V. Brave men were living before Agamemnon And since, exceeding valorous and sage, I A good deal like him too, though quite the same none; But then they shone not on the poet's page, Fit for my poem (that is, for my new one:) VI. Most epic poets plunge in « medias res, » (Horace makes this the heroic turnpike road) And then your hero tells, whene'er you please, What went before-by way of episode, While seated after dinner at his ease, Beside his mistress in some soft abode, Palace, or garden, paradise, or cavern, That is the usual method, but not mine My way is to begin with the beginning; The regularity of my design Forbids all wandering as the worst of sinning, And therefore I shall open with a line (Although it cost me half an hour in spinning) Narrating somewhat of Don Juan's father, And also of his mother, if you'd rather. VIII. In Seville was he born, a pleasant city, So says the proverb-and I quite agree; Cadiz perhaps but that you soon may see: Don Juan's parents lived beside the river, A noble stream, and call'd the Guadalquivir. IX. His father's name was Jóse-Don, of course, A better cavalier ne'er mounted horse, Or, being mounted, e'er got down again, Than Jóse, who begot our hero, who X. His mother was a learned lady, famed XI. Her memory was a mine: she knew by heart So that if any actor miss'd his part She could have served him for the prompter's copy; For her Feinagle's were an useless art, And he himself obliged to shut up shop-he Could never make a memory so fine as That which adorn'd the brain of Donna Inez. XII. Her favourite science was the mathematical, XIII. She knew the Latin—that is, « the Lord's prayer,» And Greek-the alphabet—I'm nearly sure; She read some French romances here and there, Although her mode of speaking was not pure; For native Spanish she had no great care, At least her conversation was obscure; Her thoughts were theorems, her words a problem, As if she deem'd that mystery would ennoble 'em. XIV. She liked the English and the Hebrew tongue, And said there was analogy between 'em ; She proved it somehow out of sacred song, But I must leave the proofs to those who've seen 'em, But this I heard her say, and can't be wrong, And all may think which way their judgments lean 'em, 'Tis strange-the Hebrew noun which means "I am,' « The English always use to govern d-n.» XV. XVI. In short, she was a walking calculation, Miss Edgeworth's novels stepping from their covers, Or Mrs. Trimmer's books on education, Or « Cœlebs' Wife» set out in quest of lovers, Morality's prim personification, In which not Envy's self a flaw discovers; To other's share let « female errors fall,» |