Of white cliffs—and white bosoms—and blue eyes—
And stockings—virtues, loves and Chastities.—[MS. erased.]
[639] {474}[Hor., Epist., lib. 1, ep. xiv. line 43. The meaning is that Europe makes but little progress in the discovery and settlement of Africa, and, as it were, "ploughs the sands.">[
Though many thousands both of birth and pluck too,
Have ventured past the jaws of Moor and Tiger.[*]
[*]Note. By particular licence, "positively for the last time, by desire," etc., to be pronounced "tydger." Such is what Gifford calls "the necessity of rhyming."—[MS. erased.]
[640] ["Though many degrees nearer our own fair and blue-eyed beauties in complexion ... yet no people ever lost more by comparison than did the white ladies of Moorzuk [capital of Fezzan] with the black ones of Bornou and Soudan."—Narrative of Travels ... in Northern and Central Africa, 1822-24, by Denham, Clapperton, and Oudney, 1828, ii. 133.]
[LU] {475}Above, all sunshine, and, below, all ice.—[MS. erased.]