don juan-第34部分

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And　therefore　of　Circassians　had　good　store；
As　an　amusement　after　the　Divan；
Though　an　unusual　fit　of　love；　or　duty；
Had　made　him　lately　bask　in　his　bride's　beauty。

And　now　he　rose；　and　after　due　ablutions
Exacted　by　the　customs　of　the　East；
And　prayers　and　other　pious　evolutions；
He　drank　six　cups　of　coffee　at　the　least；
And　then　withdrew　to　hear　about　the　Russians；
Whose　victories　had　recently　increased
In　Catherine's　reign；　whom　glory　still　adores；

But　oh；　thou　grand　legitimate　Alexander！
Her　son's　son；　let　not　this　last　phrase　offend
Thine　ear；　if　it　should　reach…　and　now　rhymes　wander
Almost　as　far　as　Petersburgh　and　lend
A　dreadful　impulse　to　each　loud　meander
Of　murmuring　Liberty's　wide　waves；　which　blend
Their　roar　even　with　the　Baltic's…　so　you　be
Your　father's　son；　't　is　quite　enough　for　me。

To　call　men　love…begotten　or　proclaim
Their　mothers　as　the　antipodes　of　Timon；
That　hater　of　mankind；　would　be　a　shame；
A　libel；　or　whate'er　you　please　to　rhyme　on：
But　people's　ancestors　are　history's　game；
And　if　one　lady's　slip　could　leave　a　crime　on
All　generations；　I　should　like　to　know
What　pedigree　the　best　would　have　to　show？

Had　Catherine　and　the　sultan　understood
Their　own　true　interests；　which　kings　rarely　know
Until　't　is　taught　by　lessons　rather　rude；
There　was　a　way　to　end　their　strife；　although
Perhaps　precarious；　had　they　but　thought　good；
Without　the　aid　of　prince　or　plenipo：
She　to　dismiss　her　guards　and　he　his　haram；
And　for　their　other　matters；　meet　and　share　'em。

But　as　it　was；　his　Highness　had　to　hold
His　daily　council　upon　ways　and　means
How　to　encounter　with　this　martial　scold；
This　modern　Amazon　and　queen　of　queans；
And　the　perplexity　could　not　be　told
Of　all　the　pillars　of　the　state；　which　leans
Sometimes　a　little　heavy　on　the　backs
Of　those　who　cannot　lay　on　a　new　tax。

Meantime　Gulbeyaz；　when　her　king　was　gone；
Retired　into　her　boudoir；　a　sweet　place
For　love　or　breakfast；　private；　pleasing；　lone；
And　rich　with　all　contrivances　which　grace
Those　gay　recesses：…　many　a　precious　stone
Sparkled　along　its　roof；　and　many　a　vase
Of　porcelain　held　in　the　fetter'd　flowers；
Those　captive　soothers　of　a　captive's　hours。

Mother　of　pearl；　and　porphyry；　and　marble；
Vied　with　each　other　on　this　costly　spot；
And　singing　birds　without　were　heard　to　warble；
And　the　stain'd　glass　which　lighted　this　fair　grot
Varied　each　ray；…　but　all　descriptions　garble
The　true　effect；　and　so　we　had　better　not
Be　too　minute；　an　outline　is　the　best；…
A　lively　reader's　fancy　does　the　rest。

And　here　she　summon'd　Baba；　and　required
Don　Juan　at　his　hands；　and　information
Of　what　had　pass'd　since　all　the　slaves　retired；
And　whether　he　had　occupied　their　station；
If　matters　had　been　managed　as　desired；
And　his　disguise　with　due　consideration
Kept　up；　and　above　all；　the　where　and　how
He　had　pass'd　the　night；　was　what　she　wish'd　to　know。

Baba；　with　some　embarrassment；　replied
To　this　long　catechism　of　questions；　ask'd
More　easily　than　answer'd；…　that　he　had　tried
His　best　to　obey　in　what　he　had　been　task'd；
But　there　seem'd　something　that　he　wish'd　to　hide；
Which　hesitation　more　betray'd　than　mask'd；
He　scratch'd　his　ear；　the　infallible　resource
To　which　embarrass'd　people　have　recourse。

