Note 3, page 81, stanza XLIII. And turn on things which no aristocratic Spirit would name, and therefore even I won't anent etc. « Anent» was a Scotch phrase meaning «concerning» — « with regard to; it has been made English by the Scotch Novels; and as the Frenchman said—« If it be not, ought to be English. » Note 4, page 83, stanza XLIX. The milliners who furnish « drapery misses» etc. «Drapery misses»-This term is probably any thing now but a mystery. It was however almost so to me when I first returned from the East in 1811-1812. It means a pretty, a highborn, a fashionable young female, well instructed by her friends, and furnished by her milliner with a wardrobe upon credit, to be repaid, when married, by the husband. The riddle was first read to me by a young and pretty heiress, on my praising the «drapery» of an untochered but « pretty virginities" (like Mrs Anne Page) of the then day, which has now been some years yesterday:—she assured me that the thing was common in London; and as her own thousands, and blooming looks, and rich simplicity of array, put any suspicion in her own case out of the question, I confess I gave some credit to the allegation. If necessary, authorities might be cited, in which case I could quote both « drapery» and the wearers. Let us hope, however, that it is now obsolete. " DON JUAN. CANTO XII. I. Of all the barbarous middle ages, that Which is most barbarous is the middle Of man; it is—I really scarce know what; age But when we hover between fool and sage, II. Too old for youth,-too young, at thirty-five, To herd with boys, or hoard with good threescore, I wonder people should be left alive; But since they are, that epoch is a bore: Love lingers still, although 't were late to wive; And money, that most pure imagination, III. Oh gold! Why call we misers miserable? And scorn his temperate board, as none at all, IV. Love or lust makes man sick, and wine much sicker; But making money, slowly first, then quicker, Which makes bank credit like a bark of vapour. V. Who hold the balance of the world? Who reign (That make old Europe's journals squeak and gibber all.) Who keep the world, both old and new, in pain Or pleasure? Who make politics run glibber all? The shade of Buonaparte's noble daring? Jew Rothschild and his fellow-christian Baring. VI. Those, and the truly liberal Lafitte, Are the true lords of Europe. Every loan Is not a merely speculative hit, But seats a nation or upsets a throne. Republics also get involved a bit; Columbia's stock hath holders not unknown On 'Change; and even thy silver soil, Peru, Must get itself discounted by a Jew. VII. Why call the miser miserable? as The theme of praise: a hermit would not miss And wherefore blame gaunt wealth's austerities? Because, you'll say, nought calls for such a trial;Then there's more merit in his self-denial. VIII. He is your only poet;-passion, pure And sparkling on from heap to heap, displays, Possess'd, the ore, of which mere hopes allure Nations athwart the deep: the golden rays Flash up in ingots from the mine obscure; On him the diamond pours its brilliant blaze; While the mild emerald's beam shades down the dies Of other stones, to soothe the miser's eyes. IX. The lands on either side are his: the ship His very cellars might be kings' abodes; X. Perhaps he hath great projects in his mind, 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, Than the mere plodding through each «vulgar fraction?>> Or do they benefit mankind? Lean miser! Let spendthrifts' heirs inquire of yours—who 's wiser? |