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"Alas!" said Juan, "'t were a tale distressing,
And long besides."-"Oh! if 't is really so,
You're right on both accounts to hold your tongue;
A sad tale saddens doubly when 'tis long.

XVII.

"But droop not: Fortune, at your time of life,
Although a female moderately fickle,
Will hardly leave you (as she's not your wife)
For any length of days in such a pickle.
To strive, too, with our fate were such a strife
As if the corn-sheaf should oppose the sickle:
Men are the sport of circumstances, when
The circumstances seem the sport of men."

XVIII.

""Tis not," said Juan, "for my present doom
I mourn, but for the past;-I loved a maid:".
He paused, and his dark eye grew full of gloom;
A single tear upon his eyelash staid

A moment, and then dropp'd; "but to resume,
"Tis not my present lot, as I have said,
Which I deplore so much; for I have borne
Hardships which have the hardiest overworn, (3)

XIX.

"On the rough deep. But this last blow-" and here
He stopp'd again, and turn'd away his face.
"Ay," quoth his friend, "I thought it would appear
That there had been a lady in the case;

And these are things which ask a tender tear, (4)
Such as I, too, would shed if in your place:

I cried upon my first wife's dying-day,
And also when my second ran away:

XX.

"My third. ทูแ "Your third!" quoth Juan, turning round;

"You scarcely can be thirty: have you three?" "No-only two at present above ground:

Surely 't is nothing wonderful to see

One person thrice in holy wedlock bound!"

"Well, then, your third," said Juan; "what did she? She did not run away, too,-did she, sir?" [her." "No, faith."-"What then?"-"I ran away from

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Fee by physician, felon by a jailor.”—L. E. (4) "The intended bidders minutely examine the poor creatures merely to ascertain their qualities as animals, select the sleekest and best-conditioned from the different groups; and, besides handling and examining their make and size, subject their mouths, their teeth, and whatever chiefly engages attention, to a scrutiny of the most critical description." De Pouqueville.-L. E.

(5) "Sir Robert Walpole is justly blamed for a want of political decorum, and for deriding public spirit, to which Pope alludes:-

Seen him I have, but in his happier hour
Of social pleasure, ill exchanged for power;
Seen him, uncumber'd with the venal tribe.
Smile without art, and win without a bribe.

Are bought up, others by a warlike leader,

Some by a place-as tend their years or natures; The most by ready cash-but all have prices,(5) From crowns to kicks, according to their vices.

XXVIII.

The eunuch, having eyed them o'er with care,
Turn'd to the merchant, and began to bid
First but for one, and after for the pair;

They haggled, wrangled, swore too-so they did!
As though they were in a mere Christian fair
Cheapening an ox, an ass, a lamb, or kid;
So that their bargain sounded like a battle
For this superior yoke of human cattle.

XXIX.

At last they settled into simple grumbling,
And pulling out reluctant purses, and
Turning each piece of silver o'er, and tumbling
Some down, and weighing others in their hand,
And by mistake sequins (6) with paras jumbling,
Until the sum was accurately scann'd,
And then the merchant giving change, and signing
Receipts in full, began to think of dining.

XXX.

I wonder if his appetite was good?

Or, if it were, if also his digestion? Methinks at meals some odd thoughts might intrade, And conscience ask a curious sort of question, About the right divine how far we should

Sell flesh and blood. When dinner has oppress'd one, I think it is perhaps the gloomiest hour Which turns up out of the sad twenty-four.

XXXI.

Voltaire says "No:" he tells you that Candide
Found life most tolerable after meals;
He's wrong-unless man were a pig, indeed,
Repletion rather adds to what he feels:
Unless he's drunk, and then no doubt he's freed

From his own brain's oppression while it reels. Of food I think with Philip's son, (7) or rather Ammon's (ill pleased with one world and one father); (8)

XXXII.

I think with Alexander, that the act Of eating, with another act or two,

Would he oblige me? let me only find

He does not think me what he thinks mankind.”

Although it is not possible to justify him, yet this part his conduct has been greatly exaggerated. The politics axiom generally attributed to him, that all men have their price, was perverted by leaving out the word those. Flowery oratory he despised; he ascribed to the interested views of themselves or their relatives, the declarations of pretended patriots; of whom he said, 'All those men have their price, and in the event many of them justified his observation." Coxe.-L. E.

(6) The Turkish zecchino is a gold coin, worth about seven shillings and sixpence. The para is not quite equal to an English halfpenny.-L. E.

(7) See Plutarch in Alex., Q. Curt. Hist. Alexand., and Sir Richard Clayton's Critical Inquiry into the Life of dier

ander the Great.-L. E.

(8) In the MS.