Gulbeyaz　was　no　model　of　true　patience；
Nor　much　disposed　to　wait　in　word　or　deed；
She　liked　quick　answers　in　all　conversations；
And　when　she　saw　him　stumbling　like　a　steed
In　his　replies；　she　puzzled　him　for　fresh　ones；
And　as　his　speech　grew　still　more　broken…kneed；
Her　cheek　began　to　flush；　her　eyes　to　sparkle；
And　her　proud　brow's　blue　veins　to　swell　and　darkle。

When　Baba　saw　these　symptoms；　which　he　knew
To　bode　him　no　great　good；　he　deprecated
Her　anger；　and　beseech'd　she　'd　hear　him　through…
He　could　not　help　the　thing　which　he　related：
Then　out　it　came　at　length；　that　to　Dudu
Juan　was　given　in　charge；　as　hath　been　stated；
But　not　by　Baba's　fault；　he　said；　and　swore　on
The　holy　camel's　hump；　besides　the　Koran。

The　chief　dame　of　the　Oda；　upon　whom
The　discipline　of　the　whole　haram　bore；
As　soon　as　they　re…enter'd　their　own　room；
For　Baba's　function　stopt　short　at　the　door；
Had　settled　all；　nor　could　he　then　presume
（The　aforesaid　Baba）　just　then　to　do　more；
Without　exciting　such　suspicion　as
Might　make　the　matter　still　worse　than　it　was。

He　hoped；　indeed　he　thought；　he　could　be　sure
Juan　had　not　betray'd　himself；　in　fact
'T　was　certain　that　his　conduct　had　been　pure；
Because　a　foolish　or　imprudent　act
Would　not　alone　have　made　him　insecure；
But　ended　in　his　being　found　out　and　sack'd；
And　thrown　into　the　sea。…　Thus　Baba　spoke
Of　all　save　Dudu's　dream；　which　was　no　joke。

This　he　discreetly　kept　in　the　background；
And　talk'd　away…　and　might　have　talk'd　till　now；
For　any　further　answer　that　he　found；
So　deep　an　anguish　wrung　Gulbeyaz'　brow：
Her　cheek　turn'd　ashes；　ears　rung；　brain　whirl'd　round；
As　if　she　had　received　a　sudden　blow；
And　the　heart's　dew　of　pain　sprang　fast　and　chilly
O'er　her　fair　front；　like　Morning's　on　a　lily。

Although　she　was　not　of　the　fainting　sort；
Baba　thought　she　would　faint；　but　there　he　err'd…
It　was　but　a　convulsion；　which　though　short
Can　never　be　described；　we　all　have　heard；
And　some　of　us　have　felt　thus　'all　amort；'
When　things　beyond　the　mon　have　occurr'd；…
Gulbeyaz　proved　in　that　brief　agony
What　she　could　ne'er　express…　then　how　should　I？

She　stood　a　moment　as　a　Pythones
Stands　on　her　tripod；　agonised；　and　full
Of　inspiration　gather'd　from　distress；
When　all　the　heart…strings　like　wild　horses　pull
The　heart　asunder；…　then；　as　more　or　lees
Their　speed　abated　or　their　strength　grew　dull；
She　sunk　down　on　her　seat　by　slow　degrees；
And　bow'd　her　throbbing　head　o'er　trembling　knees。

Her　face　declined　and　was　unseen；　her　hair
Fell　in　long　tresses　like　the　weeping　willow；
Sweeping　the　marble　underneath　her　chair；
Or　rather　sofa　（for　it　was　all　pillow；
A　low　soft　ottoman）；　and　black　despair
Stirr'd　up　and　down　her　bosom　like　a　billow；
Which　rushes　to　some　shore　whose　shingles　check
Its　farther　course；　but　must　receive　its　wreck。

Her　head　hung　down；　and　her　long　hair　in　stooping
Conceal'd　her　features　better　than　a　veil；
And　one　hand　o'er　the　ottoman　lay　drooping；
White；　waxen；　and　as　alabaster　pale：
Would　that　I　were　a　painter！　to　be　grouping
All　that　a　poet　drags　into　detail
Oh　that　my　words　were　colours！　but　their　tints
May　serve　perhaps　as　outlines　or　slight　hints。

Baba；　who　knew　by　experience　when　to　talk
And　when　to　hold　his　tongue；　now　held　it　till
This　passion　might　blow　o'er；　nor　dared　to　balk
Gulbeyaz'　taciturn　or　speaking　will。
At　length　she　rose　up；　and　began　to　walk
Slowly　along　the　room；　but　silent　still；
And　her　brow　clear'd；　but　not　her　troubled　eye；
The　wind　was　down；　but　still　the　sea　ran　high。

