Twas famous, too, for Thisbe and for Pyramus, (1) 'And the calumniated queen Semiramis.(2)

LXI.

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 express'd
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 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:

(1) 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.--L. E. (2) Babylon was enlarged by Nimrod, strengthened and beautified by Nabuchadonosor, and rebuilt by Semiramis.

[Lord Byron had intended to suppress this stanza, as appears from the following extract of a passage in a letter to Mr. Murray:-"In agreement with a wish expressed by Mr. Hobhouse, it is my determination to omit the stanza upon the horse of Semiramis in the fifth Canto of Don Juan. I mention this in case you are, or intend to be, the publisher of the remaining Cantos."-P. E.]

(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.-L. E. (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 un

Sofas 'twas 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. (7) 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 yonderIn that remote recess which you may seeOr 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 dearthHe 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 obtain 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, ""I would greatly tend to better their condition, If they would condescend to circumcision.

LXX.

"For his own part, he really should rejoice To see them true believers, but no less

distinguishable but by a few inequalities of the surface ca which 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 Euphrates and Tigris, once so prolific, are now, for the most part, covered with impenetrable brus wood; and the interior of the province, which was traversed and fertilised with innumerable canals, is destitute of either inhabitants or vegetation." Morier.-L. E.

(5) "Two Memoirs on the Ruins of Babylon, by Claudias James Rich, Esq., Resident for the East India Company at the Court of the Pacha of Bagdat."-L. E.

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- __" Now, pray,"

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 supp'd
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 Ia 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,"
Said Baba;
"but pray do as I desire:

I have no more time nor many words to spare."
"At least," said Juan, "sure I may inquire
The cause of this odd travesty?"-" Forbear,"
Said Baba, "to be curious; 'twill transpire,
No doubt, in proper place, and time, and season:
I've no authority to tell the reason."

LXXV.

"Then if I do," said Juan, "I'll be- ____ "Hold!" Rejoin'd the negro, "pray be not provoking; This spirit's well, but it may wax too bold,

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:
A woman's, true; but then there is a cause

(1) In the MS.

"If they shall not as soon cut off my head."-L. E. (2) "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

Why you should wear them."-"What! though my soul loathes

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
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; (2)
But tugging on his petticoat, he tripp'd,

Which as we say-or, as the Scotch say, whlik, (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-bis 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.

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
Upon the metamorphosis in view,— [smile
"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.
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." "Nay," quoth the maid, "the Sultan's self shan't carry Unless his highness promises to marry me."

LXXXV.

[me,

And thus they parted, each by separate doors;
Baba led Juan onward, room by room, (1)
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, (2)
You never thought about those little creatures,

(1) "The descriptions of the imperial harem are entirely fanciful. I am persuaded, by different circumstances, that Byron could not have been in those sacred chambers of any of the seraglios. At the time I was in Constantinople, only one of the imperial residences was accessible to strangers, and it was unfurnished. The great seraglio was not accessible beyond the courts, except in those apartments where the Sultan receives his officers and visitors of state. The gorgeous description of the Sultan's seraglio is more like an imitation of Vathek, than any thing that had been seen, or is in existence." Galt.-P. E.

(2) Features of a gate-a ministerial metaphor: "the feature upon which this question hinges." See the Fudge Family, or hear Castlereagh.-[Phil. Fudge, in bis letter to Lord Castlereagh, says:—

"As thou wouldst say, my guide and teacher
In these gay metaphoric fringes,

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 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 times-
To 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.

XC.

They spoke by signs-that is, not spoke at all; And, looking like two incubi, they glared As Baba with his fingers made them fall

To heaving back the portal folds: it scared Juan a moment, as this pair so small

With shrinking serpent optics on him stared; It was as if their little looks could poison Or fascinate whome'er they fix'd their eyes on.

XCI.

Before they enter'd, Baba paused to hint

To Juan some slight lessons as his guide: "If you could just contrive," he said, "to stint That somewhat manly majesty of stride, "Twould be as well, and,—(though there's not much

To swing a little less from side to side, [in 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 might 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 up in sacks—a mode of navigation
A good deal practised here upon occasion." (3)
XCIII.

With this encouragement, he led the way
Into a room still nobler than the last;
A rich confusion form'd a disarray
In such sort, that the eye along it cast

I now embark into the feature

On which this letter chiefly hinges.” The note adds, "verbatim from one of the noble Viscount speeches: And now, sir, I must embark into the feature n which this question chiefly hinges." Fudge Family, p. 14. -L. E.)

They

(3) A few years ago the wife of Muchtar Pacha co plained to his father of his son's supposed infidelity: asked with whom, and she had the barbarity to give in list of the twelve handsomest women in Yanina. were seized, fastened up in sacks, and drowned in the lak the same night. One of the guards who was present in formed 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. 195, 210)

-L. E.

