LXXXI.

Love had made Catherine make each lover's fortune,
Unlike our own half-chaste Elizabeth,

Whose avarice all disbursements did importune,
If history, the grand liar, ever saith

The truth; and though grief her old age might shorten,
Because she put a favourite to death,

Her vile, ambiguous method of flirtation,
And stinginess, disgrace her sex and station.

LXXXII.

But when the levee rose, and all was bustle
In the dissolving circle, all the nations'
Ambassadors began as 't were to bustle

Round the young man with their congratulations. Also the softer silks were heard to rustle

Of gentle dames, among whose recreations

It is to speculate on handsome faces,
Especially when such lead to high places.

LXXXIII.

Juan, who found himself, he knew not how,
A general object of attention, made
His answers with a very graceful bow,

As if born for the ministerial trade.
Though modest, on his unembarrassed brow
Nature had written « gentleman." He said
Little, but to the purpose; and his manner
Flung hovering graces o'er him like a banner.

LXXXIV.

An order from her majesty consign'd

Our young lieutenant to the genial care Of those in office: all the world look'd kind,

(As it will look sometimes with the first stare, Which youth would not act ill to keep in mind) As also did Miss Protasoff then there, Named from her mystic office « l'Éprouveuse,» A term inexplicable to the muse.

LXXXV.

With her then, as in humble duty bound,
Juan retired,—and so will I, until
My Pegasus shall tire of touching ground.
We have just lit on a « heaven-kissing hill,»
So lofty that I feel my brain turn round,
And all my fancies whirling like a mill;
Which is a signal to my nerves and brain,
To take a quiet ride in some green lane.

END OF CANTO IX.

NOTES TO CANTO IX.

Note 1, page 3, stanza 1.
Humanity would rise, and thunder 'Nay!»
Query, Ney?-Printer's Devil.

Note 2, page 5, stanza vi.

And send the sentinel before your gate etc.

We

I at this time got a post, being for fatigue with four others. were sent to break biscuit, and make a mess for Lord Wellington's hounds. I was very hungry, and thought it a good job at the time, as we got our own fill while we broke the biscuit,-a thing I had not got for some days. When thus engaged, the Prodigal Son was never once out of my mind; and I sighed, as I fed the dogs, over my humble situation and my ruined hopes.»-Journal of a Soldier of the 71st Regiment during the War in Spain.

Note 3, page 14, stanza xxxIII.

Because he could no more digest his dinner.

He was killed in a conspiracy, after his temper had been exasperated by his extreme costivity to a degree of insanity.

Note 4, page 18, stanza XLVII.

And had just buried the fair-faced Lanskoi.
He was the grande passion" of the grande Catherine ;-
Lives under the head of «Lanskoi.»

VOL. III.

-see her

3

Note 5, page 19, stanza XLIX.

Bid Ireland's Londonderry's marquess show etc.

This was written long before the suicide of that person.

Note 6, page 24, stanza LXIII.

Your « fortune» was in a fair way « to swell

A man» (as Giles says), etc.

His fortune swells him, it is rank, he 's married.» Sir Giles Overreach; Massinger. See «A new Way to pay old Debts.»