LXXIV. Then there were sighs, the deeper for suppression, And stolen glances, sweeter for the theft, And burning blushes, though for no transgression, Tremblings when met, and restlessness when left; All these are little preludes to possession, Of which young Passion carnot be hereft, And merely tend to show how greatly Love is Embarrass'd at first starting with a novice. LXXV Poor Julia's heart was in an awkward state; And almost might have made a Tarquin quake; LXXVI. She vow'd she never would see Juan more, She now determined that a virtuous woman Should rather face and overcome temptation, That flight was base and dastardly, and no man Should ever give her heart the least sensation; That is to say, a thought beyond the common LXXVIII. brothers. And even if by chance—and who can tell? And, if still free, that such or such a lover Might please perhaps, a virtuous wife can quell Such thoughts, and be the better when they're over; And if the man should ask, 'tis but denial : I recommend young ladies to make trial. LXXIX. And then there are such things as love divine, And matrons, who would be no less secure, LXXX. Such love is innocent, and may exist For my part, to such doings I'm a stranger, Of all o'er which such love may be a ranger : If people go beyond, 'tis quite a crime, But not my fault-I tell them all in time. LXXXI. Love, then, but love within its proper limits, Etherial lustre, with what sweet persuasion LXXXII. Fraught with this fine intention, and well fenced LXXXIII. Her plan she deem'd both innocent and feasible, Not scandal's fangs could fix on much that's seizable, Nothing but what was good, her breast was peaceable- And if in the mean time her husband died, But heaven forbid that such a thought should cross Her brain, though in a dream! (and then she sigh'd) Never could she survive that common loss; But just suppose that moment should betide, (This should be entre nous, for Julia thought In French, but then the rhyme would go for nought.) LXXXV. I only say suppose this supposition: Juan being then grown up to man's estate Would fully suit a widow of condition, Even seven years hence it would not be too late; And in the interim ( to pursue this vision) The mischief, after all, could not be great, For he would learn the rudiments of love, I mean the seraph way of those above. So much for Julia. LXXXVI. Now we'll turn to Juan, Poor little fellow! he had no idea Of his own case, and never hit the true one; LXXXVII. Silent and pensive, idle, restless, slow, I'm fond myself of solitude or so, LXXXVIII. "Oh Love! in such a wilderness as this, << And here thou art a god indeed divine. The bard I quote from does not sing amiss, 5 With the exception of the second line, The poet meant, no doubt, and thus appeals As all have found on trial, or may find, Or love. I won't say more about « entwined » Or« transport,» as we knew all that before, But beg«Security » will bolt the door. XC. Young Juan wander'd by the glassy brooks There poets find materials for their books, And every now and then we read them through, He, Juan (and not Wordsworth) so pursued |