I

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
Under a canopy, and there reclined
Quite in a confidential queenly way, (1)

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.

XCVI.

The lady, rising up with such an air

As Venus rose with from the wave, on them Bent like an antelope a Paphian pair (2)

Of eyes, which put out each surrounding gem; And raising up an arm as moonlight fair, She sign'd to Baba, who first kiss'd the hem Of her deep purple robe, and, speaking low, Pointed to Juan, who remain'd below.

XCVII.

Her presence was as lofty as her state;
Her beauty of that overpowering kind,
Whose force description only would abate:
I'd rather leave it much to your own mind,
Than lessen it by what I could relate

Of forms and features; it would strike you blind
Could I do justice to the full detail;
So, luckily for both, my phrases fail.

(1) "On a sofa, raised three steps, and covered with fine Persian carpets, sat the kiyaya's lady, leaning on cushions of white satin, embroidered," etc. Lady M. W. Montagu. -L. E.

(2) In the MS.

"As Venus rose from ocean-bent on them

With a far-reaching glance, a Paphian pair."-L. E (3) In the MS.

"But there are forms which Time adorns, not wears,
And to which beauty obstinately clings."-L. E.

(4) "With regard to the queen's person, all contemporary inthors 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, though, according to the fashion of that age, she frequently wore borrowed locks, ind of different colours. 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 statare 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 ancommon skill. No man, says Brantome, ever beheld her person without admiration and love, or will read her history without sorrow." Robertson.-L. E.

(5) Mademoiselle de l'Enclos, celebrated for her beauty, ber 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,

XCVIII.

Thus much however I may add, her years

Were ripe, they might make six-and-twenty springs, But there are forms which Time to touch forbears, And turns aside his scythe to vulgar things, (3) Such as was Mary's Queen of Scots ;(4) true-tears And love destroy; and sapping sorrow wrings Charms from the charmer, yet some never grow Ugly; for instance-Ninon de l'Enclos. (5)

XCIX.

She spake some words to her attendants, who
Composed a choir of girls, ten or a dozen,
And were all clad alike (6) like Juan, too,
Who wore their uniform, by Baba chosen:
They form'd a very nymph-like looking crew,
Which might have call'd Diana's chorus "cousin,"
As far as outward show may correspond;
I won't be bail for any thing beyond.

C.

They bow'd obeisance and withdrew, retiring,

But not by the same door through which came in Baba and Juan, which last stood admiring,

At some small distance, all he saw within 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." (7)

CI.

"Not to admire is all the art I know

(Plain truth, dear Murray, (8) needs few flowers of To make men happy, or to keep them so;" [speech) (So take it in the very words of Creech). Thus Horace wrote, we all know, long ago;

And thus Pope (9) quotes the precept to re-teach From his translation; but, had none admired, Would Pope have sung, or Horace been inspired?(10)

CII.

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

and is said to have had a grandson of her own among ber lovers. See the works of Madame de Sévigné, Voltaire, etc. etc. 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, etc. 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."-L. E.

(6) "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. 1 did not think all nature could have furnished such a scene of beauty," etc. Lady M. W. Montagu.-L. E.

(7) "Nil admirari, prope res est una, Numici, Solaque quæ possit facere et servare beatum." Hor. lib. i. epist. vi.-L. E. (8) The "Murray" of Pope was the great Earl Mansfield.

-L. E.

(9) "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)."-L. E. (10) "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 1

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. (1)

CIV.

He stood like Atlas, with a world of words
About his ears, and natheless 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.

CV.

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 express'd,

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-bred (2) 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 a sudden change: I know not what might be the lady's thought,

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-judgment, to estimate things at their true value.' I still insisted that admiration was more pleasing than judg ment, 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 in

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,
Her features all the sweetness of the devil,
When he put on the cherub to perplex

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 want As if she rather order'd than was granting. [ing,

CX.

Something imperial, or imperious, threw

A chain o'er all she did; that is, a chain Was thrown as 't were about the neck of you,And rapture's self will seem almost a pain With aught which looks like despotism in view:

Our souls at least are free, and 't is in vain We would against them make the flesh obeyThe spirit in the end will have its way.

CXI.

Her very smile was haughty, though so sweet;
Her very nod was not an inclination;
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 mist
CXII.

"To hear ard to obey" had been from birth
The law of all around her; to fulfil
All fantasies 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,
And when 't was found straightway the bargain
There was no end unto the things she bought, [closed

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;

toxicated with champagne; judgment and friendship like being enlivened. Waller has hit upon the same though with you; but I don't believe you have borrowed from Waller.'" Croker's Boswell, vol. iii, p. 236,-L. E, (1) In the MS.

"I've also seen it at provincial balls.”—-L.. E. (2) There is nothing, perhaps, more distinctive of birt It is almost the only sign of blood whic aristocracy can generate. [See ante, p. 682.-P. E.]

than the hand.