But after, there are sometimes certain signs The simple olives, best allies of wine, In Spain, and Lucca, Athens, everywhere. I sometimes almost think that eyes have ears: This much is sure, that, out of earshot, things Are somehow echoed to the pretty dears, Of which I can't tell whence their knowledge springs; Like that same mystic music of the spheres, Which no one hears, so loudly though it rings. 'Tis wonderful how oft the sex have heard Long dialogues-which pass'd without a word! LXXVII. Aurora sat with that indifference Which piques a preux chevalier-as it ought: Of all offences, that's the worst offence, Which seems to hint you are not worth a thought. Now Juan, though no coxcomb in pretence, Was not exactly pleased to be so caught, Like a good ship entangled among ice, And after so much excellent advice. LXXVIII. To his gay nothings nothing was replied, Nor even smiled enough for any vanity. LXXIX. And look'd as much as if to say, 'I said it ;' A kind of triumph I'll not recommend, Because it sometimes, as I've seen or read it, Both in the case of lover and of friend, Will pique a gentleman, for his own credit, To bring what was a jest to a serious end: For all men prophecy what is or was, And hate those who wont let them come to pass. LXXX. Juan was drawn thus into some attentions, Slight but select, and just enough to express, To females of conspicuous comprehensions, That he would rather make them more than less Aurora, at the last (so history mentions, Though probably much less a fact than guess), So far relax'd her thoughts from their sweet prison, As once or twice to smile, if not to listen. LXXXI. From answering, she began to question: this With her was rare; and Adeline, who as yet Thought her predictions went not much amiss, Began to dread she'd thaw to a coquette-So very difficult, they say, it is To keep extremes from meeting, when once set In motion; but she here too much refinedAurora's spirit was not of that kind. LXXXA. But Juan had a sort of winning way, LXXXIII. Aurora, who, in her indifference, Confounded him in common with the crowd Of flatterers, though she deem'd he had more sense Than whispering foplings, or than witlings loud, Commenced (from such slight things will great commence) To feel that flattery which attracts the proud Rather by deference than compliment, And wins even by a delicate dissent. LXXXIV. And then he had good looks: that point was carried Nem.con. amongst the women, which I grieve LXXXV. But Virtue's self, with all her tightest laces, LXXXVI. And girls of sixteen are thus far Socratic; But innocently so, as Socrates: At seventy years had phantasies like these, Which Plato in his dialogues dramatic Has shown, I know not why they should displease In virgins-always in a modest way, Also observe that, like the great Lord Coke Or none at all-which seems a sorry jest; If people contradict themselves, can I Help contradicting them, and everybody, Even my veracious self? But that's a lie: I never did so, never will-how should I? And cut through such canals of contradiction, LXXXIX. Apologue, fable, poesy, and parable Are false, but may be render'd also true, Some millions must be wrong, that's pretty clear: XCI. But here again, why will I thus entangle Myself with metaphysics? None can hate So much as I do any kind of wrangle; And yet, such is my folly or my fate, I always knock my head against some angle, XCII. But though I am a temperate theologian, And also meek as a metaphysician, Impartial between Tyrian and Trojan, As Eldon on a lunatic commission, And now I will give up all argument; Yes, I'll begin a thorough reformation. By dreaming that my Muse's conversation Was dangerous: I think she is as harinless As some who labour more, and yet may charm less. XCV. Grim reader, did you ever see a ghost? No; but you've heard- I understand-be dumb! And don't regret the time you may have lost, For you have got that pleasure still to come; Of these things, or by ridicule benumb XCVI Serious? You laugh-you may: that will I not, 'Shadows the soul of Richard' may appal. In short, upon that subject I've some qualms very Like those of the philosopher of Malmsbury. XCVII. The night (I sing by night-sometimes an owl, I think, too, that I have sate up too late: XCVIII. And therefore, though 'tis by no means my way To rhyme at noon-when I have other things To think of, if I ever think-I say I feel some chilly midnight shudderings, And prudently postpone until mid-day Treating a topic which, alas, but brings *Hamlet, act iii. scene 2. + Hobbes, who, doubting of his own soul, paid that compliment to the souls of other people as to decline Subauditur 'nen,' omitted for the sake of euphony. their visits, of which he had some apprehension. Shadows;-but you must be in my condition, Before you learn to call this superstition. XCIX. Between two worlds life hovers like a star, 'Twixt night and morn, upon the horizon's verge: i. How little do we know that which we are! Our bubbles: as the old burst, new emerge, Lash'd from the foam of ages; while the graves Of empires heave but like some passing waves. CANTO THE SIXTEENTH, THE antique Persians taught three useful things, II. The cause of this effect, or this defect- 'For this effect defective comes by cause'tIs what I have not leisure to inspect; But this I must say in my own applause, Of all the Muses that I recollect, Whate'er may be her follies or her flaws In some things, mine's beyond all contradiction The most sincere that ever dealt in fiction. III. And as she treats all things, and ne'er retreats A wilderness of the most rare conceits, Which you might elsewhere hope to find in vain. 