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Oh； enviable Briareus！ with thy hands
And heads； if thou hadst all things multiplied
In such proportion！… But my Muse withstands
The giant thought of being a Titan's bride；
Or travelling in Patagonian lands；
So let us back to Lilliput； and guide
Our hero through the labyrinth of love
In which we left him several lines above。
He went forth with the lovely Odalisques；
At the given signal join'd to their array；
And though he certainly ran many risks；
Yet he could not at times keep； by the way
（Although the consequences of such frisks
Are worse than the worst damages men pay
In moral England； where the thing 's a tax）；
From ogling all their charms from breasts to backs。
Still he forgot not his disguise：… along
The galleries from room to room they walk'd；
A virgin…like and edifying throng；
By eunuchs flank'd； while at their head there stalk'd
A dame who kept up discipline among
The female ranks； so that none stirr'd or talk'd
Without her sanction on their she…parades：
Her title was 'the Mother of the Maids。'
Whether she was a 'mother；' I know not；
Or whether they were 'maids' who call'd her mother；
But this is her seraglio title； got
I know not how； but good as any other；
So Cantemir can tell you； or De Tott：
Her office was to keep aloof or smother
All bad propensities in fifteen hundred
Young women； and correct them when they blunder'd。
A goodly sinecure； no doubt！ but made
More easy by the absence of all men…
Except his majesty； who； with her aid；
And guards； and bolts； and walls； and now and then
A slight example； just to cast a shade
Along the rest； contrived to keep this den
Of beauties cool as an Italian convent；
Where all the passions have； alas！ but one vent。
And what is that？ Devotion； doubtless… how
Could you ask such a question？… but we will
Continue。 As I said； this goodly row
Of ladies of all countries at the will
Of one good man； with stately march and slow；
Like water…lilies floating down a rill…
Or rather lake； for rills do not run slowly…
Paced on most maiden…like and melancholy。
But when they reach'd their own apartments； there；
Like birds； or boys； or bedlamites broke loose；
Waves at spring…tide； or women anywhere
When freed from bonds （which are of no great use
After all）； or like Irish at a fair；
Their guards being gone； and as it were a truce
Establish'd between them and bondage； they
Began to sing； dance； chatter； smile； and play。
Their talk； of course； ran most on the new er；
Her shape； her hair； her air； her everything：
Some thought her dress did not so much bee her；
Or wonder'd at her ears without a ring；
Some said her years were getting nigh their summer；
Others contended they were but in spring；
Some thought her rather masculine in height；
While others wish'd that she had been so quite。
But no one doubted on the whole； that she
Was what her dress bespoke； a damsel fair；
And fresh； and 'beautiful exceedingly；'
Who with the brightest Georgians might pare：
They wonder'd how Gulbeyaz； too； could be
So silly as to buy slaves who might share
（If that his Highness wearied of his bride）
Her throne and power； and every thing beside。
But what was strangest in this virgin crew；
Although her beauty was enough to vex；
After the first investigating view；
They all found out as few； or fewer； specks
In the fair form of their panion new；
Than is the custom of the gentle sex；
When they survey； with Christian eyes or Heathen；
In a new face 'the ugliest creature breathing。'
And yet they had their little jealousies；
Like all the rest； but upon this occasion；
Whether there are such things as sympathies
Without our knowledge or our approbation；
Although they could not see through his disguise；
All felt a soft kind of concatenation；
Like magnetism； or devilism； or what
You please… we will not quarrel about that：
But certain 't is they all felt for their new
panion something newer still； as 't were
A sentimental friendship through and through；
Extremely pure； which made them all concur
In wishing her their sister； save a few
Who wish'd they had a brother just like her；
Whom； if they were at home in sweet Circassia；
They would prefer to Padisha or Pacha。
Of those who had most genius for this sort
Of sentimental friendship； there were three；
Lolah； Katinka； and Dudu； in short
（To save description）； fair as fair can be
Were they； according to the best report；
Though differing in stature and degree；
And clime and time； and country and plexion；
They all alike admired their new connection。
Lolah was dusk as India and as warm；
Katinka was a Georgian； white and red；
With great blue eyes； a lovely hand and arm；
And feet so small they scarce seem'd made to tread；
But rather skim the earth； while Dudu's form
Look'd more adapted to be put to bed；
Being somewhat large； and languishing； and lazy；
Yet of a beauty that would drive you crazy。
A kind of sleepy Venus seem'd Dudu；
Yet very fit to 'murder sleep' in those
Who gazed upon her cheek's transcendent hue；
Her Attic forehead； and her Phidian nose：
Few angles were there in her form； 't is true；
Thinner she might have been； and yet scarce lose；
Yet； after all； 't would puzzle to say where
It would not spoil some separate charm to pare。
She was not violently lively； but
Stole on your spirit like a May…day breaking；
Her eyes were not too sparkling； yet； half…shut；
They put beholders in a tender taking；
She look'd （this simile 's quite new） just cut
From marble； like Pygmalion's statue waking；
The mortal and the marble still at strife；
And timidly expanding into life。
Lolah demanded the new damsel's name…
'Juanna。'… Well； a pretty name enough。
Katinka ask'd her also whence she came…
'From Spain。'… 'But where is Spain？'… 'Don't ask such stuff；
Nor show your Georgian ignorance… for shame！'
Said Lolah； with an accent rather rough；
To poor Katinka： 'Spain 's an island near
Morocco； betwixt Egypt and Tangier。'
Dudu said nothing； but sat down beside
Juanna； playing with her veil or hair；
And looking at her steadfastly； she sigh'd；
As if she pitied her for being there；
A pretty stranger without friend or guide；
And all abash'd； too； at the general stare
Which weles hapless strangers in all places；
With kind remarks upon their mien and faces。
But here the Mother of the Maids drew near；
With； 'Ladies； it is time to go to rest。
I 'm puzzled what to do with you； my dear；'
She added to Juanna； their new guest：
'Your ing has been unexpected here；
And every couch is occupied； you had best
Partake of mine； but by to…morrow early
We will have all things settled for you fairly。'
Here Lolah interposed… 'Mamma； you know
You don't sleep soundly； and I cannot bear
That anybody should disturb you so；
I 'll take Juanna； we 're a slenderer pair
Than you would make the half of；… don't say no；
And I of your young charge will take due care。'
But here Katinka interfered； and said；
'She also had passion and a bed。
'Besides； I hate to sleep alone；' quoth she。
The matron frown'd： 'Why so？'… 'For fear of ghosts；'
Replied Katinka； 'I am sure I see
A phantom upon each of the four posts；
And then I have the worst dreams that can be