But here the Muse with due decorum halts,
And lends her longest petticoat to "Waltz."
Observant Travellers of every time!
Ye Quartos published upon every clime!
O say, shall dull Romaika's heavy round,
Fandango's wriggle, or Bolero's bound;
Can Egypt's Almas[1]—tantalising group—
Columbia's caperers to the warlike Whoop—
Can aught from cold Kamschatka to Cape Horn
With Waltz compare, or after Waltz be born?130
Ah, no! from Morier's pages down to Galt's,[2]
Each tourist pens a paragraph for "Waltz."
Shades of those Belles whose reign began of yore,
With George the Third's—and ended long before!—
Though in your daughters' daughters yet you thrive,[3]
Burst from your lead, and be yourselves alive!
Back to the Ball-room speed your spectred host,
Fool's Paradise is dull to that you lost.[4]
- ↑ Dancing girls—who do for hire what Waltz doth gratis. [The Romaika is a modern Greek dance, characterized by serpentining figures and handkerchief-throwing among the dancers. The Fandango (Spaniards use the word "seguidilla") was of Moorish origin. The Bolero was brought from Provence, circ. 1780. "The Bolero intoxicates, the Fandango inflames" (Hist, of Dancing, by G. Vuillier, Heinemann, 1898).]
- ↑ [For Morier, see note to line 211. Galt has a paragraph descriptive of the waltzing Dervishes (Voyages and Travels (1812), p. 190).]
- ↑
Who in your daughters' daughters yet survive
Like Banquo's spirit be yourselves alive.—[MS. M.] - ↑ Elysium's ill exchanged for that you lost.—[MS. M.]
