第100章

But Adeline was not indifferent: for (Now for a common-place!) beneath the snow, As a volcano holds the lava more Within- et caetera. Shall I go on?- No!

I hate to hunt down a tired metaphor, So let the often-used volcano go.

Poor thing! How frequently, by me and others, It hath been stirr'd up till its smoke quite smothers!

I 'll have another figure in a trice:-What say you to a bottle of champagne?

Frozen into a very vinous ice, Which leaves few drops of that immortal rain, Yet in the very centre, past all price, About a liquid glassful will remain;

And this is stronger than the strongest grape Could e'er express in its expanded shape:

'T is the whole spirit brought to a quintessence;

And thus the chilliest aspects may concentre A hidden nectar under a cold presence.

And such are many- though I only meant her From whom I now deduce these moral lessons, On which the Muse has always sought to enter.

And your cold people are beyond all price, When once you have broken their confounded ice.

But after all they are a North-West Passage Unto the glowing India of the soul;

And as the good ships sent upon that message Have not exactly ascertain'd the Pole (Though Parry's efforts look a lucky presage), Thus gentlemen may run upon a shoal;

For if the Pole 's not open, but all frost (A chance still), 't is a voyage or vessel lost.

And young beginners may as well commence With quiet cruising o'er the ocean woman;

While those who are not beginners should have sense Enough to make for port, ere time shall summon With his grey signal-flag; and the past tense, The dreary 'Fuimus' of all things human, Must be declined, while life's thin thread 's spun out Between the gaping heir and gnawing gout.

But heaven must be diverted; its diversion Is sometimes truculent- but never mind:

The world upon the whole is worth the assertion (If but for comfort) that all things are kind:

And that same devilish doctrine of the Persian, Of the two principles, but leaves behind As many doubts as any other doctrine Has ever puzzled Faith withal, or yoked her in.

The English winter- ending in July, To recommence in August- now was done.

'T is the postilion's paradise: wheels fly;

On roads, east, south, north, west, there is a run.

But for post-horses who finds sympathy?

Man's pity 's for himself, or for his son, Always premising that said son at college Has not contracted much more debt than knowledge.

The London winter 's ended in July-Sometimes a little later. I don't err In this: whatever other blunders lie Upon my shoulders, here I must aver My Muse a glass of weatherology;

For parliament is our barometer:

Let radicals its other acts attack, Its sessions form our only almanack.

When its quicksilver 's down at zero,- lo Coach, chariot, luggage, baggage, equipage!

Wheels whirl from Carlton palace to Soho, And happiest they who horses can engage;

The turnpikes glow with dust; and Rotten Row Sleeps from the chivalry of this bright age;

And tradesmen, with long bills and longer faces, Sigh- as the postboys fasten on the traces.

They and their bills, 'Arcadians both,' are left To the Greek kalends of another session.

Alas! to them of ready cash bereft, What hope remains? Of hope the full possession, Or generous draft, conceded as a gift, At a long date- till they can get a fresh one-Hawk'd about at a discount, small or large;

Also the solace of an overcharge.

But these are trifles. Downward flies my lord, Nodding beside my lady in his carriage.

Away! away! 'Fresh horses!' are the word, And changed as quickly as hearts after marriage;

The obsequious landlord hath the change restored;

The postboys have no reason to disparage Their fee; but ere the water'd wheels may hiss hence, The ostler pleads too for a reminiscence.

'T is granted; and the valet mounts the dickey-That gentleman of lords and gentlemen;

Also my lady's gentlewoman, tricky, Trick'd out, but modest more than poet's pen Can paint,- 'Cosi viaggino i Ricchi!'

(Excuse a foreign slipslop now and then, If but to show I 've travell'd; and what 's travel, Unless it teaches one to quote and cavil?)

The London winter and the country summer Were well nigh over. 'T is perhaps a pity, When nature wears the gown that doth become her, To lose those best months in a sweaty city, And wait until the nightingale grows dumber, Listening debates not very wise or witty, Ere patriots their true country can remember;-But there 's no shooting (save grouse) till September.

I 've done with my tirade. The world was gone;

The twice two thousand, for whom earth was made, Were vanish'd to be what they call alone-That is, with thirty servants for parade, As many guests, or more; before whom groan As many covers, duly, daily, laid.

Let none accuse Old England's hospitality-Its quantity is but condensed to quality.

Lord Henry and the Lady Adeline Departed like the rest of their compeers, The peerage, to a mansion very fine;

The Gothic Babel of a thousand years.

None than themselves could boast a longer line, Where time through heroes and through beauties steers;

And oaks as olden as their pedigree Told of their sires, a tomb in every tree.

A paragraph in every paper told Of their departure: such is modern fame:

'T is pity that it takes no farther hold Than an advertisement, or much the same;

When, ere the ink be dry, the sound grows cold.

The Morning Post was foremost to proclaim-'Departure, for his country seat, to-day, Lord H. Amundeville and Lady A.

'We understand the splendid host intends To entertain, this autumn, a select And numerous party of his noble friends;

'Midst whom we have heard, from sources quite correct, With many more by rank and fashion deck'd;

Also a foreigner of high condition, The envoy of the secret Russian mission.'

And thus we see- who doubts the Morning Post?

(Whose articles are like the 'Thirty-nine,'

Which those most swear to who believe them most)-Our gay Russ Spaniard was ordain'd to shine, Deck'd by the rays reflected from his host, With those who, Pope says, 'greatly daring dine.'