"Then up with me!"--But Juan answered, "Look Upon this child--I saved her--must not leave Her life to chance; but point me out some nook Of safety, where she less may shrink and grieve, And I am with you."--Whereon Johnson took A glance around--and shrugged--and twitched his sleeve And black silk neckcloth--and replied, "You're right; Poor thing! what's to be done? I'm puzzled quite." C. Said Juan--"Whatsoever is to be Done, I'll not quit her till she seems secure Of present life a good deal more than we."-- Quoth Johnson--"_Neither_ will I quite insure; But at the least _you_ may die gloriously."-- Juan replied--" At least I will endure Whate'er is to be borne--but not resign This child, who is parentless, and therefore mine." CI. Johnson said--"Juan, we've no time to lose; The child's a pretty child--a very pretty-- I never saw such eyes--but hark! now choose Between your fame and feelings, pride and pity:-- Hark! how the roar increases!--no excuse Will serve when there is plunder in a city;-- I should be loath to march without you, but, By God! we'll be too late for the first cut." CII. But Juan was immovable; until Johnson, who really loved him in his way, Picked out amongst his followers with some skill Such as he thought the least given up to prey, And, swearing, if the infant came to ill That they should all be shot on the next day,-- But if she were delivered safe and sound, They should at least have fifty rubles round, CIII. And all allowances besides of plunder In fair proportion with their comrades;--then Juan consented to march on through thunder, Which thinned at every step their ranks of men: And yet the rest rushed eagerly--no wonder, For they were heated by the hope of gain, A thing which happens everywhere each day-- No hero trusteth wholly to half pay. CIV. And such is Victory, and such is Man! At least nine tenths of what we call so:--God May have another name for half we scan As human beings, or his ways are odd. But to our subject: a brave Tartar Khan-- Or "Sultan," as the author (to whose nod In prose I bend my humble verse) doth call This chieftain--somehow would not yield at all: CV. But flanked by _five_ brave sons (such is polygamy, That she spawns warriors by the score, where none Are prosecuted for that false crime bigamy), He never would believe the city won While Courage clung but to a single twig.--Am I Describing Priam's, Peleus', or Jove's son? Neither--but a good, plain, old, temperate man, Who fought with his five children in the van.[468] CVI.