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Juan yet quickly understood their gesture；
And being somewhat choleric and sudden；
Drew forth a pocket pistol from his vesture；
And fired it into one assailant's pudding…
Who fell； as rolls an ox o'er in his pasture；
And roar'd out； as he writhed his native mud in；
Unto his nearest follower or henchman；
'Oh Jack！ I 'm floor'd by that 'ere bloody Frenchman！'
On which Jack and his train set off at speed；
And Juan's suite； late scatter'd at a distance；
Came up； all marvelling at such a deed；
And offering； as usual； late assistance。
Juan； who saw the moon's late minion bleed
As if his veins would pour out his existence；
Stood calling out for bandages and lint；
And wish'd he had been less hasty with his flint。
'Perhaps；' thought he； 'it is the country's wont
To wele foreigners in this way： now
I recollect some innkeepers who don't
Differ； except in robbing with a bow；
In lieu of a bare blade and brazen front。
But what is to be done？ I can't allow
The fellow to lie groaning on the road：
So take him up； I 'll help you with the load。'
But ere they could perform this pious duty；
The dying man cried； 'Hold！ I 've got my gruel！
Oh for a glass of max！ We 've miss'd our booty；
Let me die where I am！' And as the fuel
Of life shrunk in his heart； and thick and sooty
The drops fell from his death…wound； and he drew ill
His breath；… he from his swelling throat untied
A kerchief； crying； 'Give Sal that！'… and died。
The cravat stain'd with bloody drops fell down
Before Don Juan's feet： he could not tell
Exactly why it was before him thrown；
Nor what the meaning of the man's farewell。
Poor Tom was once a kiddy upon town；
A thorough varmint； and a real swell；
Full flash； all fancy； until fairly diddled；
His pockets first and then his body riddled。
Don Juan； having done the best he could
In all the circumstances of the case；
As soon as 'Crowner's quest' allow'd； pursued
His travels to the capital apace；…
Esteeming it a little hard he should
In twelve hours' time； and very little space；
Have been obliged to slay a freeborn native
In self…defence： this made him meditative。
He from the world had cut off a great man；
Who in his time had made heroic bustle。
Who in a row like Tom could lead the van；
Booze in the ken； or at the spellken hustle？
Who queer a flat？ Who （spite of Bow Street's ban）
On the high toby…spice so flash the muzzle？
Who on a lark； with black…eyed Sal （his blowing）；
So prime； so swell； so nutty； and so knowing？
But Tom's no more… and so no more of Tom。
Heroes must die； and by God's blessing 't is
Not long before the most of them go home。
Hail！ Thamis； Hail！ Upon thy verge it is
That Juan's chariot； rolling like a drum
In thunder； holds the way it can't well miss；
Through Kennington and all the other 'tons；'
Which makes us wish ourselves in town at once；…
Through Groves； so call'd as being void of trees
（Like lucus from no light）； through prospects named
Mount Pleasant； as containing nought to please；
Nor much to climb； through little boxes framed
Of bricks； to let the dust in at your ease；
With 'To be let' upon their doors proclaim'd；
Through 'Rows' most modestly call'd 'Paradise；'
Which Eve might quit without much sacrifice；…
Through coaches； drays； choked turnpikes； and a whirl
Of wheels； and roar of voices； and confusion；
Here taverns wooing to a pint of 'purl；'
There mails fast flying off like a delusion；
There barbers' blocks with periwigs in curl
In windows； here the lamplighter's infusion
Slowly distill'd into the glimmering glass
（For in those days we had not got to gas）；…
Through this； and much； and more； is the approach
Of travellers to mighty Babylon：
Whether they e by horse； or chaise； or coach；
With slight exceptions； all the ways seem one。
I could say more； but do not choose to encroach
Upon the Guide…book's privilege。 The sun
Had set some time； and night was on the ridge
Of twilight； as the party cross'd the bridge；…
That 's rather fine。 The gentle sound of Thamis…
Who vindicates a moment； too； his stream；
Though hardly heard through multifarious 'damme's'…
The lamps of Westminster's more regular gleam；
The breadth of pavement； and yon shrine where fame is
A spectral resident… whose pallid beam
In shape of moonshine hovers o'er the pile…
Make this a sacred part of Albion's isle。
The Druids' groves are gone… so much the better：
Stone…Henge is not… but what the devil is it？…
But Bedlam still exists with its sage fetter；
That madmen may not bite you on a visit；
The Bench too seats or suits full many a debtor；
The Mansion House too （though some people quiz it）
To me appears a stiff yet grand erection；
But then the Abbey 's worth the whole collection。
The line of lights； too； up to Charing Cross；
Pall Mall； and so forth； have a coruscation
Like gold as in parison to dross；
Match'd with the Continent's illumination；
Whose cities Night by no means deigns to gloss。
The French were not yet a lamp…lighting nation；
And when they grew so… on their new…found lantern；
Instead of wicks； they made a wicked man turn。
A row of gentlemen along the streets
Suspended may illuminate mankind；
As also bonfires made of country seats；
But the old way is best for the purblind：
The other looks like phosphorus on sheets；
A sort of ignis fatuus to the mind；
Which； though 't is certain to perplex and frighten；
Must burn more mildly ere it can enlighten。
But London 's so well lit； that if Diogenes
Could remence to hunt his honest man；
And found him not amidst the various progenies
Of this enormous city's spreading span；
'T were not for want of lamps to aid his dodging his
Yet undiscover'd treasure。 What I can；
I 've done to find the same throughout life's journey；
But see the world is only one attorney。
Over the stones still rattling up Pall Mall；
Through crowds and carriages； but waxing thinner
As thunder'd knockers broke the long seal'd spell
Of doors 'gainst duns； and to an early dinner
Admitted a small party as night fell；…
Don Juan； our young diplomatic sinner；
Pursued his path； and drove past some hotels；
St。 James's Palace and St。 James's 'Hells。'
They reach'd the hotel： forth stream'd from the front door
A tide of well…clad waiters； and around
The mob stood； and as usual several score
Of those pedestrian Paphians who abound
In decent London when the daylight 's o'er；
modious but immoral； they are found
Useful； like Malthus； in promoting marriage。…
But Juan now is stepping from his carriage
Into one of the sweetest of hotels；
Especially for foreigners… and mostly
For those whom favour or whom fortune swells；
And cannot find a bill's small items costly。
There many an envoy either dwelt or dwells
（The den of many a diplomatic lost lie）；
Until to some conspicuous square they pass；
And blazon o'er the door their names in brass。
Juan； whose was a delicate mission；
Private； though publicly important； bore
No title to point out with due precision
The exact affair on which he was sent o'er。
'T was merely known； that on a secret mission
A foreigner of rank had graced our shore；
Young； handsome； and acplish'd； who was said
（In whispers） to have turn'd his sovereig