X. Perhaps he hath great projects in his mind, Some dome surmounted by his meagre face: Even with the very ore which makes them base; XI. But whether all, or each, or none of these, What is his own? Go-look at each transaction, Wars, revels, loves-do these bring men more ease Than the mere plodding through each " vulgar fraction?” Or do they benefit mankind? Lean miser! Let spendthrifts' heirs inquire of yours-who's wiser ? XII. How beauteous are rouleaus! how charming chests : Some likeness which the glittering cirque confines, XIII. "Love rules the camp, the court, the grove," -"for love -so sings the bard; Is heaven, and heaven is love :". XIV. But if love don't, cash does, and cash alone; Cash rules the grove, and fells it too besides; Without cash, camps were thin, and courts were none; Without cash, Malthus tells you take no brides.” So cash rules love the ruler, on his own High ground, as Virgin Cynthia sways the tides; And, as for "heaven being love," why not say honey Is wax? Heaven is not love, 't is matrimony. XV. Is not all love prohibited whatever, Excepting marriage? which is love, no doubt, After a sort; but somehow people never With the same thought the two words have help'd out: Love may exist with marriage, and should ever, And marriage also may exist without; But love sans bans is both a sin and shame, And ought to go by quite another name. XVI. grove Now if the "court" and "camp" and " I say that line's a lapsus of the pen ;- XVII. Well, if I don't succeed, I have succeeded, " he not And that's enough; succeeded in my youth, But have not learn'd to wish it any XVIII. less. That suit in Chancery, which some persons plead XIX. Why, I'm posterity-and so are you; And whom do we remember? Not a hundred. Were every memory written down all true, The tenth or twentieth name would be but blunder'd: Even Plutarch's Lives have but pick'd out a few, And 'gainst those few your annalists have thunder'd ; And Mitford, in the nineteenth century, Gives, with Greek truth, the good old Greek the lie. ' XX. Good people all, of every degree, Ye gentle readers and ungentle writers, The negroes, and is worth a million fighters; XXI. I'm serious-so are all men upon paper: Mankind just now seem rapt in meditation XXII. That's noble! that 's romantic! For my part, Though there's a shorter a good deal than this, If that politeness set it not apart; But I'm resolved to say nought that's amiss)— I say, methinks that "philo-genitiveness" Might meet from men a little more forgiveness. XXIII. And now to business. Oh, my gentle Juan! Which can await warm youth in its wild race. XXIV. What with a small diversity of climate, Of hot or cold, mercurial or sedate, But thou art the most difficult to rhyme at, Great Britain, which the Muse may penetrate : All countries have their "lions," but in thee XXV. But I am sick of politics. Begin, Above the ice had like a skaiter glided: When tired of play, he flirted without sin With some of those fair creatures who have prided Themselves on innocent tantalization, And hate all vice except its reputation. XXVI. But these are few, and in the end they make Some devilish escapade or stir, which shows That even the purest people may mistake Their way through virtue's primrose paths of snows; And then men stare, as if a new ass spake To Balaam, and from tongue to ear o'erflows Quick-silver small talk, ending (if you note it) With the kind world's amen-" Who would have thought it?" XXVII. The little Leila, with her orient eyes And taciturn Asiatic disposition (Which saw all western things with small surprise, To the surprise of people of condition, Who think that novelties are butterflies Her charming figure and romantic history, XXVIII. The women much divided-as is usual Amongst the sex in little things or great, Think not, fair creatures, that I mean to abuse you all--- XXIX. In one point only were you settled-and You had reason; 't was that a young child of Grace, As beautiful as her own native land, And far away, the last bud of her race, Howe'er our friend Don Juan might command Would be much better taught beneath the eye XXX. So first there was a generous emulation, As Juan was a person of condition, XXXI. And one or two sad, separate wives, without A fruit to bloom upon their withering boughBegg'd to bring up the little girl, and out,— For that's the phrase that settles all things now, Meaning a virgin's first blush at a rout, And all her points as thorough-bred to show : And I assure you, that like virgin honey Tastes their first season (mostly if they 've money). XXXII. How all the needy honourable misters, Each out-at-elbow peer, or desperate dandy, The watchful mothers and the careful sisters (Who, by the by, when clever, are more handy At making matches, where "'t is gold that glisters," Than their he relatives), like flies o'er candy, Buzz round" the Fortune" with their busy battery, To turn her head with waltzing and with flattery! XXXIII. Each aunt, each cousin hath her speculation; Nay, married dames will now and then discover Such pure disinterestedness of passion, I've known them court an heiress for their lover. "Tantæne?" Such the virtues of high station, Even in the hopeful isle, whose outlet 's "Dover!" While the poor rich wretch, object of these cares, Has cause to wish her sire had had male heirs. XXXIV. Some are soon bagg'd, but some reject three dozen. 'T is fine to see them scattering refusals And wild dismay o'er every angry cousin Such as-" Unless Miss (Blank) meant to have chosen |