Don Juan 08-031 ~ 035

 
Don Juan 08-031
Canto the Eighth
 
     XXXI

Perceiving then no more the commandant
    Of his own corps, nor even the corps, which had
Quite disappear'd -- the gods know howl (I can't
    Account for every thing which may look bad
In history; but we at least may grant
    It was not marvellous that a mere lad,
In search of glory, should look on before,
Nor care a pinch of snuff about his corps): --

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Don Juan 08-032
Canto the Eighth
 
     XXXII

Perceiving nor commander nor commanded,
    And left at large, like a young heir, to make
His way to -- where he knew not -- single handed;
    As travellers follow over bog and brake
An "ignis fatuus;" or as sailors stranded
    Unto the nearest hut themselves betake;
So Juan, following honour and his nose,
Rush'd where the thickest fire announced most foes.

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Don Juan 08-033
Canto the Eighth
 
     XXXIII

He knew not where he was, nor greatly cared,
    For he was dizzy, busy, and his veins
Fill'd as with lightning -- for his spirit shared
    The hour, as is the case with lively brains;
And where the hottest fire was seen and heard,
    And the loud cannon peal'd his hoarsest strains,
He rush'd, while earth and air were sadly shaken
By thy humane discovery, Friar Bacon!

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Don Juan 08-034
Canto the Eighth
 
     XXXIV

And as he rush'd along, it came to pass he
    Fell in with what was late the second column,
Under the orders of the General Lascy,
    But now reduced, as is a bulky volume
Into an elegant extract (much less massy)
    Of heroism, and took his place with solemn
Air 'midst the rest, who kept their valiant faces
And levell'd weapons still against the glacis.

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Don Juan 08-035
Canto the Eighth
 
     XXXV

Just at this crisis up came Johnson too,
    Who had "retreated," as the phrase is when
Men run away much rather than go through
    Destruction's jaws into the devil's den;
But Johnson was a clever fellow, who
    Knew when and how "to cut and come again,"
And never ran away, except when running
Was nothing but a valorous kind of cunning.

George Gordon Byron, Lord Byron (1788-1824) 
ByronLong