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！
One of those pretty； precious plagues； which haunt
A lover with caprices soft and dear；
That like to make a quarrel； when they can't
Find one； each day of the delightful year；
Bewitching； torturing； as they freeze or glow；
And… what is worst of all… won't let you go：
The sort of thing to turn a young man's head；
Or make a Werter of him in the end。
No wonder then a purer soul should dread
This sort of chaste liaison for a friend；
It were much better to be wed or dead；
Than wear a heart a woman loves to rend。
'T is best to pause； and think； ere you rush on；
If that a 'bonne fortune' be really 'bonne。'
And first； in the o'erflowing of her heart；
Which really knew or thought it knew no guile；
She call'd her husband now and then apart；
And bade him counsel Juan。 With a smile
Lord Henry heard her plans of artless art
To wean Don Juan from the siren's wile；
And answer'd； like a statesman or a prophet；
In such guise that she could make nothing of it。
Firstly； he said； 'he never interfered
In any body's business but the king's：'
Next； that 'he never judged from what appear'd；
Without strong reason； of those sort of things：'
Thirdly； that 'Juan had more brain than beard；
And was not to be held in leading strings；'
And fourthly； what need hardly be said twice；
'That good but rarely came from good advice。'
And； therefore； doubtless to approve the truth
Of the last axiom； he advised his spouse
To leave the parties to themselves； forsooth…
At least as far as bienseance allows：
That time would temper Juan's faults of youth；
That young men rarely made monastic vows；
That opposition only more attaches…
But here a messenger brought in despatches：
And being of the council call'd 'the Privy；'
Lord Henry walk'd into his cabinet；
To furnish matter for some future Livy
To tell how he reduced the nation's debt；
And if their full contents I do not give ye；
It is because I do not know them yet；
But I shall add them in a brief appendix；
To e between mine epic and its index。
But ere he went； he added a slight hint；
Another gentle mon…place or two；
Such as are coin'd in conversation's mint；
And pass； for want of better； though not new：
Then broke his packet； to see what was in 't；
And having casually glanced it through；
Retired； and； as went out； calmly kiss'd her；
Less like a young wife than an aged sister。
He was a cold； good； honourable man；
Proud of his birth； and proud of every thing；
A goodly spirit for a state divan；
A figure fit to walk before a king；
Tall； stately； form'd to lead the courtly van
On birthdays； glorious with a star and string；
The very model of a chamberlain…
And such I mean to make him when I reign。
But there was something wanting on the whole…
I don't know what； and therefore cannot tell…
Which pretty women… the sweet souls！… call soul。
Certes it was not body； he was well
Proportion'd； as a poplar or a pole；
A handsome man； that human miracle；
And in each circumstance of love or war
Had still preserved his perpendicular。
Still there was something wanting； as I 've said…
That undefinable 'Je ne scais quoi；'
Which； for what I know； may of yore have led
To Homer's Iliad； since it drew to Troy
The Greek Eve； Helen； from the Spartan's bed；
Though on the whole； no doubt； the Dardan boy
Was much inferior to King Menelaus：…
But thus it is some women will betray us。
There is an awkward thing which much perplexes；
Unless like wise Tiresias we had proved
By turns the difference of the several sexes；
Neither can show quite how they would be loved。
The sensual for a short time but connects us；
The sentimental boasts to be unmoved；
But both together form a kind of centaur；
Upon whose back 't is better not to venture。
A something all…sufficient for the heart
Is that for which the sex are always seeking：
But how to fill up that same vacant part？
There lies the rub… and this they are but weak in。
Frail mariners afloat without a chart；
They run before the wind through high seas breaking；
And when they have made the shore through every shock；
'T is odd； or odds； it may turn out a rock。
There is a flower call'd 'Love in Idleness；'
For which see Shakspeare's everblooming garden；…
I will not make his great description less；
And beg his British godship's humble pardon；
If in my extremity of rhyme's distress；
I touch a single leaf where he is warden；…
But though the flower is different； with the French
Or Swiss Rousseau； cry 'Voila la Pervenche！'
Eureka！ I have found it！ What I mean
To say is； not that love is idleness；
But that in love such idleness has been
An accessory； as I have cause to guess。
Hard labour's an indifferent go…between；
Your men of business are not apt to express
Much passion； since the merchant…ship； the Argo；
Convey'd Medea as her supercargo。
'Beatus ille procul！' from 'negotiis；'
Saith Horace； the great little poet 's wrong；
His other maxim； 'Noscitur a sociis；'
Is much more to the purpose of his song；
Though even that were sometimes too ferocious；
Unless good pany be kept too long；
But； in his teeth； whate'er their state or station；
Thrice happy they who have an occupation！
Adam exchanged his Paradise for ploughing；
Eve made up millinery with fig leaves…
The earliest knowledge from the tree so knowing；
As far as I know； that the church receives：
And since that time it need not cost much showing；
That many of the ills o'er which man grieves；
And still more women； spring from not employing
Some hours to make the remnant worth enjoying。
And hence high life is oft a dreary void；
A rack of pleasures； where we must invent
A something wherewithal to be annoy'd。
Bards may sing what they please about Content；
Contented； when translated； means but cloy'd；
And hence arise the woes of sentiment；
Blue devils； and blue…stockings； and romances
Reduced to practice； and perform'd like dances。
I do declare； upon an affidavit；
Romances I ne'er read like those I have seen；
Nor； if unto the world I ever gave it；
Would some believe that such a tale had been：
But such intent I never had； nor have it；
Some truths are better kept behind a screen；
Especially when they would look like lies；
I therefore deal in generalities。
'An oyster may be cross'd in love；'… and why？
Because he mopeth idly in his shell；
And heaves a lonely subterraqueous sigh；
Much as a monk may do within his cell：
And a…propos of monks； their piety
With sloth hath found it difficult to dwell；
Those vegetables of the Catholic creed
Are apt exceedingly to run to seed。
O Wilberforce！ thou man of black renown；
Whose merit none enough can sing or say；
Thou hast struck one immense Colossus down；
Thou moral Washington of Africa！
But there 's another little thing； I own；
Which you should perpetrate some summer's day；
And set the other halt of earth to rights；
You have freed the blacks… now pray shut up the whites。
Shut up the bald…coot bully Alexander！
Ship off the Holy Three to Senegal；
Teach them that 'sauce for goose is sauce for gander；'
And ask them how they like to be in thrall？
Shut up each high heroic salamander；
Who eats fire gratis （since the pay 's but small）；
Shut up… no； not the King； b