LXXXIII. He saw, however, at the closing session, That noble sight, when really free the nation, Of such a throne as is the proudest station, There too he saw (whate'er he may be now) And full of promise, as the spring of prime. He had then the grace too, rare in every clime, And Juan was received, as hath been said, Besides the mark'd distinction of his air, LXXXVI. [why, CANTO XIII. I. I NOW mean to be serious ;-it is time, II. The Lady Adeline Amundeville ('Tis an old Norman name, and to be found III. But what, and where, with whom, and when, and I'll not gainsay them; it is not my cue: (Whatever people say,) I don't know whether I'll leave a single reader's eyelid dry, But harrow up his feelings till they wither, And hew out a huge monument of pathos, As Philip's son proposed to do with Athos." LXXXVII. Here the twelfth canto of our introduction Ends. When the body of the book's begun, You'll find it of a different construction From what some people say 'twill be when done: The plan at present's simply in concoction. I can't oblige you, reader, to read on; That's your affair, not mine: a real spirit I leave them to their taste, no doubt the best: The kindest may be taken as a test. And after that serene and somewhat dull Epoch, that awkward corner turn'd for days More quiet, when our moon's no more at full, We may presume to criticise or praise; Because indifference begins to lull Our passions, and we walk in wisdom's ways; Also because the figure and the face Should neither court neglect, nor dread to bear it ;- Hint, that 'tis time to give the younger place. |