She　stopp'd；　and　raised　her　head　to　speak…　but　paused；
And　then　moved　on　again　with　rapid　pace；
Then　slacken'd　it；　which　is　the　march　most　caused
By　deep　emotion：…　you　may　sometimes　trace
A　feeling　in　each　footstep；　as　disclosed
By　Sallust　in　his　Catiline；　who；　chased
By　all　the　demons　of　all　passions；　show'd
Their　work　even　by　the　way　in　which　he　trode。

Gulbeyaz　stopp'd　and　beckon'd　Baba：…　'Slave！
Bring　the　two　slaves！'　she　said　in　a　low　tone；
But　one　which　Baba　did　not　like　to　brave；
And　yet　he　shudder'd；　and　seem'd　rather　prone
To　prove　reluctant；　and　begg'd　leave　to　crave
（Though　he　well　knew　the　meaning）　to　be　shown
What　slaves　her　highness　wish'd　to　indicate；
For　fear　of　any　error；　like　the　late。

'The　Georgian　and　her　paramour；'　replied
The　imperial　bride…　and　added；　'Let　the　boat
Be　ready　by　the　secret　portal's　side：
You　know　the　rest。'　The　words　stuck　in　her　throat；
Despite　her　injured　love　and　fiery　pride；
And　of　this　Baba　willingly　took　note；
And　begg'd　by　every　hair　of　Mahomet's　beard；
She　would　revoke　the　order　he　had　heard。

'To　hear　is　to　obey；'　he　said；　'but　still；
Sultana；　think　upon　the　consequence：
It　is　not　that　I　shall　not　all　fulfil
Your　orders；　even　in　their　severest　sense；
But　such　precipitation　may　end　ill；
Even　at　your　own　imperative　expense：
I　do　not　mean　destruction　and　exposure；
In　case　of　any　premature　disclosure；

'But　your　own　feelings。　Even　should　all　the　rest
Be　hidden　by　the　rolling　waves；　which　hide
Already　many　a　once　love…beaten　breast
Deep　in　the　caverns　of　the　deadly　tide…
You　love　this　boyish；　new；　seraglio　guest；
And　if　this　violent　remedy　be　tried…
Excuse　my　freedom；　when　I　here　assure　you；
That　killing　him　is　not　the　way　to　cure　you。'

'What　dost　thou　know　of　love　or　feeling？…　Wretch！
Begone！'　she　cried；　with　kindling　eyes…　'and　do
My　bidding！'　Baba　vanish'd；　for　to　stretch
His　own　remonstrance　further　he　well　knew
Might　end　in　acting　as　his　own　'Jack　Ketch；'
And　though　he　wish'd　extremely　to　get　through
This　awkward　business　without　harm　to　others；
He　still　preferr'd　his　own　neck　to　another's。

Away　he　went　then　upon　his　mission；
Growling　and　grumbling　in　good　Turkish　phrase
Against　all　women　of　whate'er　condition；
Especially　sultanas　and　their　ways；
Their　obstinacy；　pride；　and　indecision；
Their　never　knowing　their　own　mind　two　days；
The　trouble　that　they　gave；　their　immorality；
Which　made　him　daily　bless　his　own　neutrality。

And　then　he　call'd　his　brethren　to　his　aid；
And　sent　one　on　a　summons　to　the　pair；
That　they　must　instantly　be　well　array'd；
And　above　all　be　b'd　even　to　a　hair；
And　brought　before　the　empress；　who　had　made
Inquiries　after　them　with　kindest　care：
At　which　Dudu　look'd　strange；　and　Juan　silly；
But　go　they　must　at　once；　and　will　I…　nill　I。

And　here　I　leave　them　at　their　preparation
For　the　imperial　presence；　wherein　whether
Gulbeyaz　show'd　them　both　miseration；
Or　got　rid　of　the　parties　altogether；
Like　other　angry　ladies　of　her　nation；…
Are　things　the　turning　of　a　hair　or　feather
May　settle；　but　far　be　't　from　me　to　anticipate
In　what　way　feminine　caprice　may　dissipate。

I　leave　them　for　the　present　with　good　wishes；
Though　doubts　of　their　well　doing；　to　arrange
Another　part　of　history；　for　the　dishes
Of　this　our　banquet　we　must　sometimes　change；
And　trusting　Juan　may　escape　the　fishes；
Although　his　s