"But for mere food, I think with Philip's son, Or Ammon's-for two fathers claim'd this one."-LE

L

Makes us feel our mortality in fact

Redoubled; when a roast and a ragout,
And fish, and soup, by some side-dishes back'd,
Can give us either pain or pleasure, who
Would pique himself on intellects, whose use
Depends so much upon the gastric juice? (1)
XXXIII.

The other evening ('twas on Friday last)—
This is a fact, and no poetic fable-
Just as my great-coat was about me cast,

My hat and gloves still lying on the table,

I heard a shot-'t was eight o'clock scarce past—
And, running out as fast as I was able,(2)
I found the military commandant

Stretch'd in the street, and able scarce to pant.(3)
XXXIV.

Poor fellow! for some reason, surely bad,

They had slain him with five slugs; and left him there To perish on the pavement; so I had

Him borne into the house and up the stair, And stripp'd, and look'd to,(4)- But why should I [add

More circumstances? vain was every care;
The man was gone: in some Italian quarrel
Kill'd by five bullets from an old gun-barrel.(5)

XXXV.

I gazed upon him, for I knew him well;

[liver,

And though I have seen many corpses, never Saw one, whom such an accident befell, So calm; though pierced through stomach, heart, and

(1) "Last night suffered horribly from an indigestion. I marked in my illness the complete inertion, inaction, and lestruction of my chief mental faculties, I tried to rouse lem, and yet could not. I should believe that the soul was arried to the body, if they did not sympathise so much dith each other. If the one rose when the other fell, it Fould be a sign that they longed for the natural state of dierce. But, as it is, they seem to draw together like postorses." B. Diary, 1821.-L. E.

The assassination alluded to took place on the 8th of ecember, 1820, in the streets of Ravenna, not a hundred aces from the residence of the writer. The circumstances tere as described,-"December 9, 1820. 1 open my letter to ell you a fact, which will show the state of this country etter than I can. The commandant of the troops is now fing dead in my house. He was shot, at a little past eight 'clock, about two hundred paces from my door. I was tting on my great-coat when I heard the shot. On comig into the hall, I found all my servants on the balcony, selaiming that a man was murdered. I immediately ran own, calling on Tita (the bravest of them) to follow me. he rest wanted to hinder us from going, as it is the custom every body here, it seems, to run away from the stricken eer," B. Letters.-L. E.

The following is his Lordship's account of the tragical ecurrence, as stated in Medwin's Conversations:-"The ilitary commandant of the place (Ravenna), who, though uspected of being secretly a Carbonaro, was too powerful man to be arrested, was assassinated opposite to my alace; a spot perhaps selected by choice for the comission of the crime. The measures which were adopted screen the murderer prove the assassination to have aken place by order of the police. I had my foot in the tirrup at my usual hour of exercise, when my horse started it the report of a gun, On looking up 1 perceived a man brow down a carbine, and run away at full speed, and nother stretched upon the pavement a few yards from me. In hastening towards him, I found that it was the unappy commandant. A crowd was soon collected, but no ne ventured to offer the least assistance. I soon directed ny servant to lift up the bleeding body and carry it into my palace; but it was represented to me that, by so doing, I should confirm the suspicion of being of his party, and incur the displeasure of the government. However, it was

He seem'd to sleep,-for you could scarcely tell (As he bled inwardly, no hideous river

Of gore divulged the cause) that he was dead: So, as I gazed on him, I thought or said—

XXXVI.

"Can this be death? then what is life or death? Speak!" but he spoke not: "wake!" but still he slept:

"But yesterday and who had mightier breath? A thousand warriors by his word were kept In awe: he said, as the centurion saith,

'Go,' and he goeth; 'come,' and forth he stepp'd. The trump and bugle till he spake were dumbAnd now nought left him but the muffled drum."(6)

XXXVII.

And they who waited once and worshipp'd-they
With their rough faces throng'd about the bed
To gaze once more on the commanding clay
Which for the last, though not the first, time bled;
And such an end! that he who many a day

Had faced Napoleon's foes until they fled,-
The foremost in the charge or in the sally,
Should now be butcher'd in a civic alley.

XXXVIII.

The scars of his old wounds were near his new, Those honourable scars which brought him fame; And horrid was the contrast to the view(7)

But let me quit the theme; as such things claim

no time to calculate between humanity and danger, I assisted in bearing him into the house, and putting him on a bed. He was already dead from several wounds; he appeared to have breathed his last without a struggle. I never saw a countenance so calm. His adjutant followed the corpse into the house. I remember his lamentation over him:- Povero diavolo! non aveva fatto male, anche ad un cane.'-P. E.

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Him borne, as soon's I could, up several pair
Of stairs-and look'd to.- -But why should I add
More circumstances," etc.-L. E.

