II. Had he but been placed at a public school, At least, had he been nurtured in the north; Spain may prove an exception to the rule, But then exceptions always prove its worth— A lad of sixteen causing a divorce Puzzled his tutors very much, of course. 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— (Or was, before Peru learn'd to rebel) And such sweet girls-I mean, such graceful ladies, Nor liken it-I never saw the like: 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'Twas 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 bade 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. X. In the mean time, to pass her hours away, Brave Inez now set up a Sunday school For naughty children, who would rather play (Like truant rogues) the devil, or the fool; Infants of three years old were taught that day, Dunces were whipt, or set upon a stool: The great success of Juan's education, Spurr'd her to teach another generation. XI. Juan embark'd-the ship got under way, 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, His first-perhaps his last-farewell of Spain. |