LI. Juan, who was a little superficial, And not in literature a great Drawcansir, Examined by this learned and especial Jury of matrons, scarce knew what to answer : His duties warlike, loving or official, His steady application as a dancer, Had kept him from the brink of Hippocrene, LII. However, he replied at hazard, with A modest confidence and calm assurance, (Who at sixteen translated " Hercules Furens" Into as furious English), with her best look, Set down his sayings in her common-place book. LIII. Juan knew several languages-as well He might and brought them up with skill, in time To save his fame with each accomplish'd belle, Who still regretted that he did not rhyme. There wanted but this requisite to swell His qualities (with them) into sublime : Lady Fitz-Frisky, and Miss Mævia Mannish, Both long'd extremely to be sung in Spanish. LIV. However, he did pretty well, and was At great assemblies or in parties small, LV. In twice five years the "greatest living poet," Even I-albeit I'm sure I did not know it, The grand Napoleon of the realms of rhyme. LVI. But Juan was my Moscow, and Faliero My Leipsic, and my Mont Saint Jean seems Cain:(1) "La Belle Alliance" of dunces down at zero, Now that the Lion's fall'n, may rise again: But I will fall at least as fell my hero; (1) [See antè, Vol. XV. p. 104.] LVII. Sir Walter reign'd before me; Moore and Campbell With poets almost clergymen, or wholly; Beneath the very Reverend Rowley Powley, LVIII. (1) Then there's my gentle Euphues; who, they say, To turn out both, or either, it may be. Some persons think that Coleridge hath the sway; And Wordsworth has supporters, two or three; And that deep-mouth'd Boeotian" Savage Landor" (3) Has taken for a swan rogue Southey's gander. LIX. John Keats, who was kill'd off by one critique, Contrived to talk about the gods of late, (1) [A stanza is left blank in this place in the printed copies. Mr. Murray possesses no MS. of this Canto.] (2) [Some Reviewer had bestowed the title of "a Moral Byron" on Mr. Bryan Procter, author of Dramatic Sketches,' &c. &c. all published under the name of Barry Cornwall.'] (3) [See antè, Vol. XII. p. 248.] Much as they might have been supposed to speak. (1) Poor fellow! His was an untoward fate; 'Tis strange the mind, that very fiery particle, (2) Should let itself be snuff'd out by an article. ม LX. The list grows long of live and dead pretenders LXI. This is the literary lower empire, Where the prætorian bands take A "dreadful trade," like his who "gathers sam phire," (3) The insolent soldiery to soothe and flatter, With the same feelings as you'd coax a vampire. Now, were I once at home, and in good satire, I'd try conclusions with those Janizaries, And show them what an intellectual war is. (1) [The Biographical Dictionary says,-" Being in delicate health, he was induced to try the climate of Italy, where he arrived in November, 1820, and died in the following December. His death has been attributed to the attacks of critics; but it was, in fact, owing to a consumptive complaint of long standing." Compare, however, antè, Vol. XV. p. 92.] (2) "Divinæ particulum auræ." Hangs one that gathers samphire; dreadful trade!"-Lear.] LXII. I think I know a trick or two, would turn Their flanks;—but it is hardly worth my while With such small gear to give myself concern : Indeed I've not the necessary bile ; My natural temper's really aught but stern, LXIII. My Juan, whom I left in deadly peril And henceforth found himself more gaily class'd Amongst the higher spirits of the day, The sun's true son, no vapour, but a ray. LXIV. His morns he pass'd in business-which dissected, And Centaur Nessus garb of mortal clothing, (1) And on our sofas makes us lie dejected, And talk in tender horrors of our loathing All kinds of toil, save for our country's goodWhich grows no better, though 'tis time it should. (1) "Illita Nesseo tibi texta veneno,' OVID. Epist. ix. |