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don juan-第32部分
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Paced on most maiden…like and melancholy。
But when they reach'd their own apartments; there;
Like birds; or boys; or bedlamites broke loose;
Waves at spring…tide; or women anywhere
When freed from bonds (which are of no great use
After all); or like Irish at a fair;
Their guards being gone; and as it were a truce
Establish'd between them and bondage; they
Began to sing; dance; chatter; smile; and play。
Their talk; of course; ran most on the new er;
Her shape; her hair; her air; her everything:
Some thought her dress did not so much bee her;
Or wonder'd at her ears without a ring;
Some said her years were getting nigh their summer;
Others contended they were but in spring;
Some thought her rather masculine in height;
While others wish'd that she had been so quite。
But no one doubted on the whole; that she
Was what her dress bespoke; a damsel fair;
And fresh; and 'beautiful exceedingly;'
Who with the brightest Georgians might pare:
They wonder'd how Gulbeyaz; too; could be
So silly as to buy slaves who might share
(If that his Highness wearied of his bride)
Her throne and power; and every thing beside。
But what was strangest in this virgin crew;
Although her beauty was enough to vex;
After the first investigating view;
They all found out as few; or fewer; specks
In the fair form of their panion new;
Than is the custom of the gentle sex;
When they survey; with Christian eyes or Heathen;
In a new face 'the ugliest creature breathing。'
And yet they had their little jealousies;
Like all the rest; but upon this occasion;
Whether there are such things as sympathies
Without our knowledge or our approbation;
Although they could not see through his disguise;
All felt a soft kind of concatenation;
Like magnetism; or devilism; or what
You please… we will not quarrel about that:
But certain 't is they all felt for their new
panion something newer still; as 't were
A sentimental friendship through and through;
Extremely pure; which made them all concur
In wishing her their sister; save a few
Who wish'd they had a brother just like her;
Whom; if they were at home in sweet Circassia;
They would prefer to Padisha or Pacha。
Of those who had most genius for this sort
Of sentimental friendship; there were three;
Lolah; Katinka; and Dudu; in short
(To save description); fair as fair can be
Were they; according to the best report;
Though differing in stature and degree;
And clime and time; and country and plexion;
They all alike admired their new connection。
Lolah was dusk as India and as warm;
Katinka was a Georgian; white and red;
With great blue eyes; a lovely hand and arm;
And feet so small they scarce seem'd made to tread;
But rather skim the earth; while Dudu's form
Look'd more adapted to be put to bed;
Being somewhat large; and languishing; and lazy;
Yet of a beauty that would drive you crazy。
A kind of sleepy Venus seem'd Dudu;
Yet very fit to 'murder sleep' in those
Who gazed upon her cheek's transcendent hue;
Her Attic forehead; and her Phidian nose:
Few angles were there in her form; 't is true;
Thinner she might have been; and yet scarce lose;
Yet; after all; 't would puzzle to say where
It would not spoil some separate charm to pare。
She was not violently lively; but
Stole on your spirit like a May…day breaking;
Her eyes were not too sparkling; yet; half…shut;
They put beholders in a tender taking;
She look'd (this simile 's quite new) just cut
From marble; like Pygmalion's statue waking;
The mortal and the marble still at strife;
And timidly expanding into life。
Lolah demanded the new damsel's name…
'Juanna。'… Well; a pretty name enough。
Katinka ask'd her also whence she came…
'From Spain。'… 'But where is Spain?'… 'Don't ask such stuff;
Nor show your Georgian ignorance… for shame!'
