A lovely statue we almost adore,
This sort of adoration of the real
Is but a heightening of the 'beau ideal.'4
212
'Tis the perception of the beautiful,
1690 A fine extension of the faculties,
Platonic, universal, wonderful,
Drawn from the stars, and filter'd through the skies,
Without which life would be extremely dull;
In short, it is the use of our own eyes, 1695 With one or two small senses added, just To hint that flesh is form'd of fiery dust.
213
Yet 'tis a painful feeling, and unwilling,
For surely if we always could perceive
In the same object graces quite as killing
1700 As when she rose upon us like an Eve,
'Twould save us many a heart-ache, many a shilling,
(For we must get them anyhow, or grieve),
Whereas, if one sole lady pleased for ever,
How pleasant for the heart, as well as liver!
216
In the mean time, without proceeding more
In this anatomy, I've finish'd now
Two hundred and odd stanzas as before,
That being about the number I'll allow
1725 Each canto of the twelve, or twenty-four; And, laying down my pen, I make my bow,
Leaving Don Juan and Haidee to plead
For them and theirs with all who deign to read.
4. Ideal beauty (French), a common phrase in discussions of aesthetics.
.
718 / GEORGE GORDON, LORD BYRON
From Canto 3
[jUAN AND HAIDEE]
1 Hail, Muse! et cetera.?We left Juan sleeping, Pillow'd upon a fair and happy breast, And watch'd by eyes that never yet knew weeping, And loved by a young heart, too deeply blest 5 To feel the poison through her spirit creeping,
Or know who rested there, a foe to rest Had soil'd the current of her sinless years, And turn'd her pure heart's purest blood to tears.
2
Oh, Love! what is it in this world of ours 10 Which makes it fatal to be loved? Ah why With cypress branches1 hast thou wreathed thy bowers, And made thy best interpreter a sigh? As those who dote on odours pluck the flowers, And place them on their breast?but place to die! 15 Thus the frail beings we would fondly cherish Are laid within our bosoms but to perish.
3
In her first passion woman loves her lover, In all the others all she loves is love,2 Which grows a habit she can ne'er get over, 20 And fits her loosely?like an easy glove, As you may find, whene'er you like to prove' her: test
One man alone at first her heart can move; She then prefers him in the plural number, Not finding that the additions much encumber.
4
25 I know not if the fault be men's or theirs; But one thing's pretty sure; a woman planted3? (Unless at once she plunge for life in prayers)? After a decent time must be gallanted; Although, no doubt, her first of love affairs
30 Is that to which her heart is wholly granted; Yet there are some, they say, who have had none, But those who have ne'er end with only one.4
5
