Without our knowledge or our approbation,

Although they could not see through his disguise,

All felt a soft kind of concatenation,

Like Magnetism, or Devilism, or what
You please-we will not quarrel about that.

XXXIX.

But certain 'tis they all felt for their new
Companion something newer still, as 'twere
A sentimental friendship through and through,
Extremely pure, which made them all concur
In wishing her their sister, save a few

Who wished they had a brother, just like her,
Whom, if they were at home in sweet Circassia,
They would prefer to Padisha or Pacha.

XL.

Of those who had most genius for this sort
Of sentimental friendship, there were three,
Lolah, Katinka, and Dudù; in short,

(To save description) fair as fair can be Were they, according to the best report,

Though differing in stature and degree,

And clime and time, and country and complexion;
They all alike admired their new connexion.

XLI.

Lolah was dusk as India and as warm;

Katinka was a Georgian, white and red,

With great blue eyes, a lovely hand and arm,

And feet so small they scarce seemed made to tread, But rather skim the earth; while Dudu's form Looked more adapted to be put to bed, Being somewhat large and languishing and lazy, Yet of a beauty that would drive you crazy.

XLII.

A kind of sleepy Venus seemed Dudù,
Yet very fit to "murder sleep" in those
Who gazed upon her cheek's transcendant hue,
Her Attic forehead, and her Phidian nose:
Few angles were there in her form 'tis true,

Thinner she might have been and yet scarce lose;
Yet, after all, 'twould puzzle to say where
It would not spoil some separate charm to pare.

XLIII.

She was not violently lively, but

Stole on your spirit like a May-day breaking; Her eyes were not too sparkling, yet, half-shut, They put beholders in a tender taking; She looked (this simile's quite new) just cut From marble, like Pygmalion's statue waking, The Mortal and the Marble still at strife, And timidly expanding into life.

XLIV.

Lolah demanded the new damsel's name-
"Juanna."-Well, a pretty name enough.
Katinka asked her also whence she came-
"From Spain."-" But where is Spain?"
"Don't ask such stuff,

"Nor show your Georgian ignorance—for shame!”
Said Lolah, with an accent rather rough,
To poor Katinka, "Spain's an island near
Morocco, betwixt Egypt and Tangier.".

XLV.

Dudù said nothing, but sat down beside
Juanna, playing with her vail or hair;
And looking at her steadfastly, she sighed,

As if she pitied her for being there,
A pretty stranger without friend or guide,
And all abashed too at the general stare

Which welcomes hapless strangers in all places,
With kind remarks upon their mien and faces.

XLVI.

But here the Mother of the Maids drew near,
With, “Ladies, it is time to go to rest.
I'm puzzled what to do with you, my dear,”
She added to Juannà, their new guest:
"Your coming has been unexpected here,
And every couch is occupied; you had best
Partake of mine: but by to-morrow early
We will have all things settled for you fairly."

XLVII.

Here Lolah interposed—“ Mamma, you know
You don't sleep soundly, and I cannot bear
That any body should disturb you; so

I'll take Juanna; we're a slenderer pair
Than you would make the half of;—don't say no:
And I of your young charge will take due care.

But here Katinka interfered, and said,

"She also had compassion and a bed."

XLVIII.

"Beside, I hate to sleep alone," quoth she.*

The Matron frowned: "Why so?"-" For fear of

Replied Katinka; “I am sure I see

A phantom upon each of the four posts;

And then I have the worst dreams that can be,

[ghosts,"

Of Guebres, Giaours, and Ginns, and Gouls in hosts:" The Dame replied, "Between your dreams and you

I fear Juanna's dreams would be but few.

XLIX.

"You, Lolah, must continue still to lie

Alone, for reasons which don't matter; you
The same, Katinka, until by and bye;
And I shall place Juanna with Dudu,
Who's quiet, inoffensive, silent, shy,

And will not toss and chatter the night through.
What say you, child?”—Dudù said nothing, as
Her talents were of the more silent class;

L.

But she rose up, and kissed the Matron's brow
Between the eyes, and Lolah on both cheeks,
Katinka too; and with a gentle bow

(Curtsies are neither used by Turks nor Greeks) She took Juanna by the hand, to show

Their place of rest, and left to both their piques, The others pouting at the Matron's preference Of Dudu, though they held their tongues from deference.

LI.

It was a spacious chamber (Oda is

The Turkish title) and ranged round the wall
Were couches, toilets-and much more than this
I might describe, as I have seen it all,
But it suffices-little was amiss;

'Twas on the whole a nobly furnished hall, With all things ladies want, save one or two, And even those were nearer than they knew.

LII.

Dudù, as has been said, was a sweet creature,
Not very dashing, but extremely winning,
With the most regulated charms of feature,
Which painters cannot catch like faces sinning

Against proportion-the wild strokes of nature
Which they hit off at once in the beginning,
Full of expression, right or wrong, that strike,
And pleasing or unpleasing, still are like.

LIII.

But she was a soft Landscape of mild Earth,
Where all was harmony and calm and quiet,
Luxuriant, budding; cheerful without mirth,
Which if not happiness, is much more nigh it
Than are your mighty passions, and so forth,
Which some call "the sublime:" I wish they'd try it:
I've seen your stormy seas and stormy women,
And pity lovers rather more than seamen.

LIV.

But she was pensive more than melancholy,
And serious more than pensive, and serene,

It may be, more than either-not unholy

Her thoughts, at least till now, appear to have been. The strangest thing was, beauteous, she was wholly Unconscious, albeit turned of quick seventeen, That she was fair, or dark, or short, or tall; She never thought about herself at all:

LV.

And therefore was she kind and gentle as

The age of Gold (when Gold was yet unknown,

By which its nomenclature came to pass; Thus most appropriately has been shown “Lucus a non Lucendo," not what was,

But what was not; a sort of style that's grown Extremely common in this age, whose metal The Devil may decompose but never settle;