CVII. The lady eyed him o'er and o'er, and bade And looking on him with a sort of smile, CVIII. When he was gone, there was a sudden change : I know not what might be the lady's thought, But o'er her bright brow flash'd a tumult strange, And into her clear cheek the blood was brought, Blood-red as sunset summer clouds which range The verge of Heaven; and in her large eyes wrought A mixture of sensations, might be scann'd, Of half-voluptuousness and half command. CIX. Her form had all the softness of her sex, Eve, and paved (God knows how) the road to evil; The sun himself was scarce more free from specks Than she from aught at which the eye could cavil; Yet, somehow, there was something somewhere wanting, As if she rather order'd than was granting.— CX. Something imperial, or imperious, threw A chain o'er all she did; that is, a chain CXI. Her very smile was haughty, though so sweet; There was a self-will even in her small feet, As though they were quite conscious of her station They trod as upon necks; and to complete Her state (it is the custom of her nation), A poniard deck'd her girdle, as the sign She was a sultan's bride, (thank Heaven, not mine!) "To hear and to obey" had been from birth Had been her slaves' chief pleasure, as her will; Had she but been a Christian, I've a notion CXIII. Whate'er she saw and coveted was brought; There was no end unto the things she bought, Nor to the trouble which her fancies caused; CXIV. Juan, the latest of her whims, had caught And Baba, who had ne'er been known to fail At all such auctions knew how to prevail : She had no prudence, but he had; and this Explains the garb which Juan took amiss. CXV. His youth and features favour'd the disguise, (1) [MS.. -" And husbands now and then are mystified."] CXVI. But to the main point, where we have been tending:- CXVII. And so it was, in proper time and place; Felt the warm blood, which in his face was glowing, Rush back upon his heart, which fill'd apace, And left his cheeks as pale as snowdrops blowing: These words went through his soul like Arab-spears, So that he spoke not, but burst into tears. CXVIII. She was a good deal shock'd; not shock'd at tears, CXIX. And she would have consoled, but knew not how: And never having dreamt what 'twas to bear CXX. But nature teaches more than power can spoil, (2) And, when a strong although a strange sensation Moves-female hearts are such a genial soil For kinder feelings, whatsoe'er their nation, And thus Gulbeyaz, though she knew not why, CXXI. But tears must stop like all things else; and soon Juan, who for an instant had been moved To such a sorrow by the intrusive tone Of one who dared to ask if " he had loved," (1) [MS. (2) [MS.. "nothing which had e'er Exacted a true sympathy till now."] "But nature teaches what power cannot spoil, And, though it was a new and strange sensation, Young female hearts are such a genial soil For kinder feelings, she forgot her station."] |