The lady eyed him o’er and o’er, and bade Baba retire, which he obey’d in style, As if well used to the retreating trade; And taking hints in good part all the while, He whisper’d Juan not to be afraid, And looking on him with a sort of smile, Took leave, with such a face of satisfaction As good men wear who have done a virtuous action. When he was gone, there was a sudden change: I know not what might be the lady’s thought, But o’er her bright brow flash’d a tumult strange, And into her dear cheek the blood was brought, Blood-red as sunset summer clouds which range The verge of Heaven; and in her large eyes wrought, A mixture of sensations might be scann’d, Of half voluptuousness and half command. Her form had all the softness of her sex, Her features all the sweetness of the devil, When he put on the cherub to perplex Eve, and paved (God knows how) the road to evil; The sun himself was scarce more free from specks Than she from aught at which the eye could cavil; Yet, somehow, there was something somewhere wanting, As if she rather order’d than was granting. Something imperial, or imperious, threw A chain o’er all she did; that is, a chain Was thrown as ’twere about the neck of you,— And rapture’s self will seem almost a pain With aught which looks like despotism in view: Our souls at least are free, and ’tis in vain We would against them make the flesh obey— The spirit in the end will have its way. Her very smile was haughty, though so sweet; Her very nod was not an inclination; There was a self-will even in her small feet, As though they were quite conscious of her station— They trod as upon necks; and to complete Her state (it is the custom of her nation), A poniard deck’d her girdle, as the sign She was a sultan’s bride (thank Heaven, not mine!). ‘To hear and to obey’ had been from birth The law of all around her; to fulfill All phantasies which yielded joy or mirth, Had been her slaves’ chief pleasure, as her will; Her blood was high, her beauty scarce of earth: Judge, then, if her caprices e’er stood still; Had she but been a Christian, I’ve a notion We should have found out the ‘perpetual motion.’ Whate’er she saw and coveted was brought; Whate’er she did not see, if she supposed It might be seen, with diligence was sought, And when ’twas found straightway the bargain closed; There was no end unto the things she bought, Nor to the trouble which her fancies caused; Yet even her tyranny had such a grace, The women pardon’d all except her face. Juan, the latest of her whims, had caught Her eye in passing on his way to sale; She order’d him directly to be bought, And Baba, who had ne’er been known to fail In any kind of mischief to be wrought, At all such auctions knew how to prevail: She had no prudence, but he had; and this Explains the garb which Juan took amiss.