Don Juan 05-116
Canto the Fifth
 
     CXVI
 
But to the main point, where we have been tending: --
     She now conceived all difficulties past,
And deem'd herself extremely condescending
     When, being made her property at last,
Without more preface, in her blue eyes blending
     Passion and power, a glance on him she cast,
And merely saying, "Christian, canst thou love?"
Conceived that phrase was quite enough to move.
 
 
Don Juan 05-117
Canto the Fifth
 
     CXVII
 
And so it was, in proper time and place;
     But Juan, who had still his mind o'erflowing
With Haidee's isle and soft Ionian face,
     Felt the warm blood, which in his face was glowing,
Rush back upon his heart, which fill'd apace,
     And left his cheeks as pale as snowdrops blowing;
These words went through his soul like Arab-spears,
So that he spoke not, but burst into tears.
 
 
Don Juan 05-118
Canto the Fifth
 
     CXVIII
 
She was a good deal shock'd; not shock'd at tears,
     For women shed and use them at their liking;
But there is something when man's eye appears
     Wet, still more disagreeable and striking;
A woman's tear-drop melts, a man's half sears,
     Like molten lead, as if you thrust a pike in
His heart to force it out, for (to be shorter)
To them 't is a relief, to us a torture.
 
 
Don Juan 05-119
Canto the Fifth
 
     CXIX
 
And she would have consoled, but knew not how:
     Having no equals, nothing which had e'er
Infected her with sympathy till now,
     And never having dreamt what 't was to bear
Aught of a serious, sorrowing kind, although
     There might arise some pouting petty care
To cross her brow, she wonder'd how so near
Her eyes another's eye could shed a tear.
 
 
Don Juan 05-120
Canto the Fifth
 
     CXX
 
But nature teaches more than power can spoil,
     And, when a strong although a strange sensation
Moves -- female hearts are such a genial soil
     For kinder feelings, whatsoe'er their nation,
They naturally pour the "wine and oil,"
     Samaritans in every situation;
And thus Gulbeyaz, though she knew not why,
Felt an odd glistening moisture in her eye.
 
George Gordon Byron, Lord Byron (1788-1824)
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