按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
For being the last wife of the Emperour；
She was of course the favorite of the four。
His Highness was a man of solemn port；
Shawl'd to the nose； and bearded to the eyes；
Snatch'd from a prison to preside at court；
His lately bowstrung brother caused his rise；
He was as good a sovereign of the sort
As any mention'd in the histories
Of Cantemir； or Knolles； where few shine
Save Solyman； the glory of their line。
He went to mosque in state； and said his prayers
With more than 'Oriental scrupulosity；'
He left to his vizier all state affairs；
And show'd but little royal curiosity：
I know not if he had domestic cares…
No process proved connubial animosity；
Four wives and twice five hundred maids； unseen；
Were ruled as calmly as a Christian queen。
If now and then there happen'd a slight slip；
Little was heard of criminal or crime；
The story scarcely pass'd a single lip…
The sack and sea had settled all in time；
From which the secret nobody could rip：
The Public knew no more than does this rhyme；
No scandals made the daily press a curse…
Morals were better； and the fish no worse。
He saw with his own eyes the moon was round；
Was also certain that the earth was square；
Because he had journey'd fifty miles； and found
No sign that it was circular anywhere；
His empire also was without a bound：
'T is true； a little troubled here and there；
By rebel pachas； and encroaching giaours；
But then they never came to 'the Seven Towers；'
Except in shape of envoys； who were sent
To lodge there when a war broke out； according
To the true law of nations； which ne'er meant
Those scoundrels； who have never had a sword in
Their dirty diplomatic hands； to vent
Their spleen in making strife； and safely wording
Their lies； yclep'd despatches； without risk or
The singeing of a single inky whisker。
He had fifty daughters and four dozen sons；
Of whom all such as came of age were stow'd；
The former in a palace； where like nuns
They lived till some Bashaw was sent abroad；
When she； whose turn it was； was wed at once；
Sometimes at six years old… though it seems odd；
'T is true； the reason is； that the Bashaw
Must make a present to his sire in law。
His sons were kept in prison； till they grew
Of years to fill a bowstring or the throne；
One or the other； but which of the two
Could yet be known unto the fates alone；
Meantime the education they went through
Was princely； as the proofs have always shown：
So that the heir apparent still was found
No less deserving to be hang'd than crown'd。
His majesty saluted his fourth spouse
With all the ceremonies of his rank；
Who clear'd her sparkling eyes and smooth'd her brows；
As suits a matron who has play'd a prank；
These must seem doubly mindful of their vows；
To save the credit of their breaking bank：
To no men are such cordial greetings given
As those whose wives have made them fit for heaven。
His Highness cast around his great black eyes；
And looking； as he always look'd； perceived
Juan amongst the damsels in disguise；
At which he seem'd no whit surprised nor grieved；
But just remark'd with air sedate and wise；
While still a fluttering sigh Gulbeyaz heaved；
'I see you 've bought another girl； 't is pity
That a mere Christian should be half so pretty。'
This pliment； which drew all eyes upon
The new…bought virgin； made her blush and shake。
Her rades； also； thought themselves undone：
Oh！ Mahomet！ that his majesty should take
Such notice of a giaour； while scarce to one
Of them his lips imperial ever spake！
There was a general whisper； toss； and wriggle；
But etiquette forbade them all to giggle。
The Turks do well to shut… at least； sometimes…
The women up； because； in sad reality；
Their chastity in these unhappy climes
Is not a thing of that astringent quality
Which in the North prevents precocious crimes；
And makes our snow less pure than our morality；
The sun； which yearly melts the polar ice；
Has quite the contrary effect on vice。
Thus in the East they are extremely strict；
And Wedlock and a Padlock mean the same；
Excepting only when the former 's pick'd
It ne'er can be replaced in proper frame；
Spoilt； as a pipe of claret is when prick'd：
But then their own Polygamy 's to blame；
Why don't they knead two virtuous souls for life
Into that moral centaur； man and wife？
Thus far our chronicle； and now we pause；
Though not for want of matter； but 't is time
According to the ancient epic laws；
To slacken sail； and anchor with our rhyme。
Let this fifth canto meet with due applause；
The sixth shall have a touch of the sublime；
Meanwhile； as Homer sometimes sleeps； perhaps
You 'll pardon to my muse a few short naps。
CANTO THE SIXTH
。
'THERE is a tide in the affairs of men
Which；… taken at the flood；'… you know the rest；
And most of us have found it now and then；
At least we think so； though but few have guess'd
The moment； till too late to e again。
But no doubt every thing is for the best…
Of which the surest sign is in the end：
When things are at the worst they sometimes mend。
There is a tide in the affairs of women
Which； taken at the flood； leads… God knows where：
Those navigators must be able seamen
Whose charts lay down its current to a hair；
Not all the reveries of Jacob Behmen
With its strange whirls and eddies can pare：
Men with their heads reflect on this and that…
But women with their hearts on heaven knows what！
And yet a headlong； headstrong； downright she；
Young； beautiful； and daring… who would risk
A throne； the world； the universe； to be
Beloved in her own way； and rather whisk
The stars from out the sky； than not be free
As are the billows when the breeze is brisk…
Though such a she 's a devil （if that there be one）；
Yet she would make full many a Manichean。
Thrones； worlds； et cetera； are so oft upset
By monest ambition； that when passion
O'erthrows the same； we readily forget；
Or at the least forgive； the loving rash one。
If Antony be well remember'd yet；
'T is not his conquests keep his name in fashion；
But Actium； lost for Cleopatra's eyes；
Outbalances all Caesar's victories。
He died at fifty for a queen of forty；
I wish their years had been fifteen and twenty；
For then wealth； kingdoms； worlds are but a sport… I
Remember when； though I had no great plenty
Of worlds to lose； yet still； to pay my court； I
Gave what I had… a heart： as the world went； I
Gave what was worth a world； for worlds could never
Restore me those pure feelings； gone forever。
'T was the boy's 'mite；' and； like the 'widow's；' may
Perhaps be weigh'd hereafter； if not now；
But whether such things do or do not weigh；
All who have loved； or love； will still allow
Life has nought like it。 God is love； they say；
And Love 's a god； or was before the brow
Of earth was wrinkled by the sins and tears
Of… but Chronology best knows the years。
We left our hero and third heroine in
A kind of state more awkward than unmon；
For gentlemen must sometimes risk their skin
For that sad tempter； a forbidden woman：
Sultans too much abhor this sort of sin；
And don't agree at all with the wise Roman；
Heroic； stoic Cato； the sententious；
Who lent