XLIX.

Not so her gracious, graceful, graceless Grace,
The full-grown Hebe of Fitz-Fulke, whose mind,
If she had any, was upon her face,

And that was of a fascinating kind.

A little turn for mischief you might trace

Also thereon,-but that's not much; we find Few females without some such gentle leaven, For fear we should suppose us quite in heaven.

L.

I have not heard she was at all poetic,

[Guide,"

Though once she was seen reading the "Bath And Hayley's Triumphs," which she deem'd

"

pathetic,

Because she said her temper had been tried So much, the bard had really been prophetic Of what she had gone through with-since a bride. But of all verse, what most ensured her praise Were sonnets to herself, or "bouts rimés.” (1)

LI.

'Twere difficult to say what was the object
Of Adeline, in bringing this same lay
To bear on what appear'd to her the subject
Of Juan's nervous feelings on that day.
Perhaps she merely had the simple project

To laugh him out of his supposed dismay; Perhaps she might wish to confirm him in it, Though why I cannot say—at least this minute.

(1) The last words or rhymes of a number of verses given to a poet to be filled up. -TODD.]

LII.

But so far the immediate effect

Was to restore him to his self-propriety,
A thing quite necessary to the elect,

Who wish to take the tone of their society:
In which you cannot be too circumspect,
Whether the mode be persiflage or piety,
But wear the newest mantle of hypocrisy,
On pain of much displeasing the gynocracy.(')

LIII.

And therefore Juan now began to rally
His spirits, and without more explanation
To jest upon such themes in many a sally.

Her Grace too, also seized the same occasion,
With various similar remarks to tally,

But wish'd for a still more detail'd narration Of this same mystic friar's curious doings, About the present family's deaths and wooings.

LIV.

Of these few could say more than has been said; They pass'd as such things do, for superstition With some, while others, who had more in dread

The theme, half credited the strange tradition; And much was talk'd on all sides on that head: But Juan, when cross-question'd on the vision, Which some supposed (though he had not avow'd it) Had stirr'd him, answer'd in a way to cloud it.

(1) [Petticoat government- female power. -TODD.]

LV.

And then, the mid-day having worn to one,
The company prepared to separate;
Some to their several pastimes, or to none,
Some wondering 'twas so early, some so late.
There was a goodly match too, to be run
Between some greyhounds on my lord's estate,
And a young race-horse of old pedigree,
Match'd for the spring, whom several went to see.

LVI.

There was a picture-dealer who had brought
A special Titian, warranted original,
So precious that it was not to be bought,

Though princes the possessor were besieging all.
The king himself had cheapen'd it, but thought
The civil list he deigns to accept, (obliging all
His subjects by his gracious acceptation)—
Too scanty, in these times of low taxation.

LVII.

But as Lord Henry was a connoisseur,-
The friend of artists, if not arts,—the owner,
With motives the most classical and pure,

So that he would have been the very donor,
Rather than seller, had his wants been fewer,

So much he deem'd his patronage an honour, Had brought the capo d'opera, (') not for sale, But for his judgment-never known to fail.

(1) [Capo d'opera - chef-d'œuvre-master-piece.]

LVIII.

There was a modern Goth, I mean a Gothic

Bricklayer of Babel, call'd an architect, [thick, Brought to survey these grey walls, which though so Might have from time acquired some slight defect; Who after rummaging the Abbey through thick

And thin, produced a plan whereby to erect
New buildings of correctest conformation,
And throw down old, which he call'd restoration.

LIX.

an

"old song,"

The cost would be a trifle

Set to some thousands ('t is the usual burden Of that same tune, when people hum it long)— The price would speedily repay its worth in An edifice no less sublime than strong,

By which Lord Henry's good taste would

go

Its glory, through all ages shining sunny,
For Gothic daring shown in English money.(1)

LX.

Cin

forth

There were two lawyers busy on a mortgage
Lord Henry wish'd to raise for a new purchase;
Also a lawsuit upon tenures burgage,

And one on tithes, which sure are Discord's torches,

(1) "Ausu Romano, ære Veneto" is the inscription (and well inscribed in this instance) on the sea walls between the Adriatic and Venice. The walls were a republican work of the Venetians; the inscription, I believe, Imperial; and inscribed by Napoleon the First. It is time to continue to him that title there will be a second by and by, "Spes altera mundi," if he live; let him not defeat it like his father. But, in any case, he will be preferable to Imbeciles. There is a glorious field for him, if he know how to cultivate it. -[Napoleon, Duke of Reichstadt, died at Vienna in 1832to the disappointment of many prophets. -E]

Kindling Religion till she throws down her gage, "Untying" squires "to fight against the churches ;"(1)

There was a prize ox, a prize pig, and ploughman, For Henry was a sort of Sabine showman.

LXI.

There were two poachers caught in a steel trap,
Ready for gaol, their place of convalescence;
There was a country girl in a close cap

And scarlet cloak (I hate the sight to see, sinceSince-since-in youth, I had the sad mishapBut luckily I have paid few parish fees since): That scarlet cloak, alas! unclosed with rigour, Presents the problem of a double figure.

LXII.

A reel within a bottle is a mystery,
One can't tell how it e'er got in or out;
Therefore the present piece of natural history
I leave to those who are fond of solving doubt;
And merely state, though not for the consistory,
Lord Henry was a justice, and that Scout
The constable, beneath a warrant's banner,
Had bagg'd this poacher upon Nature's manor.

(1) "I conjure you, by that which you profess,
(Howe'er you come to know it) answer me:
Though ye untie the winds, and let them fight
Against the churches."― Macbeth.