: And make, like other nymphs, thy lovers ill?


s: I would take refuge in weak punch, but rack


s: (In each sense of the word), whene'er I fill


s: My mild and midnight beakers to the brim,


s: I leave Don Juan for the present, safe--


s: Not sound, poor fellow, but severely wounded;


s: Yet could his corporal pangs amount to half


s: Of those with which his Haidee's bosom bounded?


s: She was not one to weep, and rave, and chafe,


s: And then give way, subdued because surrounded;


s: Her mother was a Moorish maid, from Fez,


s: There the large olive rains its amber store


s: In marble fonts; there grain, and flower, and fruit,


s: Gush from the earth until the land runs o'er;


s: But there, too, many a poison-tree has root,


s: And midnight listens to the lion's roar,


s: And long, long deserts scorch the camel's foot,


s: And as the soil is, so the heart of man.


s: Afric is all the sun's, and as her earth


s: For good or evil, burning from its birth,


s: The Moorish blood partakes the planet's hour,


s: And like the soil beneath it will bring forth:


s: Beauty and love were Haidee's mother's dower;


s: But her large dark eye show'd deep Passion's force,


s: Though sleeping like a lion near a source.


s: Her daughter, temper'd with a milder ray,


s: Like summer clouds all silvery, smooth, and fair,


s: Till slowly charged with thunder they display


s: Terror to earth, and tempest to the air,


s: Had held till now her soft and milky way;


s: But overwrought with passion and despair,


s: The fire burst forth from her Numidian veins,


s: Even as the Simoom sweeps the blasted plains.


s: The last sight which she saw was Juan's gore,


s: And he himself o'ermaster'd and cut down;


s: Where late he trod, her beautiful, her own;


s: Thus much she view'd an instant and no more,--


s: Her struggles ceased with one convulsive groan;


s: On her sire's arm, which until now scarce held


s: Her writhing, fell she like a cedar fell'd.


s: A vein had burst, and her sweet lips' pure dyes


s: Were dabbled with the deep blood which ran o'er;


s: And her head droop'd as when the lily lies


s: O'ercharged with rain: her summon'd handmaids bore


s: Their lady to her couch with gushing eyes;


s: Of herbs and cordials they produced their store,


s: But she defied all means they could employ,


s: Like one life could not hold, nor death destroy.


s: Days lay she in that state unchanged, though chill--