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, Of gilded bronze, and carved in curious guise; Warriors thereon were battling furiously; Here stalks the victor, there the vanquish'd lies; There captives led in triumph droop the eye, And in perspective many a squadron flies: It seems the work of times before the line Of Rome transplanted fell with Constantine. 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 thein, and then 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 ; (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, Stitch'd in sacks up a mode of navigation A good deal practised here upon occasion." (1) ; (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 XCIII. With this encouragement, he led the way In such sort, that the eye along it cast Object on object flash'd so bright and fast; A dazzling mass of gems, and gold, and glitter, Magnificently mingled in a litter. XCIV. Wealth had done wonders-taste not much; such Occur in Orient palaces, and even [things In the more chasten'd domes of Western kings (Of which I have also seen some six or seven) Where I can't say or gold or diamond flings Great lustre, there is much to be forgiven; Groups of bad statues, tables, chairs, and pictures, On which I cannot pause to make my strictures. XCV. In this imperial hall, at distance lay and there reclined Under a canopy, A lady; Baba stopp'd, and kneeling sign'd They were seized, fastened up in sacks, and drowned in the lake the same night. One of the guards who was present informed me, that not one of the victims uttered a cry, or showed a symptom of terror at so sudden a "wrench from all we know, from all we love." [See antè, Vol. IX. pp. 145. 200.] (1) ["On a sofa, raised three steps, and covered with fine Persian carpets, sat the kiyàya's lady, leaning on cushions of white satin, embroidered," &c. LADY M. W. MONTAGU.] |