And if in the mean time her husband died, But heaven forbid that such a thought should cross Her brain, though in a dream! (and then she sigh'd) Never could she survive that common loss; But just suppose that moment should betide, (This should be entre nous, for Julia thought In French, but then the rhyme would go for nought.) LXXXV. I only say suppose this supposition: Juan being then grown up to man's estate Would fully suit a widow of condition, Even seven years hence it would not be too late; And in the interim (to pursue this vision) The mischief, after all, could not be great, For he would learn the rudiments of love, So much for Julia. LXXXVI. Now we'll turn to Juan, Poor little fellow! he had no idea Of his own case, and never hit the true one; LXXXVII. Silent and pensive, idle, restless, slow, His, like all deep grief, plunged in solitude: I'm fond myself of solitude or so, But then, I beg it may be understood, By solitude I mean a sultan's, not A hermit's, with a haram for a grot. LXXXVIII. "Oh Love! in such a wilderness as this, "And here thou art a god indeed divine." The bard I quote from does not sing amiss, (5) With the exception of the second line, For that same twining "transport and security" Are twisted to a phrase of some obscurity. LXXXIX. The poet meant, no doubt, and thus appeals As all have found on trial, or may find, That no one likes to be disturb'd at meals Or love. I won't say more about "entwined" Or "transport," as we knew all that before, But beg "Security" will bolt the door. XC. Young Juan wander'd by the glassy brooks Himself at length within the leafy nooks And every now and then we read them through, So that their plan and prosody are eligible, Unless, like Wordsworth, they prove unintelligible. XCI. He, Juan, (and not Wordsworth) so pursued Until his mighty heart, in its great mood, XCII. He thought about himself, and the whole earth, XCIH. In thoughts like these true wisdom may discern Which some are born with, but the most part learn To plague themselves withal, they know not why: "Twas strange that one so young should thus concern His brain about the action of the sky; If you think 'twas philosophy that this did, I can't help thinking puberty assisted. E |