A bull-dog, and a bullfinch, and an ermine,

All private favourites of Don Juan;—for

(Let deeper sages the true cause determine)

He had a kind of inclination, or

Weakness, for what most people deem mere vermin,

Live animals: an old maid of threescore

For cats and birds more penchant ne'er displayed,

Although he was not old, nor even a maid;—