203 DON JUAN. CANTO THE SECOND. I. OH ye! who teach the ingenuous youth of nations, It mends their morals, never mind the pain: In Juan's case were but employ'd in vain, Since, in a way that's rather of the oddest, he Became divested of his native modesty.(1) II. Had he but been placed at a public school, At least, had he been nurtured in the north; But then exceptions always prove its worthA lad of sixteen causing a divorce Puzzled his tutors very much, of course. (1) [MS." Lost that most precious stone of stones his modesty."] III. I can't say that it puzzles me at all, If all things be consider'd: first, there was His lady-mother, mathematical, A. -never mind;-his tutor, an old ass; A pretty woman-(that's quite natural, Or else the thing had hardly come to pass); IV. Well-well, the world must turn upon its axis, And as the veering wind shifts, shift our sails; V. I said, that Juan had been sent to Cadiz- And such sweet girls-I mean, such graceful ladies, I can't describe it, though so much it strike, (1) [MS." But d-n me if I ever saw the like."] VI. An Arab horse, a stately stag, a barb No-none of these will do;—and then their garb ! A canto-then their feet and ankles,—well, Thank Heaven I've got no metaphor quite ready, (And so, my sober Muse―come, let's be steady— VII. Chaste Muse!—well, if you must, you must)—the veil Thrown back a moment with the glancing hand, While the o'erpowering eye, that turns you pale, Flashes into the heart:- All sunny land Of love! when I forget you, may I fail [plann'd To say my prayers-but never was there A dress through which the eyes give such a volley, Excepting the Venetian Fazzioli. (1) VIII. But to our tale: the Donna Inez sent To stay there had not answer'd her intent, But why? we leave the reader in the dark'Twas for a voyage that the young man was meant, As if a Spanish ship were Noah's ark, To wean him from the wickedness of earth, (1) Fazzioli- literally, little handkerchiefs- the veils most availing of St. Mark. IX. Don Juan bade his valet pack his things A lecture and some money: for four springs She hoped he would improve-perhaps believed: A letter, too, she gave (he never read it) Of good advice- and two or three of credit. X. In the mean time, to pass her hours away, The great success of Juan's education, XI. Juan embark'd—the ship got under way, As I, who've cross'd it oft, know well enough; (1) [See Verses on a Charity Ball, antè, Vol. XII. p. 320.] She taught them to suppress their vice,—and urine."] (3) ["Hogg writes me, that Scott is gone to the Orkneys in a gale of wind; during which wind he affirms the said Scott he is sure is not at his ease, to say the best of it.' Lord, Lord! if these home-keeping minstrels had tasted a little open boating in a white squall—or a gale in 'the Gat'-how it would enliven and introduce them to a few of the sensations."- B. Letters, 1814.] |