"True! he allow'd them to pray God; but as A consequence of prayer, refused the law Which would have placed them upon the same base With those who did not hold the saints in awe. But here Saint Peter started from his place, And cried, "You may the prisoner withdraw : Ere heaven shall ope her portals to this Guelph, While I am guard, may I be damn'd myself!" THE SEX. (CHILDE HAROLD, Canto ii. Stanza 34.) Not much he kens, I ween, of woman's breast, But not too humbly, or she will despise Thee and thy suit, though told in moving tropes : Brisk Confidence still best with woman copes; Pique her and soothe in turn, soon Passion crowns thy hopes. OUR CHILDREN. (DON JUAN, Canto iii. Stanzas 59, 60.) IT is a hard although a common case To find our children running restive ;-they, In whom our brightest days we would retrace, Our little selves re-form'd in finer clay, Just as old age is creeping on apace, And clouds come o'er the sunset of our day, They kindly leave us, though not quite alone, But in good company-the gout or stone. Yet a fine family is a fine thing (Provided they don't come in after dinner); 'Tis beautiful to see a matron bring Her children up (if nursing them don't thin her); Like cherubs round an altar-piece they cling To the fireside (a sight to touch a sinner) A lady with her daughters or her nieces SOUL. (DON JUAN, Canto xiv. Stanzas 70-72.) He was a cold, good, honourable man, A figure fit to walk before a king; On birthdays, glorious with a star and string; And such I mean to make him when I reign. But there was something wanting on the whole- A handsome man, that human miracle ; Still there was something wanting, as I've said— Which, for what I know, may of yore have led Was much inferior to King Menelaus :- MOBILITY. (DON JUAN, Canto xvi. Stanzas 96-98.) -JUAN, when he cast a glance On Adeline while playing her grand rôle, Which she went through as though it were a dance (Betraying only now and then her soul By a look scarce perceptibly askance Of weariness or scorn), began to feel So well she acted all and every part By turns-with that vivacious versatility, Which many people take for want of heart. They err-'tis merely what is call'd mobility, A thing of temperament—and not of art, Though seeming so from its supposed facility; And false-though true; for surely they're sincerest Who are strongly acted on by what is nearest. This makes your actors, artists, and romancers, Heroes sometimes, though seldom-sages never; But speakers, bards, diplomatists, and dancers, Little that's great, but much of what is clever; Most orators, but very few financiers, Though all Exchequer chancellors endeavour, Of late years, to dispense with Cocker's rigours, And grow quite figurative with their figures. GREAT NAMES. (DON JUAN, Canto iii. Stanzas 90-95, and 98-100.) AND glory long has made the sages smile; 'Tis something, nothing, words, illusion, windDepending more upon the historian's style Than on the name a person leaves behind : Milton's the prince of poets-so we say ; Learn'd, pious, temperate in love and wine; We're told this great high priest of all the Nine Was whipt at college-a harsh sire-odd spouse, All these are, certes, entertaining facts, Like Shakspeare's stealing deer, Lord Bacon's bribes ; Like Titus' youth, and Cæsar's earliest acts; Like Burns (whom Doctor Currie well describes); Like Cromwell's pranks ;-but although truth exacts These amiable descriptions from the scribes, As most essential to their hero's story, They do not much contribute to his glory. |