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By which such sirens can attract our great；
She took up with some foreign younger brother；
A Russ or Turk… the one 's as good as t' other。
And then there was… but why should I go on；
Unless the ladies should go off？… there was
Indeed a certain fair and fairy one；
Of the best class； and better than her class；…
Aurora Raby； a young star who shone
O'er life； too sweet an image for such glass；
A lovely being； scarcely form'd or moulded；
A rose with all its sweetest leaves yet folded；
Rich； noble； but an orphan； left an only
Child to the care of guardians good and kind；
But still her aspect had an air so lonely！
Blood is not water； and where shall we find
Feelings of youth like those which overthrown lie
By death； when we are left； alas！ behind；
To feel； in friendless palaces； a home
Is wanting； and our best ties in the tomb？
Early in years； and yet more infantine
In figure； she had something of sublime
In eyes which sadly shone； as seraphs' shine。
All youth… but with an aspect beyond time；
Radiant and grave… as pitying man's decline；
Mournful… but mournful of another's crime；
She look'd as if she sat by Eden's door。
And grieved for those who could return no more。
She was a Catholic； too； sincere； austere；
As far as her own gentle heart allow'd；
And deem'd that fallen worship far more dear
Perhaps because 't was fallen： her sires were proud
Of deeds and days when they had fill'd the ear
Of nations； and had never bent or bow'd
To novel power； and as she was the last；
She held their old faith and old feelings fast。
She gazed upon a world she scarcely knew；
As seeking not to know it； silent； lone；
As grows a flower； thus quietly she grew；
And kept her heart serene within its zone。
There was awe in the homage which she drew；
Her spirit seem'd as seated on a throne
Apart from the surrounding world； and strong
In its own strength… most strange in one so young！
Now it so happen'd； in the catalogue
Of Adeline； Aurora was omitted；
Although her birth and wealth had given her vogue
Beyond the charmers we have already cited；
Her beauty also seem'd to form no clog
Against her being mention'd as well fitted；
By many virtues； to be worth the trouble
Of single gentlemen who would be double。
And this omission； like that of the bust
Of Brutus at the pageant of Tiberius；
Made Juan wonder； as no doubt he must。
This he express'd half smiling and half serious；
When Adeline replied with some disgust；
And with an air； to say the least； imperious；
She marvell'd 'what he saw in such a baby
As that prim； silent； cold Aurora Raby？'
Juan rejoin'd… 'She was a Catholic；
And therefore fittest； as of his persuasion；
Since he was sure his mother would fall sick；
And the Pope thunder exmunication；
If…' But here Adeline； who seem'd to pique
Herself extremely on the inoculation
Of others with her own opinions； stated…
As usual… the same reason which she late did。
And wherefore not？ A reasonable reason；
If good； is none the worse for repetition；
If bad； the best way 's certainly to tease on；
And amplify： you lose much by concision；
Whereas insisting in or out of season
Convinces all men； even a politician；
Or… what is just the same… it wearies out。
So the end 's gain'd； what signifies the route？
Why Adeline had this slight prejudice…
For prejudice it was… against a creature
As pure as sanctity itself from vice；
With all the added charm of form and feature；
For me appears a question far too nice；
Since Adeline was liberal by nature；
But nature 's nature； and has more caprices
Than I have time； or will； to take to pieces。
Perhaps she did not like the quiet way
With which Aurora on those baubles look'd；
Which charm most people in their earlier day：
For there are few things by mankind less brook'd；
And womankind too； if we so may say；
Than finding thus their genius stand rebuked；
Like 'Anthony's by Caesar；' by the few
Who look upon them as they ought to do。
It was not envy… Adeline had none；
Her place was far beyond it； and her mind。
It was not scorn… which could not light on one
Whose greatest fault was leaving few to find。
It was not jealousy； I think： but shun
Following the 'ignes fatui' of mankind。
It was not… but 't is easier far； alas！
To say what it was not than what it was。
Little Aurora deem'd she was the theme
Of such discussion。 She was there a guest；
A beauteous ripple of the brilliant stream
Of rank and youth； though purer than the rest；
Which flow'd on for a moment in the beam
Time sheds a moment o'er each sparkling crest。
Had she known this； she would have calmly smiled…
She had so much； or little； of the child。
The dashing and proud air of Adeline
Imposed not upon her： she saw her blaze
Much as she would have seen a glow…worm shine；
Then turn'd unto the stars for loftier rays。
Juan was something she could not divine；
Being no sibyl in the new world's ways；
Yet she was nothing dazzled by the meteor；
Because she did not pin her faith on feature。
His fame too；… for he had that kind of fame
Which sometimes plays the deuce with womankind；
A heterogeneous mass of glorious blame；
Half virtues and whole vices being bined；
Faults which attract because they are not tame；
Follies trick'd out so brightly that they blind：…
These seals upon her wax made no impression；
Such was her coldness or her self…possession。
Juan knew nought of such a character…
High； yet resembling not his lost Haidee；
Yet each was radiant in her proper sphere：
The island girl； bred up by the lone sea；
More warm； as lovely； and not less sincere；
Was Nature's all： Aurora could not be；
Nor would be thus：… the difference in them
Was such as lies between a flower and gem。
Having wound up with this sublime parison；
Methinks we may proceed upon our narrative；
And； as my friend Scott says； 'I sound my warison；'
Scott； the superlative of my parative…
Scott； who can paint your Christian knight or Saracen；
Serf； lord； man； with such skill as none would share it； if
There had not been one Shakspeare and Voltaire；
Of one or both of whom he seems the heir。
I say； in my slight way I may proceed
To play upon the surface of humanity。
I write the world； nor care if the world read；
At least for this I cannot spare its vanity。
My Muse hath bred； and still perhaps may breed
More foes by this same scroll： when I began it； I
Thought that it might turn out so… now I know it；
But still I am； or was； a pretty poet。
The conference or congress （for it ended
As congresses of late do） of the Lady
Adeline and Don Juan rather blended
Some acids with the sweets… for she was heady；
But； ere the matter could be marr'd or mended；
The silvery bell rang； not for 'dinner ready；
But for that hour； call'd half…hour； given to dress；
Though ladies' robes seem scant enough for less。
Great things were now to be achieved at table；
With massy plate for armour； knives and forks
For weapons； but what Muse since Homer 's able
（His feasts are not the worst part of his works）
To draw up in array a single day…bill
Of modern dinners？ where more mystery lurks；
In soups or sauces； or a sole ragout；
There was a goodly 'soupe a la bonne femme；'
Though God k