And if she met him, though she smiled no more,
    She look'd a sadness sweeter than her smile,
  As if her heart had deeper thoughts in store
    She must not own, but cherish'd more the while
  For that compression in its burning core;
    Even innocence itself has many a wile,
  And will not dare to trust itself with truth,
  And love is taught hypocrisy from youth.

  But passion most dissembles, yet betrays
    Even by its darkness; as the blackest sky
  Foretells the heaviest tempest, it displays
    Its workings through the vainly guarded eye,
  And in whatever aspect it arrays
    Itself, 't is still the same hypocrisy;
  Coldness or anger, even disdain or hate,
  Are masks it often wears, and still too late.

  Then there were sighs, the deeper for suppression,
    And stolen glances, sweeter for the theft,
  And burning blushes, though for no transgression,
    Tremblings when met, and restlessness when left;
  All these are little preludes to possession,
    Of which young passion cannot be bereft,
  And merely tend to show how greatly love is
  Embarrass'd at first starting with a novice.

  Poor Julia's heart was in an awkward state;
    She felt it going, and resolved to make
  The noblest efforts for herself and mate,
    For honour's, pride's, religion's, virtue's sake;
  Her resolutions were most truly great,
    And almost might have made a Tarquin quake:
  She pray'd the Virgin Mary for her grace,
  As being the best judge of a lady's case.

  She vow'd she never would see Juan more,
    And next day paid a visit to his mother,
  And look'd extremely at the opening door,
    Which, by the Virgin's grace, let in another;
  Grateful she was, and yet a little sore-
    Again it opens, it can be no other,
  'T is surely Juan now- No! I 'm afraid
  That night the Virgin was no further pray'd.

  She now determined that a virtuous woman
    Should rather face and overcome temptation,
  That flight was base and dastardly, and no man
    Should ever give her heart the least sensation;
  That is to say, a thought beyond the common
    Preference, that we must feel upon occasion
  For people who are pleasanter than others,
  But then they only seem so many brothers.

  And even if by chance- and who can tell?
    The devil 's so very sly- she should discover
  That all within was not so very well,
    And, if still free, that such or such a lover
  Might please perhaps, a virtuous wife can quell
    Such thoughts, and be the better when they 're over;
  And if the man should ask, 't is but denial:
  I recommend young ladies to make trial.

  And then there are such things as love divine,
    Bright and immaculate, unmix'd and pure,
  Such as the angels think so very fine,
    And matrons who would be no less secure,
  Platonic, perfect, 'just such love as mine;'
    Thus Julia said- and thought so, to be sure;
  And so I 'd have her think, were I the man
  On whom her reveries celestial ran.

  Such love is innocent, and may exist
    Between young persons without any danger.
  A hand may first, and then a lip be kist;
    For my part, to such doings I 'm a stranger,
  But hear these freedoms form the utmost list
    Of all o'er which such love may be a ranger:
  If people go beyond, 't is quite a crime,
  But not my fault- I tell them all in time.

  Love, then, but love within its proper limits,
    Was Julia's innocent determination
  In young Don Juan's favour, and to him its
    Exertion might be useful on occasion;
  And, lighted at too pure a shrine to dim its
    Ethereal lustre, with what sweet persuasion
  He might be taught, by love and her together-
  I really don't know what, nor Julia either.

  Fraught with this fine intention, and well fenced
    In mail of proof- her purity of soul-
  She, for the future of her strength convinced.
    And that her honour was a rock, or mole,
  Exceeding sagely from that hour dispensed
    With any kind of troublesome control;
  But whether Julia to the task was equal
  Is that which must be mention'd in the sequel.

  Her plan she deem'd both innocent and feasible,