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Which rushes to some shore whose shingles check
Its farther course； but must receive its wreck。
Her head hung down； and her long hair in stooping
Conceal'd her features better than a veil；
And one hand o'er the ottoman lay drooping；
White； waxen； and as alabaster pale：
Would that I were a painter！ to be grouping
All that a poet drags into detail
Oh that my words were colours！ but their tints
May serve perhaps as outlines or slight hints。
Baba； who knew by experience when to talk
And when to hold his tongue； now held it till
This passion might blow o'er； nor dared to balk
Gulbeyaz' taciturn or speaking will。
At length she rose up； and began to walk
Slowly along the room； but silent still；
And her brow clear'd； but not her troubled eye；
The wind was down； but still the sea ran high。
She stopp'd； and raised her head to speak… but paused；
And then moved on again with rapid pace；
Then slacken'd it； which is the march most caused
By deep emotion：… you may sometimes trace
A feeling in each footstep； as disclosed
By Sallust in his Catiline； who； chased
By all the demons of all passions； show'd
Their work even by the way in which he trode。
Gulbeyaz stopp'd and beckon'd Baba：… 'Slave！
Bring the two slaves！' she said in a low tone；
But one which Baba did not like to brave；
And yet he shudder'd； and seem'd rather prone
To prove reluctant； and begg'd leave to crave
（Though he well knew the meaning） to be shown
What slaves her highness wish'd to indicate；
For fear of any error； like the late。
'The Georgian and her paramour；' replied
The imperial bride… and added； 'Let the boat
Be ready by the secret portal's side：
You know the rest。' The words stuck in her throat；
Despite her injured love and fiery pride；
And of this Baba willingly took note；
And begg'd by every hair of Mahomet's beard；
She would revoke the order he had heard。
'To hear is to obey；' he said； 'but still；
Sultana； think upon the consequence：
It is not that I shall not all fulfil
Your orders； even in their severest sense；
But such precipitation may end ill；
Even at your own imperative expense：
I do not mean destruction and exposure；
In case of any premature disclosure；
'But your own feelings。 Even should all the rest
Be hidden by the rolling waves； which hide
Already many a once love…beaten breast
Deep in the caverns of the deadly tide…
You love this boyish； new； seraglio guest；
And if this violent remedy be tried…
Excuse my freedom； when I here assure you；
That killing him is not the way to cure you。'
'What dost thou know of love or feeling？… Wretch！
Begone！' she cried； with kindling eyes… 'and do
My bidding！' Baba vanish'd； for to stretch
His own remonstrance further he well knew
Might end in acting as his own 'Jack Ketch；'
And though he wish'd extremely to get through
This awkward business without harm to others；
He still preferr'd his own neck to another's。
Away he went then upon his mission；
Growling and grumbling in good Turkish phrase
Against all women of whate'er condition；
Especially sultanas and their ways；
Their obstinacy； pride； and indecision；
Their never knowing their own mind two days；
The trouble that they gave； their immorality；
Which made him daily bless his own neutrality。
And then he call'd his brethren to his aid；
And sent one on a summons to the pair；
That they must instantly be well array'd；
And above all be b'd even to a hair；
And brought before the empress； who had made
Inquiries after them with kindest care：
At which Dudu look'd strange； and Juan silly；
But go they must at once； and will I… nill I。
And here I leave them at their preparation
For the imperial presence； wherein whether
Gulbeyaz show'd them both miseration；
Or got rid of the parties altogether；
Like other angry ladies of her nation；…
Are things the turning of a hair or feather
May settle； but far be 't from me to anticipate
In what way feminine caprice may dissipate。
I leave them for the present with good wishes；
Though doubts of their well doing； to arrange
Another part of history； for the dishes
Of this our banquet we must sometimes change；
And trusting Juan may escape the fishes；
Although his situation now seems strange
And scarce secure； as such digressions are fair；
The Muse will take a little touch at warfare。
CANTO THE SEVENTH
。
CANTO THE EIGHTH
。
OH blood and thunder！ and oh blood and wounds！
These are but vulgar oaths； as you may deem；
Too gentle reader！ and most shocking sounds：
And so they are； yet thus is Glory's dream
Unriddled； and as my true Muse expounds
At present such things； since they are her theme；
So be they her inspirers！ Call them Mars；
Bellona； what you will… they mean but wars。
All was prepared… the fire； the sword； the men
To wield them in their terrible array。
The army； like a lion from his den；
March'd forth with nerve and sinews bent to slay；…
A human Hydra； issuing from its fen
To breathe destruction on its winding way；
Whose heads were heroes； which cut off in vain
Immediately in others grew again。
History can only take things in the gross；
But could we know them in detail； perchance
In balancing the profit and the loss；
War's merit it by no means might enhance；
To waste so much gold for a little dross；
As hath been done； mere conquest to advance。
The drying up a single tear has more
Of honest fame； than shedding seas of gore。
And why？… because it brings self…approbation；
Whereas the other； after all its glare；
Shouts； bridges； arches； pensions from a nation；
Which （it may be） has not much left to spare；
A higher title； or a loftier station；
Though they may make Corruption gape or stare；
Yet； in the end； except in Freedom's battles；
Are nothing but a child of Murder's rattles。
And such they are… and such they will be found：
Not so Leonidas and Washington；
Whose every battle…field is holy ground；
Which breathes of nations saved； not worlds undone。
How sweetly on the ear such echoes sound！
While the mere victor's may appal or stun
The servile and the vain； such names will be
A watchword till the future shall be free。
The night was dark； and the thick mist allow'd
Nought to be seen save the artillery's flame；
Which arch'd the horizon like a fiery cloud；
And in the Danube's waters shone the same…
A mirror'd hell！ the volleying roar； and loud
Long booming of each peal on peal； o'ercame
The ear far more than thunder； for Heaven's flashes
Spare； or smite rarely… man's make millions ashes！
The column order'd on the assault scarce pass'd
Beyond the Russian batteries a few toises；
When up the bristling Moslem rose at last；
Answering the Christian thunders with like voices：
Then one vast fire； air； earth； and stream embraced；
Which rock'd as 't were beneath the mighty noises；
While the whole rampart blazed like Etna； when
The restless Titan hiccups in his den。
And one enormous shout of 'Allah！' rose
In the same moment； loud as even the roar
Of war's most mortal engines； to their foes
Hurling defiance： city； stream； and shore
Resounded 'Allah！' and the clouds which close
With thick'ning canopy the conflict o'er；
Vibr