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The Russian army upon this occasion；
A virtue much in fashion now…a…days；
And therefore worthy of memoration：
The topic 's tender； so shall be my phrase…
Perhaps the season's chill； and their long station
In winter's depth； or want of rest and victual；
Had made them chaste；… they ravish'd very little。
Much did they slay； more plunder； and no less
Might here and there occur some violation
In the other line；… but not to such excess
As when the French； that dissipated nation；
Take towns by storm： no causes can I guess；
Except cold weather and miseration；
But all the ladies； save some twenty score；
Were almost as much virgins as before。
Some odd mistakes； too； happen'd in the dark；
Which show'd a want of lanterns； or of taste…
Indeed the smoke was such they scarce could mark
Their friends from foes；… besides such things from haste
Occur； though rarely； when there is a spark
Of light to save the venerably chaste：
But six old damsels； each of seventy years；
Were all deflower'd by different grenadiers。
But on the whole their continence was great；
So that some disappointment there ensued
To those who had felt the inconvenient state
Of 'single blessedness；' and thought it good
（Since it was not their fault； but only fate；
To bear these crosses） for each waning prude
To make a Roman sort of Sabine wedding；
Without the expense and the suspense of bedding。
Some voices of the buxom middle…aged
Were also heard to wonder in the din
（Widows of forty were these birds long caged）
'Wherefore the ravishing did not begin！'
But while the thirst for gore and plunder raged；
There was small leisure for superfluous sin；
But whether they escaped or no； lies hid
In darkness… I can only hope they did。
Suwarrow now was conqueror… a match
For Timour or for Zinghis in his trade。
While mosques and streets； beneath his eyes； like thatch
Blazed； and the cannon's roar was scarce allay'd；
With bloody hands he wrote his first despatch；
And here exactly follows what he said：…
'Glory to God and to the Empress！' （Powers
Eternal！ such names mingled！） 'Ismail 's ours。'
Methinks these are the most tremendous words；
Since 'Mene； Mene； Tekel；' and 'Upharsin；'
Which hands or pens have ever traced of swords。
Heaven help me！ I 'm but little of a parson：
What Daniel read was short…hand of the Lord's；
Severe； sublime； the prophet wrote no farce on
The fate of nations；… but this Russ so witty
Could rhyme； like Nero； o'er a burning city。
He wrote this Polar melody； and set it；
Duly acpanied by shrieks and groans；
Which few will sing； I trust； but none forget it…
For I will teach； if possible； the stones
To rise against earth's tyrants。 Never let it
Be said that we still truckle unto thrones；…
But ye… our children's children！ think how we
Show'd what things were before the world was free！
That hour is not for us； but 't is for you：
And as； in the great joy of your millennium；
You hardly will believe such things were true
As now occur； I thought that I would pen you 'em；
But may their very memory perish too！…
Yet if perchance remember'd； still disdain you 'em
More than you scorn the savages of yore；
Who painted their bare limbs； but not with gore。
And when you hear historians talk of thrones；
And those that sate upon them； let it be
As we now gaze upon the mammoth's bones；
'And wonder what old world such things could see；
Or hieroglyphics on Egyptian stones；
The pleasant riddles of futurity…
Guessing at what shall happily be hid；
As the real purpose of a pyramid。
Reader！ I have kept my word；… at least so far
As the first Canto promised。 You have now
Had sketches of love； tempest； travel； war…
All very accurate； you must allow；
And epic； if plain truth should prove no bar；
For I have drawn much less with a long bow
Than my forerunners。 Carelessly I sing；
But Phoebus lends me now and then a string；
With which I still can harp； and carp； and fiddle。
What farther hath befallen or may befall
The hero of this grand poetic riddle；
I by and by may tell you； if at all：
But now I choose to break off in the middle；
Worn out with battering Ismail's stubborn wall；
While Juan is sent off with the despatch；
For which all Petersburgh is on the watch。
This special honour was conferr'd； because
He had behaved with courage and humanity…
Which last men like； when they have time to pause
From their ferocities produced by vanity。
His little captive gain'd him some applause
For saving her amidst the wild insanity
Of carnage；… and I think he was more glad in her
Safety； than his new order of St。 Vladimir。
The Moslem orphan went with her protector；
For she was homeless； houseless； helpless； all
Her friends； like the sad family of Hector；
Had perish'd in the field or by the wall：
Her very place of birth was but a spectre
Of what it had been； there the Muezzin's cal
To prayer was heard no more！… and Juan wept；
And made a vow to shield her； which he kept。
CANTO THE NINTH
。
OH； Wellington！ （or 'Villainton'… for Fame
Sounds the heroic syllables both ways；
France could not even conquer your great name；
But punn'd it down to this facetious phrase…
Beating or beaten she will laugh the same）；
You have obtain'd great pensions and much praise：
Glory like yours should any dare gainsay；
Humanity would rise； and thunder 'Nay！'
I don't think that you used Kinnaird quite well
In Marinet's affair… in fact； 't was shabby；
And like some other things won't do to tell
Upon your tomb in Westminster's old abbey。
Upon the rest 't is not worth while to dwell；
Such tales being for the tea…hours of some tabby；
But though your years as man tend fast to zero；
In fact your grace is still but a young hero。
Though Britain owes （and pays you too） so much；
Yet Europe doubtless owes you greatly more：
You have repair'd Legitimacy's crutch；
A prop not quite so certain as before：
The Spanish； and the French； as well as Dutch；
Have seen； and felt； how strongly you restore；
And Waterloo has made the world your debtor
（I wish your bards would sing it rather better）。
You are 'the best of cut…throats：'… do not start；
The phrase is Shakspeare's； and not misapplied：
War 's a brain…spattering； windpipe…slitting art；
Unless her cause by right be sanctified。
If you have acted once a generous part；
The world； not the world's masters； will decide；
And I shall be delighted to learn who；
Save you and yours； have gain'd by Waterloo？
I am no flatterer… you 've supp'd full of flattery：
They say you like it too… 't is no great wonder。
He whose whole life has been assault and battery；
At last may get a little tired of thunder；
And swallowing eulogy much more than satire； he
May like being praised for every lucky blunder；
Call'd 'Saviour of the Nations'… not yet saved；
And 'Europe's Liberator'… still enslaved。
I 've done。 Now go and dine from off the plate
Presented by the Prince of the Brazils；
And send the sentinel before your gate
A slice or two from your luxurious meals：
He fought； but has not fed so well of late。
Some hunger； too； they say the people feels：…
There is no doubt that you deserve your ration；
But pray give back a little to the n