CLIV.

His Majesty saluted his fourth spouse

With all the ceremonies of his rank,

Who cleared her sparkling eyes and smoothed her brows,
As suits a matron who has played a prank;

These must seem doubly mindful of their vows,
To save the credit of their breaking bank:

To no men are such cordial greetings given

As those whose wives have made them fit for heaven.

CLV.

His Highness cast around his great black eyes,
And looking, as he always looked, perceived
Juan amongst the damsels in disguise,

At which he seemed no whit surprised nor grieved,

But just remarked with air sedate and wise
While still a fluttering sigh Gulleyaz heaved,
"I see you've bought another girl; 'tis pity
"That a mere christian should be half so pretty."

CLVI.

This compliment, which drew all eyes upon

The new-bought virgin, made her blush and shake. Her comrades, also, thought themselves undone :

Oh! Mahomet! that his Majesty should take
Such notice of a giaour, while scarce to one
Of them his lips imperial ever spake !
There was a general whisper, toss, and wriggle,
But etiquette forbade them all to giggle.

CLVII.

The Turks do well to shut-at least, sometimes

The women up-because in sad reality,

Their chastity in these unhappy climes

Is not a thing of that astringent quality, Which in the north prevents precarious crimes,

And makes our snow less pure than our morality;

The sun, which yearly melts the polar ice,

Has quite the contrary effect on vice.

CLVIII.

Thus far our chronicle; and now we pause, Though not for want of matter; but 'tis time, According to the ancient epic laws,

To slacken sail, and anchor with our rhyme. Let this fifth canto meet with due applause,

The sixth shall have a touch of the sublime; Meanwhile, as Homer sometimes sleeps, perhaps You'll pardon to my muse a few short

naps.

NOTES TO CANTO V.

Note 1, page 136, line 10.

The ocean stream.

THIS expression of Homer has been much criticised. It hardly answers to our atlantic ideas of the ocean, but is sufficiently applicable to the Hellespont, and the Bosphorus, with the Ægean intersected with islands.

Note 2, page 137, line 11.

"The Giant's Grave."

"The Giant's Grave" is a height on the Adriatic shore of the Bosphorus, much frequented by holiday parties: like Harrow and Highgate.

Note 3, page 151, line 14.

And running out as fast as I was able.

The assassination alluded to took place on the eighth of December, 1820, in the streets of R

from the residence of the writer. as described.

,

not a hundred

paces

The circumstances were

Note 4, page 152, line 8.

Killed by five bullets from an old gun

barrel.

There was found close by him an old gun barrel, sawn half

off: it had just been discharged, and was still warm.

Note 5, page 161, last line.

Prepared for supper with a glass of rum.

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 was like the Scotchman, who having heard that the birds called kittiewiaks were admirable whets, ate six of them, and complained that "he was no hungrier than when he began."

Note 6, page 162, lines 11 and 12.

Splendid but silent, save in one, where, dropping,

A marble fountain echoes.

A common furniture.-I recollect being received by Ali Pacha, in a room containing a marble basin and fountain, &c. &c. &c.

Note 8, page 178, line 15.

The gate so splendid was in all its features.

Features of a gate—a ministerial metaphor; "the feature upon which this question hinges."-See the "Fudge Family," or hear Castlereagh.

Note 9, page 188, line 2.

Though on more thorough-bred or fairer fingers.

There is perhaps nothing more distinctive of birth than the hand: it is almost the only sign of blood which aristocracy can generate.