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[305] 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 _ordered_ than was _granting_.-- CX. Something imperial, or imperious, threw A chain o'er all she did; that is, a chain Was thrown as 't were 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 't is in vain We would against them make the flesh obey-- The spirit in the end will have its way. CXI. 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 decked her girdle, as the sign She was a Sultan's bride (thank Heaven, not mine!). CXII. "To hear and to obey" had been from birth The law of all around her; to fulfil 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." CXIII. 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 't was 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 pardoned all except her face.[fk] CXIV. Juan, the latest of her whims, had caught Her eye in passing on his way to sale; She ordered 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:[fl] She had no prudence, but he had--and this Explains the garb which Juan took amiss. CXV. His youth and features favoured the disguise, And should you ask how she, a Sultan's bride, Could risk or compass such strange phantasies, This I must leave sultanas to decide: Emperors are only husbands in wives' eyes, And kings and consorts oft are mystified,[fm] As we may ascertain with due precision, Some by experience, others by tradition. CXVI.