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New painted； or a pretty opera…scene。
And nearer as they came； a genial savour
Of certain stews； and roast…meats； and pilaus；
Things which in hungry mortals' eyes find favour；
Made Juan in his harsh intentions pause；
And put himself upon his good behaviour：
His friend； too； adding a new saving clause；
Said； 'In Heaven's name let's get some supper now；
And then I 'm with you； if you 're for a row。'
Some talk of an appeal unto some passion；
Some to men's feelings； others to their reason；
The last of these was never much the fashion；
For reason thinks all reasoning out of season。
Some speakers whine； and others lay the lash on；
But more or less continue still to tease on；
With arguments according to their 'forte；'
But no one dreams of ever being short。…
But I digress： of all appeals；… although
I grant the power of pathos； and of gold；
Of beauty； flattery； threats； a shilling；… no
Method 's more sure at moments to take hold
Of the best feelings of mankind； which grow
More tender； as we every day behold；
Than that all…softening； overpowering knell；
The tocsin of the soul… the dinner…bell。
Turkey contains no bells； and yet men dine；
And Juan and his friend； albeit they heard
No Christian knoll to table； saw no line
Of lackeys usher to the feast prepared；
Yet smelt roast…meat； beheld a huge fire shine；
And cooks in motion with their clean arms bared；
And gazed around them to the left and right
With the prophetic eye of appetite。
And giving up all notions of resistance；
They follow'd close behind their sable guide；
Who little thought that his own crack'd existence
Was on the point of being set aside：
He motion'd them to stop at some small distance；
And knocking at the gate； 't was open'd wide；
And a magnificent large hall display'd
The Asian pomp of Ottoman parade。
I won't describe； description is my forte；
But every fool describes in these bright days
His wondrous journey to some foreign court；
And spawns his quarto； and demands your praise…
Death to his publisher； to him 't is sport；
While Nature； tortured twenty thousand ways；
Resigns herself with exemplary patience
To guide…books； rhymes； tours； sketches； illustrations。
Along this hall； and up and down； some； squatted
Upon their hams； were occupied at chess；
Others in monosyllable talk chatted；
And some seem'd much in love with their own dress。
And divers smoked superb pipes decorated
With amber mouths of greater price or less；
And several strutted； others slept； and some
Prepared for supper with a glass of rum。
As the black eunuch enter'd with his brace
Of purchased Infidels； some raised their eyes
A moment without slackening from their pace；
But those who sate ne'er stirr'd in anywise：
One or two stared the captives in the face；
Just as one views a horse to guess his price；
Some nodded to the negro from their station；
But no one troubled him with conversation。
He leads them through the hall； and； without stopping；
On through a farther range of goodly rooms；
Splendid but silent； save in one； where； dropping；
A marble fountain echoes through the glooms
Of night which robe the chamber； or where popping
Some female head most curiously presumes
To thrust its black eyes through the door or lattice；
As wondering what the devil a noise that is。
Some faint lamps gleaming from the lofty walls
Gave light enough to hint their farther way；
But not enough to show the imperial halls；
In all the flashing of their full array；
Perhaps there 's nothing… I 'll not say appals；
But saddens more by night as well as day；
Than an enormous room without a soul
To break the lifeless splendour of the whole。
Two or three seem so little； one seems nothing：
In deserts； forests； crowds； or by the shore；
There solitude； we know； has her full growth in
The spots which were her realms for evermore；
But in a mighty hall or gallery； both in
More modern buildings and those built of yore；
A kind of death es o'er us all alone；
Seeing what 's meant for many with but one。
A neat； snug study on a winter's night；
A book； friend； single lady； or a glass
Of claret； sandwich； and an appetite；
Are things which make an English evening pass；
Though certes by no means so grand a sight
As is a theatre lit up by gas。
I pass my evenings in long galleries solely；
And that 's the reason I 'm so melancholy。
Alas！ man makes that great which makes him little：
I grant you in a church 't is very well：
What speaks of Heaven should by no means be brittle；
But strong and lasting； till no tongue can tell
Their names who rear'd it； but huge houses fit ill…
And huge tombs worse… mankind； since Adam fell：
Methinks the story of the tower of Babel
Might teach them this much better than I 'm able。
Babel was Nimrod's hunting…box； and then
A town of gardens； walls； and wealth amazing；
Where Nabuchadonosor； king of men；
Reign'd； till one summer's day he took to grazing；
And Daniel tamed the lions in their den；
The people's awe and admiration raising；
'T was famous； too； for Thisbe and for Pyramus；
And the calumniated queen Semiramis。
That injured Queen by chroniclers so coarse
Has been accused （I doubt not by conspiracy）
Of an improper friendship for her horse
（Love； like religion； sometimes runs to heresy）：
This monstrous tale had probably its source
（For such exaggerations here and there I see）
In writing 'Courser' by mistake for 'Courier：'
I wish the case could e before a jury here。
But to resume；… should there be （what may not
Be in these days？） some infidels； who don't；
Because they can't find out the very spot
Of that same Babel； or because they won't
（Though Claudius Rich； Esquire； some bricks has got；
And written lately two memoirs upon't）；
Believe the Jews； those unbelievers； who
Must be believed； though they believe not you；
Yet let them think that Horace has exprest
Shortly and sweetly the masonic folly
Of those； forgetting the great place of rest；
Who give themselves to architecture wholly；
We know where things and men must end at best：
A moral （like all morals） melancholy；
And 'Et sepulchri immemor struis domos'
Shows that we build when we should but entomb us。
At last they reach'd a quarter most retired；
Where echo woke as if from a long slumber；
Though full of all things which could be desired；
One wonder'd what to do with such a number
Of articles which nobody required；
Here wealth had done its utmost to encumber
With furniture an exquisite apartment；
Which puzzled Nature much to know what Art meant。
It seem'd； however； but to open on
A range or suite of further chambers； which
Might lead to heaven knows where； but in this one
The movables were prodigally rich：
Sofas 't was half a sin to sit upon；
So costly were they； carpets every stitch
Of workmanship so rare； they made you wish
You could glide o'er them like a golden fish。
The black； however； without hardly deigning
A glance at that which wrapt the slaves in wonder；
Trampled what they scarce trod for fear of staining；
As if the milky way their feet was under
With all its stars； and with a stretch attaining
A certain press or cupboard niched in yonder…
In that remote recess which you may see…