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don juan-第28部分

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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。

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 pletely 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 b his head and oil it。

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 e along with me; sirs;
That is… the Lady:' clapping his hands twice;
Four blacks were at his elbow in a trice。

'You; sir;' said Baba; nodding to the one;
'Will please to acpany 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; 't is a palace; where the truly wise
Anticipate the Prophet's paradise。

'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 everybody's sake;
That this disguise may lead to no mistake。'

'Blockhead! e on; and see;' quoth Baba; while
Don Juan; turning to his rade; 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。'

'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 me;
Unless his highness promises to marry me。

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。

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。

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;
You never thought about those little creatures;

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。

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。

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。

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;
'T would be as well; and (though there 's not much in 't)
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;

''T would 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 up in sacks… a mode of navigation
A good deal practised here upon occasion。'

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
Could hardly carry anything away;
Object on object flash'd so bright and fast;
A dazzling mass of gems; and gold; and glitter;
Magnificently mingled in a litter。

Wealth had done wonders… taste not much; such things
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。

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。

The lady rising up with such an air
As Venus rose with from the wave; on them
Bent like an antelope a Paphian pair
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。

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。

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;
Such as was Mary's Queen of Scots; true… tears
And love destroy; and sapping sorrow wrings
Charms from the charmer; yet some never grow
Ugly; for instance… Ninon de l'Enclos。

She spake some words to her attendants; who
posed a choir of girls; ten or a dozen;
And were all clad alike; 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 anything beyond。

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。'

'Not to admire is all the art I know
(Plain truth; dear Murray; 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 quotes the precept to re…teach
From his translation; but had none admired;
Would Pope have sung; or Horace been inspired?

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。'

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。

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。

Here was an honourable promise;
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 monest and best;
For through the South the custom still mands
The gentleman to kiss the lady's hands。

And he advanced; though with but a bad grace;
Though on more thorough…bred 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 endang
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