from Canto VI

41

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 seemed made to tread,
But rather skim the earth; while Dud’s form
     Looked more adapted to be put to bed,
Being somewhat large and languishing and lazy,
Yet of a beauty that would drive you crazy.

42

A kind of sleepy Venus seemed Dud,
     Yet very fit to “murder sleep” in those
Who gazed upon her cheek’s transcendant hue,
    Her Attic forehead, and her Phidian nose:
Few angles were there in her form ‘tis true,
     Thinner she might have been and yet scarce lose;
Yet, after all, ‘twould puzzle to say where
It would not spoil some separate charm to pare.

43

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 looked (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.

44

Lolah demanded the new damsel’s name—
     “Juanna.”—Well, a pretty name enough.
Katinka asked 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.”

45

Dud said nothing, but sat down beside
     Juanna, playing with her veil or hair;
And looking at her steadfastly, she sighed,
     As if she pitied her for being there,
A pretty stranger without friend or guide,
     And all abashed too at the general stare
Which welcomes hapless strangers in all places,
With kind remarks upon their mien and faces.

46

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 coming 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.”

47

Here Lolah interposed—”Mamma, you know
     You don’t sleep soundly, and I cannot bear
That any body 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 compassion and a bed.”

48

“Besides, I hate to sleep alone,” quoth she.
     The Matron frowned: “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.

49

“You, Lolah, must continue still to lie
     Alone, for reasons which don’t matter; you
The same, Katinka, until by and bye;
     And I shall place Juanna with Dud,
Who’s quiet, inoffensive, silent, shy,
     And will not toss and chatter the night through.
What say you, child?”—Dud said nothing, as
Her talents were of the more silent class;

50

But she rose up, and kissed the Matron’s brow
     Between the eyes, and Lolah on both cheeks,
Katinka too; and with a gentle bow
    (Curtsies 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 Dud, though they held their tongues from deference.