'Tis true there be some bitters with the sweets, Yet mix'd so slightly, that you can't complain, But wonder they so few are, since my tale is De rebus cunctis et quibusdam aliis. IV. But of all truths which she has told, the most I said it was a story of a ghost What then? I only know it so befell. Have you explored the limits of the coast, Where all the dwellers of the earth must dwell? 'Tis time to strike such puny doubters dumb as The sceptics who would not believe Columbus. V. Some people would impose now with authority, Turpin's or Monmouth Geoffry's Chronicle; Men whose historical superiority Is always greatest at a miracle. 1824. But Saint Augustine has the great priority, VI. And therefore mortals cavil not at all: 'Tis always best to take things upon trust. Xenophon, Cyrop. + Hamlet, act ii, scene 2, I do not speak profanely, to recall Those holier mysteries which the wise and just Receive as gospel, and which grow more rooted, As all truths must, the more they are disputed: VII. I merely mean to say what Johnson said, That, in the course of some six thousand years, And what is strangest upon this strange head, VIII. The dinner and the soirée, too, were done : The supper, too, discuss'd, the dames admired: The banqueteers had dropp'd off one by oneThe song was silent and the dance expired: The last thin petticoats were vanish'd, gone Like fleecy clouds into the sky retired; And nothing brighter gleam'd through the saloon, Than dying tapers-and the peeping moon. IX. The evaporation of a joyous day, Is like the last glass of champagne, without The foam which made its virgin bumper gay; Or like a system coupled with a doubt; Or like a soda bottle, when its spray Has sparkled and let half its spirit out; Or like a billow, left by storms behind, Without the animation of the wind: X. Or like an opiate, which brings troubled rest, ΧΙ. But next to dressing for a rout or ball, [amber. Thoughts quite as yellow, but less clear than Titus exclaim'd, 'I've lost a day!' Of all The nights and days most people can remember (I've had of both, some not to be disdain'd), I wish they'd state how many they have gain'd. The composition of the old Tyrian purple, whe ther from a shell-fish or from cochineal, or from kermes, is still an article of dispute; and even its colour-some say purple, others scarlet: I say nothing, Sometimes, unless my feelings rather err): Deep secrets to her rolling light are told: Juan felt somewhat pensive, and disposed Below his window waved (of course) a willow; Upon his table or his toilet-which Of these is not exactly ascertain'd (I state this, for I am cautious to a pitch Of nicety, where a fact is to be gain'd)A lamp burn'd high, while he leant from a niche, Where many a Gothic ornament remain'd, In chisell'd stone and painted glass, and all That time has left our fathers of their hall. XVII. Then, as the night was clear, though cold, he threw His chamber door wide open-and went forth Into a gallery of a sombre hue, Long furnish'd with old pictures of great worth:, Of knight and dames, heroic and chaste too, As doubtless should be people of high birth; But, by dim lights, the portraits of the dead Have something ghastly, desolate, and dread. XVIII. The forms of the grim knight and pictured saint Look living in the moon; and as you turn Backward and forward to the echoes faint Of your own footsteps, voices from the urn Appear to wake, and shadows wild and quaint Start from the frames which fençe their aspect stern, As Juan mused on mutability. Or on his mistress-terms synonymous No sound except the echo of his sigh, Or step, ran sadly through that antique house; It was no mouse; but lo! a monk, array'd He moved as shadowy as the sisters weird, Juan was petrified: he had heard a hint Which passes ghosts in currency like gold, XXIII. Once, twice, thrice, pass'd, repass'd, the thing of air, Or earth beneath, or heaven, or t'other place; And Juan gazed upon it with a stare, Yet could not speak or move; but, on its base As stands a statue, stood: he felt his hair Twine like a knot of snakes around his face: He tax'd his tongue for words, which were not granted, To ask the reverend person what he wanted. The third time, after a still longer pause, The shadow pass'd away-but where? The hall Was long, and thus far there was no great cause To think his vanishing unnatural: Doors there were many, through which, by the laws Of physics, bodies, whether short or tall, Might come or go; but Juan could not state Through which the spectre seem'd to evaporate. ΧΧV. He stood-how long he knew not, but it seem'd |