CXL. Poor Donna Julia! starting as from sleep, (Mind- that I do not say—she had not slept) Began at once to scream, and yawn, and weep; Her maid Antonia, who was an adept, Contrived to fling the bed-clothes in a heap, As if she had just now from out them crept: I can't tell why she should take all this trouble To prove her mistress had been sleeping double. CXLI. But Julia mistress, and Antonia maid, Appear'd like two poor harmless women, who Of goblins, but still more of men afraid, Had thought one man might be deterr'd by two, And therefore side by side were gently laid, Until the hours of absence should run through, And truant husband should return, and say, My dear, I was the first who came away." CXLII. Now Julia found at length a voice, and cried, (1) [MS." Ere I the wife of such a man had been!"] CXLIII. He search'd, they search'd, and rummaged every where, Closet and clothes' press, chest and window-seat, And found much linen, lace, and several pair Of stockings, slippers, brushes, combs, complete, With other articles of ladies fair, To keep them beautiful, or leave them neat: Arras they prick'd and curtains with their swords, And wounded several shutters, and some boards. CXLIV. Under the bed they search'd, and there they foundNo matter what-it was not that they sought; They open'd windows, gazing if the ground Had signs or footmarks, but the earth said nought; And then they stared each others' faces round: 'Tis odd, not one of all these seekers thought, And seems to me almost a sort of blunder, Of looking in the bed as well as under. CXLV. During this inquisition, Julia's tongue (1) [cried, Was not asleep—" Yes, search and search," she "Insuit on insult heap, and wrong on wrong! It was for this that I became a bride! For this in silence I have suffer'd long (1) [MS." But while this search was making, Julia's tongue."] CXLVI. "Yes, Don Alfonso! husband now no more, For facts against a virtuous woman's fame? CXLVII. "Is it for this I have disdain'd to hold And deaf, that any other it would vex, CXLVIII. "Was it for this that no Cortejo(1) e'er I yet have chosen from out the youth of Seville? Is it for this I scarce went any where, Except to bull-fights, mass, play, rout, and revel? Is it for this, whate'er my suitors were, I favour'd none-nay, was almost uncivil? Is it for this that General Count O'Reilly, Who took Algiers, (2) declares I used him vilely? (1) The Spanish "Cortejo" is much the same as the Italian "Cavalier Servente." (2) Donna Julia here made a mistake. Count O'Reilly did not take Algiers- but Algiers very nearly took him: he and his army and fleet retreated with great loss, and not much credit, from before that city, in the year 1775. CXLIX. "Did not the Italian Musico Cazzani Sing at my heart six months at least in vain? Did not his countryman, Count Corniani, Call me the only virtuous wife in Spain? Were there not also Russians, English, many? The Count Strongstroganoff I put in pain, And Lord Mount Coffeehouse, (1) the Irish peer, Who kill'd himself for love (with wine) last year. CL. "Have I not had two bishops at my feet? I wonder in what quarter now the moon is: Me also, since the time so opportune is― Oh, valiant man! with sword drawn and cock'd trigger, Now, tell me, don't you cut a pretty figure? CLI. "Was it for this you took your sudden journey, Under pretence of business indispensable With that sublime of rascals your attorney, Whom I see standing there, and looking sensible Of having play'd the fool? though both I spurn, þe Deserves the worst, his conduct's less defensible, Because, no doubt, 'twas for his dirty fee, And not from any love to you nor me. (3) [This sneer at the titles of some of what were called the Union Peers of Ireland is capital. -HILL.] CLII. "If he comes here to take a deposition, I would not you for nothing should be fee'd— But, as my maid's undrest, pray turn your spies out." "Oh !" sobb'd Antonia, "I could tear their CLIII. eyes out." "There is the closet, there the toilet, there CLIV. "And now, Hidalgo! now that you have thrown Doubt upon me, confusion over all, Pray have the courtesy to make it known Who is the man you search for? how d'ye call Him? what's his lineage? let him but be shown— I hope he's young and handsome-is he tall? Tell me -and be assured, that since you stain My honour thus, it shall not be in vain. (1) [MS." The chimney-fit retreat for any lover!"] |