LXXIV.

"From two to half-past, dusky way we made, Above the plains of Gobi,-desert, bleak; Beheld afar off, in the hooded shade

Of darkness, a great mountain (strange to speak),
Spitting, from forth its sulphur-baken peak,
A fan-shaped burst of blood-red, arrowy fire,
Turban'd with smoke, which still away did reek,
Solid and black from that eternal pyre,

Upon the laden winds that scantly could respire.

LXXV.

"Just upon three o'clock a falling star
Created an alarm among our troop,
Kill'd a man-cook, a page, and broke a jar,
A tureen, and three dishes, at one swoop,
Then passing by the Princess, singed her hoop:
Could not conceive what Coralline was at,
She clapp'd her hands three times and cried
out Whoop!'

Some strange Imaian custom. A large bat Came sudden 'fore my face, and brush'd against my hat.

LXXVI.

"Five minutes thirteen seconds after three, Far in the west a mighty fire broke out, Conjectured, on the instant, it might be, The city of Balk—'twas Balk beyond all doubt: A griffin, wheeling here and there about, Kept reconnoitring us-doubled our guardLighted our torches, and kept up a shout, Till he sheer'd off the-Princess very scaredAnd many on their marrowbones for death prepared.

LXXVII.

"At half-past three arose the cheerful moon Bivouack'd for four minutes on a cloudWhere from the earth we heard a lively tune Of tambourines and pipes, serene and loud, While on a flowery lawn a brilliant crowd Cinque-parted danced, some half asleep reposed Beneath the green-fan'd cedars, some did shroud In silken tents, and 'mid light fragrance dosed, Or on the open turf their soothed eyelids closed.

LXXVIII.

"Dropp'd my gold watch, and kill'd a kettledrum

It went for apoplexy-foolish folks! Left it to pay the piper- a good sum (I've got a conscience, maugre people's jokes), To scrape a little favour; 'gan to coax Her Highness' pug-dog-got a sharp rebuffShe wish'd a game at whist-made three revokes

Turn'd from myself, her partner, in a huff; His Majesty will know her temper time enough.

LXXIX.

"She cried for chess- I play'd a game with her-
Castled her King with such a vixen look,
It bodes ill to his Majesty-(refer

To the second chapter of my fortieth book,
And see what hoity-toity airs she took).
At half-past four the morn essay'd to beam—
Saluted, as we pass'd, an early rook-

The Princess fell asleep, and, in her dream, Talk'd of one Master Hubert, deep in her esteem.

LXXX.

"About this time,-making delightful way,Shed a quill-feather from my larboard wingWish'd, trusted, hoped 'twas no sign of decayThank Heaven, I'm hearty yet!-'twas no such thing:

At five the golden light began to spring, With fiery shudder through the bloomed east ; At six we heard Panthea's churches ringThe city all his unhived swarms had cast, To watch our grand approach, and hail us as we pass'd.

LXXXI.

"As flowers turn their faces to the sun, So on our flight with hungry eyes they gaze, And, as we shaped our course, this, that way run, With mad-cap pleasure, or hand-clasp'd amaze; Sweet in the air a mild-toned music plays, And progresses through its own labyrinth; Buds gather'd from the green spring's middle-days, They scatter'd,- daisy, primrose, hyacinth,Or round white columns wreath'd from capital to plinth.

LXXXII.

"Onward we floated o'er the panting streets, That seem'd throughout with upheld faces paved; Look where we will, our bird's-eye vision meets Legions of holiday; bright standards waved, And fluttering ensigns emulously craved

Our minute's glance; a busy thunderous roar, From square to square, among the buildings raved, As when the sea, at flow, gluts up once more The craggy hollowness of a wild reefed shore.

LXXXIII.

"And Bellanaine for ever!' shouted they; While that fair Princess, from her winged chair, Bow'd low with high demeanour, and, to pay Their new-blown loyalty with guerdon fair, Still emptied, at meet distance, here and there, A plenty horn of jewels. And here I

(Who wish to give the devil her due) declare Against that ugly piece of calumny,

Which calls them Highland pebble-stones, not worth a fly.

LXXXIV.

"Still Bellanaine !' they shouted, while we glide 'Slant to a light Ionic portico,

The city's delicacy, and the pride

Of our Imperial Basilic; a row

Of lords and ladies, on each hand, make show Submissive of knee-bent obeisance,

All down the steps; and as we enter'd, lo! The strangest sight-the most unlook'd-for chance

All things turn'd topsy-turvy in a devil's dance.

LXXXV.

"'Stead of his anxious Majesty and court At the open doors, with wide saluting eyes, Congées and scrape-graces of every sort,

And all the smooth routine of gallantries,
Was seen, to our immoderate surprise,

A motley crowd thick gather'd in the hall, Lords, scullions, deputy-scullions, with wild cries Stunning the vestibule from wall to wall,

Where the Chief Justice on his knees and hands doth crawl.

LXXXVI.

"Counts of the palace, and the state purveyor Of moth's-down, to make soft the royal beds, The Common Council and my fool Lord Mayor Marching a-row, each other slipshod treads; Powder'd bag-wigs and ruffy-tuffy heads

Of cinder wenches meet and soil each other; Toe crush'd with heel ill-natured fighting breeds, Frill-rumpling elbows brew up many a bother, And fists in the short ribs keep up the yell and pother.

LXXXVII.

"A Poet, mounted on the Court-Clown's back, Rode to the Princess swift with spurring heels, And close into her face, with rhyming clack, Began a Prothalamion ;— she reels,

She falls, she faints! while laughter peals Over her woman's weakness. 'Where,' cried I, 'Where is his Majesty ?' No person feels Inclined to answer; wherefore instantly I plunged into the crowd to find him or to die

LXXXVIII.

"Jostling my way I gain'd the stairs, and ran To the first landing, where, incredible!