barrels;
Dear is the helpless creature we defend Against the world; and dear the schoolboy spot We ne'er forget, though there we are forgot.
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But sweeter still than this, than these, than all, 1010 Is first and passionate love?it stands alone, Like Adam's recollection of his fall; The tree of knowledge has been pluck'd?all's known? And life yields nothing further to recall Worthy of this ambrosial sin, so shown, 1015 No doubt in fable, as the unforgiven Fire which Prometheus2 filch'd for us from heaven.
* <? * '33 Man's a phenomenon, one knows not what, And wonderful beyond all wondrous measure; 'Tis pity though, in this sublime world, that 1060 Pleasure's a sin, and sometimes sin's a pleasure; Few mortals know what end they would be at,
But whether glory, power, or love, or treasure, The path is through perplexing ways, and when The goal is gain'd, we die, you know?and then?
r34 1065 What then??I do not know, no more do you? And so good night.?Return we to our story: 'Twas in November, when fine days are few, And the far mountains wax a little hoary, And clap a white cape on their mantles blue;
2. The Titan Prometheus incurred the wrath of Zeus by stealing fire from heaven for humans.
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And the sea dashes round the promontory, And the loud breaker boils against the rock, And sober suns must set at five o'clock.
'35 'Twas, as the watchmen say, a cloudy night; No moon, no stars, the wind was low or loud 1075 By gusts, and many a sparkling hearth was bright With the piled wood, round which the family crowd; There's something cheerful in that sort of light, Even as a summer sky's without a cloud: I'm fond of fire, and crickets, and all that, 1080 A lobster-salad, and champagne, and chat.
136 'Twas midnight?Donna Julia was in bed, Sleeping, most probably?when at her door Arose a clatter might awake the dead, If they had never been awoke before, 1085 And that they have been so we all have read,
And are to be so, at the least, once more? The door was fasten'd, but with voice and fist First knocks were heard, then 'Madam?Madam?hist!
137 'For God's sake, Madam?Madam?here's my master, 1090 With more than half the city at his back? Was ever heard of such a curst disaster! 'Tis not my fault?I kept good watch?Alack! Do, pray undo the bolt a little faster? They're on the stair just now, and in a crack0 moment 1095 Will all be here; perhaps he yet may fly? Surely the window's not so very high!'
138 By this time Don Alfonso was arrived, With torches, friends, and servants in great number; The major part of them had long been wived, 1100 And therefore paused not to disturb the slumber Of any wicked woman, who contrived By stealth her husband's temples to encumber:3 Examples of this kind are so contagious, Were one not punish'd, all would be outrageous.
!39 1105 I can't tell how, or why, or what suspicion Could enter into Don Alfonso's head; But for a cavalier of his condition0 rank It surely was exceedingly ill-bred Without a word of previous admonition,
1110 To hold a levee4 round his lady's bed, And summon lackeys, arm'd with fire and sword, To prove himself the thing he most abhorr'd.
3. I.e., with horns that, growing on the forehead, band. were the traditional emblem of the cuckolded hus- 4. Morning reception.
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68 6 / GEORG E GORDON , LOR D BYRON 140 Poor Donna Julia! starting as from sleep, (Mind?that I do not say?she had not slept) ins Began at once to scream, and yawn, and weep; Her maid Antonia, who was an adept, Contrived to fling the bed-clothes in a heap, As if she had just now from out them crept: I can't tell why she should take all this trouble 1120 To prove her mistress had been sleeping double. 141 But Julia mistress, and Antonia maid, Appear'd like two poor harmless women, who Of goblins, but still more of men afraid, Had thought one man might be deterr'd by two, 1125 And therefore side by side were gently laid, Until the hours of absence should run through, And truant husband should return, and say, 'My dear, I was the first who came away.' 142 Now Julia found at length a voice, and cried, 1130 'In heaven's name, Don Alfonso, what d'ye mean? Has madness seized you? would that I had died Ere such a monster's victim I had been! What may this midnight violence betide, A sudden fit of drunkenness or spleen? 1135 Dare you suspect me, whom the thought would kill? Search, then, the room!'?Alfonso said, 'I will.' 143 He search'd, they search'd, and rummaged every where, Closet and clothes'-press, chest and window-seat, And found much linen, lace, and seven pair 1140 Of stockings, slippers, brushes, combs, complete, With other articles of ladies fair, To keep them beautiful, or leave them neat: Arras5 they prick'd and curtains with their swords, And wounded several shutters, and some boards. 144 1145 Under the bed they search'd, and there they found?6 No matter what?it was not that they sought; They open'd windows, gazing if the ground Had signs or footmarks, but the earth said nought; And then they stared each others' faces round: 1150 'Tis odd, not one of all these seekers thought, And seems to me almost a sort of blunder, Of looking in the bed as well as under. 145 During this inquisition Julia's tongue Was not asleep?'Yes, search and search,' she cried,
5. A tapestry hanging on a wall. 6. Perhaps a chamber pot.
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us? 'Insult on insult heap, and wrong on wrong! It was for this that I became a bride! For this in silence I have suffer'd long A husband like Alfonso at my side; But now I'll bear no more, nor here remain, 1160 If there be law, or lawyers, in all Spain. 146 'Yes, Don Alfonso! husband now no more, If ever you indeed deserved the name, Is't worthy of your years??you have threescore, Fifty, or sixty?it is all the same? ii65 Is't wise or fitting causeless to explore For facts against a virtuous woman's fame? Ungrateful, perjured, barbarous Don Alfonso, How dare you think your lady would go on so?' 159 1265 The Senhor Don Alfonso stood confused; Antonia bustled round the ransack'd room, And, turning up her nose, with looks abused Her master, and his myrmidons,7 of whom Not one, except the attorney, was amused; 1270 He, like Achates,8 faithful to the tomb, So there were quarrels, cared not for the cause, Knowing they must be settled by the laws. 160 With prying snub-nose, and small eyes, he stood,
