LIX.

Alas! man makes that great which makes him little:
I grant you in a church 't is very well:
What speaks of Heaven should by no means be brittle,
But strong and lasting, till no tongue can tell
Their names who rear'd it; but huge houses fit ill—
And huge tombs worse-mankind, since Adam fell:
Methinks the story of the tower of Babel
Might teach them this much better than I'm able.
LX.

Babel was Nimrod's hunting-box, and then

A town of gardens, walls, and wealth amazing, Where Nabuchadonosor, king of men,

Reign'd, till one summer's day he took to grazing, And Daniel tamed the lions in their den,

The people's awe and admiration raising; "T was famous, too, for Thisbe and for Pyramus, 1 And the calumniated queen Semiramis

LXI.

-3

That injured Queen, by chroniclers so coarse Has been accused (I doubt not by conspiracy) Of an improper friendship for her horse

(Love, like religion, sometimes runs to heresy): This monstrous tale had probably its source

(For such exaggerations here and there I see) In writing "Courser" by mistake for "Courier: " I wish the case could come before a jury here. 3

LXII.

But to resume, - should there be (what may not
Be in these days?) some infidels, who don't,
Because they can't find out the very spot 4

Of that same Babel, or because they won't
(Though Claudius Rich, Esquire, some bricks has got,
And written lately two memoirs upon't, 5)
Believe the Jews, those unbelievers, who
Must be believed, though they believe not you.

LXIII.

Yet let them think that Horace has exprest
Shortly and sweetly the masonic folly

Of those, forgetting the great place of rest,

Who give themselves to architecture wholly ;
We know where things and men must end at best:
A moral (like all morals) melancholy,

And "Et sepulchri immemor struis domos" 6
Shows that we build when we should but entomb us.

LXIV.

At last they reach'd a quarter most retired,

Where echo woke as if from a long slumber; Though full of all things which could be desired, One wonder'd what to do with such a number

[See Ovid's Metamorphoses, lib. iv. "In Babylon, where first her queen, for state, Raised walls of brick magnificently great, Lived Pyramus and Thisbe, lovely pair! He found no Eastern youth his equal there, And she beyond the fairest nymph was fair."-GARTH.] Babylon was enlarged by Nimrod, strengthened and beautified by Nebuchadonosor, and rebuilt by Semiramis.

3 [At the time when Lord Byron was writing this Canto, the unfortunate affair of Queen Caroline, charged, among other offences, with admitting her chamberlain, Bergami, originally a courier, to her bed, was occupying much attention in Italy, as in England. The allusions to the domestic troubles of George IV. in the text, are frequent.]

4 [Excepting the ruins of some large and lofty turrets, like that of Babel or Belus, the cities of Babylon and Nineveh are so completely crumbled into dust, as to be wholly undistinguishable but by a few inequalities of the surface on which

Of articles which nobody required;

Here wealth had done its utmost to encumber With furniture an exquisite apartment, Which puzzled Nature much to know what Art meant. LXV.

It seem'd, however, but to open on

A range or suite of further chambers, which Might lead to heaven knows where; but in this one The moveables were prodigally rich : Sofas 't was half a sin to sit upon,

So costly were they; carpets every stitch Of workmanship so rare, they made you wish You could glide o'er them like a golden fish.

LXVI.

The black, however, without hardly deigning
A glance at that which wrapt the slaves in wonder,
Trampled what they scarce trod for fear of staining,
As if the milky way their feet was under
With all its stars; and with a stretch attaining
A certain press or cupboard niched in yonder—
In that remote recess which you may see-
Or if you don't the fault is not in me,—

LXVII.

I wish to be perspicuous; and the black,
I say, unlocking the recess, pull'd forth
A quantity of clothes fit for the back

Of any Mussulman, whate'er his worth;
And of variety there was no lack —

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
Was, for the elder and the stouter, first
A Candiote cloak, which to the knee might reach,
And trousers not so tight that they would burst,
But such as fit an Asiatic breech;

A shawl, whose folds in Cashmire had been nurst,
Slippers of saffron, dagger rich and handy;
In short, all things which form a Turkish Dandy.

LXIX.

While he was dressing, Baba, their black friend,
Hinted the vast advantages which they
Might probably attain both in the end,

If they would but pursue the proper way
Which Fortune plainly seem'd to recommend;
And then he added, that he needs must say,
""T would greatly tend to better their condition,
If they would condescend to circumcision.

they once stood. The humble tent of the Arab now occupies the spot formerly adorned with the palaces of kings, and his flocks procure but a scanty pittance of food, amidst the fallen fragments of ancient magnificence. The banks of the Eu phrates and Tigris, once so prolific, are now, for the most part, covered with an impenetrable brushwood; and the interior of the province, which was traversed and fertilised with innumerable canals, is destitute of either inhabitants or vegetation. MORIER.]

5 ["Two Memoirs on the Ruins of Babylon, by Claudius James Rich, Esq., Resident for the East India Company at the Court of the Pasha of Bagdat."]

LXX. "For his own part, he really should rejoice To see them true believers, but no less Would leave his proposition to their choice." The other, thanking him for this excess Of goodness, in thus leaving them a voice In such a trifle, scarcely could express "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,
For which he own'd a present appetite,
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

LXXII.

