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！
In soups or sauces； or a sole ragout；
There was a goodly 'soupe a la bonne femme；'
Though God knows whence it came from； there was； too；
A turbot for relief of those who cram；
Relieved with 'dindon a la Parigeux；'
How shall I get this gourmand stanza through？…
'Soupe a la Beauveau；' whose relief was dory；
Relieved itself by pork； for greater glory。
But I must crowd all into one grand mess
Or mass； for should I stretch into detail；
My Muse would run much more into excess；
Than when some squeamish people deem her frail。
But though a 'bonne vivante；' I must confess
Her stomach 's not her peccant part； this tale
However doth require some slight refection；
Just to relieve her spirits from dejection。
Fowls 'a la Conde；' slices eke of salmon；
With 'sauces Genevoises；' and haunch of venison；
Wines too； which might again have slain young Ammon…
A man like whom I hope we shan't see many soon；
They also set a glazed Westphalian ham on；
Whereon Apicius would bestow his benison；
And then there was champagne with foaming whirls；
As white as Cleopatra's melted pearls。
Then there was God knows what 'a l'Allemande；'
'A l'Espagnole；' 'timballe；' and 'salpicon'…
With things I can't withstand or understand；
Though swallow'd with much zest upon the whole；
And 'entremets' to piddle with at hand；
Gently to lull down the subsiding soul；
While great Lucullus' Robe triumphal muffles
（There 's fame） young partridge fillets； deck'd with truffles。
What are the fillets on the victor's brow
To these？ They are rags or dust。 Where is the arch
Which nodded to the nation's spoils below？
Where the triumphal chariots' haughty march？
Gone to where victories must like dinners go。
Farther I shall not follow the research：
But oh！ ye modern heroes with your cartridges；
When will your names lend lustre e'en to partridges？
Those truffles too are no bad accessaries；
Follow'd by 'petits puits d'amour'… a dish
Of which perhaps the cookery rather varies；
So every one may dress it to his wish；
According to the best of dictionaries；
Which encyclopedize both flesh and fish；
But even sans 'confitures；' it no less true is；
There 's pretty picking in those 'petits puits。'
The mind is lost in mighty contemplation
Of intellect expanded on two courses；
And indigestion's grand multiplication
Requires arithmetic beyond my forces。
Who would suppose； from Adam's simple ration；
That cookery could have call'd forth such resources；
As form a science and a nomenclature
From out the monest demands of nature？
The glasses jingled； and the palates tingled；
The diners of celebrity dined well；
The ladies with more moderation mingled
In the feast； pecking less than I can tell；
Also the younger men too： for a springald
Can't； like ripe age； in gormandize excel；
But thinks less of good eating than the whisper
（When seated next him） of some pretty lisper。
Alas！ I must leave undescribed the gibier；
The salmi； the consomme； the puree；
All which I use to make my rhymes run glibber
Than could roast beef in our rough John Bull way：
I must not introduce even a spare rib here；
'Bubble and squeak' would spoil my liquid lay：
But I have dined； and must forego； Alas！
The chaste description even of a 'becasse；'
And fruits； and ice； and all that art refines
From nature for the service of the gout…
Taste or the gout；… pronounce it as inclines
Your stomach！ Ere you dine； the French will do；
But after； there are sometimes certain signs
Which prove plain English truer of the two。
Hast ever had the gout？ I have not had it…
But I may have； and you too； reader； dread it。
The simple olives； best allies of wine；
Must I pass over in my bill of fare？
I must； although a favourite 'plat' of mine
In Spain； and Lucca； Athens； every where：
On them and bread 't was oft my luck to dine；
The grass my table…cloth； in open…air；
On Sunium or Hymettus； like Diogenes；
Of whom half my philosophy the progeny is。
Amidst this tumult of fish； flesh； and 'fowl；
And vegetables； all in masquerade；
The guests were placed according to their roll；
But various as the various meats display'd：
Don Juan sat next 'an l'Espagnole'…
No damsel； but a dish； as hath been said；
But so far like a lady； that 't was drest
Superbly； and contain'd a world of zest。
By some odd chance too； he was placed between
Aurora and the Lady Adeline…
A situation difficult； I ween；
For man therein； with eyes and heart； to dine。
Also the conference which we have seen
Was not such as to encourage him to shine；
For Adeline； addressing few words to him；
With two transcendent eyes seem'd to look through him。
I sometimes almost think that eyes have ears：
This much is sure； that； out of earshot； things
Are somehow echoed to the pretty dears；
Of which I can't tell whence their knowledge springs。
Like that same mystic music of the spheres；
Which no one bears； so loudly though it rings；
'T is wonderful how oft the sex have heard
Long dialogues… which pass'd without a word！
Aurora sat with that indifference
Which piques a preux chevalier… as it ought：
Of all offences that 's the worst offence；
Which seems to hint you are not worth a thought。
Now Juan； though no coxb in pretence；
Was not exactly pleased to be so caught；
Like a good ship entangled among ice；
And after so much excellent advice。
To his gay nothings； nothing was replied；
Or something which was nothing； as urbanity
Required。 Aurora scarcely look'd aside；
Nor even smiled enough for any vanity。
The devil was in the girl！ Could it be pride？
Or modesty； or absence； or inanity？
Heaven knows？ But Adeline's malicious eyes
Sparkled with her successful prophecies；
And look'd as much as if to say； 'I said it；'
A kind of triumph I 'll not remend；
Because it sometimes； as I have seen or read it；
Both in the case of lover and of friend；
Will pique a gentleman； for his own credit；
To bring what was a jest to a serious end：
For all men prophesy what is or was；
And hate those who won't let them e to pass。
Juan was drawn thus into some attentions；
Slight but select； and just enough to express；
To females of perspicuous prehensions；
That he would rather make them more than less。
Aurora at the last （so history mentions；
Though probably much less a fact than guess）
So far relax'd her thoughts from their sweet prison；
As once or twice to smile； if not to listen。
From answering she began to question； this
With her was rare： and Adeline； who as yet
Thought her predictions went not much amiss；
Began to dread she'd thaw to a coquette…
So very difficult； they say； it is
To keep extremes from meeting； when once set
In motion； but she here too much refined…
Aurora's spirit was not of that kind。
But Juan had a sort of winning way；
A proud humility； if such there be；
Which show'd such deference to what females say；
As if each charming word were a decree。
His tact； too； temper'd him from grave to gay；
And taught him when to be reserved or free：
He had the art of drawing people out；
Without their seeing what he was about。
Aurora； who in her indifference
Confounded him in mon with the crowd
Of flatterers； though she deem'd he had more sense
Than whispering fopli