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Don Juan grew a very polish'd Russian…
How we won't mention； why we need not say：
Few youthful minds can stand the strong concussion
Of any slight temptation in their way；
But his just now were spread as is a cushion
Smooth'd for a monarch's seat of honour； gay
Damsels； and dances； revels； ready money；
Made ice seem paradise； and winter sunny。
The favour of the empress was agreeable；
And though the duty wax'd a little hard；
Young people at his time of life should be able
To e off handsomely in that regard。
He was now growing up like a green tree； able
For love； war； or ambition； which reward
Their luckier votaries； till old age's tedium
Make some prefer the circulating medium。
About this time； as might have been anticipated；
Seduced by youth and dangerous examples；
Don Juan grew； I fear； a little dissipated；
Which is a sad thing； and not only tramples
On our fresh feelings； but… as being participated
With all kinds of incorrigible samples
Of frail humanity… must make us selfish；
And shut our souls up in us like a shell…fish。
This we pass over。 We will also pass
The usual progress of intrigues between
Unequal matches； such as are； alas！
A young lieutenant's with a not old queen；
But one who is not so youthful as she was
In all the royalty of sweet seventeen。
Sovereigns may sway materials； but not matter；
And Death； the sovereign's sovereign； though the great
Gracchus of all mortality； who levels
With his Agrarian laws the high estate
Of him who feasts； and fights； and roars； and revels；
To one small grass…grown patch （which must await
Corruption for its crop） with the poor devils
Who never had a foot of land till now；…
Death 's a reformer； all men must allow。
He lived （not Death； but Juan） in a hurry
Of waste； and haste； and glare； and gloss； and glitter；
In this gay clime of bear…skins black and furry…
Which （though I hate to say a thing that 's bitter）
Peep out sometimes； when things are in a flurry；
Through all the 'purple and fine linen；' fitter
For Babylon's than Russia's royal harlot…
And neutralize her outward show of scarlet。
And this same state we won't describe： we would
Perhaps from hearsay； or from recollection；
But getting nigh grim Dante's 'obscure wood；'
That horrid equinox； that hateful section
Of human years； that half…way house； that rude
Hut； whence wise travellers drive with circumspection
Life's sad post…horses o'er the dreary frontier
Of age； and looking back to youth； give one tear；…
I won't describe；… that is； if I can help
Description； and I won't reflect；… that is；
If I can stave off thought； which… as a whelp
Clings to its teat… sticks to me through the abyss
Of this odd labyrinth； or as the kelp
Holds by the rock； or as a lover's kiss
Drains its first draught of lips：… but； as I said；
I won't philosophise； and will be read。
Juan； instead of courting courts； was courted；…
A thing which happens rarely： this he owed
Much to his youth； and much to his reported
Valour； much also to the blood he show'd；
Like a race…horse； much to each dress he sported；
Which set the beauty off in which he glow'd；
As purple clouds befringe the sun； but most
He owed to an old woman and his post。
He wrote to Spain：… and all his near relations；
Perceiving fie was in a handsome way
Of getting on himself； and finding stations
For cousins also； answer'd the same day。
Several prepared themselves for emigrations；
And eating ices； were o'erheard to say；
That with the addition of a slight pelisse；
Madrid's and Moscow's climes were of a piece。
His mother； Donna Inez； finding； too；
That in the lieu of drawing on his banker；
Where his assets were waxing rather few；
He had brought his spending to a handsome anchor；…
Replied； 'that she was glad to see him through
Those pleasures after which wild youth will hanker；
As the sole sign of man's being in his senses
Is； learning to reduce his past expenses。
'She also remended him to God；
And no less to God's Son； as well as Mother；
Warn'd him against Greek worship； which looks odd
In Catholic eyes； but told him； too； to smother
Outward dislike； which don't look well abroad；
Inform'd him that he had a little brother
Born in a second wedlock； and above
All； praised the empress's maternal love。
'She could not too much give her approbation
Unto an empress； who preferr'd young men
Whose age； and what was better still； whose nation
And climate； stopp'd all scandal （now and then）：…
At home it might have given her some vexation；
But where thermometers sunk down to ten；
Or five； or one； or zero； she could never
Believe that virtue thaw'd before the river。'
Oh for a forty…parson power to chant
Thy praise； Hypocrisy！ Oh for a hymn
Loud as the virtues thou dost loudly vaunt；
Not practise！ Oh for trumps of cherubim！
Or the ear…trumpet of my good old aunt；
Who； though her spectacles at last grew dim；
Drew quiet consolation through its hint；
When she no more could read the pious print。
She was no hypocrite at least； poor soul；
But went to heaven in as sincere a way
As any body on the elected roll；
Which portions out upon the judgment day
Heaven's freeholds； in a sort of doomsday scroll；
Such as the conqueror William did repay
His knights with； lotting others' properties
Into some sixty thousand new knights' fees。
I can't plain； whose ancestors are there；
Erneis； Radulphus… eight…and…forty manors
（If that my memory doth not greatly err）
Were their reward for following Billy's banners：
And though I can't help thinking 't was scarce fair
To strip the Saxons of their hydes； like tanners；
Yet as they founded churches with the produce；
You 'll deem； no doubt； they put it to a good use。
The gentle Juan flourish'd； though at times
He felt like other plants called sensitive；
Which shrink from touch； as monarchs do from rhymes；
Save such as Southey can afford to give。
Perhaps he long'd in bitter frosts for climes
In which the Neva's ice would cease to live
Before May…day： perhaps； despite his duty；
In royalty's vast arms he sigh d for beauty：
Perhaps… but； sans perhaps； we need not seek
For causes young or old： the canker…worm
Will feed upon the fairest； freshest cheek；
As well as further drain the wither'd form：
Care； like a housekeeper； brings every week
His bills in； and however we may storm；
They must be paid： though six days smoothly run；
The seventh will bring blue devils or a dun。
I don't know how it was； but he grew sick：
The empress was alarm'd； and her physician
（The same who physick'd Peter） found the tick
Of his fierce pulse betoken a condition
Which augur'd of the dead； however quick
Itself； and show'd a feverish disposition；
At which the whole court was extremely troubled；
The sovereign shock'd； and all his medicines doubled。
Low were the whispers； manifold the rumours：
Some said he had been poison'd by Potemkin；
Others talk'd learnedly of certain tumours；
Exhaustion； or disorders of the same kin；
Some said 't was a concoction of the humours；
Which with the blood too readily will claim kin；
Others again were ready to maintain；
''T was only the fatigue of last campaign。'
But here is one prescription out of many：