(5) "We found him lying on his back, almost, if not quite, dead, with five wounds, one in the heart, two in the stomach, one in the finger, and the other in the arm. Some soldiers cocked their guns, and wanted to hinder me from passing. However, we passed, and 1 found Diego, the adjutant, crying over him like a child-a surgeon, who said nothing of his profession-a priest, sobbing a frightened prayer and the commandant, all this time, on his back, on the hard cold pavement, without light or assistance, or any thing around him but confusion and dismay. As nobody could, or would, do any thing but howl and pray, and as no one would stir a finger to move him, for fear of consequences, I lost my patience-made my servant and a couple of the mob take up the body-sent off two soldiers to the guard-despatched Diego to the Cardinal with the news, and had him carried up stairs into my own quarters. it was too late- he was gone. There was found close by him an old gun-barrel, sawn half off; it had just been discharged, and was quite warm," B. Letters.-L. E. (6) In the MS.

But

"And now as silent as an unstrung drum."-L. E. (7) "I had him partly stripped-made the surgeon examine him, and examined him myself. He had been shot by cut balls or slugs. I felt one of the slugs, which had gone through him, all but the skin. He only said, 'O Dio!' and 'Giesu!' two or three times, and appeared to have suffered little. Poor fellow! he was a brave officer; but had made himself disliked by the people. I knew him personally,

Perhaps even more attention than is due

From me: I gazed (as oft I have gazed the same) To try if I could wrench aught out of death Which should confirm, or shake, or make a faith; XXXIX.

But it was all a mystery. Here we are,

And there we go:-but where? five bits of lead, Or three, or two, or one, send very far!

And is this blood, then, form'd but to be shed? Can every element our elements mar?

And air-earth-water-fire live-and we dead? We, whose minds comprehend all things? No more; But let us to the story as before.

XL.

The purchaser of Juan and acquaintance

Bore off his bargains to a gilded boat, Embark'd himself and them, and off they went thence As fast as oars could pull and water float; They look'd like persons being led to sentence,

Wondering what next, till the caïque(1) was brought Up in a little creek below a wall

O'ertopp'd with cypresses, dark-green and tall.

XLI.

Here their conductor tapping at the wicket

Of a small iron door, 't was open'd, and He led them onward, first through a low thicket Flank'd by large groves, which tower'd on either hand:

They almost lost their way, and had to pick it

For night was closing ere they came to land. The eunuch made a sign to those on board, Who row'd off, leaving them without a word. XLII.

As they were plodding on their winding way Through orange bowers, and jasmine, and so forth; (Of which I might have a good deal to say,

There being no such profusion in the North Of oriental plants, "et cetera,"

But that of late your scribblers think it worth Their while to rear whole hotbeds in their works Because one poet travell'd 'mongst the Turks:) (2)

XLIII.

As they were threading on their way, there came
Into Don Juan's head a thought, which he
Whisper'd to his companion:-'t was the same

Which might have then occurr'd to you or me.
"Methinks," said he,-"it would be no great shame
If we should strike a stroke to set us free;
Let's knock that old black fellow on the head,
And march away-'t were easier done than said."

XLIV.

"Yes," said the other, "and when done, what then? How get out? how the devil got we in?

and had met him often at conversazioni and elsewhere. My house is full of soldiers, dragoons, doctors, priests, and all kinds of persons, though I have now cleared it and clapped sentinels at the door. To-morrow the body is to be moved. You are to know, that if I had not had the body moved, they would have left him there till morning in the street, for fear of consequences. I would not choose to let even a dog die in such a manner, without succour;-and, as for consequences, I care for none in a duty." B. Letters.

L. E.

And when we once were fairly out, and when
From Saint Bartholomew we have saved our skin,(3)
To-morrow'd see us in some other den,

And worse off than we hitherto have been;
Besides, I'm hungry, and just now would take,
Like Esau, for my birthright a beef-steak.

XLV.

"We must be near some place of man's abode;For the old negro's confidence in creeping, With his two captives, by so queer a road,

Shows that he thinks his friends have not been A single cry would bring them all abroad: [sleeping; "T is therefore better looking before leaping-(4) And there, you see, this turn has brought us through, By Jove, a noble palace!-lighted too."

XLVI.

It was indeed a wide extensive building

Which open'd on their view, and o'er the front There seem'd to be besprent a deal of gilding

A gaudy taste; for they are little skill'd in

And various hues, as is the Turkish wont,

The arts of which these lands were once the font: Each villa on the Bosphorus looks a screen New painted, or a pretty opera-scene.

XLVII.

And nearer as they came, a genial savour

Of certain stews, and roast-meats, and pilaus, Things which in hungry mortals' eyes find favour, Made Juan in his harsh intentions pause, And put himself upon his good behaviour:

His friend, too, adding a new saying clause, Said, "In Heaven's name let's get some supper 125, And then I'm with you, if you're for a row." XLVIII.

