A Sequel to Don Juan — page 148: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

DON JUAN, 139 XXXVI. Here, reader, it should be in justice stated That Juan had not acted from design, Nor ever in his soul premeditated The quenching of that lamp in virtue’s shrine: A momentary impulse had been fated To level excellence almost divine :— Ah! when Icarian wings approach the sun, Th’ aspirant, earth’s art failing, is undone ! XXXVIT. Were I a Baptist Noel or a Sherman,* I’d seize this opportunity to preach Upon that sudden fall a pretty sermon, And several minor morals also teach :— Alas! my Muse discovers that Mounts Hermon, Tabor, and Sinai are beyond her reach, And with the muddy Jordan cannot sing So clear as with her own Pierian spring. XXX VIII. The reader may perceive | am not quite A “ go-the-whole-hog saint’’—nor “ out-and-out Evangelist’’—nor specious Puseyite, Whose tenets there’s been such a fuss about ;— Nor am I one of those who think it right To rant, declaim, vociferate, and shout At Exeter Hall, when the pious pay Their annual tribute in the month of May.t+ -* The former is an eminent divine of the Church of England: the latter is a dissent- ing minister, of equal fame amongt his sect, and who preaches at Rowland Hill’s Chapel in the Blackfriars Road. + All the religious, humane, philanthropic, and utilitarian societies hold their great annual meetings at Exeter Hall in May. COmicloOoks. conn