Perhaps even more attention than is due From me: I gazed (as oft I have gazed the same) To try if I could wrench aught out of death Which should confirm, or shake, or make a faith; XXXIX. But it was all a mystery. Here we are, And there we go:-but where? five bits of lead, Or three, or two, or one, send very far! And is this blood, then, form'd but to be shed? Can every element our elements mar? And air — earth-water-fire live—and we dead? We, whose minds comprehend all things? No more ; But let us to the story as before. XL. The purchaser of Juan and acquaintance Embark'd himself and them, and off they went thence [brought O'ertopp'd with cypresses, dark-green and tall. little. Poor fellow! he was a brave officer; but had made himself disliked by the people." I knew him personally, and had met him often at conversazioni and elsewhere. My house is full of soldiers, dragoons, doctors, priests, and all kinds of persons, though I have now cleared it and clapped sentinels at the door. To-morrow the body is to be moved. You are to know, that if I had not had the body moved, they would have left him there till morning in the street, for fear of consequences. I would not choose to let even a dog die in such a manner, without succour; and, as for consequences, I care for none in a duty.". B. Letters.] (1) The light and elegant wherries plying about the quays of Constantinople are so called. XLI. Here their conductor tapping at the wicket They almost lost their way, and had to pick it— XLII. As they were plodding on their winding way Through orange bowers, and jasmine, and so forth: (Of which I might have a good deal to say, There being no such profusion in the North Of oriental plants, "et cetera," But that of late your scribblers think it worth Their while to rear whole hotbeds in their works Because one poet travell'd 'mongst the Turks :)(1) XLIII. As they were threading on their way, there came (1) ["Eastern Sketches," "Parga," "Phrosyne," " Ilderim," &c. &c.] XLIV. "Yes," said the other, " and when done, what then? How get out? how the devil got we in? And when we once were fairly out, and when From Saint Bartholomew we have saved our To-morrow'd see us in some other den, [skin, (1) And worse off than we hitherto have been ; Besides, I'm hungry, and just now would take, Like Esau, for my birthright a beef-steak. XLV. "We must be near some place of man's abode ;For the old negro's confidence in creeping, With his two captives, by so queer a road, Shows that he thinks his friends have not been sleeping; A single cry would bring them all abroad: 'Tis therefore better looking before leaping—(2) And there, you see, this turn has brought us through, By Jove, a noble palace!-lighted too." XLVI. It was indeed a wide extensive building Which open'd on their view, and o'er the front There seem'd to be besprent a deal of gilding And various hues, as is the Turkish wont, A gaudy taste; for they are little skill'd in The arts of which these lands were once the font: (1) St. Bartholomew is said to have been flayed alive. XLVII. And nearer as they came, a genial savour Of certain stews, and roast-meats, and pilaus, Things which in hungry mortals' eyes find favour, Made Juan in his harsh intentions pause, And put himself upon his good behaviour: His friend, too, adding a new saving clause, Said, "In Heaven's name let's get some supper now, And then I'm with you, if you're for a row." XLVIII. Some talk of an appeal unto some passion, Some to men's feelings, others to their reason; The last of these was never much the fashion, For reason thinks all reasoning out of season. Some speakers whine, and others lay the lash on, But more or less continue still to tease on, With arguments according to their "forte;" But no one ever dreams of being short. XLIX. But I digress of all appeals,-although (1) [MS." Of speeches, beauty, flattery-there is no L. Turkey contains no bells, and yet men dine; Of lackeys usher to the feast prepared, And cooks in motion with their clean arms bared, LI. And giving up all notions of resistance, They follow'd close behind their sable guide, Who little thought that his own crack'd existence Was on the point of being set aside: He motion❜d them to stop at some small distance, And knocking at the gate, 'twas open'd wide, And a magnificent large hall display'd The Asian pomp of Ottoman parade. LII. I won't describe; description is my forte, While Nature, tortured twenty thousand ways, Resigns herself with exemplary patience To guide-books, (1) rhymes, (2) tours, (3) sketches, (4) illustrations. (5) (1) [" Guide des Voyageurs," "Directions for Travellers," &c. (2)" Rhymes, Incidental and Humorous," "Rhyming Reminiscences," |