from Canto XVI

71

Her black, bright, downcast, yet espiegle eye,
     Had gathered a large tear into its corner,
Which the poor thing at times essayed to dry,
     For she was not a sentimental mourner,
Parading all her sensibility,
    Nor insolent enough to scorn the scorner,
But stood in trembling, patient tribulation,
To be called up for her examination.

72

Of course these groups were scattered here and there,
     Not nigh the gay saloon of ladies gent.
The lawyers in the study; and in air
    The prize pig, ploughman, poachers; the men sent
From town, viz. architect and dealer, were
     Both busy (as a general in his tent
Writing dispatches) in their several stations,
Exulting in their brilliant lucubrations.

73

But this poor girl was left in the great hall,
     While Scout, the parish guardian of the frail,
Discussed (he hated beer yclept the “small”)
     A mighty mug of moral double ale:
She waited until Justice could recall
     Its kind attentions to their proper pale,
To name a thing in nomenclature rather
Perplexing for most virgins—a child’s father.

74

You see here was enough of occupation
     For the Lord Henry, linked with dogs and horses.
There was much bustle too and preparation
     Below stairs on the score of second courses,
Because, as suits their rank and situation,
     Those who in counties have great land resources,
Have “public days,” when all men may carouse,
Though not exactly what’s called “open house.”

75

But once a week or fortnight, uninvited
     (Thus we translate a general invitation)
All country gentlemen, esquired or knighted,
     May drop in without cards, and take their station
At the full board, and sit alike delighted
     With fashionable wines and conversation;
And as the Isthmus of the grand connection,
Talk o’er themselves, the past and next election.

76

Lord Henry was a great electioneerer,
     Burrowing for boroughs like a rat or rabbit.
But county contests cost him rather dearer,
    Because the neighbouring Scotch Earl of Giftgabbit
Had English influence, in the self-same sphere here;
    His son, the Honourable Dick Dicedrabbit,
Was member for the “other Interest” (meaning
The same self-interest, with a different leaning).

77

Courteous and cautious therefore in his county,
     He was all things to all men, and dispensed
To some civility, to others bounty,
     And promises to all—which last commenced
To gather to a somewhat large amount, he
     Not calculating how much they condensed;
But what with keeping some, and breaking others,
His word had the same value as another’s.

78

A friend to freedom and freeholders—yet
     No less a friend to government—he held,
That he exactly the just medium hit
     ‘Twixt place and patriotism—albeit compelled,
Such was his Sovereign’s pleasure (though unfit,
     He added modestly, when rebels railed)
To hold some sinecures he wished abolished,
But that with them all law would be demolished.

79

He was “free to confess”—(whence comes this phrase?
     Is’t English? No—’tis only parliamentary)
That innovation’s spirit now-a-days
     Had made more progress than for the last century.
He would not tread a factious path to praise,
    Though for the public weal disposed to venture high;
As for his place, he could but say this of it,
That the fatigue was greater than the profit.

80

Heaven, and his friends, knew that a private life
     Had ever been his sole and whole ambition;
But could he quit his king in times of strife
    Which threatened the whole country with perdition?
When demagogues would with a butcher’s knife
    Cut through and through (oh! damnable incision!)
The Gordian or the Geordi-an knot, whose strings
Have tied together Commons, Lords, and Kings.