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There were some hunters bold； and coursers keen；
Whose hounds ne'er err'd； nor greyhounds deign'd to lurch；
Some deadly shots too； Septembrizers； seen
Earliest to rise； and last to quit the search
Of the poor partridge through his stubble screen。
There were some massy members of the church；
Takers of tithes； and makers of good matches；
And several who sung fewer psalms than catches。
There were some country wags too… and； alas！
Some exiles from the town； who had been driven
To gaze； instead of pavement； upon grass；
And rise at nine in lieu of long eleven。
And lo！ upon that day it came to pass；
I sate next that o'erwhelming son of heaven；
The very powerful parson； Peter Pith；
The loudest wit I e'er was deafen'd with。
I knew him in his livelier London days；
A brilliant diner out； though but a curate；
And not a joke he cut but earn'd its praise；
Until preferment； ing at a sure rate
（O Providence！ how wondrous are thy ways！
Who would suppose thy gifts sometimes obdurate？）；
Gave him； to lay the devil who looks o'er Lincoln；
A fat fen vicarage； and nought to think on。
His jokes were sermons； and his sermons jokes；
But both were thrown away amongst the fens；
For wit hath no great friend in aguish folks。
No longer ready ears and short…hand pens
Imbibed the gay bon…mot； or happy hoax：
The poor priest was reduced to mon sense；
Or to coarse efforts very loud and long；
To hammer a horse laugh from the thick throng。
There is a difference； says the song； 'between
A beggar and a queen；' or was （of late
The latter worse used of the two we 've seen…
But we 'll say nothing of affairs of state）；
A difference ''twixt a bishop and a dean；'
A difference between crockery ware and plate；
As between English beef and Spartan broth…
And yet great heroes have been bred by both。
But of all nature's discrepancies； none
Upon the whole is greater than the difference
Beheld between the country and the town；
Of which the latter merits every preference
From those who have few resources of their own；
And only think； or act； or feel； with reference
To some small plan of interest or ambition…
Both which are limited to no condition。
But 'en avant！' The light loves languish o'er
Long banquets and too many guests； although
A slight repast makes people love much more；
Bacchus and Ceres being； as we know
Even from our grammar upwards； friends of yore
With vivifying Venus； who doth owe
To these the invention of champagne and truffles：
Temperance delights her； but long fasting ruffles。
Dully past o'er the dinner of the day；
And Juan took his place； he knew not where；
Confused； in the confusion； and distrait；
And sitting as if nail'd upon his chair：
Though knives and forks clank'd round as in a fray；
He seem'd unconscious of all passing there；
Till some one； with a groan； exprest a wish
（Unheeded twice） to have a fin of fish。
On which； at the third asking of the bans；
He started； and perceiving smiles around
Broadening to grins； he colour'd more than once；
And hastily… as nothing can confound
A wise man more than laughter from a dunce…
Inflicted on the dish a deadly wound；
And with such hurry； that ere he could curb it
He had paid his neighbour's prayer with half a turbot。
This was no bad mistake； as it occurr'd；
The supplicator being an amateur；
But others； who were left with scarce a third；
Were angry… as they well might； to be sure。
They wonder'd how a young man so absurd
Lord Henry at his table should endure；
And this； and his not knowing how much oats
Had fallen last market； cost his host three votes。
They little knew； or might have sympathised；
That he the night before had seen a ghost；
A prologue which but slightly harmonised
With the substantial pany engross'd
By matter； and so much materialised；
That one scarce knew at what to marvel most
Of two things… how （the question rather odd is）
Such bodies could have souls； or souls such bodies。
But what confused him more than smile or stare
From all the 'squires and 'squiresses around；
Who wonder'd at the abstraction of his air；
Especially as he had been renown'd
For some vivacity among the fair；
Even in the country circle's narrow bound
（For little things upon my lord's estate
Were good small talk for others still less great）…
Was； that he caught Aurora's eye on his；
And something like a smile upon her cheek。
Now this he really rather took amiss：
In those who rarely smile； their smiles bespeak
A strong external motive； and in this
Smile of Aurora's there was nought to pique
Or hope； or love； with any of the wiles
Which some pretend to trace in ladies' smiles。
'T was a mere quiet smile of contemplation；
Indicative of some surprise and pity；
And Juan grew carnation with vexation；
Which was not very wise； and still less witty；
Since he had gain'd at least her observation；
A most important outwork of the city…
As Juan should have known； had not his senses
By last night's ghost been driven from their defences。
But what was bad； she did not blush in turn；
Nor seem embarrass'd… quite the contrary；
Her aspect was as usual； still… not stern…
And she withdrew； but cast not down； her eye；
Yet grew a little pale… with what？ concern？
I know not； but her colour ne'er was high…
Though sometimes faintly flush'd… and always clear；
As deep seas in a sunny atmosphere。
But Adeline was occupied by fame
This day； and watching； witching； condescending
To the consumers of fish； fowl； and game；
And dignity with courtesy so blending；
As all must blend whose part it is to aim
（Especially as the sixth year is ending）
At their lord's； son's； or similar connection's
Safe conduct through the rocks of re…elections。
Though this was most expedient on the whole；
And usual… Juan； when he cast a glance
On Adeline while playing her grand role；
Which she went through as though it were a dance；
Betraying only now and then her soul
By a look scarce perceptibly askance
（Of weariness or scorn）； began to feel
Some doubt how much of Adeline was real；
So well she acted all and every part
By turns… with that vivacious versatility；
Which many people take for want of heart。
They err… 't is merely what is call'd mobility；
A thing of temperament and not of art；
Though seeming so； from its supposed facility；
And false… though true； for surely they 're sincerest
Who are strongly acted on by what is nearest。
This makes your actors； artists； and romancers；
Heroes sometimes； though seldom… sages never；
But speakers； bards； diplomatists； and dancers；
Little that 's great； but much of what is clever；
Most orators； but very few financiers；
Though all Exchequer chancellors endeavour；
Of late years； to dispense with Cocker's rigours；
And grow quite figurative with their figures。
The poets of arithmetic are they
Who； though they prove not two and two to be
Five； as they might do in a modest way；
Have plainly made it out that four are three；
Judging by what they take； and what they pay。
The Sinking Fund's unfathomable sea；
That most unliquidating liquid； leaves
The debt unsunk； yet sinks all it receives。
While Adeline dispensed her airs and graces；
The fair Fitz…Fulke seem'd very much at