Page:The Works of Lord Byron (ed. Coleridge, Prothero) - Volume 1.djvu/536

492 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 —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?

Ah, no! from Morier's pages down to Galt's,

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,

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.