Some talk of an appeal unto some passion,

Some to men's feelings, others to their reason; The last of these was never much the fashion, For reason thinks all reasoning out of season. Some speakers whine, and others lay the lash o¤, But more or less continue still to tease on, With arguments according to their "forte;" But no one ever dreams of being short.— XLIX.

But I digress: of all appeals, although

I grant the power of pathos, and of gold, Of beauty, flattery, threats, a shilling,—no Method's more sure at moments to take hold (5) Of the best feelings of mankind, which grow More tender, as we every day behold, Than that all-softening overpowering knell, The tocsin of the soul-the dinner-bell.

L.

Turkey contains no bells, and yet men dine;
And Juan and his friend, albeit they heard

(1) The light and elegant wherries plying about the quays of Constantinople are so called.

(2) Eastern Sketches, Parga, Phrosyne, Nderim, etc.—L E (3) St. Bartholomewis said to have been flayed alive.-L. (4) In the MS.

"I am for rather looking now than leaping.”—L E (5) In the MS.

"Of speeches, beauty, flattery-there is no
Method more sure," etc.-L. E.

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As the black eunuch enter'd with his brace
Of purchased infidels, some raised their eyes
A moment without slackening from their pace;
But those who sate ne'er stirr'd in any wise: (3)
One or two stared the captives in the face,

Just as one views a horse to guess his price;
Some nodded to the negro from their station,
But no one troubled him with conversation. (4)
LV.

He leads them through the hall, and, without stopping, On through a farther range of goodly rooms, Splendid but silent, save in one, where, dropping, (5) A marble fountain echoes through the glooms

(1) Guide des Voyageurs, Directions for Travellers, etc: -Rhymes, Incidental and humorous, Rhyming Reminiscences, Effusions in Rhyme, etc.-Lady Morgan's Italy, Tour through Istria, etc. etc.-Sketches of Italy, Sketches of Modern Greece, etc. etc.-A playful allusion to Mr. Hobhouse's Illustrations of Childe Harold.-L. E.

(2) In Turkey nothing is more common than for the Mussulmans to take several glasses of strong spirits by way of appetizer. I have seen them take as many as six of raki before dinner, and swear that they dined the better for it: I tried the experiment, but fared like the Scotchman, who having heard that the birds called kitiwakes were admirable whets, ate six of them, and complained that "he was no hungrier than when he began."

(3) In the MS.

"The sitters never stirr'd in any wise."-L. E. (4) "Every thing is so still in the court of the seraglio,

Of night, which robe the chamber, or where, popping,
Some female head most curiously presumes
To thrust its black eyes through the door or lattice,
As wondering what the devil noise that is.

LVI.

Some faint lamps gleaming from the lofty walls
Gave light enough to hint their farther way,
But not enough to show the imperial halls
In all the flashing of their full array;
Perhaps there's nothing-I'll not say appals,
But saddens more by night as well as day,
Than an enormous room without a soul
To break the lifeless splendour of the whole.

LVII.

Two or three seem so little, one seems nothing: In deserts, forests, crowds, or by the shore, There solitude, we know, has her full growth in The spots which were her realms for evermore; But in a mighty hall or gallery, both in

More modern buildings and those built of yore, A kind of death comes o'er us all alone, Seeing what's meant for many with but one.

LVIII.

A neat snug study on a winter's night, (6)
A book, friend, single lady, or a glass

Of claret, sandwich, and an appetite,

Are things which make an English evening pass;
Though certes by no means so grand a sight
As is a theatre lit up by gas.

I pass my evenings in long galleries solely,
And that's the reason I'm so melancholy.

LIX.

Alas! man makes that great which makes him little:
I grant you in a church 't is very well:
What speaks of Heaven should by no means be brittle,
But strong and lasting, till no tongue can tell
Their names who rear'd it; but huge houses fit ill-

And huge tombs worse-mankind, since Adam fell:
Methinks the story of the tower of Babel
Might teach them this much better than I'm able.
LX.

Babel was Nimrod's hunting-box, and then

A town of gardens, walls, and wealth amazing, Where Nabuchadonosor, king of men,

Reign'd, till one summer's day he took to grazing, And Daniel tamed the lions in their den,

The people's awe and admiration raising;

that the motion of a fly might, in a manner, be heard; and if any one should presume to raise his voice ever so little, or show the least want of respect to the mansion-place of their emperor, he would instantly have the bastinado by the officers that go the rounds." Tournefort.-L. E.

(5) A common furniture. I recollect being received by Ali Pacha, in a large room, paved with marble, containing a marble basin, and fountain playing in the centre, etc. etc. [See antè, p. 90.-P. E.]

"In marble-paved pavilion, where a spring
Of living water from the centre rose,
Whose bubbling did a genial freshness fling,
And soft voluptuous couches breathed repose,
ALI reclined, a man of war and woes," etc.-L. E.

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