V. But saving this, you may put on whate'er With prettier name in softer accents spoke, No place that's call'd "Piazza" in Great Britain. VI. This feast is named the Carnival, which being VII. And thus they bid farewell to carnal dishes, Because they have no sauces to their stews, A thing which causes many "poohs" and "pishes,' And several oaths (which would not suit the Muse), From travellers accustom'd from a boy To eat their salmon, at the least, with soy; VIII. And therefore humbly I would recommend Ketchup, Soy, Chili-vinegar, and Harvey, IX. That is to say, if your religion's Roman, Would rather dine in sin on a ragout- X. Of all the places where the Carnival For dance, and song, and serenade, and ball, Venice the bell from every city bore,-- ΧΙ. They've pretty faces yet, those same Venetians, In ancient arts by moderns mimick'd ill; And like so many Venuses of Titian's (The best's at Florence-see it, if ye will,) They look when leaning over the balcony, Or stepp'd from out a picture by Giorgione, XII. Whose tints are truth and beauty at their best ; Is loveliest to my mind of all the show; And that's the cause I rhyme upon it so: 'Tis but a portait of his son, and wife, And self; but such a woman! love in life! XIII. Love in full life and length, not love ideal, That the sweet model must have been the same; XIV. One of those forms which flit by us, when we In momentary gliding, the soft grace, The youth, the bloom, the beauty which agrec, Whose course and home we knew not, nor shall knew, XV. I said that like a picture by Giorgione (For beauty's sometimes best set off afar), And there, just like a heroine of Goldoni, They peep from out the blind, or o'er the bar; And truth to say, they're mostly very pretty, And rather like to show it, more's the pity! XVI. For glances beget ogles, ogles sighs, Sighs wishes, wishes words, and words a letter, Which flies on wings of light-heel'd Mercuries, Who do such things because they know no better And then, God knows what mischier may arise, When love links two young people in one fetter,--Vile assignations, and adulterous beds, Elopements, broken vows, and hearts, and heads. XVII. Shakspeare described the sex in Desdemona Such matters may be probably the same; XVIII. Their jealousy (if they are ever jealous) Not like that sooty devil of Othello's Which smothers women in a bed of feather, ΧΙΧ. Didst ever see a Gondola? For fear You should not, I'll describe it you exactly: 'Tis a long cover'd boat that's common here, Carved at the prow, built lightly, but compactly; Row'd by two rowers, each call'd "Gondolier," It glides along the water looking blackly, Just like a coffin clapt in a canoe, Where none can make out what you say or do. XX. And up and down the long canals they go, But not to them do woeful things belong, XXI. But to my story.-'Twas some years ago, Her real name I know not, nor can guess, XXII. $9 She was not old, nor young, nor at the years XXIII.' Laura was blooming still, had made the best She look'd extremely well where'er she went ; A pretty woman is a welcome guest, And Laura's brow a frown had rarely bent; Indeed she shone all smiles, and seem'd to flatter Mankind with her black eyes for looking at her. XXIV. She was a married woman; 'tis convenient, (Unless within the period intervenient A well-timed wedding makes the scandal cool), I don't know how they can get over it, Except they manage never to discover it. XXV. Her husband sail'd upon the Adriatic, And made some voyages, too, in other seas, And when he lay in quarantine for pratique (A forty days' precaution 'gainst disease), His wife would mount at times her highest attic, For thence she could discern the ship with eass: He was a merchant, trading to Aleppo, His name Giuseppe, call'd more briefly, Beppo. XXVI. He was a man as dusky as a Spaniard, Sunburnt with travel, yet a portly figure; Though colour'd, as it were, within a tanyard, He was a person both of sense and vigour— A better seaman never yet did man yard; And she, although her manners show'd no rigour, Was deem'd a woman of the strictest principle, So much as to be thought almost invincible. XXVII. But several years elapsed since they had met; Some people thought the ship was lost, and some That he had somehow blundered into debt, And did not like the thoughts of steering home; And there were several offer'd any bet, Or that he would, or that he would not come; For most men (till by losing render'd sager) Will back their own opinions with a wager. XXVIII. 'Tis said that their last parting was pathetic, Which I have known occur in two or three), XXIX. And Laura waited long and wept a little, And thought of wearing weeds as well she might; She almost lost all appetite for victual, And could not sleep with ease alone at night; She deem'd the window-frames and shutters brittis Against a daring housebreaker or sprite, And so she thought it prudent to connect her With a vice-husband, chiefly to protect her. She chose (and what is there they will not choose, A man some women like, and yet abuse A coxcomb was he by the public voice; XXXI And then he was a Count, and then he knew Music and dancing, fiddling, French, and Tuscan ; The last not easy, be it known to you, For few Italians speak the right Etruscan. He was a critic upon operas, too, And knew all niceties of the sock and buskin, |