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But now I can't tell where it may not run。
No doubt； if I had wish' to pay my court
To critics； or to hail the setting sun
Of tyranny of all kinds； my concision
Were more；… but I was born for opposition。
But then 't is mostly on the weaker side；
So that I verily believe if they
Who now are basking in their full…blown pride
Were shaken down； and 'dogs had had their day；'
Though at the first I might perchance deride
Their tumble； I should turn the other way；
And wax an ultra…royalist in loyalty；
Because I hate even democratic royalty。
I think I should have made a decent spouse；
If I had never proved the soft condition；
I think I should have made monastic vows；
But for my own peculiar superstition：
'Gainst rhyme I never should have knock'd my brows；
Nor broken my own head； nor that of Priscian；
Nor worn the motley mantle of a poet；
If some one had not told me to forego it。
But 'laissez aller'… knights and dames I sing；
Such as the times may furnish。 'T is a flight
Which seems at first to need no lofty wing；
Plumed by Longinus or the Stagyrite：
The difficultly lies in colouring
（Keeping the due proportions still in sight）
With nature manners which are artificial；
And rend'ring general that which is especial。
The difference is； that in the days of old
Men made the manners； manners now make men…
Pinn'd like a flock； and fleeced too in their fold；
At least nine； and a ninth beside of ten。
Now this at all events must render cold
Your writers； who must either draw again
Days better drawn before； or else assume
The present； with their mon…place costume。
We 'll do our best to make the best on 't：… March！
March； my Muse！ If you cannot fly； yet flutter；
And when you may not be sublime； be arch；
Or starch； as are the edicts statesmen utter。
We surely may find something worth research：
Columbus found a new world in a cutter；
Or brigantine； or pink； of no great tonnage；
While yet America was in her non…age。
When Adeline； in all her growing sense
Of Juan's merits and his situation；
Felt on the whole an interest intense；…
Partly perhaps because a fresh sensation；
Or that he had an air of innocence；
Which is for innocence a sad temptation；…
As women hate half measures； on the whole；
She 'gan to ponder how to save his soul。
She had a good opinion of advice；
Like all who give and eke receive it gratis；
For which small thanks are still the market price；
Even where the article at highest rate is：
She thought upon the subject twice or thrice；
And morally decided； the best state is
For morals； marriage； and this question carried；
She seriously advised him to get married。
Juan replied； with all being deference；
He had a predilection for that tie；
But that； at present； with immediate reference
To his own circumstances； there might lie
Some difficulties； as in his own preference；
Or that of her to whom he might apply：
That still he 'd wed with such or such a lady；
If that they were not married all already。
Next to the making matches for herself；
And daughters； brothers； sisters； kith or kin；
Arranging them like books on the same shelf；
There 's nothing women love to dabble in
More （like a stock…holder in growing pelf）
Than match…making in general： 't is no sin
Certes； but a preventative； and therefore
That is； no doubt； the only reason wherefore。
But never yet （except of course a miss
Unwed； or mistress never to be wed；
Or wed already； who object to this）
Was there chaste dame who had not in her head
Some drama of the marriage unities；
Observed as strictly both at board and bed
As those of Aristotle； though sometimes
They turn out melodrames or pantomimes。
They generally have some only son；
Some heir to a large property； some friend
Of an old family； some gay Sir john；
Or grave Lord George； with whom perhaps might end
A line； and leave posterity undone；
Unless a marriage was applied to mend
The prospect and their morals： and besides；
They have at hand a blooming glut of brides。
From these they will be careful to select；
For this an heiress； and for that a beauty；
For one a songstress who hath no defect；
For t' other one who promises much duty；
For this a lady no one can reject；
Whose sole acplishments were quite a booty；
A second for her excellent connections；
A third； because there can be no objections。
When Rapp the Harmonist embargo'd marriage
In his harmonious settlement （which flourishes
Strangely enough as yet without miscarriage；
Because it breeds no more mouths than it nourishes；
Without those sad expenses which disparage
What Nature naturally most encourages）…
Why call'd he 'Harmony' a state sans wedlock？
Now here I 've got the preacher at a dead lock。
Because he either meant to sneer at harmony
Or marriage； by divorcing them thus oddly。
But whether reverend Rapp learn'd this in Germany
Or no； 't is said his sect is rich and godly；
Pious and pure； beyond what I can term any
Of ours； although they propagate more broadly。
My objection 's to his title； not his ritual；
Although I wonder how it grew habitual。
But Rapp is the reverse of zealous matrons；
Who favour； malgre Malthus； generation…
Professors of that genial art； and patrons
Of all the modest part of propagation；
Which after all at such a desperate rate runs；
That half its produce tends to emigration；
That sad result of passions and potatoes…
Two weeds which pose our economic Catos。
Had Adeline read Malthus？ I can't tell；
I wish she had： his book 's the eleventh mandment；
Which says； 'Thou shalt not marry；' unless well：
This he （as far as I can understand） meant。
'T is not my purpose on his views to dwell
Nor canvass what so 'eminent a hand' meant；
But certes it conducts to lives ascetic；
Or turning marriage into arithmetic。
But Adeline； who probably presumed
That Juan had enough of maintenance；
Or separate maintenance； in case 't was doom'd…
As on the whole it is an even chance
That bridegrooms； after they are fairly groom'd；
May retrograde a little in the dance
Of marriage （which might form a painter's fame；
Like Holbein's 'Dance of Death'… but 't is the same）；…
But Adeline determined Juan's wedding
In her own mind； and that 's enough for woman：
But then； with whom？ There was the sage Miss Reading；
Miss Raw； Miss Flaw； Miss Showman； and Miss Knowman。
And the two fair co…heiresses Giltbedding。
She deem'd his merits something more than mon：
All these were unobjectionable matches；
And might go on； if well wound up； like watches。
There was Miss Millpond； smooth as summer's sea；
That usual paragon； an only daughter；
Who seem'd the cream of equanimity
Till skimm'd… and then there was some milk and water；
With a slight shade of blue too； it might be；
Beneath the surface； but what did it matter？
Love 's riotous； but marriage should have quiet；
And being consumptive； live on a milk diet。
And then there was the Miss Audacia Shoestring；
A dashing demoiselle of good estate；
Whose heart was fix'd upon a star or blue string；
But whether English dukes grew rare of late；
Or that she had not harp'd upon the true string；
By which such sirens can attract our great；
She took up with some foreign younger brother；