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don juan-第29部分

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In contact; and sometimes even a fair stranger's
An almost twelvemonth's constancy endangers。

The lady eyed him o'er and o'er; and bade
Baba retire; which he obey'd in style;
As if well used to the retreating trade;
And taking hints in good part all the while;
He whisper'd Juan not to be afraid;
And looking on him with a sort of smile;
Took leave; with such a face of satisfaction
As good men wear who have done a virtuous action。

When he was gone; there was a sudden change:
I know not what might be the lady's thought;
But o'er her bright brow flash'd a tumult strange;
And into her dear cheek the blood was brought;
Blood…red as sunset summer clouds which range
The verge of Heaven; and in her large eyes wrought;
A mixture of sensations might be scann'd;
Of half voluptuousness and half mand。

Her form had all the softness of her sex;
Her features all the sweetness of the devil;
When he put on the cherub to perplex
Eve; and paved (God knows how) the road to evil;
The sun himself was scarce more free from specks
Than she from aught at which the eye could cavil;
Yet; somehow; there was something somewhere wanting;
As if she rather order'd than was granting。

Something imperial; or imperious; threw
A chain o'er all she did; that is; a chain
Was thrown as 't were about the neck of you;…
And rapture's self will seem almost a pain
With aught which looks like despotism in view:
Our souls at least are free; and 't is in vain
We would against them make the flesh obey…
The spirit in the end will have its way。

Her very smile was haughty; though so sweet;
Her very nod was not an inclination;
There was a self…will even in her small feet;
As though they were quite conscious of her station…
They trod as upon necks; and to plete
Her state (it is the custom of her nation);
A poniard deck'd her girdle; as the sign
She was a sultan's bride (thank Heaven; not mine!)。

'To hear and to obey' had been from birth
The law of all around her; to fulfill
All phantasies which yielded joy or mirth;
Had been her slaves' chief pleasure; as her will;
Her blood was high; her beauty scarce of earth:
Judge; then; if her caprices e'er stood still;
Had she but been a Christian; I 've a notion
We should have found out the 'perpetual motion。'

Whate'er she saw and coveted was brought;
Whate'er she did not see; if she supposed
It might be seen; with diligence was sought;
And when 't was found straightway the bargain closed;
There was no end unto the things she bought;
Nor to the trouble which her fancies caused;
Yet even her tyranny had such a grace;
The women pardon'd all except her face。

Juan; the latest of her whims; had caught
Her eye in passing on his way to sale;
She order'd him directly to be bought;
And Baba; who had ne'er been known to fail
In any kind of mischief to be wrought;
At all such auctions knew how to prevail:
She had no prudence; but he had; and this
Explains the garb which Juan took amiss。

His youth and features favour'd the disguise;
And; should you ask how she; a sultan's bride;
Could risk or pass such strange phantasies;
This I must leave sultanas to decide:
Emperors are only husbands in wives' eyes;
And kings and consorts oft are mystified;
As we may ascertain with due precision;
Some by experience; others by tradition。

But to the main point; where we have been tending:…
She now conceived all difficulties past;
And deem'd herself extremely condescending
When; being made her property at last;
Without more preface; in her blue eyes blending
Passion and power; a glance on him she cast;
And merely saying; 'Christian; canst thou love?'
Conceived that phrase was quite enough to move

And so it was; in proper time and place;
But Juan; who had still his mind o'erflowing
With Haidee's isle and soft Ionian face;
Felt the warm blood; which in his face was glowing;
Rush back upon his heart; which fill'd apace;
And left his cheeks as pale as snowdrops blowing;
These words went through his soul like Arab…spears;
So that he spoke not; but burst into tears。

She was a good deal shock'd; not shock'd at tears;
For women shed and use them at their liking;
But there is something when man's eye appears
Wet; still more disagreeable and striking;
A woman's tear…drop melts; a man's half sears;
Like molten lead; as if you thrust a pike in
His heart to force it out; for (to be shorter)
To them 't is a relief; to us a torture。

And she would have consoled; but knew not how:
Having no equals; nothing which had e'er
Infected her with sympathy till now;
And never having dreamt what 't was to bear
Aught of a serious; sorrowing kind; although
There might arise some pouting petty care
To cross her brow; she wonder'd how so near
Her eyes another's eye could shed a tear。

But nature teaches more than power can spoil;
And; when a strong although a strange sensation
Moves… female hearts are such a genial soil
For kinder feelings; whatsoe'er their nation;
They naturally pour the 'wine and oil;'
Samaritans in every situation;
And thus Gulbeyaz; though she knew not why;
Felt an odd glistening moisture in her eye。

