| ’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 reclined, |
Gazed on the lake below.
|
| Her conscious tail her joy declared ; |
| 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 purred applause.
|
| Still had she gazed ; 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 |
Betrayed a golden gleam.
|
| The hapless nymph with wonder saw : |
| A whisker first and then a claw, |
| With many an ardent wish, |
| She stretched in vain to reach the prize, |
| What female heart can gold despise ? |
What cat’s averse to fish ?
|
| Presumptuous maid ! with looks intent |
| Again she stretched, again she bent, |
| Nor knew the gulf between. |
| (Malignant Fate sat by and smiled) |
| The slippery verge her feet beguiled, |
She tumbled headlong in.
|
| Eight times emerging from the flood |
| She mewed to every watery god, |
| Some speedy aid to send. |
| No dolphin came, no Nereid stirred : |
| Nor cruel Tom nor Susan heard. |
A favourite has no friend !
|
| From hence, ye beauties, undeceived, |
| Know, one false step is ne’er retrieved, |
| And be with caution bold. |
| Not all that tempts your wandering eyes |
| And heedless hearts is lawful prize ; |
Nor all that glisters gold.
|
| Thomas Gray |
Classic Poems |
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[ Elegy Written In a Country Churchyard ] [ Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College ] [ The Bard ] [ On the Death of Richard West ] [ Ode on the Death of a Favourite Cat .. ] |
