18.6: On the Death of a Favourite Cat, Drowned in a Tub of Goldfishes

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‘Twas on a lofty vase’s side,
Where China’s gayest art had dyed
The azure flowers that blow;
Demurest of the tabby kind,
The pensive Selima, reclin’d,
Gaz’d on the lake below.
Home
Her conscious tail her joy declar’d:
The fair round face, the snowy beard,
The velvet of her paws,
Her coat, that with the tortoise vies,
Her ears of jet, and emerald eyes,
She saw; and purr’d applause.
Home
Still had she gaz’d; but midst the tide
Two angel forms were seen to glide,
The Genii of the stream:
Their scaly armour’s Tyrian hue
Through richest purple to the view
Betray’d a golden gleam.
Home
The hapless nymph with wonder saw:
A whisker first, and then a claw,
With many an ardent wish,
She stretch’d in vain to reach the prize.
What female heart can gold despise?
What Cat’s averse to fish?
Home
Presumptuous maid! with looks intent
Again she stretch’d, again she bent,
Nor knew the gulf between.
(Malignant Fate sat by, and smil’d.)
The slippery verge her feet beguil’d,
She tumbled headlong in.
Home
Eight times emerging from the flood,
She mew’d to every watery God,
Some speedy aid to send.
No Dolphin came, no Nereid stirr’d:
Nor cruel Tom, nor Susan heard.
A favourite has no friend!
Home
From hence, ye beauties, undeceiv’d,
Know, one false step is ne’er retriev’d,
And be with caution bold.
Not all that tempts your wandering eyes
And heedless hearts is lawful prize,
Nor all that glisters gold.

On the Death of a Favourite Cat, Drowned in a Tub of Goldfishes. Authored by: Thomas Gray. Located at: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/30357/30357-h/30357-h.htm#chap6. License: Public Domain: No Known Copyright