Note 6. Stanza cxlviii. Is it for this that General Count O'Reilly, Who took Algiers, declares I used him vilely? Donna Julia here made a mistake, Count O'Re did not take Algiers-but Algiers very nearly took hi he and his army and fleet retreated with great loss, not much credit, from before that city, in the year 15 DON JUAN. CANTO II. I. н ye! who teach the ingenuous youth of nations, Holland, France, England, Germany, or Spain, pray ye flog them upon all occasions, It mends their morals; never mind the pain : The best of mothers and of educations, In Juan's case, were but employed in vain, Since in a way, that's rather of the oddest, he Became divested of his native modesty. II. Ilad he but been placed at a public school, At least had he been nurtured in the north ; But then exceptions always prove its worthA lad of sixteen causing a divorce Puzzled his tutors very much, of course. VOL. XI. 6 III. I can't say that it puzzles me at all, If all things be consider'd : first there was His lady mother, mathematical, A - never mind; his tutor, an old ass ; A pretty woman- -(that's quite natural, Or else the thing had hardly come to pass); A husband rather old, not much in unity With his young wife-a time, and opportunity. IV. Well-well, the world must turn upon its axis, V. I said, that Juan had been sent to Cadiz- I can't describe it, though so much it strike, VI. An Arab horse, a stately stag, a barb New broke, a camelopard, a gazelle, No-none of these will do ;—and then their garb ! A canto-then their feet and ancles !—well, Thank Heaven I've got no metaphor quite ready (And so my sober Muse-come let's be steady VII. Chaste Muse-well, if you must, you must)—the veil To--say my prayers-but never was there plann'd A dress through which the eyes give such a volley, Excepting the Venetian Fazzioli. VIII. But to our tale: the Donna Inez sent Her son to Cadiz only to embark; To stay there had not answer'd her intent, But why?-we leave the reader in the dark"T was for a voyage that the young man was meant, As if a Spanish ship were Noah's ark, To wean him from the wickedness of earth, IX. Don Juan bid his valet pack his things A lecture and some money: for four springs She hoped he would improve-perhaps believed: A letter, too, she gave (he never read it) Of good advice and two or three of credit. In the mean time, to pass her hours away, XI. Juan embark'd-the ship got under weigh, As I, who 've cross'd it oft, know well enough: And, standing upon deck, the dashing spray Flies in one's face, and makes it weather-tough: And there he stood to take, and take again, Ilis first-perhaps his last-farewell of Spain. |