from Canto IX

81

Love had made Catherine make each lover’s fortune;
     Unlike our own half-chaste Elizabeth,
Whose avarice all disbursements did importune,
     If History, the grand liar, ever saith
The truth; and though Grief her old age might shorten,
     Because she put a favourite to death,
Her vile, ambiguous method of flirtation,
And Stinginess, disgrace her Sex and Station.

82

But when the levee rose, and all was bustle
     In the dissolving Circle, all the nations’
Ambassadors began as ‘twere to hustle
     Round the young man with their congratulations.
Also the softer silks were heard to rustle
    Of gentle dames, among whose recreations
It is to speculate on handsome faces,
Especially when such lead to high places.

83

Juan, who found himself, he knew not how,
     A general object of attention, made
His answers with a very graceful bow
     As if born for the Ministerial trade.
Though modest, on his unembarrassed brow
     Nature had written “gentleman.” He said
Little, but to the purpose; and his manner
Flung hovering Graces o’er him like a banner.

84

An order from her Majesty consigned
     Our young Lieutenant to the genial care
Of those in office: all the World looked kind
     (As it will look sometimes with the first stare,
Which Youth would not act ill to keep in mind)
    As also did Miss Protasoff then there,
Named from her mystic office “l’Eprouveuse,”
A term inexplicable to the Muse.

85

With her then, as in humble duty bound,
     Juan retired,—and so will I, until
My Pegasus shall tire of touching ground.
     We have just lit on a “Heaven-kissing hill,”
So lofty that I feel my brain turn round,
     And all my fancies whirling like a mill;
Which is a signal to my nerves and brain,
To take a quiet ride in some green lane.