(1492).
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67 8 / GEORGE GORDON, LORD BYRON
I shall have much to speak about), and she Was married, charming, chaste,2 and twenty-three.
60
Her eye (I'm very fond of handsome eyes) Was large and dark, suppressing half its fire 475 Until she spoke, then through its soft disguise Flash'd an expression more of pride than ire, And love than either; and there would arise A something in them which was not desire, But would have been, perhaps, but for the soul 480 Which struggled through and chasten'd down the whole.
61
Her glossy hair was cluster'd o'er a brow Bright with intelligence, and fair and smooth; Her eyebrow's shape was like the aerial bow, Her cheek all purple with the beam of youth, 485 Mounting, at times, to a transparent glow,
As if her veins ran lightning; she, in sooth, Possess'd an air and grace by no means common: Her stature tall?I hate a dumpy woman.
62
Wedded she was some years, and to a man 490 Of fifty, and such husbands are in plenty; And yet, I think, instead of such a ONE 'Twere better to have TWO of five and twenty, Especially in countries near the sun: And now I think on't, 'mi vien in mente,'3 495 Ladies even of the most uneasy virtue Prefer a spouse whose age is short of thirty.
63 'Tis a sad thing, I cannot choose but say, And all the fault of that indecent sun, Who cannot leave alone our helpless clay, 500 But will keep baking, broiling, burning on, That howsoever people fast and pray
The flesh is frail, and so the soul undone: What men call gallantry, and gods adultery, Is much more common where the climate's sultry.
64
505 Happy the nations of the moral north! Where all is virtue, and the winter season Sends sin, without a rag on, shivering forth; ('Twas snow that brought St. Francis back to reason); Where juries cast up what a wife is worth 510
By laying whate'er sum, in mulct,4 they please on The lover, who must pay a handsome price, Because it is a marketable vice.
2. I.e., faithful to her husband. 4. By way of a fine or legal penalty. 3. It comes to my mind (Italian).
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DON JUAN, CANTO 1 / 679
65
Alfonso was the name of Julia's lord, A man well looking for his years, and who 515 Was neither much beloved, nor yet abhorr'd; They lived together as most people do, Suffering each other's foibles by accord, And not exactly either one or two; Yet he was jealous, though he did not show it, 520 For jealousy dislikes the world to know it.
# ? $
69
545 Juan she saw, and, as a pretty child, Caress'd him often, such a thing might be Quite innocently done, and harmless styled, When she had twenty years, and thirteen he; But I am not so sure I should have smiled
550 When he was sixteen, Julia twenty-three, These few short years make wondrous alterations, Particularly amongst sun-burnt nations.
70
Whate'er the cause might be, they had become Changed; for the dame grew distant, the youth shy, 555 Their looks cast down, their greetings almost dumb, And much embarrassment in either eye; There surely will be little doubt with some That Donna Julia knew the reason why, But as for Juan, he had no more notion 560 Than he who never saw the sea of ocean.
71 Yet Julia's very coldness still was kind, And tremulously gentle her small hand Withdrew itself from his, but left behind A little pressure, thrilling, and so bland 565 And slight, so very slight, that to the mind
'Twas but a doubt; but ne'er magician's wand Wrought change with all Armida's5 fairy art Like what this light touch left on Juan's heart.
And if she met him, though she smiled no more, 570 She look'd a sadness sweeter than her smile, As if her heart had deeper thoughts in store She must not own, but cherish'd more the while, For that compression in its burning core; Even innocence itself has many a wile, 575 And will not dare to trust itself with truth, And love is taught hypocrisy from youth.
5. The sorceress in Torquato Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered (1581) who seduces Rinaldo into forgetting his vows as a crusader.
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68 0 / GEORGE GORDON, LORD BYRON
75 Poor Julia's heart was in an awkward state; She felt it going, and resolved to make The noblest efforts for herself and mate, For honour's, pride's, religion's, virtue's sake; Her resolutions were most truly great,
And almost might have made a Tarquin6 quake; She pray'd the Virgin Mary for her grace, As being the best judge of a lady's case.