But tears must stop like all things else; and soon
Juan; who for an instant had been moved
To such a sorrow by the intrusive tone
Of one who dared to ask if 'he had loved;'
Call'd back the stoic to his eyes; which shone
Bright with the very weakness he reproved;
And although sensitive to beauty; he
Felt most indignant still at not being free。

Gulbeyaz; for the first time in her days;
Was much embarrass'd; never having met
In all her life with aught save prayers and praise;
And as she also risk'd her life to get
Him whom she meant to tutor in love's ways
Into a fortable tete…a…tete;
To lose the hour would make her quite a martyr;
And they had wasted now almost a quarter。

I also would suggest the fitting time
To gentlemen in any such like case;
That is to say in a meridian clime…
With us there is more law given to the chase;
But here a small delay forms a great crime:
So recollect that the extremest grace
Is just two minutes for your declaration…
A moment more would hurt your reputation。

Juan's was good; and might have been still better;
But he had got Haidee into his head:
However strange; he could not yet forget her;
Which made him seem exceedingly ill…bred。
Gulbeyaz; who look'd on him as her debtor
For having had him to her palace led;
Began to blush up to the eyes; and then
Grow deadly pale; and then blush back again。

At length; in an imperial way; she laid
Her hand on his; and bending on him eyes
Which needed not an empire to persuade;
Look'd into his for love; where none replies:
Her brow grew black; but she would not upbraid;
That being the last thing a proud woman tries;
She rose; and pausing one chaste moment; threw
Herself upon his breast; and there she grew。

This was an awkward test; as Juan found;
But he was steel'd by sorrow; wrath; and pride:
With gentle force her white arms he unwound;
And seated her all drooping by his side;
Then rising haughtily he glanced around;
And looking coldly in her face; he cried;
'The prison'd eagle will not pair; nor
Serve a Sultana's sensual phantasy。

'Thou ask'st if I can love? be this the proof
How much I have loved… that I love not thee!
In this vile garb; the distaff; web; and woof;
Were fitter for me: Love is for the free!
I am not dazzled by this splendid roof;
Whate'er thy power; and great it seems to be;
Heads bow; knees bend; eyes watch around a throne;
And hands obey… our hearts are still our own。'

This was a truth to us extremely trite;
Not so to her; who ne'er had heard such things:
She deem'd her least mand must yield delight;
Earth being only made for queens and kings。
If hearts lay on the left side or the right
She hardly knew; to such perfection brings
Legitimacy its born votaries; when
Aware of their due royal rights o'er men。

Besides; as has been said; she was so fair
As even in a much humbler lot had made
A kingdom or confusion anywhere;
And also; as may be presumed; she laid
Some stress on charms; which seldom are; if e'er;
By their possessors thrown into the shade:
She thought hers gave a double 'right divine;'
And half of that opinion 's also mine。

Remember; or (if you can not) imagine;
Ye; who have kept your chastity when young;
While some more desperate dowager has been waging
Love with you; and been in the dog…days stung
By your refusal; recollect her raging!
Or recollect all that was said or sung
On such a subject; then suppose the face
Of a young downright beauty in this case。

Suppose;… but you already have supposed;
The spouse of Potiphar; the Lady Booby;
Phaedra; and all which story has disclosed
Of good examples; pity that so few by
Poets and private tutors are exposed;
To educate… ye youth of Europe… you by!
But when you have supposed the few we know;
You can't suppose Gulbeyaz' angry brow。

A tigress robb'd of young; a lioness;
Or any interesting beast of prey;
Are similes at hand for the distress
Of ladies who can not have their own way;
But though my turn will not be served with less;
These don't express one half what I should say:
For what is stealing young ones; few or many;
To cutting short their hopes of having any?

The love of offspring 's nature's general law;
From tigresses and cubs to ducks and ducklings;
There 's nothing whets the beak; or arms the claw
Like an invasion of their babes and sucklings;
And all who have seen a human nursery; saw
How mothers love their children's squalls and chucklings;
This strong extreme effect (to tire no longer
Your patience) shows the cause must still be stronger。

If I said fire flash'd from Gulbeyaz' eyes;
'T were nothing… for her eyes flash'd always fire;
Or said her cheeks assumed the deepest dyes;
I should but bring disgrace upon the dyer;
So supernatural was her passion's rise;
For ne'er till now she knew a check'd desire:
Even ye who know what a check'd woman is
(Enough; God knows!) would much fall short of this。

Her rage was but a minute's; and 't was well…
A moment's more had slain her; but the while
It lasted 't was like a short glimpse of hell:
Nought 's more sublime than energetic bile;
Thou
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