Said Lolah; with an accent rather rough;
To poor Katinka: 'Spain 's an island near
Morocco; betwixt Egypt and Tangier。'
Dudu said nothing; but sat down beside
Juanna; playing with her veil or hair;
And looking at her steadfastly; she sigh'd;
As if she pitied her for being there;
A pretty stranger without friend or guide;
And all abash'd; too; at the general stare
Which weles hapless strangers in all places;
With kind remarks upon their mien and faces。
But here the Mother of the Maids drew near;
With; 'Ladies; it is time to go to rest。
I 'm puzzled what to do with you; my dear;'
She added to Juanna; their new guest:
'Your ing has been unexpected here;
And every couch is occupied; you had best
Partake of mine; but by to…morrow early
We will have all things settled for you fairly。'
Here Lolah interposed… 'Mamma; you know
You don't sleep soundly; and I cannot bear
That anybody should disturb you so;
I 'll take Juanna; we 're a slenderer pair
Than you would make the half of;… don't say no;
And I of your young charge will take due care。'
But here Katinka interfered; and said;
'She also had passion and a bed。
'Besides; I hate to sleep alone;' quoth she。
The matron frown'd: 'Why so?'… 'For fear of ghosts;'
Replied Katinka; 'I am sure I see
A phantom upon each of the four posts;
And then I have the worst dreams that can be;
Of Guebres; Giaours; and Ginns; and Gouls in hosts。'
The dame replied; 'Between your dreams and you;
I fear Juanna's dreams would be but few。
'You; Lolah; must continue still to lie
Alone; for reasons which don't matter; you
The same; Katinka; until by and by;
And I shall place Juanna with Dudu;
Who 's quiet; inoffensive; silent; shy;
And will not toss and chatter the night through。
What say you; child?'… Dudu said nothing; as
Her talents were of the more silent class;
But she rose up; and kiss'd the matron's brow
Between the eyes; and Lolah on both cheeks;
Katinka; too; and with a gentle bow
(Curt'sies are neither used by Turks nor Greeks)
She took Juanna by the hand to show
Their place of rest; and left to both their piques;
The others pouting at the matron's preference
Of Dudu; though they held their tongues from deference。
It was a spacious chamber (Oda is
The Turkish title); and ranged round the wall
Were couches; toilets… and much more than this
I might describe; as I have seen it all;
But it suffices… little was amiss;
'T was on the whole a nobly furnish'd hall;
With all things ladies want; save one or two;
And even those were nearer than they knew。
Dudu; as has been said; was a sweet creature;
Not very dashing; but extremely winning;
With the most regulated charms of feature;
Which painters cannot catch like faces sinning
Against proportion… the wild strokes of nature
Which they hit off at once in the beginning;
Full of expression; right or wrong; that strike;
And pleasing or unpleasing; still are like。
But she was a soft landscape of mild earth;
Where all was harmony; and calm; and quiet;
Luxuriant; budding; cheerful without mirth;
Which; if not happiness; is much more nigh it
Than are your mighty passions and so forth;
Which some call 'the sublime:' I wish they 'd try it:
I 've seen your stormy seas and stormy women;
And pity lovers rather more than seamen。
But she was pensive more than melancholy;
And serious more than pensive; and serene;
It may be; more than either… not unholy
Her thoughts; at least till now; appear to have been。
The strangest thing was; beauteous; she was wholly
Unconscious; albeit turn'd of quick seventeen;
That she was fair; or dark; or short; or tall;
She never thought about herself at all。
And therefore was she kind and gentle as
The Age of Gold (when gold was yet unknown;
By which its nomenclature came to pass;
Thus most appropriately has been shown
'Lucus a non lucendo;' not what was;
But what was not; a sort of style that 's grown
Extremely mon in this age; whose metal
The devil may depose; but never settle:
I think it may be of 'Corinthian Brass;'
Which was a mixture of all metals; but
The brazen uppermost)。 Kind reader! pass
This long parenthesis: I could not shut
It sooner for the soul of me; and class
My faults even with your own! which meaneth; Put
A kind construction upon them and me:
But that you won't… then don't… I am not less free。
'T is time we should return to plain narration;
And thus my narrative proceeds:… Dudu;
With every kindness short of ostentation;
Show'd Juan; or Juanna; through and through
This labyrinth of females; and each station
Described… what 's strange… in words extremely few:
I have but one simile; and that 's a blunder;
For wordless woman; which is silent thunder。
And next she gave her (I say her; because
The gender still was epicene; at least
In outward show; which is a saving clause)
An outline of the customs of the East;
With all their chaste integrity of laws;
By which the more a haram is increased;
The stricter doubtless grow the vestal duties
Of any supernumerary beauties。
And then she gave Juanna a chaste kiss:
Dudu was fond of kissing… which I 'm sure
That nobody can ever take amiss;
Because 't is pleasant; so that it be pure;
And between females means no more than this…
That they have nothing better near; or newer。
'Kiss' rhymes to 'bliss' in fact as well as verse…
I wish it never led to something worse。
In perfect innocence she then unmade
Her toilet; which cost little; for she was
A child of Nature; carelessly array'd:
If fond of a chance ogle at her glass;
'T was like the fawn; which; in the lake display'd;
Beholds her own shy; shadowy image pass;
When first she starts; and then returns to peep;
Admiring this new native of the deep。
And one by one her articles of dress
Were laid aside; but not before she offer'd
Her aid to fair Juanna; whose excess
Of modesty declined the assistance proffer'd:
Which pass'd well off… as she could do no less;
Though by this politesse she rather suffer'd;
Pricking her fingers with those cursed pins;
Which surely were invented for our sins;…
Making a woman like a porcupine;
Not to be rashly touch'd。 But still more dread;
Oh ye! whose fate it is; as once 't was mine;
In early youth; to turn a lady's maid;…
I did my very boyish best to shine
In tricking her out for a masquerade;
The pins were placed sufficiently; but not
Stuck all exactly in the proper spot。
But these
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