第99章

Give gently way, when there 's too great a press;

And for your conscience, only learn to nerve it, For, like a racer, or a boxer training, 'T will make, if proved, vast efforts without paining.

Lord Henry also liked to be superior, As most men do, the little or the great;

The very lowest find out an inferior, At least they think so, to exert their state Upon: for there are very few things wearier Than solitary Pride's oppressive weight, Which mortals generously would divide, By bidding others carry while they ride.

In birth, in rank, in fortune likewise equal, O'er Juan he could no distinction claim;

In years he had the advantage of time's sequel;

And, as he thought, in country much the same-Because bold Britons have a tongue and free quill, At which all modern nations vainly aim;

And the Lord Henry was a great debater, So that few members kept the house up later.

These were advantages: and then he thought-It was his foible, but by no means sinister-That few or none more than himself had caught Court mysteries, having been himself a minister:

He liked to teach that which he had been taught, And greatly shone whenever there had been a stir;

And reconciled all qualities which grace man, Always a patriot, and sometimes a placeman.

He liked the gentle Spaniard for his gravity;

He almost honour'd him for his docility;

Because, though young, he acquiesced with suavity, Or contradicted but with proud humility.

He knew the world, and would not see depravity In faults which sometimes show the soil's fertility, If that the weeds o'erlive not the first crop-For then they are very difficult to stop.

And then he talk'd with him about Madrid, Constantinople, and such distant places;

Where people always did as they were bid, Or did what they should not with foreign graces.

Of coursers also spake they: Henry rid Well, like most Englishmen, and loved the races;

And Juan, like a true-born Andalusian, Could back a horse, as despots ride a Russian.

And thus acquaintance grew, at noble routs, And diplomatic dinners, or at other-For Juan stood well both with Ins and Outs, As in freemasonry a higher brother.

Upon his talent Henry had no doubts;

His manner show'd him sprung from a high mother;

And all men like to show their hospitality To him whose breeding matches with his quality.

At Blank-Blank Square;- for we will break no squares By naming streets: since men are so censorious, And apt to sow an author's wheat with tares, Reaping allusions private and inglorious, Where none were dreamt of, unto love's affairs, Which were, or are, or are to be notorious, That therefore do I previously declare, Lord Henry's mansion was in Blank-Blank Square.

Also there bin another pious reason For making squares and streets anonymous;

Which is, that there is scarce a single season Which doth not shake some very splendid house With some slight heart-quake of domestic treason-A topic scandal doth delight to rouse:

Such I might stumble over unawares, Unless I knew the very chastest squares.

'T is true, I might have chosen Piccadilly, A place where peccadillos are unknown;

But I have motives, whether wise or silly, For letting that pure sanctuary alone.

Therefore I name not square, street, place, until I

Find one where nothing naughty can be shown, A vestal shrine of innocence of heart:

At Henry's mansion then, in Blank-Blank Square, Was Juan a recherche, welcome guest, As many other noble scions were;

And some who had but talent for their crest;

Or wealth, which is a passport every where;

Or even mere fashion, which indeed 's the best Recommendation; and to be well drest Will very often supersede the rest.

And since 'there 's safety in a multitude Of counsellors,' as Solomon has said, Or some one for him, in some sage, grave mood;-Indeed we see the daily proof display'd In senates, at the bar, in wordy feud, Where'er collective wisdom can parade, Which is the only cause that we can guess Of Britain's present wealth and happiness;-But as 'there 's safety' grafted in the number 'Of counsellors' for men, thus for the sex A large acquaintance lets not Virtue slumber;

Or should it shake, the choice will more perplex-Variety itself will more encumber.

'Midst many rocks we guard more against wrecks;

And thus with women: howsoe'er it shocks some's Self-love, there 's safety in a crowd of coxcombs.

But Adeline had not the least occasion For such a shield, which leaves but little merit To virtue proper, or good education.

Her chief resource was in her own high spirit, Which judged mankind at their due estimation;

And for coquetry, she disdain'd to wear it:

Secure of admiration, its impression Was faint, as of an every-day possession.

To all she was polite without parade;

To some she show'd attention of that kind Which flatters, but is flattery convey'd In such a sort as cannot leave behind A trace unworthy either wife or maid;-A gentle, genial courtesy of mind, To those who were, or pass'd for meritorious, Just to console sad glory for being glorious;

Which is in all respects, save now and then, A dull and desolate appendage. Gaze Upon the shades of those distinguish'd men Who were or are the puppet-shows of praise, The praise of persecution; gaze again On the most favour'd; and amidst the blaze Of sunset halos o'er the laurel-brow'd, What can ye recognise?- a gilded cloud.

There also was of course in Adeline That calm patrician polish in the address, Which ne'er can pass the equinoctial line Of any thing which nature would express;

Just as a mandarin finds nothing fine,-At least his manner suffers not to guess That any thing he views can greatly please.

Perhaps we have borrow'd this from the Chinese-Perhaps from Horace: his 'Nil admirari'

Was what he call'd the 'Art of Happiness;'

An art on which the artists greatly vary, And have not yet attain'd to much success.

However, 't is expedient to be wary:

Indifference certes don't produce distress;

And rash enthusiasm in good society Were nothing but a moral inebriety.