remarks; for the strength and the elegance of their compositions; for those grand and lofty aspirings, in which we trace at once the hope and the pledge of their immor tality. But surely this attack on the morality of the acient writers comes with a very ill grace from one who has given us as much impurity, with much more blasphemy, and far less erudition; a blasphemy too that is both uncalled for and gratuitous, inasmuch as it is directed against a system so pure and spiritual, that it surpassed even the conception of the finest minds of antiquity, "such knowledge was too wonderful for them, they could not attain unto it." His Lordship accuses the ancients of impurity, while his own writings contain all their poison, but none of their antidote. "Clodius accusat machos, Catilina, Cethegum.” Surely this is an accusation rather awkwardly advanced, by one who has spent so great a part of his life in tricking out a Muse, who is at best but an harlot; who, having allured us to the garden of his sensuality, would fain have us walk amidst its precipices and its pitfalls, lighted up only by the torches of a lust that is disgusting, and the flashes of a wit that is obscene; while he himself, as grand master of the orgies, stands calmly by to predict our fall, and with a Satanic sneer to exult over our humiliation.

But hear these freedoms tothehe utmost list
Of all o'er which such love may be a ranger;
If people go beyond, 'tis quite a crime,

But not my fault---I tell them all in time.
LXXXI.

Love then, but love within its proper limits,
Was Julia's innocent determination
In young Don Juan's favour, and to him its
Exertion might be useful on occasion;
And, lighted at too pure a shrine to dim its
Etherial lustre, with what sweet persuasion
He might be taught, by love and her together---
I really don't know what, nor Julia either.

LXXXII.

Fraught with this fine intention, and well fenced
In mail of proof---her purity of soul,
She, for the future of her strength convinced,
And that her honour was a rock, or mole,
Exceeding sagely from that hour dispensed
With any kind of troublesome controul;
But whether Julia to the task was equal

Is that which must be mention'd in the sequel."

In this description of the struggles and the workings of Donna Julia's mind with respect to Don Juan, previously to their first and mutual transgresssion, his Lordship displays a most consummate knowledge of all the mere subtle and refined self-delusions of the human heart. This is perhaps the least objectionable part of the poem, since all who chuse to avoid the beginnings of evil, the "sceleris primordia :" all who know the weakness of reason, and the strength of passion, may profit by the catastrophe of this amour. But in the subsequent description of Donna Julia's delinquency, his Muse has lost again, what little she had gained in the approbation of the moralist. As this poem unfortunately is in every one's hands, it is perhaps unnecessary to say that the Donna Julia is at length surprised in her bed-room, under circumstances extremely awkward, by her own husband and a whole

posse comitatus of attendants, well supplied with flambeaux, torches, and weapons of all descriptions. The lady, however, is more than a match for all this formidable array; and by the brilliance of her wit, and the presence of her mind, bids fair to prove the absence of her lover, and to gain a most complete victory, when an unforeseen little incident, no more nor less than the shoe of Don Juan, snatches the triumph from the hands of the fair delinquent, in the very moment of her attaining it. We must however admit that she conducts her own de fence so inimitably, that whatever might be her fate in Doctors' Commons, or in Banco Regis, we should assure her a favourable verdict in the Court of Parnassus, were Apollo the judge, and the three Graces, with the nine Muses, the jury.

"Now Julia found at length a voice, and cried,

"In heaven's name, Don Alfonso, what d'ye mean?
"Has madness seized you? would that I had died
"Ere such a monster's victim I had been!

"What may this midnight violence betide,

"A sudden fit of drunkenness or spleen ?

"Dare you suspect me, whom the thought would kill!
'Search then, the room!'-Alfonso said, 'I will.'

CXLIII.

He search'd, they search'd, and rummaged every where,

Closet and clothes'-press, chest and window-seat,

And found much linen, lace, and several pair

Of stockings, slippers, brushes, combs, complete,
With other articles of ladies fair,

To keep them beautiful or leave them neat:

Arras they prick'd and curtains with their swords,
And wounded several shutters, and some boards.

CXLIV.

Under the bed they search'd, and there they found---
No matter what---it was not what they sought;

They open'd windows, gazing if the ground

Had signs or footmarks, but the earth said nought ;

During this inquisition Julia's tongue

Was not asleep" Yes, search and search," she cried, "Insult on insult heap, and wrong on wrong;

"It was for this that I became a bride! "For this in silence I have suffer'd long "A husband like Alfonso at my side; "But now I'll hear no more, nor here remain, "If there be law, or lawyers, in all Spain

"Was it for this that no Cortejo ere

" I yet have chosen from out the youth of Seville ? "Is it for this I scarce went any where,

"Except to bull-fights, mass, play rout, and revel?

"Is it for this, whate'er my suitors werc,

"I favour'd none---nay, was almost uncivil ? "Is it for this that General Count O'Reilly, "Who took Algiers, declares I used him vilely ?

"Have I not had two bishops at my feet?

"The Duke of Ichar, and Don Fernan Nunez, "And is it thus a faithful wife you treat?

"I wonder in what quarter now the moon is: "I praise your vast forbearance not to beat

"Me also, since the time so opportune is

"Oh, valiant man! with sword drawn and cock'd trigger,
"Now, tell me, don't you cut a pretty figure ?

CLI.

"Was it for this you took your sudden journey,
"Under pretence of business indispensible
"With that sublime of rascals your attorney,

"Whom I see standing there, and looking sensible
"Of having play'd the fool? though both I spurn, he
"Deserves the worst, his conduct's less defensible,

"Because, no doubt, 'twas for his dirty fee,

"And not from any love for you nor me."

's for

the

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in

The unlucky incident of the shoe, followed up by the discovery and flight of her lover, were astounding facts that neither the wit nor the eloquence of Donna Julia could overcome. She retires to a nunnery, and writes a letter to Don Juan, quite equal in its way to the celebrated epistle of Eloisa. I shall quote one stanza, for the benefit of all ladies exposed to similar temptations.

CXCIV.

"Man's love is of man's life a thing apart,

""Tis woman's whole existence; man may range "The court, camp, church, the vessel and the mart; "Sword, gown, gain, glory, offer in exchange