"Cut off a thousand heads, before

Replied the other, " do not interrupt:

You put me out in what I had to say.

Sir! as I said, as soon as I have supt,

I shall perpend if your proposal may

Be such as I can properly accept ; Provided always your great goodness still Remits the matter to our own free-will." 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,

"Now, [pray,"

LXXVII.

And then he swore; and, sighing, on he slipp'd
A pair of trousers of flesh-colour'd silk;
Next with a virgin zone he was equipp'd,
Which girt a slight chemise as white as milk;
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)-3
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:
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

Was hardly long enough; but Baba found So 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,

With some small aid from scissors,paint,and tweezers, 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,

"Will please to accompany those gentlemen To supper; but you, worthy Christian nun, Will follow me: no trifling, sir; for when

I say a thing, it must at once be done.
What fear you? think you this a lion's den?
Why, 'tis a palace; where the truly wise
Anticipate the Prophet's paradise.

LXXXII.

"You fool! I tell you no one means you harm." "So much the better," Juan said, "for them; Else they shall feel the weight of this my arm, Which is not quite so light as you may deem.

I yield thus far; but soon will break the charm If any take me for that which I seem:

So that I trust for every body's sake,

That this disguise may lead to no mistake."

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 Seems fertile in adventures strange and new; One's turn'd half Mussulman, and one a maid, By this old black enchanter's unsought aid.

2["Kings are not more imperative than rhymes."- MS.]

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;
Baba led Juan onward room by room
Through glittering galleries, and o'er marble floors,
Till a gigantic portal through the gloom,
Haughty and huge, along the distance lowers;
And wafted far arose a rich perfume:
It seem'd as though they came upon a shrine,
For all was vast, still, fragrant, and divine.

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

Of a huge hall, and on its either side Two little dwarfs, the least you could suppose, Were sate, like ugly imps, as if allied In mockery to the enormous gate which rose O'er them in almost pyramidic pride: The gate so splendid was in all its features,1 You never thought about those little creatures,

LXXXVIII.

Until you nearly trod on them, and then

You started back in horror to survey The wondrous hideousness of those small men, Whose colour was not black, nor white, nor grey, But an extraneous mixture, which no pen

Can trace, although perhaps the pencil may; They were mis-shapen pigmies, deaf and dumb. Monsters, 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

Occur in Orient palaces, and even

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
Under a canopy, and there reclined
Quite in a confidential queenly way,

A lady; Baba stopp'd, and kneeling sign'd
To Juan, who though not much used to pray,
Knelt down by instinct, wondering in his mind
What all this meant: while Baba bow'd and bended
His head, until the ceremony ended.

on which this question chiefly hinges.'"-Fudge Family, p. 14.]

2 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. 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, pp. 62. 76.]

1 ["As Venus rose from ocean-bent on them

2

With a far-reaching glance, a Paphian pair."-MS.] ["But there are forms which Time adorns, not wears, And to which beauty obstinately clings."- MS.] 3[" With regard to the queen's person, all contemporary authors agree in ascribing to Mary the utmost beauty of countenance, and elegance of shape, of which the human form is capable. Her hair was black; her eyes were a dark grey; her complexion was exquisitely fine and her hands and arms remarkably delicate, both as to shape and colour. Her stature was of a height that rose to the majestic. She danced, walked, and rode with equal grace. Her taste for music was just, and she both sang and played upon the lute with uncommon skill. No man, says Brantome, ever beheld her person without admiration and love, or will read her history without sorrow."- ROBERTSON.]

[Mademoiselle de l'Enclos, celebrated for her beauty, her wit, her gallantry, and, above all, for the extraordinary length of time during which she preserved her attractions. She intrigued with the young gentlemen of three generations, and is said to have had a grandson of her own among her lovers. See the works of Madame de Sévigné, Voltaire, &c. &c. for copious particulars of her life. The Biographie Universelle says-"In her old age, her house was the rendezvous of the most distinguished persons. Scarron consulted her on his romances, St. Evremond on his poems, Molière on his comedies, Fontenelle on his dialogues, and La Rochefoucault on his maxims. Coligny, Sévigné, &c. were her lovers and friends. At her death, in 1705, and in her ninetieth year, she bequeathed to Voltaire a considerable sum, to expend in books."]

This strange saloon, much fitted for inspiring
Marvel and praise; for both or none things win;
And I must say, I ne'er could see the very
Great happiness of the "Nil Admirari."6
CL.

"Not to admire is all the art I know

(Plain truth, dear Murray 7, needs few flowers of speech)

To make men happy, or to keep them so;" (So take it in the very words of Creech). Thus Horace wrote we all know long ago;

And thus Pope 8 quotes the precept to re-teach From his translation; but had none admired, Would Pope have sung, or Horace been inspired ? 9

CII.

Baba, when all the damsels were withdrawn,
Motion'd to Juan to approach, and then

A second time desired him to kneel down,
And kiss the lady's foot; which maxim when
He heard repeated, Juan with a frown

Drew himself up to his full height again,
And said, "It grieved him, but he could not stoop
To any shoe, unless it shod the Pope."

