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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；
Of Guebres； Giaours； and Ginns； and Gouls in hosts。'
The dame replied； 'Between your dreams and you；
I fear Juanna's dreams would be but few。
'You； Lolah； must continue still to lie
Alone； for reasons which don't matter； you
The same； Katinka； until by and by；
And I shall place Juanna with Dudu；
Who 's quiet； inoffensive； silent； shy；
And will not toss and chatter the night through。
What say you； child？'… Dudu said nothing； as
Her talents were of the more silent class；
But she rose up； and kiss'd the matron's brow
Between the eyes； and Lolah on both cheeks；
Katinka； too； and with a gentle bow
（Curt'sies are neither used by Turks nor Greeks）
She took Juanna by the hand to show
Their place of rest； and left to both their piques；
The others pouting at the matron's preference
Of Dudu； though they held their tongues from deference。
It was a spacious chamber （Oda is
The Turkish title）； and ranged round the wall
Were couches； toilets… and much more than this
I might describe； as I have seen it all；
But it suffices… little was amiss；
'T was on the whole a nobly furnish'd hall；
With all things ladies want； save one or two；
And even those were nearer than they knew。
Dudu； as has been said； was a sweet creature；
Not very dashing； but extremely winning；
With the most regulated charms of feature；
Which painters cannot catch like faces sinning
Against proportion… the wild strokes of nature
Which they hit off at once in the beginning；
Full of expression； right or wrong； that strike；
And pleasing or unpleasing； still are like。
But she was a soft landscape of mild earth；
Where all was harmony； and calm； and quiet；
Luxuriant； budding； cheerful without mirth；
Which； if not happiness； is much more nigh it
Than are your mighty passions and so forth；
Which some call 'the sublime：' I wish they 'd try it：
I 've seen your stormy seas and stormy women；
And pity lovers rather more than seamen。
But she was pensive more than melancholy；
And serious more than pensive； and serene；
It may be； more than either… not unholy
Her thoughts； at least till now； appear to have been。
The strangest thing was； beauteous； she was wholly
Unconscious； albeit turn'd of quick seventeen；
That she was fair； or dark； or short； or tall；
She never thought about herself at all。
And therefore was she kind and gentle as
The Age of Gold （when gold was yet unknown；
By which its nomenclature came to pass；
Thus most appropriately has been shown
'Lucus a non lucendo；' not what was；
But what was not； a sort of style that 's grown
Extremely mon in this age； whose metal
The devil may depose； but never settle：
I think it may be of 'Corinthian Brass；'
Which was a mixture of all metals； but
The brazen uppermost）。 Kind reader！ pass
This long parenthesis： I could not shut
It sooner for the soul of me； and class
My faults even with your own！ which meaneth； Put
A kind construction upon them and me：
But that you won't… then don't… I am not less free。
'T is time we should return to plain narration；
And thus my narrative proceeds：… Dudu；
With every kindness short of ostentation；
Show'd Juan； or Juanna； through and through
This labyrinth of females； and each station
Described… what 's strange… in words extremely few：
I have but one simile； and that 's a blunder；
For wordless woman； which is silent thunder。
And next she gave her （I say her； because
The gender still was epicene； at least
In outward show； which is a saving clause）
An outline of the customs of the East；
With all their chaste integrity of laws；
By which the more a haram is increased；
The stricter doubtless grow the vestal duties
Of any supernumerary beauties。
And then she gave Juanna a chaste kiss：
Dudu was fond of kissing… which I 'm sure
That nobody can ever take amiss；
Because 't is pleasant； so that it be pure；
And between females means no more than this…
That they have nothing better near； or newer。
'Kiss' rhymes to 'bliss' in fact as well as verse…
I wish it never led to something worse。
In perfect innocence she then unmade
Her toilet； which cost little； for she was
A child of Nature； carelessly array'd：
If fond of a chance ogle at her glass；
'T was like the fawn； which； in the lake display'd；
Beholds her own shy； shadowy image pass；
When first she starts； and then returns to peep；
Admiring this new native of the deep。
And one by one her articles of dress
Were laid aside； but not before she offer'd
Her aid to fair Juanna； whose excess
Of modesty declined the assistance proffer'd：
Which pass'd well off… as she could do no less；
Though by this politesse she rather suffer'd；
Pricking her fingers with those cursed pins；
Which surely were invented for our sins；…
Making a woman like a porcupine；
Not to be rashly touch'd。 But still more dread；
Oh ye！ whose fate it is； as once 't was mine；
In early youth； to turn a lady's maid；…
I did my very boyish best to shine
In tricking her out for a masquerade；
The pins were placed sufficiently； but not
Stuck all exactly in the proper spot。
But these are foolish things to all the wise；
And I love wisdom more than she loves me；
My tendency is to philosophise
On most things； from a tyrant to a tree；
But still the spouseless virgin Knowledge flies。
What are we？ and whence came we？ what shall be
Our ultimate existence？ what 's our present？
Are questions answerless； and yet incessant。
There was deep silence in the chamber： dim
And distant from each other burn'd the lights；
And slumber hover'd o'er each lovely limb
Of the fair occupants： if there be sprites；
They should have walk'd there in their sprightliest trim；
By way of change from their sepulchral sites；
And shown themselves as ghosts of better taste
Than haunting some old ruin or wild waste。
Many and beautiful lay those around；
Like flowers of different hue； and dime； and root；
In some exotic garden sometimes found；
With cost； and care； and warmth induced to shoot。
One with her auburn tresses lightly bound；
And fair brows gently drooping； as the fruit
Nods from the tree； was slumbering with soft breath；
And lips apart； which show'd the pearls beneath。
One with her flush'd cheek laid on her white arm；
And raven ringlets gather'd in dark crowd
Above her brow； lay dreaming soft and warm；
And smiling through her dream； as through a cloud
The moon breaks； half unveil'd each further charm；
As； slightly stirring in her snowy shroud；
Her beauties seized the unconscious hour of night
All bashfully to struggle into light。
This is no bull； although it sounds so； for
'T was night； but there were lamps； as hath been said。
A third's all pallid aspect offer'd more
The traits of sleeping sorrow； and betray'd
Through the heaved breast the dream of some far shore
Beloved and deplored； while slowly stray'd
（As night…dew； on a cypress glittering； tinges
The black bough） tear…drops through her eyes' dark fringes。
A fourth as marble； statue…like and still；
Lay in a breathless； hush'd； and stony sleep；
White； cold； and pure； as looks a frozen rill；
Or the snow min