LXVII. I wish to be perspicuous; and the black, Of any Mussulman, whate'er his worth; And yet, though I have said there was no dearth,He chose himself to point out what he thought Most proper for the Christians he had bought. LXVIII. The suit he thought most suitable to each A shawl, whose folds in Cashmire had been nurst, LXIX. While he was dressing, Baba, their black friend, If they would but pursue the proper way LXX. "For his own part, he really should rejoice Sufficiently" (he said)" his approbation Of all the customs of this polish'd nation. LXXI. "For his own share-he saw but small objection To so respectable an ancient rite; And, after swallowing down a slight refection, He doubted not a few hours of reflection Would reconcile him to the business quite." "Will it?" said Juan, sharply: "Strike me dead, But they as soon shall circumcise my head! (1) Replied the other, " do not interrupt: (1) [MS." If they shall not as soon cut off my head."] LXXIII. Baba eyed Juan, and said, "Be so good As dress yourself—" and pointed out a suit In which a Princess with great pleasure would Array her limbs; but Juan standing mute, As not being in a masquerading mood, Gave it a slight kick with his Christian foot; And when the old negro told him to " Get ready," Replied, "Old gentleman, I'm not a lady." LXXIV. "What you may be, I neither know nor care," LXXV. —”—“ Hold!" "Then if I do," said Juan, "I'll be- And you will find us not too fond of joking." "What, sir!" said Juan, " shall it e'er be told That I unsex'd my dress?" But Baba, stroking The things down, said, " Incense me, and I call Those who will leave you of no sex at all. LXXVI. "I offer you a handsome suit of clothes: soul loathes "What, though my The effeminate garb ?"—thus, after a short pause, Sigh'd Juan, muttering also some slight oaths, "What the devil shall I do with all this gauze?" Thus he profanely term'd the finest lace Which e'er set off a marriage-morning face. LXXVII. And then he swore; and, sighing, on he slipp'd Which girt a slight chemise as white as milk;(1) But tugging on his petticoat, he tripp'd, Which as we say—or, as the Scotch say, whilk, (The rhyme obliges me to this; sometimes Monarchs are less imperative than rhymes)-(2) LXXVIII. Whilk, which (or what you please), was owing to His garment's novelty, and his being awkward: And yet at last he managed to get through His toilet, though no doubt a little backward: (1) ["The first part of my dress is a pair of drawers, very full, that reach to my shoes, and conceal the legs more modestly than your English petticoats. They are of a thin rose-coloured damask, brocaded with silver flowers. Over this hangs my smock, of a fine white silk gauze, embroidered with gold. This smock has wide sleeves, hanging half-way down the arm, and is closed at the neck with a diamond button."- LADY M. W. MONTAGU.] (2) [MS." Kings are not more imperative than rhymes."] 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 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, (1) 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, (1) [MS." He look'd in all save modesty a maid."] |