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！
O'er the high hill； which looks with pride or scorn
Toward the great city。… Ye who have a spark in
Your veins of Cockney spirit； smile or mourn
According as you take things well or ill；…
Bold Britons； we are now on Shooter's Hill！
The sun went down； the smoke rose up； as from
A half…unquench'd volcano； o'er a space
Which well beseem'd the 'Devil's drawing…room；'
As some have qualified that wondrous place：
But Juan felt； though not approaching home；
As one who； though he were not of the race；
Revered the soil； of those true sons the mother；
Who butcher'd half the earth； and bullied t' other。
A mighty mass of brick； and smoke； and shipping；
Dirty and dusky； but as wide as eye
Could reach； with here and there a sail just skipping
In sight； then lost amidst the forestry
Of masts； a wilderness of steeples peeping
On tiptoe through their sea…coal canopy；
A huge； dun cupola； like a foolscap crown
On a fool's head… and there is London Town！
But Juan saw not this： each wreath of smoke
Appear'd to him but as the magic vapour
Of some alchymic furnace； from whence broke
The wealth of worlds （a wealth of tax and paper）：
The gloomy clouds； which o'er it as a yoke
Are bow'd； and put the sun out like a taper；
Were nothing but the natural atmosphere；
Extremely wholesome； though but rarely clear。
He paused… and so will I； as doth a crew
Before they give their broadside。 By and by；
My gentle countrymen； we will renew
Our old acquaintance； and at least I 'll try
To tell you truths you will not take as true；
Because they are so；… a male Mrs。 Fry；
With a soft besom will I sweep your halls；
And brush a web or two from off the walls。
Oh Mrs。 Fry！ Why go to Newgate？ Why
Preach to poor rogues？ And wherefore not begin
With Carlton； or with other houses？ Try
Your head at harden'd and imperial sin。
To mend the people 's an absurdity；
A jargon； a mere philanthropic din；
Unless you make their betters better：… Fy！
I thought you had more religion； Mrs。 Fry。
Teach them the decencies of good threescore；
Cure them of tours； hussar and highland dresses；
Tell them that youth once gone returns no more；
That hired huzzas redeem no land's distresses；
Tell them Sir William Curtis is a bore；
Too dull even for the dullest of excesses；
The witless Falstaff of a hoary Hal；
A fool whose bells have ceased to ring at all。
Tell them； though it may be perhaps too late；
On life's worn confine； jaded； bloated； sated；
To set up vain pretence of being great；
'T is not so to be good； and be it stated；
The worthiest kings have ever loved least state；
And tell them… But you won't； and I have prated
Just now enough； but by and by I 'll prattle
Like Roland's horn in Roncesvalles' battle。
CANTO THE ELEVENTH
。
WHEN Bishop Berkeley said 'there was no matter；'
And proved it… 't was no matter what he said：
They say his system 't is in vain to batter；
Too subtle for the airiest human head；
And yet who can believe it？ I would shatter
Gladly all matters down to stone or lead；
Or adamant； to find the world a spirit；
And wear my head； denying that I wear it。
What a sublime discovery 't was to make the
Universe universal egotism；
That all 's ideal… all ourselves： I 'll stake the
World （be it what you will） that that 's no schism。
Oh Doubt！… if thou be'st Doubt； for which some take thee；
But which I doubt extremely… thou sole prism
Of the Truth's rays； spoil not my draught of spirit！
Heaven's brandy； though our brain can hardly bear it。
For ever and anon es Indigestion；
（Not the most 'dainty Ariel'） and perplexes
Our soarings with another sort of question：
And that which after all my spirit vexes；
Is； that I find no spot where man can rest eye on；
Without confusion of the sorts and sexes；
Of beings； stars； and this unriddled wonder；
The world； which at the worst 's a glorious blunder…
If it be chance； or if it be according
To the old text； still better：… lest it should
Turn out so； we 'll say nothing 'gainst the wording；
As several people think such hazards rude。
They 're right； our days are too brief for affording
Space to dispute what no one ever could
Decide； and every body one day will
Know very clearly… or at least lie still。
And therefore will I leave off metaphysical
Discussion； which is neither here nor there：
If I agree that what is； is； then this I call
Being quite perspicuous and extremely fair；
The truth is； I 've grown lately rather phthisical：
I don't know what the reason is… the air
Perhaps； but as I suffer from the shocks
Of illness； I grow much more orthodox。
The first attack at once proved the Divinity
（But that I never doubted； nor the Devil）；
The next； the Virgin's mystical virginity；
The third； the usual Origin of Evil；
The fourth at once establish'd the whole Trinity
On so uncontrovertible a level；
That I devoutly wish'd the three were four；
On purpose to believe so much the more。
To our Theme。… The man who has stood on the Acropolis；
And look'd down over Attica； or he
Who has sail'd where picturesque Constantinople is；
Or seen Timbuctoo； or hath taken tea
In small…eyed China's crockery…ware metropolis；
Or sat amidst the bricks of Nineveh；
May not think much of London's first appearance…
But ask him what he thinks of it a year hence？
Don Juan had got out on Shooter's Hill；
Sunset the time； the place the same declivity
Which looks along that vale of good and ill
Where London streets ferment in full activity；
While every thing around was calm and still；
Except the creak of wheels； which on their pivot he
Heard；… and that bee…like； bubbling； busy hum
Of cities； that boil over with their scum：…
I say； Don Juan； wrapt in contemplation；
Walk'd on behind his carriage； o'er the summit；
And lost in wonder of so great a nation；
Gave way to 't； since he could not overe it。
'And here；' he cried； 'is Freedom's chosen station；
Here peals the people's voice； nor can entomb it
Racks； prisons； inquisitions； resurrection
Awaits it； each new meeting or election。
'Here are chaste wives； pure lives； here people pay
But what they please； and if that things be dear；
'T is only that they love to throw away
Their cash； to show how much they have a…year。
Here laws are all inviolate； none lay
Traps for the traveller； every highway 's clear：
Here…' he was interrupted by a knife；
With；… 'Damn your eyes！ your money or your life！'
These freeborn sounds proceeded from four pads
In ambush laid； who had perceived him loiter
Behind his carriage； and； like handy lads；
Had seized the lucky hour to reconnoitre；
In which the heedless gentleman who gads
Upon the road； unless he prove a fighter；
May find himself within that isle of riches
Exposed to lose his life as well as breeches。
Juan； who did not understand a word
Of English； save their shibboleth； 'God damn！'
And even that he had so rarely heard；
He sometimes thought 't was only their 'Salam；'
Or 'God be with you！'… and 't is not absurd
To think so： for half English as I am
（To my misfortune）； never can I say
I heard them wish 'God with you；' save that way；…
Juan yet quickly understood their gesture；
And being somewhat choleric and sudden；