CIII.

Baba, indignant at this ill-timed pride,

Made fierce remonstrances, and then a threat He mutter'd (but the last was given aside)

About a bow-string-quite in vain; not yet Would Juan bend, though 't were to Mahomet's bride : There's nothing in the world like etiquette

In kingly chambers or imperial halls,
As also at the race and county balls.

CIV.

He stood like Atlas, with a world of words
About his ears, and nathless would not bend;
The blood of all his line's Castilian lords
Boil'd in his veins, and rather than descend
To stain his pedigree a thousand swords

A thousand times of him had made an end; At length perceiving the "foot" could not stand, Baba proposed that he should kiss the hand.

5 ["Her fair maids were ranged below the sofa, and, to the number of twenty, were all dressed in fine light damasks, brocaded with silver. They put me in mind of the pictures of the ancient nymphs. I did not think all nature could have furnished such a scene of beauty," &c.— LADY M. W. MONTAGU.]

6 ["Nil admirari, prope res est una, Numici, Solaque quæ possít facere et servare beatum."- Hon. lib. i. epist. vi.]

7 [The "Murray" of Pope was the great Earl Mansfield.] ["Not to admire, is all the art I Know

To make men happy, and to keep them so,
(Plain truth, dear Murray, needs no flowers of speech,
So take it in the very words of Creech.")].

9 ["I maintained that Horace was wrong in placing happiness in nil admirari, for that I thought admiration one of the most agreeable of all our feelings; and I regretted that I had lost much of my disposition to admire, which people generally do as they advance in life. "Sir," said Johnson," as a man advances in life, he gets what is better than admiration-judg ment, to estimate things at their true value." I still insisted that admiration was more pleasing than judgment, as love is more pleasing than friendship. The feeling of friendship is like that of being comfortably filled with roast beef; love, like being enlivened with champagne. JOHNSON, "No, Sir; admiration and love are like being intoxicated with champagne; judg. ment and friendship like being enlivened. Waller has hit upon the same thought with you; but I don't believe you have borrowed from Waller." -BOSWELL, vol. v. p. 306. edit. 1835.]

ст.

Here was an honourable compromise,

A half-way house of diplomatic rest,

Where they might meet in much more peaceful guise; And Juan now his willingness exprest,

To use all fit and proper courtesies,

Adding, that this was commonest and best, For through the South, the custom still commands The gentleman to kiss the lady's hands.

CVI.

And he advanced, though with but a bad grace, Though on more thorough-bred1 or fairer fingers No lips e'er left their transitory trace:

On such as these the lip too fondly lingers, And for one kiss would fain imprint a brace,

As you will see, if she you love shall bring hers In contact; and sometimes even a fair stranger's An almost twelvemonth's constancy endangers.

CVII.

The lady eyed him o'er and o'er, and bade
Baba retire, which he obey'd in style,
As if well used to the retreating trade;

And taking hints in good part all the while,
He whisper'd Juan not to be afraid,

And looking on him with a sort of smile, Took leave, with such a face of satisfaction, As good men wear who have done a virtuous action. CVIII.

When he was gone, there was 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.

CXII.

"To hear and to obey" had been from birth The law of all around her; to fulfil

All phantasies which yielded joy or mirth,

Had been her slaves' chief pleasure, as her will;
Her blood was high, her beauty scarce of earth:
Judge, then, if her caprices e'er stood still;
Had she but been a Christian, I've a notion
We should have found out the "perpetual motion."
CXIII.

Whate'er she saw and coveted was brought;
Whate'er she did not see, if she supposed

It might be seen, with diligence was sought, [closed:
And when 't was found straightway the bargain
There was no end unto the things she bought,

Nor to the trouble which her fancies caused;
Yet even her tyranny had such a grace,
The women pardon'd all except her face.

CXIV.

Juan, the latest of her whims, had caught
Her eye in passing on his way to sale;
She order'd him directly to be bought,
And Baba, who had ne'er been known to fail
In any kind of mischief to be wrought,

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,
And, should you ask how she, a sultan's bride,
Could risk or compass such strange phantasies,
This I must leave sultanas to decide:
Emperors are only husbands in wives' eyes,
And kings and consorts oft are mystified, 2
As we may ascertain with due precision,
Some by experience, others by tradition.

CXVI.

But to the main point, where we have been tending:
She now conceived all difficulties past,
And deem'd herself extremely condescending
When, being made her property at last,
Without more preface, in her blue eyes blending
Passion and power, a glance on him she cast,
And merely saying, "Christian, canst thou love?"
Conceived that phrase was quite enough to move.
CXVII.

And so it was, in proper time and place;

But Juan, who had still his mind o'erflowing With Haidée's isle and soft Ionian face,

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,
For women shed and use them at their liking;
But there is something when man's eye appears
Wet, still more disagreeable and striking:
A woman's tear-drop melts, a man's half sears,
Like molten lead, as if you thrust a pike in
His heart to force it out, for (to be shorter)
To them 'tis a relief, to us a torture.

2 [" And husbands now and then are mystified." — MS.]