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And read （the only book she could） the lines
Of his fair face； and found； by sympathy；
The answer eloquent； where soul shines
And darts in one quick glance a long reply；
And thus in every look she saw exprest
A world of words； and things at which she guess'd。
And now； by dint of fingers and of eyes；
And words repeated after her； he took
A lesson in her tongue； but by surmise；
No doubt； less of her language than her look：
As he who studies fervently the skies
Turns oftener to the stars than to his book；
Thus Juan learn'd his alpha beta better
From Haidee's glance than any graven letter。
'T is pleasing to be school'd in a strange tongue
By female lips and eyes… that is； I mean；
When both the teacher and the taught are young；
As was the case； at least； where I have been；
They smile so when one 's right； and when one 's wrong
They smile still more； and then there intervene
Pressure of hands； perhaps even a chaste kiss；…
I learn'd the little that I know by this：
That is； some words of Spanish； Turk； and Greek；
Italian not at all； having no teachers；
Much English I cannot pretend to speak；
Learning that language chiefly from its preachers；
Barrow； South； Tillotson； whom every week
I study； also Blair； the highest reachers
Of eloquence in piety and prose…
I hate your poets； so read none of those。
As for the ladies； I have nought to say；
A wanderer from the British world of fashion；
Where I； like other 'dogs； have had my day；'
Like other men； too； may have had my passion…
But that； like other things； has pass'd away；
And all her fools whom I could lay the lash on：
Foes； friends； men； women； now are nought to me
But dreams of what has been； no more to be。
Return we to Don Juan。 He begun
To hear new words； and to repeat them； but
Some feelings； universal as the sun；
Were such as could not in his breast be shut
More than within the bosom of a nun：
He was in love；… as you would be； no doubt；
With a young benefactress；… so was she；
Just in the way we very often see。
And every day by daybreak… rather early
For Juan； who was somewhat fond of rest…
She came into the cave； but it was merely
To see her bird reposing in his nest；
And she would softly stir his locks so curly；
Without disturbing her yet slumbering guest；
Breathing all gently o'er his cheek and mouth；
As o'er a bed of roses the sweet south。
And every morn his colour freshlier came；
And every day help'd on his convalescence；
'T was well； because health in the human frame
Is pleasant； besides being true love's essence；
For health and idleness to passion's flame
Are oil and gunpowder； and some good lessons
Are also learnt from Ceres and from Bacchus；
Without whom Venus will not long attack us。
While Venus fills the heart （without heart really
Love； though good always； is not quite so good）；
Ceres presents a plate of vermicelli；…
For love must be sustain'd like flesh and blood；…
While Bacchus pours out wine； or hands a jelly：
Eggs； oysters； too； are amatory food；
But who is their purveyor from above
Heaven knows；… it may be Neptune； Pan； or Jove。
When Juan woke he found some good things ready；
A bath； a breakfast； and the finest eyes
That ever made a youthful heart less steady；
Besides her maid's as pretty for their size；
But I have spoken of all this already…
And repetition 's tiresome and unwise；…
Well… Juan； after bathing in the sea；
Came always back to coffee and Haidee。
Both were so young； and one so innocent；
That bathing pass'd for nothing； Juan seem'd
To her； as 'twere； the kind of being sent；
Of whom these two years she had nightly dream'd；
A something to be loved； a creature meant
To be her happiness； and whom she deem'd
To render happy； all who joy would win
Must share it；… Happiness was born a twin。
It was such pleasure to behold him； such
Enlargement of existence to partake
Nature with him； to thrill beneath his touch；
To watch him slumbering； and to see him wake：
To live with him forever were too much；
But then the thought of parting made her quake；
He was her own； her ocean…treasure； cast
Like a rich wreck… her first love； and her last。
And thus a moon roll'd on； and fair Haidee
Paid daily visits to her boy； and took
Such plentiful precautions； that still he
Remain'd unknown within his craggy nook；
At last her father's prows put out to sea
For certain merchantmen upon the look；
Not as of yore to carry off an Io；
But three Ragusan vessels； bound for Scio。
Then came her freedom； for she had no mother；
So that； her father being at sea； she was
Free as a married woman； or such other
Female； as where she likes may freely pass；
Without even the incumbrance of a brother；
The freest she that ever gazed on glass；
I speak of Christian lands in this parison；
Where wives； at least； are seldom kept in garrison。
Now she prolong'd her visits and her talk
（For they must talk）； and he had learnt to say
So much as to propose to take a walk；…
For little had he wander'd since the day
On which； like a young flower snapp'd from the stalk；
Drooping and dewy on the beach he lay；…
And thus they walk'd out in the afternoon；
And saw the sun set opposite the moon。
It was a wild and breaker…beaten coast；
With cliffs above； and a broad sandy shore；
Guarded by shoals and rocks as by an host；
With here and there a creek； whose aspect wore
A better wele to the tempest…tost；
And rarely ceased the haughty billow's roar；
Save on the dead long summer days； which make
The outstretch'd ocean glitter like a lake。
And the small ripple spilt upon the beach
Scarcely o'erpass'd the cream of your champagne；
When o'er the brim the sparkling bumpers reach；
That spring…dew of the spirit！ the heart's rain！
Few things surpass old wine； and they may preach
Who please；… the more because they preach in vain；…
Let us have wine and women； mirth and laughter；
Sermons and soda…water the day after。
Man； being reasonable； must get drunk；
The best of life is but intoxication：
Glory； the grape； love； gold； in these are sunk
The hopes of all men； and of every nation；
Without their sap； how branchless were the trunk
Of life's strange tree； so fruitful on occasion：
But to return；… Get very drunk； and when
You wake with headache； you shall see what then。
Ring for your valet… bid him quickly bring
Some hock and soda…water； then you 'll know
A pleasure worthy Xerxes the great king；
For not the bless'd sherbet； sublimed with snow；
Nor the first sparkle of the desert…spring；
Nor Burgundy in all its sunset glow；
After long travel； ennui； love； or slaughter；
Vie with that draught of hock and soda…water。
The coast… I think it was the coast that
Was just describing… Yes； it was the coast…
Lay at this period quiet as the sky；
The sands untumbled； the blue waves untost；
And all was stillness； save the sea…bird's cry；
And dolphin's leap； and little billow crost
By some low rock or shelve； that made it fret
Against the boundary it scarcely wet。
And forth they wander'd； her sire being gone；
As I have said； upon an expedition；
And mother； brother； guardian； she had none；
Save Zoe； who； although with due precision
She waited on her lady with the sun；
Tho