ODE on the Death of a Favourite CAT, Drowned in a Tub of Gold Fishes. Thomas Gray Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T131163 K104099.002 Dodsley, Robert, 1703-1764. A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes. By Several Hands. Vol. II. London printed by J. Hughs, for R. and J. Dodsley 1763 [1st ed. 1758] pp. 272-274. 6v.: music; 8⁰.

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ODE on the Death of a Favourite CAT , Drowned in a Tub of Gold Fishes . By the Same . I. 'TWAS on a lofty vase's side , Where China's gayest art had dy'd The azure flowers , that blow ; Demurest of the Tabby kind , The pensive Selima reclin'd , Gaz'd on the lake below . II . Her conscious tail her joy declar'd ; The fair round face , the snowy beard , The velvet of her paws , The coat that with the tortoise vies , Her ears of jet , and emerald eyes , She saw ; and purr'd applause . III . Still had she gaz'd : but 'midst the tide Two beauteous forms were seen to glide , The Genii of the stream ; Their scaly armour's Tyrian hue Thro' richest purple to the view Betray'd a golden gleam . IV . 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 ? V. Presumptuous maid ! with looks intent Again she stretch'd , again she bent , Nor knew the gulph between ; ( Malignant Fate sat by and smil'd ) The slipp'ry verge her feet beguil'd , She tumbled headlong in . VI . Eight times emerging from the flood She mew'd to ev'ry wat'ry god , Some speedy aid to send . No Dolphin came , no Nereid stirr'd : Nor cruel Tom , nor Susan heard . A fav'rite has no friend ! VII . 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 wand'ring eyes And heedless hearts , is lawful prize ; Nor all , that glisters , gold .