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！
Who neither wishes to be bound nor bind；
May still expatiate freely； as will I；
Nor give my voice to slavery's jackal cry。
That 's an appropriate simile； that jackal；…
I 've heard them in the Ephesian ruins howl
By night； as do that mercenary pack all；
Power's base purveyors； who for pickings prowl；
And scent the prey their masters would attack all。
However； the poor jackals are less foul
（As being the brave lions' keen providers）
Than human insects； catering for spiders。
Raise but an arm！ 't will brush their web away；
And without that； their poison and their claws
Are useless。 Mind； good people！ what I say
（Or rather peoples）… go on without pause！
The web of these tarantulas each day
Increases； till you shall make mon cause：
None； save the Spanish fly and Attic bee；
As yet are strongly stinging to be free。
Don Juan； who had shone in the late slaughter；
Was left upon his way with the despatch；
Where blood was talk'd of as we would of water；
And carcasses that lay as thick as thatch
O'er silenced cities； merely served to flatter
Fair Catherine's pastime… who look'd on the match
Between these nations as a main of cocks；
Wherein she liked her own to stand like rocks。
And there in a kibitka he roll'd on
（A cursed sort of carriage without springs；
Which on rough roads leaves scarcely a whole bone）；
Pondering on glory； chivalry； and kings；
And orders； and on all that he had done…
And wishing that post…horses had the wings
Of Pegasus； or at the least post…chaises
Had feathers； when a traveller on deep ways is。
At every jolt… and they were many… still
He turn'd his eyes upon his little charge；
As if he wish'd that she should fare less ill
Than he； in these sad highways left at large
To ruts； and flints； and lovely Nature's skill；
Who is no paviour； nor admits a barge
On her canals； where God takes sea and land；
Fishery and farm； both into his own hand。
At least he pays no rent； and has best right
To be the first of what we used to call
'Gentlemen farmer'… a race worn out quite；
Since lately there have been no rents at all；
And 'gentlemen' are in a piteous plight；
And 'farmers' can't raise Ceres from her fall：
She fell with Buonaparte… What strange thoughts
Arise； when we see emperors fall with oats！
But Juan turn'd his eyes on the sweet child
Whom he had saved from slaughter… what a trophy
Oh！ ye who build up monuments； defiled
With gore； like Nadir Shah； that costive sophy；
Who； after leaving Hindostan a wild；
And scarce to the Mogul a cup of coffee
To soothe his woes withal； was slain； the sinner！
Because he could no more digest his dinner；…
Oh ye！ or we！ or he！ or she！ reflect；
That one life saved； especially if young
Or pretty； is a thing to recollect
Far sweeter than the greenest laurels sprung
From the manure of human clay； though deck'd
With all the praises ever said or sung：
Though hymn'd by every harp； unless within
Your heart joins chorus； Fame is but a din。
Oh！ ye great authors luminous； voluminous！
Ye twice ten hundred thousand daily scribes！
Whose pamphlets； volumes； newspapers； illumine us！
Whether you 're paid by government in bribes；
To prove the public debt is not consuming us…
Or； roughly treading on the 'courtier's kibes'
With clownish heel； your popular circulation
Feeds you by printing half the realm's starvation；…
Oh； ye great authors！… 'Apropos des bottes；'…
I have forgotten what I meant to say；
As sometimes have been greater sages' lots；
'T was something calculated to allay
All wrath in barracks； palaces； or cots：
Certes it would have been but thrown away；
And that 's one fort for my lost advice；
Although no doubt it was beyond all price。
But let it go：… it will one day be found
With other relics of 'a former world；'
When this world shall be former； underground；
Thrown topsy…turvy； twisted； crisp'd； and curl'd；
Baked； fried； or burnt； turn'd inside…out； or drown'd；
Like all the worlds before； which have been hurl'd
First out of； and then back again to chaos；
The superstratum which will overlay us。
So Cuvier says；… and then shall e again
Unto the new creation； rising out
From our old crash； some mystic； ancient strain
Of things destroy'd and left in airy doubt：
Like to the notions we now entertain
Of Titans； giants； fellows of about
Some hundred feet in height； not to say miles；
And mammoths； and your winged crocodiles。
Think if then George the Fourth should be dug up！
How the new worldlings of the then new East
Will wonder where such animals could sup！
（For they themselves will be but of the least：
Even worlds miscarry； when too oft they pup；
And every new creation hath decreased
In size； from overworking the material…
Men are but maggots of some huge Earth's burial。）
How will… to these young people； just thrust out
From some fresh Paradise； and set to plough；
And dig； and sweat； and turn themselves about；
And plant； and reap； and spin； and grind； and sow；
Till all the arts at length are brought about；
Especially of war and taxing；… how；
I say； will these great relics； when they see 'em；
Look like the monsters of a new museum？
But I am apt to grow too metaphysical：
'The time is out of joint；'… and so am I；
I quite forget this poem 's merely quizzical；
And deviate into matters rather dry。
I ne'er decide what I shall say； and this I cal
Much too poetical： men should know why
They write； and for what end； but； note or text；
I never know the word which will e next。
So on I ramble； now and then narrating；
Now pondering：… it is time we should narrate。
I left Don Juan with his horses baiting…
Now we 'll get o'er the ground at a great rate。
I shall not be particular in stating
His journey； we 've so many tours of late：
Suppose him then at Petersburgh； suppose
That pleasant capital of painted snows；
Suppose him in a handsome uniform；…
A scarlet coat； black facings； a long plume；
Waving； like sails new shiver'd in a storm；
Over a cock'd hat in a crowded room；
And brilliant breeches； bright as a Cairn Gorme；
Of yellow casimere we may presume；
White stocking drawn uncurdled as new milk
O'er limbs whose symmetry set off the silk；
Suppose him sword by side； and hat in hand；
Made up by youth； fame； and an army tailor…
That great enchanter； at whose rod's mand
Beauty springs forth； and Nature's self turns paler；
Seeing how Art can make her work more grand
（When she don't pin men's limbs in like a gaoler）；…
Behold him placed as if upon a pillar！ He
Seems Love turn'd a lieutenant of artillery：…
His bandage slipp'd down into a cravat；
His wings subdued to epaulettes； his quiver
Shrunk to a scabbard； with his arrows at
His side as a small sword； but sharp as ever；
His bow converted into a cock'd hat；
But still so like； that Psyche were more clever
Than some wives （who make blunders no less stupid）；
If she had not mistaken him for Cupid。
The courtiers stared； the ladies whisper'd； and
The empress smiled： the reigning favourite frown'd…
I quite forget which of them was in hand
Just then； as they are rather numerous found；
Who took by turns that difficult mand
Since first her majesty was singly crown'd：
But they were mostly nervous six…foot