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In contact； and sometimes even a fair stranger's
An almost twelvemonth's constancy endangers。
The lady eyed him o'er and o'er； and bade
Baba retire； which he obey'd in style；
As if well used to the retreating trade；
And taking hints in good part all the while；
He whisper'd Juan not to be afraid；
And looking on him with a sort of smile；
Took leave； with such a face of satisfaction
As good men wear who have done a virtuous action。
When he was gone； there was a sudden change：
I know not what might be the lady's thought；
But o'er her bright brow flash'd a tumult strange；
And into her dear cheek the blood was brought；
Blood…red as sunset summer clouds which range
The verge of Heaven； and in her large eyes wrought；
A mixture of sensations might be scann'd；
Of half voluptuousness and half mand。
Her form had all the softness of her sex；
Her features all the sweetness of the devil；
When he put on the cherub to perplex
Eve； and paved （God knows how） the road to evil；
The sun himself was scarce more free from specks
Than she from aught at which the eye could cavil；
Yet； somehow； there was something somewhere wanting；
As if she rather order'd than was granting。
Something imperial； or imperious； threw
A chain o'er all she did； that is； a chain
Was thrown as 't were about the neck of you；…
And rapture's self will seem almost a pain
With aught which looks like despotism in view：
Our souls at least are free； and 't is in vain
We would against them make the flesh obey…
The spirit in the end will have its way。
Her very smile was haughty； though so sweet；
Her very nod was not an inclination；
There was a self…will even in her small feet；
As though they were quite conscious of her station…
They trod as upon necks； and to plete
Her state （it is the custom of her nation）；
A poniard deck'd her girdle； as the sign
She was a sultan's bride （thank Heaven； not mine！）。
'To hear and to obey' had been from birth
The law of all around her； to fulfill
All phantasies which yielded joy or mirth；
Had been her slaves' chief pleasure； as her will；
Her blood was high； her beauty scarce of earth：
Judge； then； if her caprices e'er stood still；
Had she but been a Christian； I 've a notion
We should have found out the 'perpetual motion。'
Whate'er she saw and coveted was brought；
Whate'er she did not see； if she supposed
It might be seen； with diligence was sought；
And when 't was found straightway the bargain closed；
There was no end unto the things she bought；
Nor to the trouble which her fancies caused；
Yet even her tyranny had such a grace；
The women pardon'd all except her face。
Juan； the latest of her whims； had caught
Her eye in passing on his way to sale；
She order'd him directly to be bought；
And Baba； who had ne'er been known to fail
In any kind of mischief to be wrought；
At all such auctions knew how to prevail：
She had no prudence； but he had； and this
Explains the garb which Juan took amiss。
His youth and features favour'd the disguise；
And； should you ask how she； a sultan's bride；
Could risk or pass such strange phantasies；
This I must leave sultanas to decide：
Emperors are only husbands in wives' eyes；
And kings and consorts oft are mystified；
As we may ascertain with due precision；
Some by experience； others by tradition。
But to the main point； where we have been tending：…
She now conceived all difficulties past；
And deem'd herself extremely condescending
When； being made her property at last；
Without more preface； in her blue eyes blending
Passion and power； a glance on him she cast；
And merely saying； 'Christian； canst thou love？'
Conceived that phrase was quite enough to move
And so it was； in proper time and place；
But Juan； who had still his mind o'erflowing
With Haidee's isle and soft Ionian face；
Felt the warm blood； which in his face was glowing；
Rush back upon his heart； which fill'd apace；
And left his cheeks as pale as snowdrops blowing；
These words went through his soul like Arab…spears；
So that he spoke not； but burst into tears。
She was a good deal shock'd； not shock'd at tears；
For women shed and use them at their liking；
But there is something when man's eye appears
Wet； still more disagreeable and striking；
A woman's tear…drop melts； a man's half sears；
Like molten lead； as if you thrust a pike in
His heart to force it out； for （to be shorter）
To them 't is a relief； to us a torture。
And she would have consoled； but knew not how：
Having no equals； nothing which had e'er
Infected her with sympathy till now；
And never having dreamt what 't was to bear
Aught of a serious； sorrowing kind； although
There might arise some pouting petty care
To cross her brow； she wonder'd how so near
Her eyes another's eye could shed a tear。
But nature teaches more than power can spoil；
And； when a strong although a strange sensation
Moves… female hearts are such a genial soil
For kinder feelings； whatsoe'er their nation；
They naturally pour the 'wine and oil；'
Samaritans in every situation；
And thus Gulbeyaz； though she knew not why；
Felt an odd glistening moisture in her eye。
But tears must stop like all things else； and soon
Juan； who for an instant had been moved
To such a sorrow by the intrusive tone
Of one who dared to ask if 'he had loved；'
Call'd back the stoic to his eyes； which shone
Bright with the very weakness he reproved；
And although sensitive to beauty； he
Felt most indignant still at not being free。
Gulbeyaz； for the first time in her days；
Was much embarrass'd； never having met
In all her life with aught save prayers and praise；
And as she also risk'd her life to get
Him whom she meant to tutor in love's ways
Into a fortable tete…a…tete；
To lose the hour would make her quite a martyr；
And they had wasted now almost a quarter。
I also would suggest the fitting time
To gentlemen in any such like case；
That is to say in a meridian clime…
With us there is more law given to the chase；
But here a small delay forms a great crime：
So recollect that the extremest grace
Is just two minutes for your declaration…
A moment more would hurt your reputation。
Juan's was good； and might have been still better；
But he had got Haidee into his head：
However strange； he could not yet forget her；
Which made him seem exceedingly ill…bred。
Gulbeyaz； who look'd on him as her debtor
For having had him to her palace led；
Began to blush up to the eyes； and then
Grow deadly pale； and then blush back again。
At length； in an imperial way； she laid
Her hand on his； and bending on him eyes
Which needed not an empire to persuade；
Look'd into his for love； where none replies：
Her brow grew black； but she would not upbraid；
That being the last thing a proud woman tries；
She rose； and pausing one chaste moment； threw
Herself upon his breast； and there she grew。
This was an awkward test； as Juan found；
But he was steel'd by sorrow； wrath； and pride：
With gentle force her white arms he unwound；
And seated her all drooping by his side；
Then rising haughtily he glanced around；
And looking coldly in her face； he cried；
'The prison'd eagle will not pair； nor
Serve a Sultana's sensual phantasy