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the lack of sexual relations claimed by the Bible (v. 4), but then adultery is lessstraightforward for a king with eight wives. What Don Juan’s plain-style discoursepresents is the humanity of the situation, including the humanity of violating heavenlyand earthly laws. Similarly human is Donna Inez’ vain attempt to protect Juan fromcorruption in his education:That which Donna Inez most desired,[...]Was, that his breeding should be strictly moral[...]not a page of anything that’s loose,Or hints continuation of the species,Was ever suffer’d, lest he should grow vicious. (1.39.305, 308, 318-20).Such repression is utterly unsuccessful: as Lucifer says in Cain, “ignorance of evildoth not save /From evil” (C 2.2.235-6). This was also the point made by members ofthe Chancery Bar about Don Juan’s moral value in its demonstration of the dangers ofpoor education. Juan falls prey to something which he does not understand.On the other hand, Haidée had a religious education which she “forgot /Just in thevery crisis she should not” (2.193.1542-3). Likewise, Donna Julia’s knowledge doesnot help her, but her wanting the Virgin not to answer her prayer suggests that she iscomplicit in her own downfall (1.75-6). For all that this is improper behaviour, it isentirely normal, as is her final, antithetical capitulation: “A little still she strove, andmuch repented, /And whispering “I will ne’er consent” – consented” (1.117.935-6).The Galignani editions list two useful contemporary comments upon this. Coltoncomments, “the poet displays a consummate knowledge of all the more subtle andrefined self-delusions of the human heart. This is, perhaps, the least objectionablepart of the poem”. Hill goes farther towards Campbell and Lockhart, seeingsomething of a moral virtue as being approached in this work, which, but for its‘dangerous levity’, could serve112