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To save his fame with each acplish'd belle；
Who still regretted that he did not rhyme。
There wanted but this requisite to swell
His qualities （with them） into sublime：
Lady Fitz…Frisky； and Miss Maevia Mannish；
Both long'd extremely to be sung in Spanish。
However； he did pretty well； and was
Admitted as an aspirant to all
The coteries； and； as in Banquo's glass；
At great assemblies or in parties small；
He saw ten thousand living authors pass；
That being about their average numeral；
Also the eighty 'greatest living poets；'
As every paltry magazine can show its。
In twice five years the 'greatest living poet；'
Like to the champion in the fisty ring；
Is call'd on to support his claim； or show it；
Although 't is an imaginary thing。
Even I… albeit I 'm sure I did not know it；
Nor sought of foolscap subjects to be king…
Was reckon'd a considerable time；
The grand Napoleon of the realms of rhyme。
But Juan was my Moscow； and Faliero
My Leipsic； and my Mount Saint Jean seems Cain：
'La Belle Alliance' of dunces down at zero；
Now that the Lion 's fall'n； may rise again：
But I will fall at least as fell my hero；
Nor reign at all； or as a monarch reign；
Or to some lonely isle of gaolers go；
With turncoat Southey for my turnkey Lowe。
Sir Walter reign'd before me； Moore and Campbell
Before and after； but now grown more holy；
The Muses upon Sion's hill must ramble
With poets almost clergymen； or wholly；
And Pegasus hath a psalmodic amble
Beneath the very Reverend Rowley Powley；
Who shoes the glorious animal with stilts；
A modern Ancient Pistol… by the hilts？
Then there 's my gentle Euphues； who； they say；
Sets up for being a sort of moral me；
He 'll find it rather difficult some day
To turn out both； or either； it may be。
Some persons think that Coleridge hath the sway；
And Wordsworth has supporters； two or three；
And that deep…mouth'd Boeotian 'Savage Landor'
Has taken for a swan rogue Southey's gander。
John Keats； who was kill'd off by one critique；
Just as he really promised something great；
If not intelligible； without Greek
Contrived to talk about the gods of late；
Much as they might have been supposed to speak。
Poor fellow！ His was an untoward fate；
'T is strange the mind； that very fiery particle；
Should let itself be snuff'd out by an article。
The list grows long of live and dead pretenders
To that which none will gain… or none will know
The conqueror at least； who； ere Time renders
His last award； will have the long grass grow
Above his burnt…out brain； and sapless cinders。
If I might augur； I should rate but low
Their chances； they 're too numerous； like the thirty
Mock tyrants； when Rome's annals wax'd but dirty。
This is the literary lower empire；
Where the praetorian bands take up the matter；…
A 'dreadful trade；' like his who 'gathers samphire；'
The insolent soldiery to soothe and flatter；
With the same feelings as you 'd coax a vampire。
Now； were I once at home； and in good satire；
I 'd try conclusions with those Janizaries；
And show them what an intellectual war is。
I think I know a trick or two； would turn
Their flanks；… but it is hardly worth my while
With such small gear to give myself concern：
Indeed I 've not the necessary bile；
My natural temper 's really aught but stern；
And even my Muse's worst reproof 's a smile；
And then she drops a brief and modern curtsy；
And glides away； assured she never hurts ye。
My Juan； whom I left in deadly peril
Amongst live poets and blue ladies； past
With some small profit through that field so sterile；
Being tired in time； and； neither least nor last；
Left it before he had been treated very ill；
And henceforth found himself more gaily class'd
Amongst the higher spirits of the day；
The sun's true son； no vapour； but a ray。
His morns he pass'd in business… which； dissected；
Was like all business a laborious nothing
That leads to lassitude； the most infected
And Centaur Nessus garb of mortal clothing；
And on our sofas makes us lie dejected；
And talk in tender horrors of our loathing
All kinds of toil； save for our country's good…
Which grows no better； though 't is time it should。
His afternoons he pass'd in visits； luncheons；
Lounging and boxing； and the twilight hour
In riding round those vegetable puncheons
Call'd 'Parks；' where there is neither fruit nor flower
Enough to gratify a bee's slight munchings；
But after all it is the only 'bower'
（In Moore's phrase）； where the fashionable fair
Can form a slight acquaintance with fresh air。
Then dress； then dinner； then awakes the world！
Then glare the lamps； then whirl the wheels； then roar
Through street and square fast flashing chariots hurl'd
Like harness'd meteors； then along the floor
Chalk mimics painting； then festoons are twirl'd；
Then roll the brazen thunders of the door；
Which opens to the thousand happy few
An earthly paradise of 'Or Molu。'
There stands the noble hostess； nor shall sink
With the three…thousandth curtsy； there the waltz；
The only dance which teaches girls to think；
Makes one in love even with its very faults。
Saloon； room； hall； o'erflow beyond their brink；
And long the latest of arrivals halts；
'Midst royal dukes and dames condemn'd to climb；
And gain an inch of staircase at a time。
Thrice happy he who； after a survey
Of the good pany； can win a corner；
A door that's in or boudoir out of the way；
Where he may fix himself like small 'Jack Horner；'
And let the Babel round run as it may；
And look on as a mourner； or a scorner；
Or an approver； or a mere spectator；
Yawning a little as the night grows later。
But this won't do； save by and by； and he
Who； like Don Juan； takes an active share；
Must steer with care through all that glittering sea
Of gems and plumes and pearls and silks； to where
He deems it is his proper place to be；
Dissolving in the waltz to some soft air；
Or proudlier prancing with mercurial skill
Where Science marshals forth her own quadrille。
Or； if he dance not； but hath higher views
Upon an heiress or his neighbour's bride；
Let him take care that that which he pursues
Is not at once too palpably descried。
Full many an eager gentleman oft rues
His haste： impatience is a blundering guide；
Amongst a people famous for reflection；
Who like to play the fool with circumspection。
But； if you can contrive； get next at supper；
Or； if forestalled； get opposite and ogle：…
Oh； ye ambrosial moments！ always upper
In mind； a sort of sentimental bogle；
Which sits for ever upon memory's crupper；
The ghost of vanish'd pleasures once in vogue！ Ill
Can tender souls relate the rise and fall
Of hopes and fears which shake a single ball。
But these precautionary hints can touch
Only the mon run； who must pursue；
And watch； and ward； whose plans a word too much
Or little overturns； and not the few
Or many （for the number's sometimes such）
Whom a good mien； especially if new；
Or fame； or name； for wit； war； sense； or nonsense；
Permits whate'er they please； or did not long since。
Our hero； as a hero； young and handsome；
Noble； rich； celebrated； and a stranger；
Like other slaves of course must pay his ransom；
Before he can escape from so m