It was the Carnival, as I have said Some six and thirty stanzas back, and so Laura the usual preparations made, Which you do when your mind's made up to go To-night to Mrs. Boehm's masquerade,[223] Spectator, or Partaker in the show; The only difference known between the cases Is--_here_, we have six weeks of "varnished faces." LVII. Laura, when dressed, was (as I sang before) A pretty woman as was ever seen, Fresh as the Angel o'er a new inn door, Or frontispiece of a new Magazine,[224] With all the fashions which the last month wore, Coloured, and silver paper leaved between That and the title-page, for fear the Press Should soil with parts of speech the parts of dress. LVIII. They went to the Ridotto;[225] 'tis a hall Where People dance, and sup, and dance again; Its proper name, perhaps, were a masqued ball, But that's of no importance to my strain; 'Tis (on a smaller scale) like our Vauxhall, Excepting that it can't be spoilt by rain; The company is "mixed" (the phrase I quote is As much as saying, they're below your notice); LIX. For a "mixed company" implies that, save Yourself and friends, and half a hundred more, Whom you may bow to without looking grave, The rest are but a vulgar set, the Bore Of public places, where they basely brave The fashionable stare of twenty score Of well-bred persons, called "_The World_;" but I, Although I know them, really don't know why. LX. This is the case in England; at least was During the dynasty of Dandies, now Perchance succeeded by some other class Of imitated Imitators:--how[bn] Irreparably soon decline, alas! The Demagogues of fashion: all below Is frail; how easily the world is lost By Love, or War, and, now and then,--by Frost! LXI. Crushed was Napoleon by the northern Thor, Who knocked his army down with icy hammer, Stopped by the _Elements_[226]--like a Whaler--or A blundering novice in his new French grammar; Good cause had he to doubt the chance of war, And as for Fortune--but I dare not d--n her, Because, were I to ponder to Infinity, The more I should believe in her Divinity.[227] LXII. She rules the present, past, and all to be yet, She gives us luck in lotteries, love, and marriage; I cannot say that she's done much for me yet; Not that I mean her bounties to disparage, We've not yet closed accounts, and we shall see yet How much she'll make amends for past miscarriage; Meantime the Goddess I'll no more importune, Unless to thank her when she's made my fortune. LXIII.