Don Juan (Volume 3) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1831. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... DON JUAN. CANTO XII. I. Of all the barbarous Middle Ages, that Which is most barbarous is the middle age Of man; it is--I really scarce know what; But when we hover between fool and sage, And don't know justly what we would be at-- A period something like a printed page, Black letter upon foolscap, while our hair Grows grizzled, and we are not what we were;-- n. Too old for youth--too young, at thirty-five, To herd with boys, or hoard with good threescore-- I wonder people should be left alive; But, since they are, that epoch is a bore: Love lingers still, although 'twere late to wive; And as for other love, the illusion's o'er; And money, that most pure imagination, Gleams only through the dawn of its creation. III. Oh Gold why call we misers miserable ? Theirs is the pleasure that can never pall; Theirs is the best bower-anchor, the chain-cable Which holds fast other pleasures great and small. Ye who but see the saving man at table, And scorn his temperate board, as none at all, And wonder how the wealthy can be sparing, Know not what visions spring from each cheese-paring. IV. Love or lust makes man sick, and wine much sicker; Ambition rends, and gaming gains a loss; But making money, slowly first, then quicker, And adding still a little through each cross (Which will come over things), beats love or liquor, The gamester's counter, other statesman's dross. Oh Gold I still prefer thee unto paper, Which makes bank credit like a bark of vapour. .V. Who hold the balance of the world ? Who reign O'er Congress, whether royalist or liberal ? Who rouse the shirtless patriots of Spain ? (That make old Europe's journals squeak and gibbei all.) Who keep the world, both old and new, in pain Or pleasure ?. Who make politics run glibber all ? The shade of Bonaparte...