The negro Baba help'd a little too, When some untoward part of raiment stuck hard; And, wrestling both his arms into a gown, He paused, and took a survey up and down. LXXIX. One difficulty still remain'd—his hair So Was hardly long enough; but Baba found many false long tresses all to spare, That soon his head was most completely crown'd, After the manner then in fashion there; And this addition with such gems was bound As suited the ensemble of his toilet, While Baba made him comb his head and oil it. LXXX. And now being femininely all array'd, [tweezers, With some small aid from scissors, paint, and He look'd in almost all respects a maid, (') And Baba smilingly exclaim'd, "You see, sirs, A perfect transformation here display'd; And now, then, you must come along with me, sirs, That is the Lady:" clapping his hands twice, Four blacks were at his elbow in a trice. LXXXI. "You, sir," said Baba, nodding to the one, Το (1) [MS." He look'd in all save modesty a maid."] I say a thing, it must at once be done. What fear you? think you this a lion's den? Why, 't is a palace; where the truly wise Anticipate the Prophet's paradise. LXXXII. "You fool! I tell you no one means you harm." LXXXIII. "Blockhead! come on, and see," quoth Baba; while Don Juan, turning to his comrade, who Though somewhat grieved, could scarce forbear a smile Upon the metamorphosis in view, "Farewell!" they mutually exclaim'd: "this soil LXXXIV., "Farewell!" said Juan: " should we meet no more, I wish you a good appetite."- "Farewell!" Replied the other; "though it grieves me sore; When we next meet, we'll have a tale to tell : We needs must follow when Fate puts from shore. Keep your good name; though Eve herself once fell." [carry me, "Nay," quoth the maid, "the Sultan's self shan't Unless his highness promises to marry me." LXXXV. And thus they parted, each by separate doors; It seem'd as though they came upon a shrine, LXXXVI. The giant door was broad, and bright, and high, Here stalks the victor, there the vanquish'd lies; LXXXVII. This massy portal stood at the wide close In mockery to the enormous gate which rose The gate so splendid was in all its features, (1) LXXXVIII. Until you nearly trod on them, and then But an extraneous mixture, which no pen Can trace, although perhaps the pencil may; They were mis-shapen pigmies, deaf and dumbMonsters, who cost a no less monstrous sum. LXXXIX. Their duty was-for they were strong, and though They look'd so little, did strong things at timesTo ope this door, which they could really do, The hinges being as smooth as Rogers' rhymes; And now and then, with tough strings of the bow, As is the custom of those Eastern climes, To give some rebel Pacha a cravat; For mutes are generally used for that. (1) Features of a gate-a ministerial metaphor: "the feature upon which this question hinges." See the "Fudge Family," or hear Castlereagh,[Phil. Fudge, in his letter to Lord Castlereagh, says: "As thou would'st say, my guide and teacher In these gay metaphoric fringes, I now embark into the feature On which this letter chiefly hinges." The note adds, "verbatim from one of the noble Viscount's speeches : And now, sir, I must embark into the feature on which this question chiefly hinges."-Fudge Family, p. 14.] XC. They spoke by signs-that is, not spoke at all; To heaving back the portal folds: it scared With shrinking serpent optics on him stared; XCI. Before they enter'd, Baba paused to hint [in't) 'Twould be as well, and, (though there's not much To swing a little less from side to side, Which has at times an aspect of the oddest ;And also could you look a little modest, XCII. ""Twould be convenient; for these mutes have eyes Like needles, which may pierce those petticoats; And if they should discover your disguise, You know how near us the deep Bosphorus floats And you and I may chance, ere morning rise, To find our way to Marmora without boats, ; (1) A few years ago the wife of Muchtar Pacha complained to his father of his son's supposed infidelity: he asked with whom, and she had the barbarity to give in a list of the twelve handsomest women in Yanina |