from Canto VI

111

She stopt, and raised her head to speak—but paused,
     And then moved on again with rapid pace;
Then slackened 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, showed
Their work even by the way in which he trode.

112

Gulbeyaz stopped and beckoned Baba:—”Slave!
     Bring the two slaves!” she said in a low tone,
But one which Baba did not like to brave,
     And yet he shuddered, and seemed rather prone
To prove reluctant, and begged leave to crave
     (Though he well knew the meaning) to be shown
What slaves her Highness wished to indicate,
For fear of any error, like the late.

113

“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 begged by every hair of Mahomet’s beard
She would revoke the order he had heard.

114

“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;

115

“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.”

116

“What dost thou know of love or feeling?—wretch!
    Begone!” she cried, with kindling eyes—”And do
My bidding!” Baba vanished, for to stretch
    His own remonstrance further he well knew
Might end in acting as his own “Jack Ketch”;
     And though he wished extremely to get through
This awkward business without harm to others,
He still preferred his own neck to another’s.

117

Away he went then upon his commission,
     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.

118

And then he called his Brethren to his aid,
     And sent one on a summons to the pair,
That they must instantly be well arrayed,
     And above all be combed even to a hair,
And brought before the Empress, who had made
    Enquiries after them with kindest care:
At which Dud looked strange, and Juan silly;
But go they must at once, and Will I—Nill I.

119

And here I leave them at their preparation
     For the Imperial presence, wherein whether
Gulbeyaz shewed them both commiseration,
     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.

120

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 situation now seems strange,
And scarce secure: as such digressions are fair,
The Muse will take a little touch at warfare.