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One of the two； according to your choice；
Woman or wine； you 'll have to undergo；
Both maladies are taxes on our joys：
But which to choose； I really hardly know；
And if I had to give a casting voice；
For both sides I could many reasons show；
And then decide； without great wrong to either；
It were much better to have both than neither。
Juan and Haidee gazed upon each other
With swimming looks of speechless tenderness；
Which mix'd all feelings； friend； child； lover； brother；
All that the best can mingle and express
When two pure hearts are pour'd in one another；
And love too much； and yet can not love less；
But almost sanctify the sweet excess
By the immortal wish and power to bless。
Mix'd in each other's arms； and heart in heart；
Why did they not then die？… they had lived too long
Should an hour e to bid them breathe apart；
Years could but bring them cruel things or wrong；
The world was not for them； nor the world's art
For beings passionate as Sappho's song；
Love was born with them； in them； so intense；
It was their very spirit… not a sense。
They should have lived together deep in woods；
Unseen as sings the nightingale； they were
Unfit to mix in these thick solitudes
Call'd social； haunts of Hate； and Vice； and Care：
How lonely every freeborn creature broods！
The sweetest song…birds nestle in a pair；
The eagle soars alone； the gull and crow
Flock o'er their carrion； just like men below。
Now pillow'd cheek to cheek； in loving sleep；
Haidee and Juan their siesta took；
A gentle slumber； but it was not deep；
For ever and anon a something shook
Juan； and shuddering o'er his frame would creep；
And Haidee's sweet lips murmur'd like a brook
A wordless music； and her face so fair
Stirr'd with her dream； as rose…leaves with the air。
Or as the stirring of a deep dear stream
Within an Alpine hollow； when the wind
Walks o'er it； was she shaken by the dream；
The mystical usurper of the mind…
O'erpowering us to be whate'er may seem
Good to the soul which we no more can bind；
Strange state of being！ （for 't is still to be）
Senseless to feel； and with seal'd eyes to see。
She dream'd of being alone on the sea…shore；
Chain'd to a rock； she knew not how； but stir
She could not from the spot； and the loud roar
Grew； and each wave rose roughly； threatening her；
And o'er her upper lip they seem'd to pour；
Until she sobb'd for breath； and soon they were
Foaming o'er her lone head； so fierce and high…
Each broke to drown her； yet she could not die。
Anon… she was released； and then she stray'd
O'er the sharp shingles with her bleeding feet；
And stumbled almost every step she made；
And something roll'd before her in a sheet；
Which she must still pursue howe'er afraid：
'T was white and indistinct； nor stopp'd to meet
Her glance nor grasp； for still she gazed； and grasp'd；
And ran； but it escaped her as she clasp'd。
The dream changed：… in a cave she stood； its walls
Were hung with marble icicles； the work
Of ages on its water…fretted halls；
Where waves might wash； and seals might breed and lurk；
Her hair was dripping； and the very balls
Of her black eyes seem'd turn'd to tears； and mirk
The sharp rocks look'd below each drop they caught；
Which froze to marble as it fell；… she thought。
And wet； and cold； and lifeless at her feet；
Pale as the foam that froth'd on his dead brow；
Which she essay'd in vain to clear （how sweet
Were once her cares； how idle seem'd they now！）；
Lay Juan； nor could aught renew the beat
Of his quench'd heart； and the sea dirges low
Rang in her sad ears like a mermaid's song；
And that brief dream appear'd a life too long。
And gazing on the dead； she thought his face
Faded； or alter'd into something new…
Like to her father's features； till each trace…
More like and like to Lambro's aspect grew…
With all his keen worn look and Grecian grace；
And starting； she awoke； and what to view？
Oh！ Powers of Heaven！ what dark eye meets she there？
'T is… 't is her father's… fix'd upon the pair！
Then shrieking； she arose； and shrieking fell；
With joy and sorrow； hope and fear； to see
Him whom she deem'd a habitant where dwell
The ocean…buried； risen from death； to be
Perchance the death of one she loved too well：
Dear as her father had been to Haidee；
It was a moment of that awful kind…
I have seen such… but must not call to mind。
Up Juan sprung to Haidee's bitter shriek；
And caught her falling； and from off the wall
Snatch'd down his sabre； in hot haste to wreak
Vengeance on him who was the cause of all：
Then Lambro； who till now forbore to speak；
Smiled scornfully； and said； 'Within my call；
A thousand scimitars await the word；
Put up； young man； put up your silly sword。'
And Haidee clung around him； 'Juan； 't is…
'T is Lambro… 't is my father！ Kneel with me…
He will forgive us… yes… it must be… yes。
Oh！ dearest father； in this agony
Of pleasure and of pain… even while I kiss
Thy garment's hem with transport； can it be
That doubt should mingle with my filial joy？
Deal with me as thou wilt； but spare this boy。'
High and inscrutable the old man stood；
Calm in his voice； and calm within his eye…
Not always signs with him of calmest mood：
He look'd upon her； but gave no reply；
Then turn'd to Juan； in whose cheek the blood
Oft came and went； as there resolved to die；
In arms； at least； he stood； in act to spring
On the first foe whom Lambro's call might bring。
'Young man； your sword；' so Lambro once more said：
Juan replied； 'Not while this arm is free。'
The old man's cheek grew pale； but not with dread；
And drawing from his belt a pistol； he
Replied； 'Your blood be then on your own head。'
Then look'd dose at the flint； as if to see
'T was fresh… for he had lately used the lock…
And next proceeded quietly to cock。
It has a strange quick jar upon the ear；
That cocking of a pistol； when you know
A moment more will bring the sight to bear
Upon your person； twelve yards off； or so；
A gentlemanly distance； not too near；
If you have got a former friend for foe；
But after being fired at once or twice；
The ear bees more Irish； and less nice。
Lambro presented； and one instant more
Had stopp'd this Canto； and Don Juan's breath；
When Haidee threw herself her boy before；
Stern as her sire： 'On me；' she cried； 'let death
Descend… the fault is mine； this fatal shore
He found… but sought not。 I have pledged my faith；
I love him… I will die with him： I knew
Your nature's firmness… know your daughter's too。'
A minute past； and she had been all tears；
And tenderness； and infancy； but now
She stood as one who champion'd human fears…
Pale； statue…like； and stern； she woo'd the blow；
And tall beyond her sex； and their peers；
She drew up to her height； as if to show
A fairer mark； and with a fix'd eye scann'd
Her father's face… but never stopp'd his hand。
He gazed on her； and she on him； 't was strange
How like they look'd！ the expression was the same；
Serenely savage； with a little change
In the large dark eye's mutual…darted flame；
For she； too； was as one who could avenge；
If cause should be… a lioness； though tame。
Her father's blood before her father's face
Boil'd up； and prove